Science for Conservation

This two-day workshop examines the history of commodification among the rural populations of the Middle East from the late Ottoman era to the end of the Second World War, i.e. the era of global capitalism. It focuses on the commodification of animal property and agricultural produce in the local, regional and global markets, comparing how these processes unfolded among tribal groups and other rural communities, and tracing their diverse social, political, and environmental consequences. The workshop will also explore the steps taken by the Ottoman and post-Ottoman governments to regulate, respond to, and channel these processes.

In this study, the quality of the aquatic habitats of mountain and piedmont streams was evaluated using the 'Instream Flow Incremental Methodology (IFIM)' decision-making tool. The quality of habitats was interpreted from the behaviour of bioindicators in the form of habitat suitability curves (HSCs). From 1995 until the present, 59 different reaches of 43 mountain streams in Slovakia and 3 validation reaches were evaluated, and the results analysed. The aim of this study was to generalize the parameters of the HSCs for the brown trout. The generalized curves will be useful for water management planning. It is difficult and time-consuming to take hydrometrical and ichthyological measurements at different water levels. Therefore, we developed a methodology for modifying suitability curves based on an ichthyological survey during a low flow and a flow at which fish lose the ability to resist the flow velocity. The study provides the information how such curves can be modified for a wider flow range. In summary, this study shows that generalized HSCs provide representative data that can be used to support both the design of river restoration and the assessment of the impacts of the water use or of climate change on stream habitat quality.

Understanding the drivers of grassland structure and function following livestock removal will inform grassland restoration and management. Here, we investigated the effects of fire and nutrient addition on structure and function in a subtropical semi-native grassland recently released from grazing in south-central Florida. We examined responses of soil nutrients, plant tissue nutrients, biomass of live, standing dead and litter, and plant species composition to experimental annual prescribed fire applied during different seasons (wet season vs. dry season), and nutrient additions (N, P and N + P) over 9 years. Experimental plots were set up in a randomized block split-plot design, with season of prescribed fire as the main treatment and nutrient addition as the subplot treatment. Species cover data were collected annually from 2002 to 2011 and plant tissue and plant biomass data were collected in 2002 -2006 . Soil nutrients were analyzed in 2004 , 2006. Soil total phosphorus (P) levels increased substantially with P addition but were not influenced by prescribed fire.

Although the term incorporation (and its cognates in many Latinate languages) often functions metaphorically, its ability to denote the integration of any two entities is intimately linked to the centrality of the body, the corpus. Reflecting the recent material and sensory turns across the humanities, this two-day event is intended to highlight a range of practices in which words and images were consumed by being taken into the body, quite literally incorporated. Whether undertaken for the purposes of memorization, prophylaxis, or chastisement (all are documented), such practices imply that certain kinds of images and words can be so fully consumed as to be incorporated into the human body, to become part of its very substance.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Individual copies are printed, and are also available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

Full programme of the international workshop ‘The Political Economy of Capital in the Pre-Modern World’ (funded as part of the Excellence Strategy of the German Federal and State Governments by the Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space, the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science, and the Economic History Society). The workshop will take place on the 8th and 9th October 2025 at the Universität Tübingen (Seminarbibliothek - Mittelalterliche Geschichte, Hegelbau, Wilhelmstraße 36, 2nd floor). This workshop will explore the complex forms in which capital shaped commercial exchange in the pre-modern world from a global perspective, with the twofold aim of promoting an appreciation for historical diversity and of elaborating a shared framework of analysis beyond the insulation of single disciplines. Participation to the workshop and its final roundtable, both in person and remotely, will be free. To participate remotely, please feel free to contact the organiser ([email protected]).

