The role of Lantana camara in areas of bell miner (Manorina melanophrys) associated dieback and its implications for terrestrial mammal and insectivorous bat populations
Penny E. Wright A , Kathryn T. A. Lambert A and Paul G. McDonald A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Corresponding author. Email: paul.mcdonald@une.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 41(1) 49-56 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM17003
Submitted: 27 January 2017 Accepted: 8 December 2017 Published: 25 January 2018
Abstract
Bell miner–associated dieback (BMAD) is a form of canopy decline involving bell miner (Manorina melanophrys) colonies on the eastern coast of Australia. The association can include an understorey of lantana (Lantana camara) preventing eucalypt regeneration. To date, comparatively little is known about the effects of these processes on mammal diversity and abundance. We therefore considered the effects of BMAD and lantana presence on ground mammals and insectivorous bats in four forest sites within New South Wales. These were monitored in association with a restoration project for the treatment of lantana that used glyphosate spraying to kill lantana in half of six 50 m × 50 m quadrats per site (three control and three treated). Passive bioacoustic recorders, infrared cameras and Elliott traps were used to survey understorey fauna over four consecutive nights during each season. We found a greater number of small ground-dwelling and large mammals in control areas with an intact understorey of lantana relative to areas where lantana had been treated. However, insectivorous bats were not influenced by lantana presence. Our results suggest that ground-dwelling mammals benefit from the presence of lantana, as it may provide structural complexity that reduces predation risk and/or provides a food resource.
Additional keywords: Antechinus, biodiversity, decline, environment, eucalypt, Trichosurus, weed species.
References
Bartoń, K. (2014). MuMIn: multi-model inference. 1.10.5 edn. (R Package.)Bates, D., Maechler, M., Bolker, B., and Walker, S. (2014). lme4: linear mixed-effects models using Eigen and S4. 1.1 edn. (R Package.)
Billyard, R., White, T., and Jurskis, V. (2004). BMAD Working Group perspective on forest decline and potential management solutions. In ‘Fundamental Causes of Eucalypt Forest Decline and Possible Management Solutions. Proceedings of Colloquium. State Forests of NSW, Sydney’. (Ed. T.C.R. White & V. Jurskis.) pp. 31–32. (State Forests of NSW: Sydney, NSW.)
Bower, H. (1998). For whom the bell tolls: interactions between bell miners, eucalypt dieback and bird communities in north-east NSW. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, Southern Cross University, Lismore.
Burnham, K. P., and Anderson, D. R. (2002). ‘Model Selection and Multimodel Inference: a Practical Information-theoretic Approach.’ 2nd edn. (Springer: New York.)
Claridge, A. W., Paull, D. J., and Cunningham, R. B. (2016). Oils ain’t oils: can truffle-infused food additives improve detection of rare and cryptic mycophagous mammals? Australian Mammalogy 38, 12–20.
| Oils ain’t oils: can truffle-infused food additives improve detection of rare and cryptic mycophagous mammals?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 |
Corben, C. (2014). AnalookW. 4.1 g edn. (Titley Scientific: Australia.)
Corlett, R. T. (1998). Frugivory and seed dispersal by vertebrates in the Oriental (Indomalayan) Region. Biological Reviews of the Cambridge Philosophical Society 73, 413–448.
| Frugivory and seed dispersal by vertebrates in the Oriental (Indomalayan) Region.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1M7js1Gltw%3D%3D&md5=4daa7ed4f52950e278edfd0f103853b1CAS |
Corlett, R. T. (2005). Interactions between birds, fruit bats and exotic plants in urban Hong Kong, South China. Urban Ecosystems 8, 275–283.
