Charlesworth Reserve Invertebrate Survey, Christchurch, Summer 2021 - 2022.

Abstract

This study surveyed a range of invertebrate fauna in Charlesworth Reserve, a coastal wetland located on the western edge of the Avon-Heathcote Estuary/Ihutai, Christchurch, New Zealand. Five different survey methods were used, recording 175 different invertebrate taxa. Using two survey methods from previous studies, I found persistence in pre-recorded invertebrate populations; the introduction of three new survey methods not used in previous studies of Charlesworth Reserve found additional taxa as well as pre-recorded invertebrate populations. Investigation into traits of endemic wētā, beetle and spider species are theorised as potential indicators of habitat quality. Vegetation in Charlesworth Reserve ranges from established native flora to exotic grasslands and such vegetation – including exotic grass – helps to provide diverse habitat for invertebrates to populate. Most ecosystems are reliant on invertebrate diversity for roles such as decomposition, pollination, dispersal, and predation. Invertebrates recorded within this study fill many of these roles and contribute to a sustainable ecosystem in Charlesworth Reserve.