Selection of breeding habitat by the endangered Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) at two spatial scales
James Brazill-Boast A B D , Josephine K. Dessmann A C , Gareth T. O. Davies A , Sarah R. Pryke A and Simon C. Griffith A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW 2109, Australia.
B Present address: Conservation Strategy Unit, NSW Office of Environment and Heritage, Landscapes and Ecosystems Conservation Branch, PO Box A290, Sydney South, NSW 1232, Australia.
C Present address: Biosis Research, 18–20 Mandible Street, Alexandria, NSW 2015, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: james.brazillboast@environment.nsw.gov.au
Emu 111(4) 304-311 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU10064
Submitted: 2 August 2010 Accepted: 21 March 2011 Published: 11 October 2011
Abstract
The Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae) has experienced significant decline in population and the extent of its range over the past 40 years, which has generally been attributed to the availability of suitable foraging habitat. Less research, however, has investigated the suitability or availability of breeding habitat of the species. Gouldian Finches are obligate cavity nesters, and a recent study has shown that they select nest-sites non-randomly based on structural characteristics of the cavity. Here we investigated the relative effects of different environmental factors on the spatial distribution of Gouldian Finch nests at two different scales. At the broader, landscape scale (over ~60 km2), the strongest predictor of nesting density at a site was the abundance of suitable nest-sites. At the finer scale (~1 km2), no single factor explained the variation in location of nest-sites. Gouldian Finches require areas of habitat characterised by high densities of suitable nest-sites (tree-cavities). Within these patches, individuals are potentially selecting nest-sites based on the morphometry of cavities rather than landscape features such as topography, vegetation or proximity to water. Our findings should be integrated with studies of feeding and habitat requirements in the non-breeding season, with the aim of constructing holistic and predictive habitat-suitability models for this endangered species.
Additional keywords: cavity nesting, conservation, habitat suitability, nest-site selection, resource limitation.
References
Bissonette, J. A. (1997). Scale-sensitive ecological properties: historical context, current meaning. In ‘Wildlife and Landscape Ecology’. (Ed. J. A. Bissonette.) pp. 3–31. (Springer-Verlag: New York.)Brazill-Boast, J., Pryke, S. R., and Griffith, S. C. (2010). Nest-site utilisation and niche overlap in two sympatric, cavity-nesting finches. Emu 110, 170–177.
| Nest-site utilisation and niche overlap in two sympatric, cavity-nesting finches.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brazill-Boast, J., van Rooij, E., Pryke, S. R., and Griffith, S. C. (2011). Interference from Long-tailed Finches constrains reproduction in the endangered Gouldian Finch. Journal of Animal Ecology 80, 39–48.
| Interference from Long-tailed Finches constrains reproduction in the endangered Gouldian Finch.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Casgrain, P., and Legendre P. (2008). ‘The R Package for Multivariate and Spatial Analysis 4.0.’ (University of Montreal: Montreal, QC.)
Chevan, A., and Sutherland, M. (1991). Hierarchical partitioning. American Statistician 45, 90–96.
| Hierarchical partitioning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clark, P. J., and Evans, F. C. (1954). Distance to nearest neighbour as a measure of spatial relationships in populations. Ecology 35, 445–453.
| Distance to nearest neighbour as a measure of spatial relationships in populations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke, M. F., and Schedvin, N. (1999). Removal of Bell Miners Manorina melanophrys from Eucalyptus radiata forest and its effect on avian diversity, psyllids and tree health. Biological Conservation 88, 111–120.
| Removal of Bell Miners Manorina melanophrys from Eucalyptus radiata forest and its effect on avian diversity, psyllids and tree health.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cox, D. R., and Snell, E. J. (1989). ‘The Analysis of Binary Data, Second Edition.’ (Chapman and Hall: London.)
