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Relationships to nature are important for the health and well‐being of peoples globally and should be actively protected. Indigenous Māori people in Aotearoa New Zealand recognize this important relationship to nature through narratives of lineage and express this through concepts such as kaitiakitanga; a cultural place‐based practice of stewardship that intertwines relationships of responsibility between people, nature and culture. However, many Māori now live outside of tribal areas in urban settings, putting relationships with nature into question.We asked how urban Māori people practice kaitiakitanga, and what factors might predict flourishing relationships with nature. We surveyed 214 urban Māori who shared their perceptions of kaitiakitanga, cultural practices and restoration activities. The data were analysed by identifying qualitative themes and using linear mixed effect models.Māori who were exposed to kaitiakitanga as children were more likely to attend marae and family restoration activities, and less likely to attend events led by local councils. Pressingly, young people in urban areas were more at risk of losing cultural knowledge and opportunities to practice cultural practices in urban areas. Age, distance from tribal area and early exposure all affected decision‐making and expression of kaitiakitanga in urban areas.Knowledge associated with kaitiakitanga can create inclusive and effective urban restoration activities. We suggest that partnership between Māori groups including local marae, and local councils, may provide accessible, best practice urban restoration models that attract local Māori and act to support cultural knowledge, in turn encouraging diverse pathways to nature restoration to develop in urban areas. Likewise, such partnerships will ensure that Māori in cities are supported to express and maintain cultural knowledge and practice into the future. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When ecosystems are under severe pressure or environments change, trophic position and intraspecific niche width may decrease or narrow, signalling that conservation action is required. In New Zealand, alpine and subalpine ecosystems have been extensively modified through farming since 19th‐century European settlement, with consequences for indigenous species such as the kea Nestor notabilis.We investigated feather stable isotope values in the kea and predicted a lower trophic position in modern kea populations, to reflect reduced lowland habitat and a mixed diet with more plant material. We predicted that size and sex would influence trophic values in this sexually dimorphic species, with larger birds more likely to have a high protein diet.We examined potential dietary changes in 68 museum collected kea from 1880s to 2000s, first recording accession details including provenance and sex and measuring culmen length. We used bulk carbon and nitrogen stable isotope analyses (BSIAs) of feathers and a further feather subset using compound‐specific stable isotope analyses of amino acids (CSIA‐AA) to obtain isotopic values and estimate trophic position.BSIA showed δ15N values in kea feathers declined through time and could indicate that early century kea were highly omnivorous, with δ15N values on average higher than in modern kea. Variance in δ15N values was greater after 1950, driven by a few individuals. Few differences between males and females were evident, although females in the south region had lower δ15N values. There was a tendency for large male birds to have higher trophic values, perhaps reflecting dominant male bird behaviour noted in historical records. Nonetheless, CSIA‐AA performed on a subset of the data suggested that variation in BSIA is likely due to baseline changes rather than relative trophic position which may be more homogenous than these data indicate. Although there was more variability in modern kea, we suggest caution in interpretation.Stable isotope data, particularly CSIA‐AA, from museum specimens can reveal potential change in ecological networks as well as sexually dimorphic feeding patterns within species. The data can reveal temporal and regional variation in species trophic position and changes in ecosystem integrity to inform conservation decision‐making. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree seedling establishment outside forest boundaries is controlled by many interacting factors. Understanding the relative importance of different pressures is essential for improving techniques for forest restoration and for understanding the potential of forest boundaries to shift and adapt to changing climate conditions.We investigated constraints on the spread of a key southern hemisphere forest type into grasslands by undertaking a multifactorial experiment sowing Nothofagus cliffortioides (Nothofagaceae) in a historically deforested retired pasture. We manipulated factors to determine the relative effects of sheltered microsites, competition with pasture species, availability of ectomycorrhizal fungi, soil nutrients and rabbit herbivory, on seedling emergence and survival.Overall survival was low (11.7% after 6 months and 1.5% after 10 months), but there were strong treatment effects on both seedling establishment and survival. The availability of shelter and competition with pasture species had strongest effects, with the presence of pasture species initially aiding seedling emergence due to a sheltering effect, but negatively affecting survival at later stages. Most remaining seedlings at the conclusion of the experiment had formed ectomycorrhizae regardless of whether inoculum was supplied, and seedling survival and health was positively related to ectomycorrhizal colonization. Fertilizing had less of an effect than other factors, and results regarding