Population data
Collecting quality data to investigate and predict species interrelationships is vital to the decisions made in any conservation strategy, including the recovery of the takahē.
Data collection needs to include other species linked by interrelationships within the communities where takahē live, for example, the interrelationships between takahē and stoats, takahē and red deer, red deer and snow tussock, and takahē and snow tussock.
Related Hub resources:
Population biology – article
Population genetics – article
Related ZEALANDIA resources:
The worksheets as detailed in the article Takahē – a context for learning and in this interactive planning pathway, can be used for Biology Achievement Standard 91158. They can also be used as stand-alone resources for learning about takahē biology and conservation.
Data appendices – information for AS91158
Takahē population trends (1981–2008) – line graph/Murchison/offshore islands
Impact of temperature on adult takahē (1981–1994) – line graph
Impact of deer culling operations in the Murchison Mountains (1963–2008) – line graph
Stoat and rat trap kills (2003–2018) – line graphs
Latest takahē population trends (2000–2017) – line graphs sanctuary/Fiordland
Takahē population growth rate (2000–2016) – line graph
Takahē population recruitment versus mortality (2006–2017) – line graph
Deer kills and helicopter hunting tracks in the Murchison Mountains – map
Stoat and rat trap kills (2006–2016) – line graph
Relationship between the mean temperature and flowering in Chionochloa spp (masting and global warming) – bar graph
Effect of climate change on masting Chionochloa (climate change/masting) – graphs on temperature and flowering
Additional data from Takahē Recovery Programme (DOC) annual report 2017-18 – graph and tables
Takahē adult survival in trapped and untrapped areas in the Murchison Mountains – graphs and table
These thinking tools may also be useful:
Compare and contrast Murchison Mountains vs offshore islands visual organiser – template for students to organise ideas related to similarities and differences between Murchison Mountains and offshore islands
Adaptations visual organiser – template for students to organise ideas related to adaptations of red deer, stoat, snow tussock and takahē
Interrelationships in the Murchison Mountains visual organiser – template for students to organise ideas related to the interrelationships between the takahē, stoat and red deer
Acknowledgement: Photo of takahē being tagged courtesy of Alison Ballance, Radio New Zealand