Crowley, G., and Garnett, S. (1999). Seeds of the annual grasses Schizachyrium spp. as a food resource for tropical granivorous birds. Australian Journal of Ecology 24, 208–220.
| Seeds of the annual grasses Schizachyrium spp. as a food resource for tropical granivorous birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dostine, P. L., and Franklin, D. C. (2002). A comparison of the diet of three finch species in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory. Emu 102, 159–164.
| A comparison of the diet of three finch species in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dostine, P. L., Johnson, G. C., Franklin, D. C., Zhang, Y., and Hempel, C. (2001). Seasonal use of savanna landscapes by the Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory. Wildlife Research 28, 445–458.
| Seasonal use of savanna landscapes by the Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in the Yinberrie Hills area, Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dow, D. D. (1977). Indiscriminate interspecific aggression leading to almost sole occupancy of space by a single species of bird. Emu 77, 115–121.
| Indiscriminate interspecific aggression leading to almost sole occupancy of space by a single species of bird.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
ESRI (2006) ArcMap 9.2. Redlands, CA.
Franklin, D. C. (1999). Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement. Biological Conservation 90, 53–68.
| Evidence of disarray amongst granivorous bird assemblages in the savannas of northern Australia, a region of sparse human settlement.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Franklin, D. C., Whitehead, P. J., Pardon, G., Matthews, J., McMahon, P., and McIntyre, D. (2005). Geographic patterns and correlates of the decline of granivorous birds in northern Australia Wildlife Research 32, 399–408.
| Geographic patterns and correlates of the decline of granivorous birds in northern AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garnett, S. T., and Crowley, G. M. (2000). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.)
Gibbons, P., and Lindenmayer, D. B. (2002). ‘Tree Hollows and Wildlife Conservation in Australia.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Girvetz, E. H., and Greco, S. E. (2009). Multi-scale predictive habitat suitability modeling based on hierarchically delineated patches: an example for Yellow-billed Cuckoos nesting in riparian forests, California, USA. Landscape Ecology 24, 1315–1329.
| Multi-scale predictive habitat suitability modeling based on hierarchically delineated patches: an example for Yellow-billed Cuckoos nesting in riparian forests, California, USA.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hannah, D., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Catterall, C. P., McCosker, J. C., Thurgate, N. Y., and Fensham, R. J. (2007). Impacts of clearing, fragmentation and disturbance on the bird fauna of eucalypt savanna woodlands in central Queensland, Australia. Austral Ecology 32, 261–276.
| Impacts of clearing, fragmentation and disturbance on the bird fauna of eucalypt savanna woodlands in central Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Harden, R. H., Muir, R. J., and Milledge, D. R. (1986). An evaluation of the strip transect method for censusing bird communities in forests Wildlife Research 13, 203–211.
| An evaluation of the strip transect method for censusing bird communities in forestsCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Higgins, P., Peter, J., and Cowling, S. (Eds) (2006). ‘Handbook of Australian, New Zealand and Antarctic Birds. Vol. 7: Boatbills to Starlings.’ (Oxford University Press: Melbourne.)
Hirzel, A. H., and Le Lay, G. (2008). Habitat suitability modelling and niche theory. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1372–1381.
| Habitat suitability modelling and niche theory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Inions, G. B., Tanton, M. T., and Davey, S. M. (1989). Effect of fire on the availability of hollows in trees used by the common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr, 1792, and the ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus Boddaerts, 1785. Wildlife Research 16, 449–458.
| Effect of fire on the availability of hollows in trees used by the common brushtail possum, Trichosurus vulpecula Kerr, 1792, and the ringtail possum, Pseudocheirus peregrinus Boddaerts, 1785.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Koch, A. J., Munks, S. A., Driscoll, D., and Kirkpatrick, J. B. (2008). Does hollow occurrence vary with forest type? A case study in wet and dry Eucalyptus obliqua forest. Forest Ecology and Management 255, 3938–3951.
| Does hollow occurrence vary with forest type? A case study in wet and dry Eucalyptus obliqua forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kutt, A. S., and Woinarski, J. C. Z. (2007). The effects of grazing and fire on vegetation and the vertebrate assemblage in a tropical savanna woodland in north-eastern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 23, 95–106.
| The effects of grazing and fire on vegetation and the vertebrate assemblage in a tropical savanna woodland in north-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lehmann, C. E. R., Prior, L. D., Williams, R. J., and Bowman, D. (2008). Spatio-temporal trends in tree cover of a tropical mesic savanna are driven by landscape disturbance. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1304–1311.
