Brief comparison between the Diptera fauna at a native forest edge and at a nearby house backyard, in Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract

The New Zealand environment underwent extensive anthropogenic environmental change. Although habitat modification is a known factor leading to the displacement or elimination of indigenous species, many invertebrates may be able to exploit anthropic environments. In this short investigation we compared the Diptera fauna collected in adult traps set c. 150 m apart, at the edge of native forest and at a house yard. Considerably more specimens and species were collected in the native forest, and there was some indication that of shift in species assemblage in the yard. However, despite the clearance of native forest to give way to settlements, the fauna in the anthropic habitat was still made up mostly by indigenous species.