Figure 4: Mean number of kiwi call counts recorded per hour at Puketi Forest (Northland) in the presence of pest control (G. Bramley, unpubl. data). As well as an increase in numbers, there is a general increase in conspicuousness for some species. As numbers build there is often a gradual expansion of the range of some species (such as lizards and frogs). Figure 3 shows the mean number of frogs per 20m per hour searched within an area managed for kokako protection in the Hunua Ranges versus the number of frogs outside the management area; Figure 3: Mean number of Hochstetter’s frogs/20m/hour at Hunua (Auckland)(from Baber et al. 2008) Forest Health As well as animals, plant populations and forest health generally benefit from pest control. In areas with pest control there is improved canopy health and more regular flowering of possum palatable trees like northern rātā and pōhutukawa as shown in Plates 1 and 2.
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