| Spatio-temporal trends in tree cover of a tropical mesic savanna are driven by landscape disturbance.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lehmann, C. E. R., Prior, L. D., and Bowman, D. (2009a). Decadal dynamics of tree cover in an Australian tropical savanna. Austral Ecology 34, 601–612.
| Decadal dynamics of tree cover in an Australian tropical savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lehmann, C. E. R., Prior, L. D., and Bowman, D. (2009b). Fire controls population structure in four dominant tree species in a tropical savanna. Oecologia 161, 505–515.
| Fire controls population structure in four dominant tree species in a tropical savanna.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lindenmayer, D. B., Cunningham, R. B., Nix, H. A., Tanton, M. T., and Smith, A. P. (1991). Predicting the abundance of hollow-bearing trees in montane ash forest of south-eastern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 16, 91–98.
| Predicting the abundance of hollow-bearing trees in montane ash forest of south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lohmus, A., and Remm, J. (2005). Nest quality limits the number of hole-nesting passerines in their natural cavity-rich habitat. Acta Oecologica 27, 125–128.
| Nest quality limits the number of hole-nesting passerines in their natural cavity-rich habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mac Nally, R. (1996). Hierarchical partitioning as an interpretative tool in multivariate inference. Australian Journal of Ecology 21, 224–228.
| Hierarchical partitioning as an interpretative tool in multivariate inference.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mac Nally, R. (2000). Regression and model-building in conservation biology, biogeography and ecology: the distinction between and reconciliation of ‘predictive’ and ‘explanatory’ models. Biodiversity and Conservation 9, 655–671.
| Regression and model-building in conservation biology, biogeography and ecology: the distinction between and reconciliation of ‘predictive’ and ‘explanatory’ models.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mac Nally, R. (2002). Multiple regression and inference in ecology and conservation biology: further comments on identifying important predictor variables. Biodiversity and Conservation 11, 1397–1401.
| Multiple regression and inference in ecology and conservation biology: further comments on identifying important predictor variables.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mac Nally, R., and Walsh, C. J. (2004). Hierarchical partitioning public-domain software. Biodiversity and Conservation 13, 659–660.
| Hierarchical partitioning public-domain software.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Menard, S. (2002). ‘Applied Logistic Regression Analysis.’ (Sage Publications: Thousand Oaks, CA).
Mucha, S. B. (1979). Estimation of tree ages from growth rings of eucalypts in northern Australia. Australian Forestry 42, 13–16.
Murphy, S. A., and Legge, S. M. (2007). The gradual loss and episodic creation of Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) nest-trees in a fire- and cyclone-prone habitat. Emu 107, 1–6.
| The gradual loss and episodic creation of Palm Cockatoo (Probosciger aterrimus) nest-trees in a fire- and cyclone-prone habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Newton, I. (1994). The role of nest sites in limiting the numbers of hole-nesting birds: a review. Biological Conservation 70, 265–276.
| The role of nest sites in limiting the numbers of hole-nesting birds: a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
O’Malley, C. (2006). National recovery plan for the Gouldian Finch (Erythrura gouldiae). National Gouldian Finch Recovery Team, Northern Territory Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, Palmerston.
Piper, S. D., and Catterall, C. P. (2003). A particular case and a general pattern: hyperaggressive behaviour by one species may mediate avifaunal decreases in fragmented Australian forests. Oikos 101, 602–614.
| A particular case and a general pattern: hyperaggressive behaviour by one species may mediate avifaunal decreases in fragmented Australian forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Prior, L. D., Murphy, B. P., and Russell-Smith, J. (2009). Environmental and demographic correlates of tree recruitment and mortality in north Australian savannas. Forest Ecology and Management 257, 66–74.
| Environmental and demographic correlates of tree recruitment and mortality in north Australian savannas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
R Development Core Team (2010). R 2.11.0 for Mac: a language and environment for statistical computing. R Foundation for Statistical Computing, Vienna, Austria.