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. This report is available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

We examined the jaw size, age and sex distribution of 324 red deer constituting a comprehensive record of all recreational hunting kills made by a single hunter of the Tararua ranges of North Island New Zealand over a period 20 years (1976-1996). The proportion of stags shot at times other than the rut (March - April) was not significantly different to that in a sample of deer obtained by commercial helicopter hunting and did not change significantly after the first three years of hunting regardless of any effect of helicopter hunting. Conversely, significantly greater numbers of males were shot during the months of the rut and this proportion increased significantly after the first three years of hunting presumably as a result of increased selectivity and or skill. The recreational hunter harvested significantly greater numbers of older animals than did helicopter hunters. The proportion of older animals shot during, and at times other than the rut, increased significantly after th...

Als Andergassen 2009 die Fresken des 15. Jahrhunderts im Kreuzgang des Brixner Doms beschreibt, stellt er in Hinblick auf die ausführlichen Schriftpassagen im Gewölbe fest: „der Gang durch die Arkaden wird vergleichsweise zum Gang durch das geöffnete Meditationsbuch“. Tatsächlich wurden in knapp der Hälfte der Gewölbe außer typologischen Bildgruppen aus dem Speculum humanae salvationis, der Biblia pauperum und dem Defensorium des Franz von Retz auch lange Textpassagen daraus in nahezu wörtlicher Entsprechung an die Wand übertragen.
Der Verweis auf die bekannten Handschriften ist dabei nicht nur durch die Inhalte, sondern gerade auch durch die Form gewährleistet: Besonders die Übernahme der räumlichen Anordnung der Szenen und Schriftelemente führt dazu, dass die simultane bzw. sukzessive Sichtbarkeit einzelner Episoden an der Wand den Seherfahrungen aus den Büchern entspricht. Die Gestaltung dieses Transferprozesses aus einer Handschrift an die Wand ist zwar nicht in jedem Joch auf die gleiche Weise gestaltet, immer wieder jedoch entfaltet sich die Wirkung der Fresken durch ihren intermedialen Verweis auf die bekannten Bücher und immer wieder wird durch die Struktur der Fresken eine Bewegung der Betrachtenden angeregt – in Analogie zur Rezeption der adaptierten Handschriften.
Als Auftraggeber und primäre Rezipienten des Programms spielten die Domkanoniker eine wichtige Rolle für das Verständnis der Fresken. Bei diesen mehrheitlich an der Universität Wien ausgebildeten Kanonikern lassen sich ein hoher Bildungsgrad und eine dominikanische Prägung rekonstruieren, welche sich – so meine These – in der Auswahl und Darstellungsweise der Brixner Epitaphien, besonders in der deutlichen inhaltlichen und strukturellen Referenz auf das Medium Buch, widerspiegeln.

Present research is a very good study evaluating the potential of poultry egg albumin and egg shell (both crushed and powder form) in enhancing the acceptance of cereal bait by house rat. The acceptance was assessed based on bi-choice and no-choice experiments in laboratory cages and food scale consumption monitor. Authors have also tested the efficacy of these components after mixing in zinc phosphide bait, an acute rodenticide in poultry farms. Egg albumin has been found to have potential in increasing acceptance of cereal based bait.