Cruz, J., Sutherland, D. R., Martin, G. R., and Leung, L. K. (2012). Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones? Austral Ecology 37, 893–902.
| Are smaller subspecies of common brushtail possums more omnivorous than larger ones?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fensham, R., Fairfax, R., and Cannell, R. (1994). The invasion of Lantana camara L. in Forty Mile Scrub National Park, north Queensland. Australian Journal of Ecology 19, 297–305.
| The invasion of Lantana camara L. in Forty Mile Scrub National Park, north Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gentle, C., and Duggin, J. (1997). Lantana camara L. invasions in dry rainforest–open forest ecotones: the role of disturbances associated with fire and cattle grazing. Australian Journal of Ecology 22, 298–306.
| Lantana camara L. invasions in dry rainforest–open forest ecotones: the role of disturbances associated with fire and cattle grazing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goosem, M., Izumi, Y., and Turton, S. (2001). Efforts to restore habitat connectivity for an upland tropical rainforest fauna: a trial of underpasses below roads. Ecological Management & Restoration 2, 196–202.
| Efforts to restore habitat connectivity for an upland tropical rainforest fauna: a trial of underpasses below roads.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gosper, C. (2004). Fruit characteristics of invasive bitou bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera (Asteraceae), and a comparison with co-occurring native plant species. Australian Journal of Botany 52, 223–230.
| Fruit characteristics of invasive bitou bush, Chrysanthemoides monilifera (Asteraceae), and a comparison with co-occurring native plant species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kavanagh, R.P. (2002). Comparative diets of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua), sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa) and masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) in southeastern Australia. Ecology and Conservation of Owls , 175–191.
Kunz, T.H., Lumsden, L.F., and Fenton, M. (2003). Ecology of cavity and foliage roosting bats. Bat ecology 1, 3–89.
Lambert, K. T. A. (2015). Quantifying the importance of lantana removal, soil nutrient profiles, insect assemblages and bell miner density on bell miner associated dieback. Ph.D. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale.
Lambert, K. T. A., and McDonald, P. G. (in press). How dependent are bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) on lantana (Lantana camara) as part of their habitat? Wildlife Research , .
| How dependent are bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) on lantana (Lantana camara) as part of their habitat?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambert, K. T. A., Kumar, L., Reid, N., and McDonald, P. G. (2016). Habitat selection by a despotic passerine, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys): when restoring habitat through lantana (Lantana camara) removal is not enough. Ecological Management & Restoration 17, 81–84.
| Habitat selection by a despotic passerine, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys): when restoring habitat through lantana (Lantana camara) removal is not enough.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lambert, K. T. A., Reid, N., and McDonald, P. G. (2017). Does the removal of Lantana camara influence eucalypt canopy health, soil nutrients and site occupancy of a despotic species? Forest Ecology and Management 394, 104–110.
| Does the removal of Lantana camara influence eucalypt canopy health, soil nutrients and site occupancy of a despotic species?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Law, B., and Chidel, M. (2002). Tracks and riparian zones facilitate the use of Australian regrowth forest by insectivorous bats. Journal of Applied Ecology 39, 605–617.
Law, B., Anderson, J., and Chidel, M. (1999). Bat communities in a fragmented forest landscape on the south-west slopes of New South Wales, Australia. Biological Conservation 88, 333–345.
| Bat communities in a fragmented forest landscape on the south-west slopes of New South Wales, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Leseberg, N. P., Lambert, K. T. A., and McDonald, P. G. (2015). Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys). Austral Ecology 40, 245–254.
| Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loyn, R. H. (1985). The 20-minute search: a simple method for counting forest birds. Biological Survey Branch, State Forests and Lands Service, Victoria.
Lumsden, L. F., Bennett, A. F., and Silins, J. E. (2002). Location of roosts of the lesser long-eared bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi and Gould’s wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii in a fragmented landscape in south-eastern Australia. Biological Conservation 106, 237–249.
| Location of roosts of the lesser long-eared bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi and Gould’s wattled bat Chalinolobus gouldii in a fragmented landscape in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mazerolle, M. J. (2014). AICcmodavg: model selection and multimodel inference based on (Q)AIC(c). 2.0-1 edn. (R Package.)
Moore, K. (1961). Observations on some Australian forest insects. Insects associated with Eucalyptus saligna, E. acmenioides and Angophora intermedia. Proceedings of the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales pp. 87–95.
