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The answer is a resounding “Yes”. The latest species, Apteryx rowi, was formally identified in 2003, raising the total number of species from four to five. And in 2006, the recognised varieties of Tokoeka increased from two to four.
Genetic research is one part of the mosaic of research and management carried out by scientists and field workers.
This is described below, and includes:
Surveys and Monitoring
This work includes nationwide surveys to discover just where kiwi live and how they are doing.
In the early 1990s, surveys over large parts of the country pinpointed the distribution of kiwi. In some cases the results could be compared with records from surveys carried out in the 1970s. This comparison showed some disturbing trends, such as alarming declines in Northland’s Brown Kiwi populations over the 20 years, a traditional stronghold for this species.
A second survey began in 1995, to count and record kiwi calls of each known type of kiwi. Each population was monitored for at least three years in a row. The data collected provides a baseline of information about where kiwi live and how many there are, and allows unexpected changes in kiwi populations to be rapidly assessed so that action can be taken, if needed.
A second round of kiwi call surveys was completed in 2002. A comparison shows:
· Kiwi call rates have generally declined in areas without conservation management
· The only exceptions are Great Spotted Kiwi living in high altitude wet sites, whose call rates have remained steady; some unmanaged sites in Northland where Brown Kiwi populations appear to be stable; and on Stewart Island, where Southern Tokoeka populations are stable
· In managed areas, and on predator-free islands, call rates have been steady or increased
Kiwi with Bands
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Other research into kiwi population changes includes monitoring birds with individually numbered metal bands attached to their legs. |
This is happening for:
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Great Spotted Kiwi at the Heaphy Track (Kahurangi National Park) and the Hurunui (Southern Alps)
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Southern Tokoeka at the Milford Track (Fiordland) and Mason Bay (Stewart Island)
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A study of the Brown Kiwi population at Lake Waikaremoana has just been completed by Dr John McLennan of Manaaki Whenua Landcare Research, who is also a trustee of the Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust. A search for his banded birds will be made in 2007.
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Genetic Research
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Maintaining the genetic diversity of kiwi is important to ensure valuable biological secrets are not lost. |
In 1995 an exciting new discovery was made. Genetic testing established that kiwi living at Haast, Fiordland and on Stewart Island were not Brown Kiwi, as had been thought, but an entirely different species that separated millions of years ago. The new species was named Tokoeka - a Ngai Tahu word that translates as 'weka with a walking stick'.
Then, in 2003, it was discovered that kiwi living near Okarito, thought to be a close relative of the Brown Kiwi, are actually a separate species – Rowi.
So today there are six known species of kiwi and one, Tokoeka, currently has two distinct varieties. However, new analytical tools and a better geographical spread of sample populations means that the taxonomy of Tokoeka is now under review.
We expect some exciting new developments in the near future, particularly with new forms being described for Brown Kiwi and Tokoeka. Watch this space…
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Threats to Kiwi
Specially trained and muzzled dogs have helped researchers locate kiwi to study. The findings are alarming. Introduced predators (especially ferrets and dogs) kill high numbers of adult kiwi. But more distressing is that 90-to-95 per cent of chicks die within six months of hatching, mostly due to stoats.
Recent research and experience at places such as Purua (central Northland) and Lake Waikaremoana (Te Urewera National Park) has found that controlling predators using poisons or intensive trapping can turn population declines around when applied to small land areas (hundreds of hectares).
The goal now is to find out whether these management techniques will work across much larger land areas (tens of thousands of hectares).
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Researching Kiwi Social Systems
Understanding kiwi social systems allows us to be more effective in protecting kiwi and devising population growth strategies.
How? One example is the finding that, like Southern Tokoeka, Rowi form family groups. We now know that if we find Rowi only in pairs, this indicates that breeding is not happening, or that young kiwi are not surviving. We will know we are managing the population effectively when there is an increase in the number and size of family groups.
Knowing that Rowi form family groups also helps increase our chances of successfully releasing Operation Nest Egg subadults. Family groups are an exceptionally territorial social system, so we know to release the subadults well away from occupied territories.
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Operation Nest Egg Research
This research looks at incubation patterns and how to optimise the timing of egg collection to get the best hatching success.
A Hawkes Bay company is developing a “smart” transmitter that will record the length of time since incubation began (based on changes in the male's movement patterns as he begins to incubate the egg). This technology will be lined up with models showing when eggs should be collected to achieve the best hatching success.
Collecting eggs too early leads to low hatch rates, but collecting eggs too late means that more are lost to predators, microbes and nest desertions. If the timing is right, the collected eggs will hatch, while their parents will re-nest in the same season, increasing overall productivity.
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A research project funded by Bank of New Zealand Save the Kiwi Trust is working to create a nutritious diet for kiwi held in captivity. Recent research showed big differences between the diet of wild kiwi, and the artificial diets fed to captive birds. It seems that the artificial diets provide less nutrition and that this contributes to the higher rate of death, lower fertility, smaller average egg size and lower number of hatching eggs among captive birds, compared to their wild cousins.
The project to build a new diet is lead by Dr Murray Potter of Massey University’s Ecology Group, in its Institute of Natural Resources. Once a diet that matches what wild birds eat is developed, it will be tested on a small number of captive kiwi, as well as more common species of birds, to make sure that it delivers the nutrients they need. When a good recipe has been identified, a synthetic diet using standard animal feed ingredients will be created, which can then be used by institutions holding captive kiwi.
It is expected that the new diet will lead to improvements in the health, lifespan, productivity and egg viability of birds held in captivity.
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