The corpus of ecclesiastical artistic heritage is represented by different types of liturgical furnishings, such as monstrances, chalices, pyxes, but also jewelry and ex-votos. The chronological span related to them, is very broad and covers the centuries between the 12th and 19th centuries. These are very precious objects currently exhibited in numerous Diocesan Museums and Museums of Sacred Art, which stand out in the field for their collections of high historical and cultural value. These objects display exquisite finishes, refined decorations and the presence of precious gems set into the surface, which gives them an inestimable value. But are these works really valuable, apart from their devotional value and historical testimony? Are the records that have come down to us and the stated information on the gemological repertoire, really reliable? Traditional techniques and autopsy observations do not allow for the analysis or classification of set gems, whilst scientific studies are rarely carried out. In contrast, specific studies with non-invasive portable instruments would allow these works to be studied directly in situ. In particular, thanks to a combined in situ approach involving portable Raman spectroscopy (with an excitation wavelength of 785 nm) and portable X-ray fluorescence (XRF), it was possible to confirm the identifications of gems [1] present on some important artefacts from the Treasure of Palermo Cathedral and the Diocesan Museum of Monreale (Italy). The series of objects investigated includes liturgical furnishings of various kinds: reliquaries, chalices, monstrances, ciboria, patens, statues, vases and paci of Sicilian manufacture, especially from Palermo, Spain, Lombardy and Rome, dating from the 12th century to the first half of the 19th century [2]. In addition, an ornament called “La gioia del Santo Costato” by goldsmith Francesco Burgarello, dating from before 1782, has also been extensively analysed. In the inventories of Palermo Cathedral from 1848 and 1898, the work is recorded as “a joy of the Holy Rib of the Crucifix” and is described as “set on gilded silver” and decorated with “number three hundred diamonds [...]” [3]. The central red gemstone was the most important object of investigation, as was the presence of numerous colourless gems set in the surrounding radius. The object follows a type of traditional Sicilian production of late Baroque derivation in vogue, especially in the 18th century. The gems mentioned must have been rubies and diamonds.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Individual copies are printed, and are also available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in the DOC Science Publishing catalogue on the website, refer http://www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science and Research.

In the documentation in conservation context, there is an increasing demand for precise and accurate data and also for full three dimensional records of the cultural heritage. This paper presents the study case of a painting by Amadeo de Souza-Cardoso before, during and after the retouching treatment. The work focuses on the use of open source systems, such as GIS and photogrammetry software, in order to produce accurate maps of object losses and realistic virtual 3D models enabling the study of artworks with a minimum budget and a low cost infrastructure.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Individual copies are printed, and are also available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

My research project examined the restoration possibilities for two culturally important wetland ecosystems at Tl’ches (Chatham Islands, British Columbia, Canada). The first wetland is a sacred bathing pool and holds cultural significance, the second is a remnant silverweed and springbank clover (Potentilla anserine ssp. pacifica and Trifollium wormskjoldii) root garden. These wetlands are necessary ecosystems for the wildlife on Tl’ches as wetlands are rare, but also an integral part of Songhees’ cultural practices. My work was done at the invitation from elder Sulhlima (Joan Morris) who was one of the last resident of the islands and retains hereditary rights there, and Songhees Chief Ron Sam and band council. The goal of my project was to develop a restoration plan to restore the wetlands to pre-abandonment conditions, so cultural practices can continue, and to benefit the islands native plant and animal species. The project highlights the value of combining traditional ecological...

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. This report is available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. This report is available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Individual copies are printed, and are also available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

Conservation management plans have a pivotal role in the preservation and sustainable management of natural and historic resources. These plans serve as detailed frameworks for implementing conservation management strategies and objectives. Recognizing the paramount importance of Conservation Management Plans (CMPs) in safeguarding cultural heritage, this study examines heritage conservation management plans set out in heritage conservation legislation in several countries around the world.
Using a descriptive analytical approach and dissecting the legal frameworks, operational tactics, and resulting impacts, the researcher examined conservation management plans within heritage conservation laws in South Africa, New Zealand, and Egypt.
Given the abundance of cultural heritage in Egypt and the need to preserve it, this research evaluates the effectiveness and shortcomings of current management plans outlined in relevant legislation. Drawing on global models, the study formulates tailored recommendations aimed at strengthening heritage conservation management plans in Egypt.
These recommendations include legislative reviews, strengthening institutional capacities, enhancing community participation, and enhancing international cooperation. By addressing pivotal challenges and benefiting from exemplary practices observed in diverse legal contexts.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Titles are listed in the DOC Science Publishing catalogue on the departmental website http:// www.doc.govt.nz and printed copies can be purchased from

Chapter on the development of Heritage Legislation in New Zealand from book  Architectural Conservation in Australia, New Zealand and the Pacific Islands: National Experiences and Practice, ed John Stubbs, William Chapman, Julia Gatley, Ross King, Routledge 2024.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. This report is available from the departmental website in pdf form. Titles are listed in our catalogue on the website, refer www.doc.govt.nz under Publications, then Science & technical.

Abstract: Since the Ornithological Society of New Zealand (OSNZ) was founded in 1939 its primary objective has been the collection and dissemination of information on New Zealand's birds. For 70 years the Society has maintained databases on all aspects of the behaviour, population sizes and movements of New Zealand's avifauna. This paper summarises what information members of the OSNZ collect and curate and discusses an Internet initiative (eBird) the Society has recently put in place to allow members to record ...

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international ...

Rattus norvegicus, R. exulans, and R. ™ cause extensive damage to Hawaiian sugarcane. This paper gives an overview of the problem and briefly summarizes the history of rodent control on Hawaiian sugarcane plantations. Current baiting practices with zinc phosphide may favor the proliferation of R. norvegicus, and more effective control methods are needed for this species. A cooperative research and development program by the Denver Wildlife Research Center and the nonprofit Hawaiian Sugar Planters' Association is described.

We conducted a series of preliminary feeding trials with Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), roof rats (R. ranus), and Polynesian rats (R. exulans) to examine the effects of carbon disulfide (CSJ on consumption of nontoxic foods. We formulated CS 2 at target concentrations of 10 ppm in deionized water, and of 50 ppm to 100,000 ppm in a starch xanthate matrix. However, we did not analyze actual concentrations of CS 2 in the test foods or measure its rate of volatilization, and thus cannot verify the levels of CSz the rats were exposed to. CS 2 diluted in water and applied directly to food bad no apparent effect on consumption by any of the species. Formulations with SO ppm CSz in starch xanthate influenced food choice by Norway rats and roof rats in one test, but not in another. Concentrations C!: 10,000 ppm repelled Norway rats. CS 2-starch xanthate had little effect on consumption by Polynesian rats. Further testing is needed to develop effective formulations and delivery methods for utilizing CS 2 as a bait additive.

There has often been a mutually beneficial relationship between cities and their rural hinterlands. The Kapiti region outside the city of Wellington in New Zealand is a prime example: it once provided Wellington's food, water and cultural diversity for both Māori and European settlers. However, productivity-driven agriculture and extensive dormitory-suburbanization have affected significant parts of this once-abundant hinterland. Food production is becoming more mono-cultural, water quality is degrading, ecosystems' biodiversity is disappearing, provincial town centres are shrinking, emigrating youth are leaving unbalanced demographics, Māori are increasingly disassociating their culture from their traditional lands and natural disasters are causing more impact-all of which is making Kapiti less resilient, and severing the once-healthy city-hinterland relationship. Our work on future settlement opportunities in Kapiti proposes alternatives, using experimental design-led research methods to develop speculative architectural and landscape architectural schemes. The schemes are framed by some of the spatial attributes of resilience: diversity, complexity, redundancy, interconnectivity and adaptability. Collectively, the work reveals design strategies that have a potential to rebuild hinterlands' culture, town centres, housing, agriculture, community and ecosystems and to recalibrate the broader relationship between hinterlands and metropolitan systems.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international ...

Interactions of some of the principal historical natural hazards with human populations in the Austral-Asian region are discussed both from the perspective of the impact of the hazard on humans as well as the effects of human activities and climate change on hazard magnitude and frequency. Basically, the former type of interaction is evident for most hazards, while the latter interaction is primarily confined to terrestrial and coastal flooding, erosion, landslides, sea level rise, drought, and fire. Social vulnerability to natural hazards is related to the resources available to cope with the hazard, level of economic development, the ability to predict the occurrence of a hazard and to adjust and adapt to conditions posed by the hazard, and planning measures embraced by societies. Historical chronologies are presented for a range of hazards. Problems in reconstructing historical records of natural hazards include: interpretations of oral records; lack of supporting artifacts; obliteration of evidence of chronic hazards by higher magnitude events; and the inability to distinguish between the effects of different hazards in sediment records. Nevertheless, useful examples illustrate the effects and awareness of volcanic activity and associated hazards, such as tsunami, by early Maori and subsequent development of avoidance strategies; the effects of widespread land use changes and increases in population on the occurrence of floods, landslides and gullies in China and New Zealand; and the effects of forest conversion and drought on fire hazards in Indonesia.

IntroductIon The spotted shag (Stictocarbo punctatus) is endemic to New Zealand and has a total population of up to 30,000 breeding pairs. Spotted shags are found mainly around the South I, with only small scattered colonies around the North I, and (treating all Wellington Harbour colonies as one population) only 2 in the Wellington region (Taylor 2000; Gill et al. 2010). It has been suggested that North I populations are declining (e.g., Taylor 2000; Cameron et al. 2007), but there are few counts available. Taylor (2000) recommended Matiu/Somes I (41.249 S, 174.853 E), in Wellington Harbour, as an ideal site for long term monitoring of this species. The population of spotted shags at Matiu/ Somes I has been documented since 1972 when Kendrick (1973) noted 7 nests at the site. This

The use of VOC analysis to diagnose degradation in modern polymeric museum artefacts is reported. Volatile organic compound (VOC) analysis is a successful method for diagnosing medical conditions but to date has found little application in museums. Modern polymers are increasingly found in museum collections but pose serious conservation difficulties owing to unstable and widely varying formulations. Solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography/mass spectrometry and linear discriminant analysis were used to classify samples according to the length of time they had been artificially degraded. Accuracies in classification of 50-83 % were obtained after validation with separate test sets. The method was applied to three artefacts from collections at Tate to detect evidence of degradation. This approach could be used for any material in heritage collections and more widely in the field of polymer degradation.

Humans and other living things depend on water for life and health. Forests have long been seen as important sources of clean drinking water. Forested catchments supply a large proportion of all water used for domestic, agricultural and industrial needs. Trees and forests recycle moisture in the atmosphere through the process of transpiration to increase rainfall. The importance of forest and trees to rainfall and water supply include: improvement of water cycle, reduction of runoff, improving the replenishment of the water table, filtration of water pollutants, control of floods and regulation of stormwater. Despite their importance, forests face enormous threats due to over exploitation. Therefore recommendations were made for sustainable water supply and rainfall through natural regeneration by land protection, aggressive afforestation, forest conservation and sound management as well as policy formation and implementation. Conclusion was drawn on efforts toward tree planting campaign, to ensure ready water supply for the ever increasing human population and mitigating hostile environmental condition resulting from drought and desertification.

River restoration with the use of in-stream structures has been widely implemented to maintain/improve physical habitats. However, the response of aquatic biota has often been too weak to justify the high costs of restoration projects. The ecological effectiveness of river restoration has thus been much debated over claims that large-scale environmental drivers often overshadow the potential positive ecological effects of locally placed in-stream structures. In this study, we used a two-dimensional hydrodynamichabitat model to evaluate the ecological effectiveness of habitat restoration with the use of in-stream structures in various water discharges, ranging from near-dry to environmental flows. The habitat suitability of benthic macroinvertebrates and of three cyprinid fish species was simulated for six restoration schemes and at four discharge scenarios, and was compared with a reference model, without in-stream structures. We found that the ecological response to habitat restoration varied by species and life stages, it strongly depended on the reach-scale flow conditions, it was often negative at nearenvironmental flows, and when positive, mostly at near-dry flows, it was too low to justify the high costs of river restoration. Flow variation was the major environmental driver that our local habitat restoration schemes attempted-but mostly failed-to fine-tune. We conclude that traditional river restoration, based on trial and error, will likely fail and should be ecologically pre-optimized before field implementation. Widespread use of instream structures for ecological restoration is not recommended. However, at near-dry flows, the response of all biotic elements except for macroinvertebrates, was positive. In combination with the small habitat-suitability differences observed among structure types and densities, we suggest that sparse/moderate in-stream structure placement can be used for cost-effective river restoration, but it will only be ecologically effective-thus justifying the high implementation costs-when linked to very specific purposes: (i) to conserve endangered species and (ii) to increase/improve habitat availability/suitability during dry periods, thus proactively preventing/reducing the current and future ecological impacts of climate change.