Nageli, P., Grant, J., Nichols, J., Sheil, D., and Horton, B. (2016). Bell miner associated dieback: nutrient cycling and herbivore crown damage in Eucalyptus propinqua. Australian Forestry 79, 74–82.
| Bell miner associated dieback: nutrient cycling and herbivore crown damage in Eucalyptus propinqua.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Olson, E. R., Marsha, R. A., Bovarda, B. N., Randrianarimanana, H. L. L., Ravaloharimanitra, M., Ratsimbazafy, J. H., and Kinga, T. (2012). Arboreal camera trapping for the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur Prolemur simus. Oryx 46, 593–597.
| Arboreal camera trapping for the critically endangered greater bamboo lemur Prolemur simus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Osunkoya, O. O., Perrett, C., and Fernando, C. (2010). Population viability analysis models for Lantana camara L. (Verbenaceae): a weed of national significance. In ‘Proceedings of the 17th Australasian Weeds Conference’. (Ed. S.M. Zydenbos.) pp. 91–94. (New Zealand Plant Protection Society: Christchurch.)
Pavey, C. R. (1998). Habitat use by the eastern horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus megaphyllus, in a fragmented woodland mosaic. Wildlife Research 25, 489–498.
| Habitat use by the eastern horseshoe bat, Rhinolophus megaphyllus, in a fragmented woodland mosaic.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
R Core Team (2014). R: a language and environment for statistical computing. 0.98 edn. (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria.)
Reinhold, L., Law, B., Ford, G., and Pennay, M. (2001). Key to the bat calls of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales. Department of Natural Resources and Mines, Queensland. Publication No. QNRM01001.
Sharma, G. P., Raghubanshi, A. S., and Singh, J. S. (2005). Lantana invasion: an overview. Weed Biology and Management 5, 157–165.
| Lantana invasion: an overview.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stokeld, D., Frank, A. S. K., Hill, B., Choy, J. L., Mahney, T., Stevens, A., Young, S., Rangers, D., Rangers, W., and Gillespie, G. R. (2016). Multiple cameras required to reliably detect feral cats in northern Australian tropical savanna: an evaluation of sampling design when using camera traps. Wildlife Research 42, 642–649.
| Multiple cameras required to reliably detect feral cats in northern Australian tropical savanna: an evaluation of sampling design when using camera traps.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stone, C., Urquhart, C., and Spolc, D. (1995). Survey of crown dieback in moist hardwood forests in the central and northern regions of New South Wales State Forests (psyllid/bell miner research programme). Research Division, State Forests of New South Wales, Sydney.
Sundaram, B., and Hiremath, A. J. (2012). Lantana camara invasion in a heterogeneous landscape: patterns of spread and correlation with changes in native vegetation. Biological Invasions 14, 1127–1141.
| Lantana camara invasion in a heterogeneous landscape: patterns of spread and correlation with changes in native vegetation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tasker, E. M., and Dickman, C. R. (2001). A review of Elliott trapping methods for small mammals in Australia. Australian Mammalogy 23, 77–87.
| A review of Elliott trapping methods for small mammals in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tilley, S. (1982). The diet of the powerful owl, Ninox strenua, in Victoria. Wildlife Research 9, 157–175.
| The diet of the powerful owl, Ninox strenua, in Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Turner, P. J., and Downey, P. O. (2010). Ensuring invasive alien plant management delivers biodiversity conservation: insights from an assessment of Lantana camara in Australia. Plant Protection Quarterly 25, 102–110.
Wardell-Johnson, G., Stone, C., Recher, H., Lynch, A., and Jasmyn, J. (2005). A review of eucalypt dieback associated with bell miner habitat in south-eastern Australia. Australian Forestry 68, 231–236.
| A review of eucalypt dieback associated with bell miner habitat in south-eastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wardell-Johnson, G., Stone, C., Recher, H., and Lynch, A. (2006). Bell miner associated dieback (BMAD): independent scientific literature review. A review of eucalypt dieback associated with Bell miner habitat in north-eastern New South Wales, Australia. DEC NSW Occasional Paper DEC 2006/116. (Department of Environment and Conservation: Coffs Harbour, New South Wales.)
Wickham, H. (2009). ‘ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis.’ (Springer: New York.)
Wildlife Acoustics (2011). ‘Song Scope: Bioacoustics Software.’ 4.1.1 edn. (Wildlife Acoustics, Inc.: Maynard, MA.)
Williams, S. E., Marsh, H., and Winter, J. (2002). Spatial scale, species diversity, and habitat structure: small mammals in Australian tropical rain forest. Ecology 83, 1317–1329.
| Spatial scale, species diversity, and habitat structure: small mammals in Australian tropical rain forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
