Blumine IslandSustainable Biodiversity

Positives

• Blumines biodiversity is sustainable by the water supply and the range of food eg seeds

• there is no pest so the native animals can survive

Negative

• The animals are not very accessible to see

• you can not introduce new species with out loads of research

• Blumine contributes to New Zealand’s biodiversity by breeding animal species on blumine and then reintroducing them into the rest of New Zealand’s

Tomtit

Blumine is a particularly good habitat for Tomtits and Blumine is a source area to export the birds to other islands.

Saddleback / Tieke

The Tieke is one of the rarest birds in New Zealand, they fall prey easily to introduced predators because they nest close to the ground. Having them on a predator free island can help to increase total numbers in New Zealand.

Carnivorous snails

The carnivorous snail is unique to New Zealand in that it is the only snail that eats meat in the world. Although snails used to found throughout New Zealand they are put under immense pressure due to introduced predators preying on the snails.

Tree Weta

Weta are a food source for many primary predators, either the grubs or the insects including for Kiwi and Weka. They are important to have in a place for a sustainable ecosystem.

Tea Tree Kanuka / Manuka

Kanuka and Manuka are New Zealand’s native tea trees. They are nursery trees; forming a young forest and helping to protect the saplings growing underneath it, the saplings eventually surpassing them in height.

Okarito Brown Kiwi

The Okarito Brown is one of the rarest kiwis in the world. We are introducing them to Blumine sometime in 2010. There will hopefully be about 8-10 breeding pairs on the island.

Orange Breasted Parakeet

This will be the rarest parakeet on the island, and will hopefully be introduced onto Blumine to enlarge the total population in New Zealand.

Yellow Parakeet

Another rare bird, this will be released onto Blumine if the Orange Breasted is found to be unsuited to the island.

Old Man’s Beard

Old man’s Beard is an introduced weed that strangles the native plants on the island, compromising the stability of the ecosystem, and making it harder for the herbivorous native birds to find food.

Humans

Humans introduce these other pests to New Zealand in the first place, they also have the potential to carry microscopic micro organisms and other pests that can fit in bags and clothing. Also by cutting away at the forests, lighting fires, walking off the tracks and polluting, they endanger the fragile ecosystem of any place.

Special Thanks To: Department of Conservation (DoC)

Untouched World Charitable Trust

Cockram Nissan

Canterbury University

The toilet maker

Acknowledgements

Wedgewood House YHA Backpackers

Dolphinwatch Peter Sutton Stu McLeon Tony Robson Jess Martin Gavin Morrison Paddy Scott

Creators

Rachael Hudson

(Phanter)

Laura Shipley

(onion)

Riley Priddle

(Bro species)

Charlotte Cairncross

(dwaaaafff)