Hunt for invasive pests goes digital
An innovative mobile app that uses artificial intelligence to identify harmful weeds, pest animals and diseases is enabling more Kiwis to join the fight against invasive pests this summer.
University of Canterbury conservation biologist and agroecologist Dr Sara Kross says the project, to kick off in Marlborough this spring, will consider the role of habitat along vineyard edges in providing resources for birds, and how, in turn, the birds affect the vineyard.
“If you have native hedgerow or are near a patch of native forest, are you seeing more native birds? Most of which are insectivores and are unlikely to cause damage.”
In contrast, are rows of macrocarpa and poplars alongside vineyards more likely to be home to birds that feed on grapes in autumn?
Sara, who did her PhD on kārearea, native falcon, in Marlborough vineyards 12 years ago, says the new study is focused on more abundant bird species and their impacts on vineyards. “What’s the cost benefit of birds and how does that change under different habitat types?”
Sara and PhD student Ananya Agnihotri are looking for vineyards with mature hedgerows or tree lots for the study, and Ananya will start field work this spring, with at least one more field season before completing her thesis on the topic. They introduced grape growers to the project at the Vinecology seminar in Blenheim in August, focused on “balancing habitat, biodiversity, and pest control in Marlborough’s vineyards”.
The seminar was run by New Zealand Landcare Trust, which is looking for participants for the Wairau Nature Network, a corridor project through the Wairau Plains.
Marlborough Catchment coordinator Wendy Sullivan says the university project needs established plantings, while the corridor project can give guidance for new areas of planting.
“The idea is that everyone will be one jigsaw piece in an entire puzzle. The new plantings will help link established restoration area.”
If you’d like to participate in the bird habitat research, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To learn more about the Wairau Nature Network email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
