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RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT 2.6.2 Significance of Invertebrate Fauna Although no invertebrate survey has been conducted on the PL work elsewhere on the Pisa Range (most recently for the Roborosa tenure review conservation resources report) has identified a range of significant habitats for invertebrate fauna. The upper plateau, of the Pisa Range has outstanding invertebrate conservation value on the basis of the distinctiveness and high diversity of high altitude habitats. These habitats are generally in good condition. Their invertebrate communities strongly reflect a Western-Central Otago influence with wider links both north and south. The tenure review inspection of Robrosa yielded endemic Central Otago moths, butterflies, weevils, a chafer beetle and the threatened grass hopper Sigaus obelisci. Invertebrate diversity is high in grey shrublands in Central Otago. 22 species of moth known to be supported on the threatened tree daisy Olearia hectorii (Department of Conservation 2007). Derraik et al (2003) note that modified native habitats with a prominent exotic plant component may still harbour a significant indigenous invertebrate fauna. On the Rock and Pillar Range they recoreded 115 invertebrate taxa from Olearia bullata alone and a further 93 from the ubiquitous dryland shrub Coprosma propinqua. It can be safely assumed that native shrublands on the Lowburn and Meg faces will be similarly rich in native invertebrate fauna. 2.6.3 Herpetofauna The PL was not surveyed for herpetofauna for tenure review purposes. On nearby Robrosa PL two species of lizard were recorded. McCann’s skink (Oligosoma maccanni) was seen in abundance in open vegetation and rock habitat areas below 1500 m whilst Cromwell gecko (Woodworthia “Cromwell”) were seen at a few selected loose rock habitat sites between 1200 m and 1600 m (Department of Conservation 2006). McCann’s skinks were commonly sited during the 2012 inspection. On the Larches PL some 14km to the north on the adjoining Criffell Range, McCann’s skink and common skinks (O. nigriplantare polychroma) were recorded through a tenure review inspection (Department of Conservation 2002). The DOC Bioweb Database contains records for McCann’s skinks and Cromwell geckos found at Pack Spur Gully in 1986. Jewell & McFarlane (1997) and Hitchmough et al. (1998) note that geckos on the Pisa Range differ morphometrically from populations to the north and south (being similar in some respects to Otago/ Southland large geckos). Allozyme analysis has shown it to be a distinctive form of the Cromwell gecko. 2.6.4 Significance of Herpetofauna The three lizard species recorded nearby have no threat status. 2.6.5 Avifauna Birds seen or heard during the 2012 tenure review inspection are listed in Table 4 over page. 15
RELEASED UNDER THE OFFICIAL INFORMATION ACT Table 4: Birds Recorded During Survey of the PL Common Name-* denotes native species Scientific Name Threat Status (Miskelly et al 2008) Comments New Falcon * Zealand Falco novaeseelandiae Nationally Vulnerable Open range on the Pisa Range is prime habitat. New Zealand pipit * South Island Pied Oystercatcher* Black Shag * Southern blackbacked gull * Anthus novaeseelandiae Haematopus finschi Phalacrocorax carbo novaehollandiae Declining Large numbers of pipits seen on the tops – up to 60 birds in a flock Declining Naturally uncommon Breed on open tops of Pisa Range. Rookery in the Low Burn Larus dominicanus Not Threatened These birds breed up on the open tops of Pisa Range in late Spring and Summer. Australasian *harrier Circus approximans Not Threatened Two harriers seen in Luggate Creek area and lower slopes of PL. Silvereye* Zosterops lateralis lateralis Not Threatened Widespread in shrublands Paradise Shelduck* Tadorna variegata Not Threatened Fantail* Rhipidura fuliginosa Not Threatened Widespread in shrublands Bellbird* Anthornis melanura Not Threatened Tomtit * Petroica macrocephala Not Threatened Greywarbler* Gerygone igata Not Threatened Widespread in shrublands Welcome Swallow* Hirundo tahitica neoxena Not Threatened Yellow Hammer Skylark Greenfinch Californian quail Blackbird Emberiza citrinella Alauda arvensis Carduelis chloris Callipepla californica Turdus merula Introduced Introduced Introduced Introduced Introduced 16
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Part 1 - Land Information New Zealand

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