Rushton, S. P., Ormerod, S. J., and Kerby, G. (2004). New paradigms for modelling species distributions? Journal of Applied Ecology 41, 193–200.
| New paradigms for modelling species distributions?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Russell-Smith, J., Whitehead, P. J., Cook, G. D., and Hoare, J. L. (2003). Response of Eucalyptus-dominated savanna to frequent fires: lessons from Munmarlary, 1973–1996. Ecological Monographs 73, 349–375.
| Response of Eucalyptus-dominated savanna to frequent fires: lessons from Munmarlary, 1973–1996.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Saunders, D. L., and Heinsohn, R. (2008). Winter habitat use by the endangered, migratory Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) in New South Wales. Emu 108, 81–89.
| Winter habitat use by the endangered, migratory Swift Parrot (Lathamus discolor) in New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Scotti, M. A. L., and Foster, S. A. (2007). Phenotypic plasticity and the ecotypic differentiation of aggressive behavior in threespine stickleback. Ethology 113, 190–198.
| Phenotypic plasticity and the ecotypic differentiation of aggressive behavior in threespine stickleback.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Spring, D. A., Kennedy, J., Lindenmayer, D. B., McCarthy, M. A., and Mac Nally, R. (2008). Optimal management of a flammable multi-stand forest for timber production and maintenance of nesting sites for wildlife. Forest Ecology and Management 255, 3857–3865.
| Optimal management of a flammable multi-stand forest for timber production and maintenance of nesting sites for wildlife.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tidemann, S. C., and Woinarski, J. C. Z. (1994). Moult characteristics and breeding season of Gouldian Erythrura gouldiae, Masked Poephila personata and Long-tailed Finches P. acuticauda in savannah woodland in the Northern Territory. Emu 94, 46–52.
| Moult characteristics and breeding season of Gouldian Erythrura gouldiae, Masked Poephila personata and Long-tailed Finches P. acuticauda in savannah woodland in the Northern Territory.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tidemann, S. C., Boyden, J., Elvish, R., Elvish, J., and O’Gorman, B. (1992). Comparison of the breeding sites and habitat of two hole-nesting estrildid finches, one endangered, in northern Australia. Journal of Tropical Ecology 8, 373–388.
| Comparison of the breeding sites and habitat of two hole-nesting estrildid finches, one endangered, in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tidemann, S. C., Lawson, C., Elvish, R., Boyden, J., and Elvish, J. (1999). Breeding biology of the Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae, an endangered finch of northern Australia. Emu 99, 191–199.
| Breeding biology of the Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae, an endangered finch of northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tilman, D. (1982). ‘Resource Competition and Community Structure.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Vigilante, T. (2001). Analysis of explorers’ records of Aboriginal landscape burning in the Kimberley region of Western Australia. Australian Geographical Studies 39, 135–155.
Williams, R. J., Cook, G. D., Gill, A. M., and Moore, P. H. R. (1999). Fire regime, fire intensity and tree survival in a tropical savanna in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 24, 50–59.
| Fire regime, fire intensity and tree survival in a tropical savanna in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woinarski, J. C. Z. (1990). Effects of fire on the bird communities of tropical woodlands and open forests in northern Australia. Australian Journal of Ecology 15, 1–22.
| Effects of fire on the bird communities of tropical woodlands and open forests in northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woinarski, J. C. Z., and Tidemann, S. C. (1992). Survivorship and some population parameters for the endangered Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae and two other finch species at two sites in tropical northern Australia. Emu 92, 33–38.
| Survivorship and some population parameters for the endangered Gouldian Finch Erythrura gouldiae and two other finch species at two sites in tropical northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wu, J. G., and Loucks, O. L. (1995). From balance of nature to hierarchical patch dynamics: a paradigm shift in ecology. Quarterly Review of Biology 70, 439–466.
| From balance of nature to hierarchical patch dynamics: a paradigm shift in ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yates, C. P., Edwards, A. C., and Russell-Smith, J. (2008). Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters. International Journal of Wildland Fire 17, 768–781.
| Big fires and their ecological impacts in Australian savannas: size and frequency matters.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |