Endemic plants and animals of Otago – what have we got and how do we know?

Scott Jarvie, Senior Scientist Terrestrial Ecology, Otago Regional Council.

Otago has a high diversity of plants and animals, reflecting the region’s contemporary landscapes, geological past and climatic history. Over 450 species have so far been identified as only naturally occurring in Otago, meaning they occur naturally and breed exclusively in the region. In this talk, I will provide an overview of our regionally endemic species in Otago and how this was determined, with a focus on our plants. Other projects that have contributed to our understanding of our regionally endemic species will also be touched upon, including a project assessing the extinction risk to species regionally and a project compiling type localities for species.