48 Boffa Miskell Ltd | Waihi North Project | Terrestrial Ecology Values and Effects of the WUG | 22 June 2022 is unknown. van Winkel (2022) has produced an assessment of potential effects of mine blast vibrations from the WNP on native frogs. This assessment includes a review of the biology of Archey’s frog, a review of literature and observational data regarding perception of vibrations and an assessment of potential responses to vibrations. This document is provided in Appendix 4. In summary, Archey’s frogs are thought to potentially be sensitive to vibrations during the breeding cycle (particularly the egg-brooding phase), but there is evidence from a range of sources to suggest that they can tolerate a low level of vibration disturbance, including during brooding. In particular, the persistence of Archey’s (and Hochstetter’s) frogs in the vicinity of Golden Cross mine, where Archey’s frogs were subject to blast vibrations of at least 2 mm/s, and Hochstetter’s frogs experienced blast vibrations of up to 6-10 mm/s, indicates that frogs did not disperse or perish despite experiencing mining-associated blasts similar to those expected from the WUG. van Winkel suggests a “cautionary response to assessing the effect of vibrations with amplitudes higher than 2-4 mm/s”. The blast vibrations are expected to be of short duration (approximately 5 seconds each during the production phase) and occur 1-3 times per day. 6.2.4 Native lizards Noise Vocalising is not the primary means of communication for most New Zealand lizard species, although several do produce clicks and squeaks / barks and chirps in distress and as social calls (Hare et. al. 2016), often accompanying postural displays. Naultinus (green) geckos are known to vocalise conspicuously. Both skinks and geckos have well developed hearing that enables them to respond to predator movement and noise. The potential response of lizards to noise may range from increased ‘freeze’ behaviour to avoidance behaviour (i.e. moving away temporarily or permanently). Lizards are likely to acclimatise to continuous, steady noise as from the operational vent raise but it may mask (or be perceived by lizards to mask) predator movements. It is possible lizards may modify their behaviour during vent raise construction because of increased human presence and disturbance, rather than construction noise per se. Construction of the vent raises is expected to be completed in less than one month, although more detailed timing (and time of year) is unknown. Vibration Substrate-borne vibrations and their relevance to lizards is understudied, although lizards are sensitive to vibrations which may, at least locally or very locally, act as cues or stimuli for predator and prey detection, and changes in their environment. Some older studies have shown the use of vibrations in chameleons on plants to communicate between opposite sexes (Barnett et al. 1999). The sandfish lizard (Scincus scincus) has also been shown to detect vibrations from its prey on the surface when being buried under sand up to 15 cm deep (Hetherington, 1989). It remains unknown if New Zealand lizards use similar cues. For lizards within Coromandel Forest Park, infrequent blast vibrations may cause them to be startled, potentially resulting in freezing behaviour when they are in the open (emerged), or increased reluctance to emerge. These behaviours may increase predation risk or reduce fitness (as a result of stress), respectively. The blast vibrations are expected to be of short duration (approximately 5 seconds each during the production phase) and occur 1-3 times per day.
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