Relative influence of habitat modification and interspecific competition on woodland bird assemblages in eastern Australia
M. Maron A B D , A. Main A B , M. Bowen A B , A. Howes A B , J. Kath C , C. Pillette A B and C. A. McAlpine A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A The University of Queensland, School of Geography, Planning and Environmental Management, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
B The University of Queensland, Landscape Ecology and Conservation Group, Centre for Spatial Environmental Research, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
C Australian Centre for Sustainable Catchments and Faculty of Science, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: m.maron@uq.edu.au
Emu 111(1) 40-51 https://doi.org/10.1071/MU09108
Submitted: 26 November 2009 Accepted: 4 June 2010 Published: 21 February 2011
Abstract
Many of eastern Australia’s woodland birds have declined in recent decades. Although historical landscape transformation ultimately underlies these declines, effective conservation action requires knowledge of the relative importance of current threats to woodland birds. Through a literature review and analysis of empirical data from seven woodland regions, we investigated the relative importance of habitat structure, site context and aggressive avian competitors (miners, Manorina spp.) for woodland birds in eastern Australia. The literature review revealed that the factor which most consistently influenced the richness, abundance and assemblage composition of woodland birds was the density or presence of Manorina honeyeaters. A positive effect of site structural complexity was also often reported, but the effects of area, isolation and grazing varied among the reviewed studies. Across the seven empirical datasets, density of Manorina honeyeaters was responsible for the great majority of the independently explained variance in all but one region. We conclude that interspecific competition with Manorina honeyeaters is one of the most important and widespread processes threatening woodland birds in eastern Australia. In regions where this threatening process is prevalent, the greatest conservation gains for woodland birds may therefore be achieved by focussing on reducing habitat suitability for aggressive Manorina honeyeaters.
Additional keywords: fragmentation, grazing, habitat structure, Manorina, Noisy Miner, patch area, Yellow-throated Miner.
References
Attwood, S. J., Maron, M., House, A. P. N., and Zammit, C. (2008). Do arthropod assemblages display globally consistent responses to intensified agricultural land use and management? Global Ecology and Biogeography 17, 585–599.| Do arthropod assemblages display globally consistent responses to intensified agricultural land use and management?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Barrett, G., Silcocks, A., Barry, S., Cunningham, R., and Poulter, R. (2003). ‘The New Atlas of Australian Birds.’ (Birds Australia: Melbourne.)
Bowen, M. E., McAlpine, C. A., Seabrook, L. M., House, A. P. N., and Smith, G. C. (2009). The age and amount of regrowth forest in fragmented brigalow landscapes are both important for woodland dependent birds. Biological Conservation 142, 3051–3059.
| The age and amount of regrowth forest in fragmented brigalow landscapes are both important for woodland dependent birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brennan, L. A., and Kuvlesky, W. P. (2005). North American grassland birds: an unfolding conservation crisis? Journal of Wildlife Management 69, 1–13.
| North American grassland birds: an unfolding conservation crisis?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clarke, K. R., and Gorley, R. N. (2006). ‘PRIMER v6 User Manual/Tutorial.’ (PRIMER-E: Plymouth, UK.)
Clarke, M. F., and Grey, M. J. (2010). Managing an overabundant native bird: the Noisy Miner (Manorina melanocephala). In ‘Temperate Woodland Conservation and Management’. (Eds D. Lindenmayer, A. F. Bennett and R. Hobbs.) pp. 115–126. (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Clarke, M. F., and Oldland, J. M. (2007). Penetration of remnant edges by Noisy Miners (Manorina melanocephala) and implications for habitat restoration. Wildlife Research 34, 253–261.
Clarke, M. F., and Schedvin, N. (1997). An experimental study of the translocation of Noisy Miners Manorina melanocephala and difficulties associated with dispersal. Biological Conservation 80, 161–167.
| An experimental study of the translocation of Noisy Miners Manorina melanocephala and difficulties associated with dispersal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cofinas, M., and Creighton, C. (2001). ‘Australian Native Vegetation Assessment 2001.’ (National Land and Water Resources Audit: Canberra.)
Cooper, C. B. (2002). Experimental evidence of disrupted dispersal causing decline of an Australian passerine in fragmented habitat. Conservation Biology 16, 471–478.
| Experimental evidence of disrupted dispersal causing decline of an Australian passerine in fragmented habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Cowan, P. E., and Tyndale-Biscoe, C. H. (1997). Australian and New Zealand mammal species considered to be pests or problems. Reproduction, Fertility and Development 9, 27–36.
| Australian and New Zealand mammal species considered to be pests or problems.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK2s3mt12rtg%3D%3D&md5=85a02d23069e49a59f9c2452a76fd8a9CAS |
Debus, S. J. S. (2008). The effect of Noisy Miners on small bush birds: an unofficial cull and its outcome. Pacific Conservation Biology 14, 185–189.
Department of Sustainability and Environment (2009). ‘Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 Threatened List.’ (Department of Sustainability and Environment: Melbourne.)
Donald, P. F., Green, R. E., and Heath, M. F. (2001). Agricultural intensification and the collapse of Europe’s farmland bird populations. Proceedings of the Royal Society B. Biological Sciences 268, 25–29.
| Agricultural intensification and the collapse of Europe’s farmland bird populations.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 |
Eyre, T. J., Maron, M., Mathieson, M. T., and Haseler, M. (2009). Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland. Austral Ecology 34, 705–716.
| Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Farina, A. (1997). Landscape structure and breeding bird distribution in a sub-Mediterranean agro-ecosystem. Landscape Ecology 12, 365–378.
| Landscape structure and breeding bird distribution in a sub-Mediterranean agro-ecosystem.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ford, H. A., Barrett, G. W., Saunders, D. A., and Recher, H. F. (2001). Why have birds in the woodlands of southern Australia declined? Biological Conservation 97, 71–88.
| Why have birds in the woodlands of southern Australia declined?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Garnett, S. T., and Crowley, G. M. (2000). ‘The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2000.’ (Environment Australia: Canberra.)
Grey, M. J., Clarke, M. F., and Loyn, R. H. (1997). Initial changes in the avian communities of remnant eucalypt woodlands following a reduction in the abundance of Noisy Miners, Manorina melanocephala. Wildlife Research 24, 631–648.
| Initial changes in the avian communities of remnant eucalypt woodlands following a reduction in the abundance of Noisy Miners, Manorina melanocephala.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Grey, M. J., Clarke, M. F., and Loyn, R. H. (1998). Influence of the Noisy Miner Manorina melanocephala on avian diversity and abundance in remnant Grey Box woodland. Pacific Conservation Biology 4, 55–69.
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 |
Hastings, R. A., and Beattie, A. J. (2006). Stop the bullying in the corridors: can including shrubs make your revegetation more Noisy Miner free? Ecological Management & Restoration 7, 105–112.
| Stop the bullying in the corridors: can including shrubs make your revegetation more Noisy Miner free?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Howes, A. L., and Maron, M. (2009). Interspecific competition and conservation management of continuous subtropical woodlands. Wildlife Research 36, 617–626.
| Interspecific competition and conservation management of continuous subtropical woodlands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Howes, A. L., Maron, M., and McAlpine, C. A. (2010). Bayesian networks and adaptive management of wildlife habitat. Conservation Biology 24, 974–983.
| Bayesian networks and adaptive management of wildlife habitat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20184652PubMed |
Kath, J., Maron, M., and Dunn, P. K. (2009). Interspecific competition and small bird diversity in an urbanizing landscape. Landscape and Urban Planning 92, 72–79.
| Interspecific competition and small bird diversity in an urbanizing landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Krebs, J. R., Wilson, J. D., Bradbury, R. B., and Siriwardena, G. M. (1999). The second Silent Spring? Nature 400, 611–612.
| The second Silent Spring?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK1MXltl2isbo%3D&md5=8242ed525c22609b6424aba9e036ad6bCAS |
Laurance, W. F., Lovejoy, T. E., Vasconcelos, H. L., Bruna, E. M., Didham, R. K., Stouffer, P. C., Gascon, C., Bierregaard, R. O., Laurance, S. G., and Sampaio, E. (2002). Ecosystem decay of Amazonian forest fragments: a 22-year investigation. Conservation Biology 16, 605–618.
| Ecosystem decay of Amazonian forest fragments: a 22-year investigation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loyn, R. H. (1987). Effects of patch area and habitat on bird abundances, species numbers and tree health in fragmented Victorian forests. In ‘Nature Conservation: The Role of Remnants of Native Vegetation’. (Eds D. A. Saunders, G. W. Arnold, A. A. Burbidge and A. J. M. Hopkins.) pp. 65–77. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Sydney.)
Lunt, I., and Bennett, A. F. (1999). Temperate woodlands in Victoria: distribution, composition and conservation. In ‘Temperate Eucalypt Woodlands in Australia: Biology, Conservation, Management and Restoration’. (Eds R. J. Hobbs and C. J. Yates.) pp. 17–31. (Surrey Beatty & Sons: Sydney.)
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 Horrocks, G. (2002). Relative influences of patch, landscape and historical factors on birds in an Australian fragmented landscape. Journal of Biogeography 29, 395–410.
| Relative influences of patch, landscape and historical factors on birds in an Australian fragmented landscape.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maron, M. (2007). Threshold effect of eucalypt density on an aggressive avian competitor. Biological Conservation 136, 100–107.
| Threshold effect of eucalypt density on an aggressive avian competitor.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maron, M. (2009). Nesting, foraging and aggression of Noisy Miners relative to road edges in an extensive Queensland forest. Emu 109, 75–81.
| Nesting, foraging and aggression of Noisy Miners relative to road edges in an extensive Queensland forest.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Maron, M., and Kennedy, S. (2007). Roads, fire and aggressive competitors: determinants of bird distribution in subtropical production forests. Forest Ecology and Management 240, 24–31.
| Roads, fire and aggressive competitors: determinants of bird distribution in subtropical production forests.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Martin, T. G., and McIntyre, S. (2007). Impacts of livestock grazing and tree clearing on birds of woodland and riparian habitats. Conservation Biology 21, 504–514.
| Impacts of livestock grazing and tree clearing on birds of woodland and riparian habitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 17391200PubMed |
Mazerolle, M. J., and Villard, M. (1999). Patch characteristics and landscape context as predictors of species presence and abundance: a review. Ecoscience 6, 117–124.
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 |
R Development Core Team (2008). ‘R: A Language and Environment for Statistical Computing.’ (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria.)
Radford, J. Q., and Bennett, A. F. (2007). The relative importance of landscape properties for woodland birds in agricultural environments. Journal of Applied Ecology 44, 737–747.
| The relative importance of landscape properties for woodland birds in agricultural environments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Radford, J. Q., Bennett, A. F., and Cheers, G. J. (2005). Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds. Biological Conservation 124, 317–337.
| Landscape-level thresholds of habitat cover for woodland-dependent birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Recher, H. F. (1999). The state of Australia’s avifauna: a personal opinion and prediction for the new millennium. Australian Zoologist 31, 11–27.
Reid, J. R. W. (1999). Threatened and declining birds in the New South Wales Sheep–Wheat Belt: I. Diagnosis, characteristics and management. Consultancy report to NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service. CSIRO Wildlife and Ecology, Canberra
Rhodes, J. R., Callaghan, J. G., McAlpine, C. A., de Jong, C., Bowen, M. E., Mitchell, D. L., Lunney, D., and Possingham, H. P. (2008). Regional variation in habitat–occupancy thresholds: a warning for conservation planning. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 549–557.
| Regional variation in habitat–occupancy thresholds: a warning for conservation planning.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robinson, S. K., Thompson, F. R., Donovan, T. M., Whitehead, D. R., and Faaborg, J. (1995). Regional forest fragmentation and the nesting success of migratory birds. Science 267, 1987–1990.
| Regional forest fragmentation and the nesting success of migratory birds.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2MXkslOktbY%3D&md5=9833ad26ce972506c9480002bf73e854CAS | 17770113PubMed |
Saunders, D. A., Hobbs, R. J., and Arnold, C. R. (1993). The Kellerberrin project on fragmented landscapes: a review of current information. Biological Conservation 64, 185–192.
| The Kellerberrin project on fragmented landscapes: a review of current information.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Seddon, J. A., Briggs, S. V., and Doyle, S. J. (2003). Relationships between bird species and characteristics of woodland remnants in central New South Wales. Pacific Conservation Biology 9, 95–119.
Suárez-Seoane, S., Osbourne, P. E., and Baudry, J. (2002). Responses of birds of different biogeographic origins and habitat requirements to agricultural land abandonment in northern Spain. Biological Conservation 105, 333–344.
| Responses of birds of different biogeographic origins and habitat requirements to agricultural land abandonment in northern Spain.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Szabo, J. K., Vesk, P. A., Baxter, P. W. J., and Possingham, H. P. (2010). Regional avian species declines estimated from volunteer-collected long-term data using List Length Analysis. Ecological Applications 20, 2157–2169.
| Regional avian species declines estimated from volunteer-collected long-term data using List Length Analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21265449PubMed |
Trad, S. (2008). Furore over Canberra kangaroo cull. The Australian, 20 May 2008. Available at http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/furore-over-kangaroo-cull/story-e6frg6nx-1111116387953 [Verified 3 January 2011].
Vesk, P. A., and Mac Nally, R. (2006). The clock is ticking – revegetation and habitat for birds and arboreal mammals in rural landscapes of southern Australia. Agriculture Ecosystems & Environment 112, 356–366.
| The clock is ticking – revegetation and habitat for birds and arboreal mammals in rural landscapes of southern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vesk, P. A., Nolan, R., Thomson, J. R., Dorrough, J. W., and Mac Nally, R. (2008). Time lags in the provision of habitat resources through revegetation. Biological Conservation 141, 174–186.
| Time lags in the provision of habitat resources through revegetation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walsh, C., and Mac Nally, R. (2008). hier.part: Hierarchical Partitioning. R package version 1.0-3. (R Foundation for Statistical Computing: Vienna, Austria). Available at http://cran.r-project.org/ [Verified 3 January 2011].
Watson, D. M. (2011). A productivity-based explanation for woodland bird declines: poorer soils yield less food. Emu 111, 10–18.
| A productivity-based explanation for woodland bird declines: poorer soils yield less food.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watson, J., Freudenberger, D., and Paull, D. (2001). An assessment of the focal-species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia. Conservation Biology 15, 1364–1373.
| An assessment of the focal-species approach for conserving birds in variegated landscapes in southeastern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Zanette, L., Doyle, P., and Tremont, S. M. (2000). Food shortage in small fragments: evidence from an area-sensitive passerine. Ecology 81, 1654–1666.
| Food shortage in small fragments: evidence from an area-sensitive passerine.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |