Plants A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use be “save as”. These will not be saved to the web. Much of the estuary vegetation near Foxton Beach township consists of exotic, salt tolerant vegetation of a grassy or scrubby nature, with the occasional stand of exotic trees. But a few native plants are still common and easily spotted. They tend to occur in the wetter areas, or closest to the coast. Some of the plant species you might see when you are at the estuary are described below. Estuarine Vegetation A significant portion of the estuarine vegetation found within the Ramsar site is native, in some cases endemic. Weeds are present - they must be addressed to conserve the biodiversity of the estuary. The most accessible portion of this estuarine vegetation is in the salt marsh area surrounding the Dawick Street viewing platform. This area is home to many of the native estuarine plants found in this Estuary. Map showing main areas of vegetation Native and endemic Estuarine vegetation Maakoako/Sea Primrose Glasswort Shore Cotula Piripiri/Biddy-biddy Taupata/Mirror Bush Three-ribbed Arrow Grass Wīwī/ Sea Rush Purua Grass Oioi/Jointed Wire Rush Wiwi/Knobby Club Rush Slender Clubrush Remuremu/Swampweed New Zealand Celery Māori Musk Three-square Bulrush Goosefoot Ephemeral Dune Wetland Vegetation The United Nations Convention on Wetlands, signed in Ramsar Iran, covers wetlands and their preservation. The estuary of the Manawatū river is one such wetland of international importance according to this, but the geophysical situation here, where the river crosses a large sand plain en route to the sea, adds another dimension to the wetland biodiversity, in the form of an ephemeral (temporary) dune wetland, with a notably different range of vegetation than the adjacent estuarine environment. The dunes of the west coast of the lower North Island are heavily defined by the dynamic environment, driven by the wind, and the accumulating sand from the beach. Plants in this dynamic environment must cope with high levels of water in the winter half of the year, and long periods with a low water table in the summer half of the year. In the summer, the drying out of the sand plains lets the wind excavate the slacks between the dunes, carrying the sand inland. The water table can drop dramatically by autumn The winter rains raise the water table, creating wetlands generally only present for part of the year. This enforces challenging requirements for plants to thrive and reflects in the fact that this ecosystem contains a disproportionate number of species on the threatened species list. Through fortuitous circumstances, the ephemeral dune wetland contained within the Ramsar site, has less weeds than any other dune wetland zone on this coast, and is maintained in that state by a community team. The area within the Manawatū Estuary Ramsar site that is an ephemeral dune wetland, is known locally and wider as the Dune Garden. Vegetation of the ephemeral dune wetlands Jersey Cudweed Harakeke/New Zealand Flax Tātaraheke/Sand Coprosma Sand Gunnera Half-star Autetaranga/Sand Daphne Strand Sedge Sand Wind Grass Shiny Bog-rush Punakuru/Angled Lobelia Pingao/Golden Sand Sedge Mudwort Kōwhangatara/Spinifex Sand Buttercup Grasswort Rauparaha/Shore Bindweed Smooth Willowherb Maikaika/Onion-leaved Orchid Tauhinu/Cottonwood

Punakuru/Angled Lobelia Lobelia anceps Native. Not threatened. Punakuru/Angled Lobelia has a tiny but prominent presence in the Dune Garden, not least because it flowers for much of the year. Besides Aotearoa New Zealand, it is also found in Australia, South Africa and Chile. It is a coastal and lowland plant that is generally found in exposed places that includes riversides and near lakes. Among it’s characteristics, in the Dune Garden it grows mostly prostrate (along the surface), but when it grows amongst other vegetation such as Kōwhangatara/Spinifex or Marram Grass, stretches upwards impressively, occasionally exceeding 30cm in height. Flowers are blue to purple. NZPCN-Lobelia anceps iNaturalist-Punakuru

Maakoako/Sea Primrose Samolus repens Native. Not threatened. A common estuarine plant around Aotearoa New Zealand, in many situations it can be a pioneer species moving in after an area has suffered a natural disaster. Afterward, other species move in, often overgrowing it, but even then, Maakoako survives under taller vegetation. For example, at the time of writing, at the end of Carter Crescent there is a patch of ‘lawn’ mowed by Council staff down to tide level. There is also a small patch easily seen from the viewing platform. Maakoako is a principal constituent of this patch of estuarine lawn. There is also a small patch easily seen from the viewing platform. It has pretty white flowers which show from well before Christmas until the start of winter, a long growing season. Besides Aotearoa New Zealand, it can be found in Australia, some Pacific Islands and Chile in South America. NZPCN-Samolus repens var repens iNaturalist-Samolus repens

Pohowera/Banded Dotterel Charadrius bicintus Native. At risk-declining. Pohowere/Banded Dotterel breed mainly inland, moving to coastal regions in late December and are at their greatest numbers in February. From mid-July they begin to return to their breeding grounds. Most years at least one attempt is made to nest in the sand dunes. Usual clutch size is three with incubation reputed to be around four weeks. Young are active from hatching and take a further 6 weeks to become independent. Plumage is variable with non-breeding livery pictured opposite. Two distinctive dark brown and chestnut bands cross the breast in breeding plumage, which fade as winter approaches. These active little birds are visual feeders, running across the mudflats and stopping when they see something interesting. Their diet consists of crustacea, worms, flies and berries from species such as Muehlenbeckia and Coprosma. nzbirdsonline-Banded Dotterel

Beetles This page is under contruction and will be continually up-dated with additional information added as it becomes available. A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use be "save as". These will not be saved to web. Broun"s Sand Beetle Lagrioda brouni Endemic. Not assessed. Very little is known about this reasonably common species of beetle. It is mainly associated with driftwood, being found either beneath it or inside crevices. Mainly observed either as solitary individuals, small groups or, on occasions, congregating in groups of a dozen or so. Recorded from both islands, mainly in coastal regions with a number of observations between Otaki and Himatangi Beach with the summer months providing the most observations although it can be found at most times of the year. Naturalist-Broun's Sand Beetle

Pekapeka/Indo-pacific Comb Star Astropectin polyacanthus As its name suggests, this species inhabits the Indo-Pacific region being found from around Africa to Hawaii and from Japan, the Indonesian Islands to Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. This species is typically found in shallow estuaries and harbors, at depths reaching 185 metres.. It is often a victim of dragnet fishing, which could explain why they are occasionally discovered deceased on beaches, sometimes in significant numbers. In life, they exhibit a dark purple hue on their upper side and orange on their underparts. Their common name originates from the "spines" located on both sides of their five arms which resembles a comb. Food consists mainly of shellfish which are swallowed whole. iNaturalist-Indo-pacific Comb Star finger sponge Pūngorungoru/Finger Sponge Callyspongis nuda Very little is known about this frequently washed-up Sponge Although there are records of this species being found globally in locations off East Africa, Madagascar, Indonesia and North and South America, it is Aotearoa New Zealand which seems to have the most records (see GBIF reference). Food in the form of plankton and dissolved organic material is drawn in through pores (clearly visible in the photograph) and the nutrients filtered from the water by cell walls as it was pumped through. Waste is also expelled through these pores. The life cycle of Sponges in general is complex. Most are hermaphroditic with both male and female cells. Larva produced find places to attach themselves to which can be rocks, marine debris or as in the picture, the shell of a mollusc. GBIF-Callyspongia nuda Wikipedia-Sponges by-the-wind-sailor By-the-wind Sailor Velella velella Not every summer but most, there are strandings of By-the-wind-sailor, although not in the numbers that are found for Bluebottles. Often called Jellyfish, they are actually a group of organisms each with a particular part to play in ensuring its survival and are termed Siphonophores. Unlike true jellyfish which are mobile in their own right, By-the-wind-sailors have no mechanism by which to achieve this and rely solely on wind and currents for their movement. A thin semicircular fin is set diagonally across the float and this acts like a sail which catches the wind and moves these creatures over great distances. The sting of this species is not that strong, but handling should be avoided. Jellywatch-Velella velella

Tauhinu/Cottonwood Ozothamnus leptophyllus Endemic. Not threatened. Principally a dry dune species on this coast, and in the Dune Garden sometimes appears in the ephemeral wetland area. There it builds dry islands by accumulating sand, but not as effectively as Pingao and Kōwhangatara. It is found from coastal areas generally up to subalpine regions and can attain a height of over 2m. One of the pleasant defining characteristics of this endemic species is that when the white flower is fully active, the aroma is quite reminiscent of Manuka honey. It is pleasant to be downwind of a large number of these plants when in bloom. It is reputed to be the larval food plant of the endemic moth Homoeosomo anaspoia . NZPCN-Tauhinu iNaturalist-Tauhinu

Pūkeko/Australasian Swamp Hen Porphyrio melanotus Native. Not threatened. With their large size, bright blue plumage and raucous behaviour, Pūkeko are a familiar bird around the area. They are an abundant species throughout most regions of Aotearoa New Zealand. They have a growing presence being observed in margins bordering the estuary. They are numerous in the damp paddocks in and around Foxton Beach, often forming groups of six to ten birds out of the breeding season. Their breeding system make them a very interesting species to study. Many form monogamous pairs (1 male/1 female) while others are can be polygynandy where both males and females have multiple partners. Pūkeko are known to breed at any time of the year if conditions are favourable and it is not uncommon to see chicks during the winter months. Clutch size is up to six eggs but can be many more if additional females lay in the same nest. Mainly vegetarian, feeding on a variety of grasses, sedges and rushes, they also catch small animals and will feed on carrion. If items can't be swallowed whole, they will be gripped in a foot and ripped apart. nzbirdsonline-Pukeko

Kuriri/Pacific Golden Plover Pluvialis fulva Native. At risk-declining. The Pacific Golden Plover breeds in Siberia and Alaska, so it is only seen in Aotearoa New Zealand during our spring and summer months arriving from mid-September onwards and heading back in March and April. The annual migration round trip is 25-27000km. Usually seen in small flocks of up to 12 birds. It feeds by making short runs, stopping abruptly when it sees something on the surface of the mud, and then snatching at what it's spotted. Small crabs, marine worms, invertebrates and earthworms, plus some berries and seeds on their breeding grounds make up their diet. In non-breeding plumage Pacific Golden Plover are a mottled dark brown and buff on top with some hints of gold. It has a short black beak and grey legs, with a pale stripe above the eye, a pale forehead, and pale underparts, with some dull yellow-gold and dark speckled markings on the throat. Towards the end of summer black feathers will begin to show through as they prepare to migrate north to their breeding grounds. nzbirdsonline-Pacific Golden Plover

Pied pango/Variable Oystercatcher Haematopus unicolor Endemic. At risk-recovering. At the estuary it can be seen on the mudflats at low tide, usually near the tideline, and, at high tide, roosting on the sandspit visible from Dawick Street. It is very similar to the Pied Oystercatcher in looks and behaviour. but the plumage is variable and may be entirely black, pied or intermediate between the two. Pied forms can be distinguished from the Pied Oystercatcher by the smudged boundary between the black and white plumage on the breast and the lack of a white tab in front of the wing. nzbirdsonline-Variable Oystercatcher Tōrea/South Island Pied Oystercatcher Haematopus finschi Endemic. At risk-declining. The Pied Oystercatcher breeds in the South Island but winters throughout the country. At the estuary it can be seen on the mudflats at low tide, usually near the tide line, and roosting on the sandspit visible from Dawick Street at high tide. Can be the commoner of the two species. nzbirdsonline-South Island Pied Oystercatcher

Spiders It is not known how many species of spiders are found in Aotearoa New Zealand but is thought to be around 2000 with the likelihood of numerous others still awaiting discovery. The dunes and estuary at Foxton Beach are not a particularly strong area for spiders as it is a specialised habitat and only has a handful of native species that favour this harsh environment, sheltering and hunting amongst the plants and driftwood. Unfortunately, a number of the species found here are not native and several are known to predate the endangered Katipō. The township of Foxton Beach is likely to have numerous other species not yet recorded from the district. A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Information is basic and continually up-dated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always visible. This checklist follows a recognised international format and may not follow any that are used in Aotearoa New Zealand. Web address links are edited to fit within the static species columns. List can be downloaded and additions for personal use be "save as". These will not be saved to web. Katipō Seashore Wolf Spider Nursery Web Spider

Invertebrates This is a very diverse group of animals which, because there are only a small number of species in each group, they are lumped together in this section. The checklist is divided up as such so please click on each tab on the spreadsheet to see species. Groups which have an abundance of species, such as beetles and spiders are given their own page. A checklist of species recorded from the area is included here . Because groups and families in this section contain only a few examples of each, they don't warrant their own separate page, so they are each given a tab within the spreadsheet. Please click on each to access the data. Information is basic and continually updated with links given by the usual method to a wealth of additional information. Headings and columns A and B are locked, so are always available. Web address links are edited to fit in the static species columns. List can be downloaded, and additions added for personal use can be "save as". These will not be saved to the web. Mata/Seashore Earwig Anasolabris littorea Native. Not assessed. This is a medium-sized earwig at around 35 mm when adult. Females will lay a batch of eggs, which she will protect and clean regularly. Hatchlings are replicas of the adults in miniature and go through a number of moults, usually 4-6 before becoming adults. On maturity the terminal forceps of the abdomen determine an individual's sex - they are curved in males while those of females are straight. Found around plants and debris the flattened body allows them to squeeze into tight places. General colouration is brown, with recently moulted young being whitish for a short time. Legs are yellowish-buff. This is a carnivorous species feeding on small insects. Wikipedia-Seashore Earwig Kēkerengū/Large Black Cockroach Maoriblatta novaeseelandiae Endemic. Not threatened. It differing from many other native species of Cockroaches found in Aotearoa New Zealand in it being black in colouration and at 25-29 mm is the largest found here. In our area this species is to be found in the dunes but has been recorded up to 600 m above sea level in other areas. It appears to have a mainly North Island distribution but has been recorded in several locations on the South Island. Its preferred habitat is hiding behind bark or beneath stone, logs and debris and, being nocturnal, is rarely seen during the day. If it senses that this disturbance is a threat, they will exude a musky smelling yellow liquid which is offensive to predators. Diet consists of mainly of decaying plant matter. iNaturalist-Large Black Kekerengu Monarch Butterfly Danaus plexippus Native. Not assessed. The Monarch Butterfly is a familiar species to many as it is an easy species to identify, being the largest species of butterfly in Aotearoa New Zealand and, bright orange in colour. Their familiarity hides the fact that this is one of the truly amazing species capable of staggering migrations. The one in the Americas is well known but from this population some individuals made their way across the Pacific to settle here. Once a common species, its numbers are much reduced here but in America it is now classed as vulnerable having been reduced in numbers. They are the recipient of much interest during the summer months when people plant Swan plants, their favoured caterpillar food plant. sciencelearn-monarch butterflies