rabbit herbivory were inconclusive.Synthesis and applications. This study provides new insights into how factors interact to limit tree seedling establishment in grasslands and forest expansion into neighbouring ecosystems. This improves understanding of the ability of an ectomycorrhizal keystone forest species to migrate and adapt to climate change. This study also assists restoration practitioners in selecting techniques that will enhance seedling establishment, and highlights that direct seeding approaches in open grasslands are unlikely to result in high rates of Nothofagus establishment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many environmental and ecological settings, the analysis of data involves calculation of a confidence interval for a nonlinear function of the model parameters. In the frequentist approach, this is often achieved by using a Wald interval in which the standard error of the estimate of the function is obtained using the delta method.The purpose of this paper is to promote a simple alternative to the delta method that will provide better coverage properties when the estimates of the model parameters have a distribution that is approximately multivariate normal, as will be the case asymptotically for maximum likelihood estimates in regular models. We propose a simple diagnostic tool that can be used to assess the reliability of this assumption.The method we promote can be thought of as a computationally efficient version of parametric bootstrapping, as it mimics such bootstrapping without a need to refit the model.We provide two examples to illustrate use of the new method and present simulation results which show that its coverage properties are superior to those for a Wald interval based on the delta method when the assumption of normality for the estimates of the model parameters is reliable. We also compare its coverage properties and computational effort with those of parametric bootstrapping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global reach of zoos has enormous potential to raise awareness of conservation issues such as the amphibian extinction crisis. One mechanism of achieving this is through targeted, time‐limited campaigns. However, the longer‐term impact of such campaigns on conservation outcomes is rarely evaluated. The goal of this study is to evaluate how zoos view "The Year of The Frog," a campaign launched by zoos in 2008, with the aim of raising awareness of the global amphibian crisis and generating funds to support amphibian conservation initiatives. A questionnaire‐based survey of 43 zoos from fourteen countries was used to evaluate how zoo practitioners believed the campaign influenced amphibian conservation some 10 years after its launch. Survey results showed that the campaign not only contributed to the improvement of research into amphibian husbandry in zoos but also increased support of in situ conservation of amphibians. Zoos focused on exotic species, but developed countries led most of the actions of the campaign. The campaign has inspired and encouraged some zoos and other ex situ conservation organizations to embrace amphibian conservation. The next step is to increase collaboration with more organizations through, for example, AArk and IUCN SSC/ASG, particularly in countries that have high amphibian biodiversity. Highlights: The Year of the Frog Campaign contributed to the improvement of research into amphibian husbandry in zoos and also increased support of in situ conservation.Zoos focused on exotic species, but developed countries led most of the actions.The campaign has inspired and encouraged some zoos and other ex situ conservation organizations to embrace amphibian conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the global declines in the rate of amphibians, evaluation of public understanding of the crisis has not yet been carried out. We surveyed visitors (n = 1,293) at 15 zoos in Brazil, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom, using a certainty‐based assessment method to compare visitor knowledge of the global amphibian crisis. We further analyzed zoo educational material about amphibians to explore its potential to raise awareness through amphibian‐focused environmental education. Visitors in the three countries had relatively little understanding of amphibians and the global amphibian crisis. When the degree of confidence in answering the questions (high, medium, and low) is accounted for, correct answers varied between 28% and 39%. This compared to scores of between 58% and 73% when the degree of confidence in responding was not accounted for. However, specific areas of knowledge (e.g., biology, conservation, biogeography, and conceptual ideas) varied significantly across the countries. Visitors had a weaker grasp of biogeographical and conservation issues than general amphibian biology. Zoo visitors in Brazil knew less about amphibian conservation than those in New Zealand or the United Kingdom. There was less amphibian‐focused content in educational materials in zoos in Brazil than there was in the United Kingdom. Improving information about the global amphibian crisis may increase support for future conservation actions. Outreach education is one of the most important approaches in any strategic planning for conservation of species. Amphibian‐focused environmental education at institutions such as zoos and aquaria can be a crucial intervention to support amphibian conservation worldwide. Research Highlights: Visitors to zoos in the UK, New Zealand, and Brazil had poor knowledge of amphibian conservation issues. Zoo visitors in the three countries varied in their understanding of amphibian biology and conservation. Less than half of the zoos used "amphibian experiences" as part of their informal education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]