Summary of answers to questions from R25 Elm Park School for the Learnz Routeburn Trip (Audio Conference #6)

 

Guest speaker: Ruud Kleinpaste

Topic: The Ecology of the Routeburn Track

Location: Queenstown

       

1. What kinds of plants can walkers see mostly when they are walking? (Jusleen)

Silver beech, mountain beech and red beech- orchids- mosses.

Summary:

Walkers can mostly see silver  beech, mountain beech and red beech trees.

2.  Why are beech forests common in New Zealand and found mostly in the mountains? (Aliah)

Common-native to New Zealand- NZ trees adapted to NZ conditions- NZ was once part of Gondwana Land.

Summary:

Beech forests are most  common in New Zealand and found mostly in the mountains because they have adapted to the cold and snow.

3.  We know beech trees produced a great deal of seeds during the “beech mast” last year. Can you tell us the consequences for predators and the native bird life in the areas on the Routeburn track in particular?  (Richelle)

seeds plentiful- explosion of predators- stoats and rats. Stoats eat rats- eat birds and eggs when rats eaten.

Summary:

After the beech mast last year there was an explosion of predators like stoats and rats. The stoats ate the rats and then ate birds’ eggs and chicks.  

4.  Why are there so few land mammals in New Zealand? (Chloe)

NZ split from Gondwana land- mammals could not get to NZ across the sea- hard to survive when they got here

Summary:

Most land mammals could not survive the trip by themselves. They had to be introduced to New Zealand.

5. Which are the most endangered birds in the Routeburn area and why is this?  (Kaden)

 Endangered-hard to find, mohua, rock wren, whio, and falcons.

Summary:

The rock wren, mohua, whio, and falcons are the most endangered animals in the Routeburn area.  The mohua bird numbers are getting bigger.

6. How do you get rid of all the pests on the track- eg stoats, rats, possums? (Tarquin)

 Pests: stoats, rats, possums and weasels. Traps.

Summary:

Pests such as stoats, rats , possums and weasels are being trapped.  They put lures in the trap such as eggs or peanut butter and BAM...they are gone.

7.  Why were brown and rainbow trout introduced into the Routeburn track area? (Cameron)

People missed fishing for trout- wanted to eat fish.

Summary:

Brown and rainbow trout were introduced into the Routeburn track area for the same reasons the deer was introduced.  People wanted to catch trout like they did in the countries they came from. 

8. How did the Rifleman bird get its name?  (Oliver/Evan )

Colour - green and brown - like army camouflage

Summary:

The Rifleman got its name because of their green and brown colouring which looks similar to the army camouflage uniforms that rifleman wear.  

9.  Why were white tailed deer introduced to the Routeburn Track (Hannan and Nikhil)

hunting- tourists-people needing old country animals.

Summary:

White tailed deer were introduced to the Routeburn Track area because hunters missed hunting animals from their home country.  They wanted big meaty animals.  It also encouraged tourists to come to New Zealand.

10. What does the mohua bird eat? (Myra)

insects-searchers of bark.

Summary: The mohua bird eats insects that they find in the bark of trees.