Stable isotopic (δ¹⁵N, δ¹³C) analysis of wood in trees growing in past and present colonies of burrow‐nesting seabirds in New Zealand. I. δ¹⁵N in two species of conifer (Podocarpaceae) from a mainland colony of Westland petrels (Procellaria westlandica), Punakaiki, South Island

Reconstructing terrestrial nutrient cycling using stable nitrogen isotopes in wood

“…In regions experiencing high NOx emissions from multiple sources, short-term fluctuations in tree ring δ 15 N correlated to climatic variables, while long-term trends reflected regional emissions from vehicles and coal plants (Doucet et al 2012, Savard et al 2009). These differences in N inputs resulted in a long-term decreasing wood δ 15 N trend at sites driven by vehicle emissions (Doucet et al 2012, Savard et al 2009), increasing or flat trends at sites driven by coal combustion (Doucet et al 2012), and increasing trends at sites experiencing both emission sources (Savard et al 2009) (Drake et al 2011, Reimchen et al 2002, and marine avian breeding populations roosting in coastal forests in Japan (Lopez C. et al 2010, Mizota et al 2011) and New Zealand (Holdaway et al 2007). Reportedly, over 15 research groups have attempted to track salmon-derived N inputs in forest ecosystems; however, only two studies have been published (Drake et al 2011, Reimchen et al 2002 due to the limited success of the approach given current methodologies (Drake et al 2011).…”

“…Long-term chronologies have been used to reconstruct colonization of coastal forests by breeding marine birds (Holdaway et al 2007;Mizota et al 2011). Tracking of animal-derived marine N inputs is still rather understudied, though it is unclear what more could be gained in this avenue, particularly in the tracking of salmon signals.…”

“…Tracking of avian-derived N signals in wood δ 15 N have met with more success, with enriched δ 15 N trends found in wood and soil of forests in New Zealand (Holdaway et al 2007) and Japan (Lopez et al 2010;Mizota et al 2011). Long-term chronologies have been used to reconstruct colonization of coastal forests by breeding marine birds (Holdaway et al 2007;Mizota et al 2011).…”

Using137Cs and210Pb to characterise soil mixing by burrowing petrels: an exploratory study

“…Burrow density is c. 0.2 m (2 (Waugh et al 2003). The site has been occupied by petrels on a decadesÁcenturies time scale since at least the mid-eighteenth century (Holdaway et al 2007). The soil is an orthic brown soil (New Zealand Soil Classification; Hewitt 1998), developed on late MioceneÁearly Pliocene blue-grey muddy sandstone (Nathan et al 2002).…”

Ecological interactions between a common palmLivistona australisand a rare seabird on Cabbage Tree Island, Australia

“…These nutrients can be essential for ecosystem functioning and their loss can sometimes lead to degradation of native plant communities (Holdaway et al 2007). For example, the decline in health of the native forest on Norfolk Island, has been linked to the local extirpation of huge colonies of Providence Petrel P. solandri in the 19 th Century (Christian 2005) resulting in the subsequent loss of 70 tons of guano deposited annually (Richard Holdaway unpublished data).…”