Forest geckos (Mokopirirakau Southern North Island) display diurno-nocturnal activity and are not reliant on retreats

Abstract

New Zealand geckos face a range of threats yet, for most species, basic biological information necessary for conservation management is lacking. The southern North Island forest gecko (Mokopirirakau Southern North Island) is an arboreal gecko about which little has been published. We used systematic searches and radio telemetry at Otari-Wilton's Bush in Wellington to investigate its habitat use and movement patterns. Nearly 30 hours of searching in 2011 and 2012 resulted in 47 gecko sightings at a rate of 1.58 geckos per person hour. Six geckos were radio-tracked for 7-13 days in January 2012. Geckos displayed diurnal and nocturnal activity, but moved greater distances in the middle of the day. They moved on average 9.5 m in 24 hours. Geckos were mainly arboreal and usually located on the trunks and branches of trees and shrubs, and used retreats irregularly. This exposed behaviour may increase the vulnerability of this species to predation by introduced mammalian predators. © 2013 The Royal Society of New Zealand.