Forest ecology
New Zealand´s indigenous forests and shrublands are key natural assets yet they continue to be modified by climatic events and disturbances such as browsing by introduced pests and timber production. There is widespread concern about the sustainability of these ecosystems among the general public, landowners, land managers, policy and regulatory agencies and the global community. Our research develops an understanding of why these forests are changing and how they can be sustainably managed. Our research requires skills in biodiversity dynamics, nutrient cycling, weed and pest impacts, global change, biological control, Māori knowledge, ecological modelling and information systems.
Research
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Assembly history and ecosystem function
Ecologists have become increasingly aware that ´assembly history´, or the sequence and timing in which species join an ecological community, may profoundly influence community structure (e.g. species diversity and composition). There is also increasing evidence that community structure can control ecosystem functioning. -
Consequences of multiple herbivores for forests
New Zealand’s land biota evolved in the near–absence of mammals. Māori introduced one new mammalian herbivore (the rat, kiore) and Europeans introduced over 25 more species, including three more rodent species, brush–tail possums, and various species of deer. -
Designing low–impact silviculture
Our research will lead to silvicultural systems that minimise environmental impacts, by developing an understanding of how indigenous forestry modifies ecosystem processes in a range of commonly managed forest types. -
Designing monitoring systems for forests
New Zealand´s natural forests are unique, dominated by endemic tree species. Public concern about change in forests and New Zealand´s international obligations to document change in forest requires robust, defensible monitoring methods. -
Indigenous Forestry
Developing low–impact silvicultural systems for mixed–species forests and providing the basis for restoring previously logged forests -
Population dynamics of dominant New Zealand trees
Forests are the dominant vegetation cover of prehistoric New Zealand and no other ecosystems arouses the same public concern about protection of natural values. However, forests are constantly changing, often because of prolonged response to natural and human–related disturbances. -
Predicting mast events in indigenous forests
New Zealand is ideally placed for studying the causes and consequences of masting, as it is unusually common in the flora including in many dominant tree species. Our overall goal is to develop a network of long–term seedfall monitoring sites that can be used to address a range of scientific and end–user questions regarding masting. -
Restoring exploitatively logged forests
Our research will develop an understanding of how forests managed for timber production can at the same time provide cultural and environmental benefits to Māori owners.