Modelling for research on chemical control of mammals in New Zealand

Development of predictive formulae or qualitative statements about the probable outcome of control campaigns entails knowledge of bait quality and distribution, behaviour, vagaries of weather at the time of the control campaign, and other factors which govern the probability that the target animals will accept bait. This paper collates experience in recognising, estimating and using some of these variables for predicting the outcome of large-scale poisoning, and discusses possible approaches to the solution of some hard-core problems

Architectural Paint Research and the Archaeology of Buildings

Architectural Paint Research (APR) is the archaeological study of interior and exterior applied decoration. Over time, applied layers of paint and other decorative finishes build-up on the surface of a built structure, encapsulating microscopic deposits of material evidence. This evidence can be used to inform the phase dating of a structure, or illuminate the historic function of a space. It can challenge preconceived ideas of how specific areas were decorated, and track the changes in aesthetics over time. It can identify when architects’ ideologies have been balanced by practical considerations. It can provide an insight into the intangible and ephemeral atmosphere that decoration gives to a room. Finally, it can examine the dirt trapped between layers of decoration and thus categorize the physical environmental conditions that surrounded a building at varying points in its history. Although used in the commercial heritage and conservation sectors, Architectural Paint Research is almost completely unknown to building archaeologists. This article aims to introduce APR to a new audience, and argues that is an invaluable tool in the archaeological interpretation of buildings

WHY DO POSSUMS SURVIVE AERIAL POISONING OPERATIONS?

Major causes of failure of aerial poisoning operations against possums identified were: sublethal toxic loading, undersize sublethal baits, nonlearned behavioral aversion to 1080, and failure to encounter bait. Dislike of bait was not a major cause of failure. Progress has been made towards solving these problems, but failure to encounter bait remains a likely major reason for possums surviving aerial poisoning. Improvements in the aerial sowing of bait are essential if the full benefit of this progress is to be realized

Comparison of Distance-Measurement Techniques for Sampling Tussock Grassland Species in New Zealand

Four distance-measurement techniques were tested in 1969 near the Craigieburn Research Station of the Forest and Range Experiment Station, New Zealand Forest Service. Two methods (closest individual and point-centered-quarter) are known to result in biased estimates of density in nonrandom plant populations, and the other two methods (angle-order and corrected-point-distance) have been reported to permit unbiased estimates in nonrandom populations. Sampled were two tussock grassland species in areas where true densities were determined by total counts. The corrected-point-distance method resulted in estimates within 20% of actual density for all populations, and appeared to be the most promising measurement method tested. The closest individual and point-centered-quarter methods gave badly biased (low) estimates of aggregated populations. Reasonably good estimates for some populations were obtained by the angle-order method, but it is time consuming. All methods appear to need additional theoretical work.This material was digitized as part of a cooperative project between the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries.The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact [email protected] for further information.Migrated from OJS platform August 202