Extending the observational record to provide new insights into invasive alien species in a coastal dune environment of New Zealand
Extending the observational record to provide new insights into invasive alien species in a coastal dune environment of New Zealand
Coastal habitats are regarded to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of invasive alien species. These impacts can be particularly visible in areas of national cultural and heritage significance, raising public awareness of a growing global trend and often requiring urgent changes to management practices. New Zealand has a relatively long history of invasive alien species with the introduction of non-native marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) for sand stabilisation and erosion control since the mid-nineteenth century. Of national importance, the sand dunes of the Hokianga Harbour are considered to be the spiritual birthplace of Māori culture in New Zealand and have experienced substantial vegetation change over the last century. Here we report a multi-disciplinary study combining palaeoecology with historic and contemporary observations to better characterise the changing distribution and mechanisms of spread of invasive alien species on the Hokianga headland. Our analysis indicates the vegetation established on the headland is primarily linked to late Pleistocene water-retaining, lignite deposits. We find, however, an abrupt increase in the area colonised by invasive alien species during the late twentieth century, most probably linked to reduced sediment supply in the Hokianga Harbour. Urgent management strategies may be required if the present dune headland is to be conserved, particularly against a backdrop of rising sea level which will most probably limit sediment resupply.
Hokianga harbour, Invasive alien species (IAS), Remote sensing, Sand dunes, Sea level rise, Swamp kauri
100-109
Thomas, Z. A.
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Turney, C. S.M.
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Palmer, J. G.
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Lloydd, S.
50477bce-caac-4356-af27-6a16036c11f2
Klaricich, J. N.L.
7926b311-0f25-41b7-8d3c-008468642a39
Hogg, A.
11978083-6632-42e2-ac46-4e0f9cd709c9
1 September 2018
Thomas, Z. A.
4b512d3a-3478-4270-9fdd-61256aa640d3
Turney, C. S.M.
5e673fdb-42c9-4bc3-994a-519db28fdec8
Palmer, J. G.
6b327a39-f234-4cdc-ae73-0c48340f05b3
Lloydd, S.
50477bce-caac-4356-af27-6a16036c11f2
Klaricich, J. N.L.
7926b311-0f25-41b7-8d3c-008468642a39
Hogg, A.
11978083-6632-42e2-ac46-4e0f9cd709c9
Thomas, Z. A., Turney, C. S.M., Palmer, J. G., Lloydd, S., Klaricich, J. N.L. and Hogg, A.
(2018)
Extending the observational record to provide new insights into invasive alien species in a coastal dune environment of New Zealand.
Applied Geography, 98 (9), .
(doi:10.1016/j.apgeog.2018.07.006).
Abstract
Coastal habitats are regarded to be highly vulnerable to the impacts of invasive alien species. These impacts can be particularly visible in areas of national cultural and heritage significance, raising public awareness of a growing global trend and often requiring urgent changes to management practices. New Zealand has a relatively long history of invasive alien species with the introduction of non-native marram grass (Ammophila arenaria) for sand stabilisation and erosion control since the mid-nineteenth century. Of national importance, the sand dunes of the Hokianga Harbour are considered to be the spiritual birthplace of Māori culture in New Zealand and have experienced substantial vegetation change over the last century. Here we report a multi-disciplinary study combining palaeoecology with historic and contemporary observations to better characterise the changing distribution and mechanisms of spread of invasive alien species on the Hokianga headland. Our analysis indicates the vegetation established on the headland is primarily linked to late Pleistocene water-retaining, lignite deposits. We find, however, an abrupt increase in the area colonised by invasive alien species during the late twentieth century, most probably linked to reduced sediment supply in the Hokianga Harbour. Urgent management strategies may be required if the present dune headland is to be conserved, particularly against a backdrop of rising sea level which will most probably limit sediment resupply.
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Accepted/In Press date: 2 July 2018
Published date: 1 September 2018
Additional Information:
Funding Information:
This work was supported by the Australian Research Council ( FL100100195 and DP170104665 ). Many thanks to the Hokianga Historical Society for their assistance obtaining historical photographs.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 Elsevier Ltd
Keywords:
Hokianga harbour, Invasive alien species (IAS), Remote sensing, Sand dunes, Sea level rise, Swamp kauri
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 476061
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/476061
ISSN: 0143-6228
PURE UUID: 622c6dde-88c1-455e-80aa-effc78cc1122
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Date deposited: 04 Apr 2023 17:10
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 04:10
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Contributors
Author:
Z. A. Thomas
Author:
C. S.M. Turney
Author:
J. G. Palmer
Author:
S. Lloydd
Author:
J. N.L. Klaricich
Author:
A. Hogg
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