Causes and consequences of ground disturbance by feral pigs (Sus scrofa) in a lowland New Zealand conifer-angiosperm forest

Grants

Funding Acknowledgements

This research was funded by the former New Zealand Ministry of Science and Innovation Ecosystem Resilience Outcome-Based Investment (Contract C09X0502), investment of Landcare Research's retained earnings, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation. We are grateful for the assistance of Department of Conservation (Murihiku Area) staff in this project, and to Graham Metzger and other members of the Waitutu Incorporation for permission to work on iwi land. Johan Groters (Wairaurahiri Jet) and the pilots at South West Helicopters assisted with transport and Peanut Osborne provided hospitality at Waitutu Lodge. We thank David Wardle for his advice on the soil analyses, Richard Heyward and Nigel Young for conducting most of the fieldwork, Morgan Coleman for analysing pig diets, and Bruce Warburton and Andrew Woolnough for comments on the manuscript. We also appreciate the thorough comments on the manuscript by Chris Lusk and two referees.