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    Out of habitat marine mammals – Identification, causes, and management recommendations
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2025-07) Nunny L; Bossley M; Boys RM; Brakes P; Genov T; Parsons ECM; Peters KJ; Rose NA; Simeone CA; Stockin KA; Vail CS; van der Linde K; Visser IN; Simmonds MP
    An out of habitat (OOH) marine mammal is an individual found outside of their natural range, e.g., an Atlantic walrus (Odobenus rosmarus rosmarus) along the coastline of mainland Europe, or an individual within their natural range in habitat that is not optimal for their health or survival due to a lack of suitable conditions and/or because of potential conflict with humans. As the number of OOH marine mammals appears to be increasing, and following on from two international workshops, here we define what constitutes an OOH marine mammal and provide a detailed assessment of potential drivers. Climate change, habitat loss and/or degradation, disturbance, changes in prey distribution, and morbidity may all be reasons for a marine mammal being OOH. Appropriate management of OOH marine mammals is considered. This may simply involve monitoring to better understand the situation, to protect the welfare of the animal(s) and to ensure that members of the public are kept safe. However, on occasion, further intervention may be required, such as providing safe areas for the OOH marine mammal(s), encouraging the animal(s) to move, capture and translocation, or euthanasia. Regardless of the action taken, educating and communicating with the public are key elements of OOH marine mammal management. Lessons can be learned from human-wildlife conflict and rewilding scenarios. The potential for OOH marine mammals to be pioneers seeking new habitat, contributing to species resilience in the face of rapidly changing environments, and how to include them in conservation legislation and management planning are considered.
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    Anchoring techniques for translocated Duvaucel's geckos (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii), and the use of cell-foam retreats by lizards and invertebrates : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Albany, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2015) Holdom, Alaine
    Conservation management often requires translocations to isolated habitats, and determining the success of such events is reliant on the use of effective post-translocation monitoring (PTM) techniques. Many reptile populations are already difficult to monitor, and post-release dispersal often increases this difficulty. Effective monitoring techniques for nocturnal, semi-arboreal, cryptic lizards are consequently still lacking. Furthermore, very little research has been conducted on the use of anchoring techniques for improving the PTM of lizards by reducing post-release dispersal behaviour. In early 2013, two populations of Duvaucel’s geckos (Hoplodactylus duvaucelii) were translocated to two offshore islands. This provided an excellent opportunity to investigate several aspects relating to the improvement of PTM techniques for this species. I investigated whether two anchoring techniques, i.e. temporary food provision and release into cell-foam retreats (CFRs), can reduce post-release dispersal and encourage CFR usage. Further, I assessed the usefulness of CFRs for the PTM of H. duvaucelii. Additionally, I investigated the usage of CFRs for a range of other lizard species and invertebrates. My research provided evidence that both anchoring techniques can improve the use of CFRs by H. duvaucelii in the short term. However, anchoring effects were not maintained beyond two months after release. While anchoring treatments may have delayed postrelease dispersal behaviour, they did not affect post-release dispersal distances. The study results suggest that CFRs can be a useful PTM tool for H. duvaucelii, particularly shortly after translocation, and also aid in the detection of young. In addition, I demonstrated that CFRs can detect a variety of other lizard and invertebrate species. In conclusion, this research provides valuable information for the improvement of monitoring techniques for cryptic, semi-arboreal lizards, also providing evidence that CFRs can be useful tool for monitoring a range of lizards and invertebrates.
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    The effect of conservation management on Little Blue Penguins (Eudyptula minor) on North Island, New Zealand : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Masters of Science in Conservation Biology at Massey University, Auckland, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2009) Lowe, Mark Ian
    This study aimed to fill a gap in research, particularly on the size of breeding populations of Little Blue Penguins in the North Auckland area, while also providing recommendations for the conservation management of Little Blue Penguins. Three sites North of Auckland were used for the majority of this study; Tawharanui North, Tawharanui South and Goat Island The abundance and nest density of Little Blue Penguins was estimated for the three sites north of Auckland. All three sites had a very low nest density: 0.0096 nests/100m2 at Goat Island, 0.0064 nests/100m2 at Tawharanui North and 0.0048 nests/100m2 at Tawharanui South. Abundance showed a similar trend, with Goat Island having the highest average number of birds coming ashore over the year (2.25 birds per night), followed by Tawharanui North (1.81 birds per night) and finally Tawharanui South (1.19 birds per night). Habitat surveys were conducted at the three sites and differences in habitat structure were found between all three. Tawharanui North was predominantly sand and flax and Tawharanui South was predominantly pebbles and scrub, while Goat Island displayed mostly sand with no vegetation. The results suggested that grass and boulders make up the Little Blue Penguins‘ preferred nesting habitat and it was predicted that sites containing more of this habitat type would have higher nest densities and abundance, although small sample sizes prevented this from being validated statistically. The nest success was calculated, again for the three sites, using the Mayfield method. The key results showed that the incubation period was associated with the lowest success rate of any of the nesting stages observed. Success rates for the incubation stage at the three sites fell between 0.11 and 0.66, success rates for the guard stage fell between 0.74 and 1.00, and success rates for the post-guard stage fell between 0.62 and 1.00. Findings also revealed that nest success was greater at the two Tawharanui sites (where similar rates of nest success were observed) than at the Goat Island site The number of carcasses recovered was recorded as follows: Goat Island, 0.67 birds/km; Tawharanui North, 0.63 birds/km; and Tawharanui South, 0.43 birds/km. There was no statistically significant difference between the rates of carcass recovery and the study site, nor was there a statistically significant difference between the rates of carcass recovery and the season. The rates of carcass recovery were also determined to be lower than historically found for these sites. As an aside to the rest of this study the acute stress response of Little Blue Penguins to pit tag and metal flipper band application was assessed through measuring corticosterone levels in the blood of the birds. The results showed that implantation of a pit tag produced a significantly greater acute stress response than banding with the traditional metal flipper bands. This study makes recommendations regarding the study and conservation of Little Blue Penguins. These recommendations are found throughout this thesis; however, key recommendations are repeated here for convenience.  Re-assess density and abundance measures for the Tawharanui and Goat Island sites in 5 to 10 years time  Research what makes a particular habitat type more preferable than another for Little Blue Penguins  Place nesting boxes around the Tawharanui coast to increase suitable nesting habitat  Carry out ongoing carcass recovery observations and necropsies on penguin populations in Auckland to better understand the causes of mortality  Engage in further study regarding both the acute and chronic stress levels induced by different identification techniques  Engage in further study into possible alternatives to both pit tags and metal bands for penguin identification  Protect Little Blue Penguins from predators on the mainland where possible