Introduction To New Zealand Natural History Part 2

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New Zealand Natural HistoryTourguiding.wordpress.com

New Zealand NaturalHistory

Part 2Flora and Fauna

IMPORTANT…IMPORTANT…

Images you are about to see are some of our special places and their inhabitants many of which are ENDEMIC to New Zealand

- Features forming New Zealand’s National Parks and the UNESCO World Heritage Status

- Features which contribute to a booming tourism industry

Before humans…Before humans…

• The New Zealand islands looked very different than today

• No mammals except a couple of bat species and the NZ Fur seal

• An abundance of birds, many flightless

• Large forested areas of prehistoric trees throughout the country

Let’s take a closer look at the climate zones and at some of the native plants and animals that live

there today

The Alpine Zone

Ice covered mountains

Glaciers

Wide open valleys

Braided rivers

Aoraki Mount Cook

Mountains & Alpine Valleys

Tussock grasses grow here

600 species of Alpine Plants 600 species of Alpine Plants 93 % found 93 % found onlyonly in New Zealand in New Zealand

Mount Cook Buttercup

the world’s largest buttercup

Daisies and SpaniardsDaisies and Spaniardsspecially adapted for survivalspecially adapted for survival

Miniature broomsMiniature brooms

More buttercups, daisies and More buttercups, daisies and bristly carrotsbristly carrots

Flightless Takahe lives in Alpine tussock

(One known population left in the wild)

Kea - Worlds only Alpine ParrotKea - Worlds only Alpine Parrot(only in the South Island of New (only in the South Island of New

Zealand)Zealand)

Invertebrates – food for birdsInvertebrates – food for birds

The Temperate Forests

Podocarp Forests

•Totara

•Kahikatea

•Matai

•Rimu

•Miro

A few precious remnants left

Beech ForestsBeech Forestshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/33495997@N00/402696291/sizes/m/

Sliver

Red

Mountain

Black

Kiwi!?Kiwi!?http://www.flickr.com/photos/76074333@N00/281832147/sizes/m/

Karearea - New Zealand Falcon Karearea - New Zealand Falcon

NZ Robin and giant native wormNZ Robin and giant native worm

Tieke - SaddlebackTieke - Saddleback

Kereru – New Zealand Wood Pigeon

Rare Flightless Parrot KakapoRare Flightless Parrot Kakapo86 (+ about 5 new babies this year) 86 (+ about 5 new babies this year)

left in the worldleft in the world

Harakeke – New Zealand Flax

an amazing resource

Piwakawaka (Fantail) and TuiPiwakawaka (Fantail) and Tuihttp://www.flickr.com/photos/8611584@N06/2067358292/sizes/s/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbinns/2036385629/sizes/m/

The Subtropical Forest

Dense lush warm forest full of Dense lush warm forest full of diversitydiversity

Ancient Ferns – from 100million Ancient Ferns – from 100million years agoyears ago

200 species, 40 endemic to New Zealand

More ferns, orchids & mossesMore ferns, orchids & mosses

Koru

Nikau Palm

New Zealand’s only true Palm species

Kauri - Tane Mahuta Kauri - Tane Mahuta our biggest tree our biggest tree

http://www.flickr.com/photos/sassygagliardi/440514174/sizes/m/

The Coastal Zone

Sand Dunes

Estuaries

Salt Marshes

Headlands

Cormorants on a West Coast Beach

Coastal Flowering Hebe

Penguins and NZ Fur SealsPenguins and NZ Fur Sealshttp://www.flickr.com/photos/flissphil/232405333/sizes/m/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/littlebluepenguin/357091278/sizes/m/

Today…Today…• Threats from introduced predators such as

possum, rabbit, stoat, cat , dog & rats

• Threats from development and industry

• Tremendous work being done by DOC and community groups on habitat restoration, species protection & pest control

Further readingFurther reading

Nature Guide to the New Zealand Forest

by John Dawson and Rob Lucas

New Zealand Alpine Plants

by J T Salmon

Field Guide to Birds of New Zealand

by Heather, B and Robertson, H

www.doc.govt.nz Native Plants

Photo’s by Nicky Snoyink (otherwise stated)