Terrestrial fauna survey of Slipper Island (Whakahau)
2018
Russell, James C. | Russell, Katherine J.
We describe the history of Slipper Island (Whakahau) off northeastern New Zealand and report on a survey of the terrestrial fauna undertaken in December 2016. Results from this survey are compared with the last comprehensive survey in August 1973. The terrestrial habitat of the island is predominantly farmland and has changed little in extent over the past 50 years. As a result, the avifauna has remained remarkably consistent, although with some species turnover that reflects changes in the wider regional landscape, and some notable native species additions. Pacific rats were abundant across the island, and as a result reptiles are depauperate due to local extinctions. Bell frogs and Argentine ants are both recent arrivals on the island. On the nearby smaller native forested Penguin and Rabbit Islands the avifauna is predominantly native.
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