Science for Conservation is a scientific monograph series presenting research funded by New Zealand Department of Conservation (DOC). Manuscripts are internally and externally peer-reviewed; resulting publications are considered part of the formal international scientific literature. Titles are listed in the DOC Science Publishing catalogue on the departmental website http:// www.doc.govt.nz and printed copies can be purchased from

An invertebrate survey of forest on Kapiti, Blumine, Long, Motuara, Pickersgill, and Red Mercury Islands showed that the same major invertebrate groups were present on all the islands. The same groups are also present in mainland broadleafpodocarp forest of the Orongorongo Valley, near Wellington. The invertebrates eaten by the little spotted kiwi (Apteryx oweni Gould) on Kapiti Island were also found in reasonable numbers on some of the other offshore islands. The relationship between invertebrates and their predators was examined; habitat diversity seems important for the survival of larger invertebrates in the presence of mammalian predators.

Modelling clays are utilised by artists for their malleable properties. One of the challenges in managing collections containing such materials is the variety of commercial compositions available and, therefore, the variation in the requirements for storage and maintenance of such artefacts. The Art Gallery of New South Wales in Australia is responsible for the care of a range of artworks that contain modelling materials, some of which show detrimental property changes and there is concern for the longevity of such works. The aim of the current research is to determine the compositions of the modelling materials utilised in works produced by different artists in the gallery's collection. Infrared spectroscopy was used to identify the main constituents of samples collected from the works of four different artists and a variety of material types were determined. Oil-based, air-hardening and polymer clays of varying composition were identified in the survey of artworks. Signs of deterioration in particular artworks were able to be characterised using spectroscopy, with the mechanisms identified including loss and oxidation of the oil component. Where a polymer clay was chosen by one artist, the distortion of the artwork was due to flow of the material over time and demonstrates the need for an understanding of the long term properties of the materials being used. The study has highlighted the need for conservators to have a detailed understanding of modelling materials to ensure the longevity of artworks containing this class of materials.

The tradescantia leaf beetle (Neolema ogloblini) was released in 2011 as a biological control agent for tradescantia (Tradescantia fluminensis), one of New Zealand's worst environmental weeds. Tradescantia prevents native forest regeneration by growing over and shading out native seedlings at ground level. To assess N. ogloblini's effectiveness, a glasshouse experiment compared ground level light readings before and after beetle feeding and the response of two native seedlings, kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) and mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus). Feeding damage caused light readings to increase above 5% of fulllight, the threshold estimated as necessary for regeneration of native plants by previous research. This resulted in a significant increase in kawakawa seedling height and leaf length. This study suggests that native forest regeneration may benefit from feeding damage to tradescantia caused by N. ogloblini in the field.

Chamois (Rupicapra rupicapra) are usually considered an alpine species in New Zealand, but also occur in forests in areas such as Westland. A postal survey of commercial helicopter-based hunters indicated that chamois are present within Westland forests from timberline to sea level and are most abundant within an area of about 1600 km 2 extending from the Wanganui River in the north to the Karangarua River to the south. The diet of 40 chamois shot in spring and summer was determined by analysis of rumen contents. Of 66 food items identified to genus or species level, five averaged >5% of dry weight of the rumen contents; these were Carmichaelia spp. (14%), large-leaved Coprosma spp. (12%), Weinmannia racemosa (11%), Griselinia littoralis (9%), and Melicytus ramiflorus (7%). The proportion of grasses in the diet was significantly lower in summer (3%) than in spring (8%). These results suggest that unmanaged chamois populations have the potential to affect regeneration of plant species important to the Westland Metrosideros umbellata-Weinmannia racemosa forest community.