The ecological context and consequences of colonisation of a site by bell miners (Manorina melanophrys)
Amanda J. Dare A C , Paul G. McDonald A B and Michael F. Clarke AA Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Vic. 3086, Australia.
B Present address: Department of Biological Sciences, University of Wales, Bangor, Gwynedd LL57 2UW, United Kingdom.
C Corresponding author. Email: a.dare@latrobe.edu.au
Wildlife Research 34(8) 616-623 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR07015
Submitted: 8 February 2007 Accepted: 18 October 2007 Published: 18 December 2007
Abstract
Bell miner (Manorina melanophrys) colonies are closely associated with decreased avian abundance and diversity and an apparently associated increase in psyllid abundance. However, a causative link between the presence of bell miners and increased psyllid abundance has yet to be established. We took advantage of the movement of bell miners into two new areas to investigate the ecological consequences of bell miner occupation on both avian and psyllid abundance. We monitored the number of bell miners and other avian species, using area searches, and psyllid abundance by monthly counts of lerp on leaves. Bell miner presence alone had limited effect on either bird diversity or abundance. However, when miners were also giving their distinctive ‘tink’ vocalisation, a significant decrease in avian abundance and diversity was observed. This evidence supports the hypothesis that ‘tink’ vocalisations are used by interspecific competitors to detect bell miner colonies. At the time of initial occupation, new sites did not have significantly elevated levels of psyllids compared with surrounding areas unoccupied by bell miners. Six months later one of the two newly occupied sites had significantly more Cardiaspina spp. than either the long-established colony or an unoccupied control site. In contrast, infestations of Glycaspis spp. remained significantly lower at both new sites when compared with the long-established colony, but equivalent to unoccupied areas. Given this, we conclude that bell miner occupation does not necessarily lead to an increase in psyllid abundance, characteristic of tree dieback in some colonies, and that a causative link between bell miner presence and declining tree health remains to be demonstrated.
Acknowledgements
La Trobe University kindly allowed fieldwork to be undertaken on their land. We thank Luc te Marvelde, Maria Pacheco and Jonathan Wright for assistance with fieldwork. Anna Lashko, Mike Double and Andrew Cockburn provided facilities for, and carried out, the molecular analyses. We are grateful to H. Recher and two anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript. Leg bands were provided by the Australian Bird and Bat Banding Service. AJD was supported during this study by a La Trobe University Postgraduate Research Scholarship and grants from the Stuart Leslie Bird Research Award. PGM and genetic analyses were funded under BBSRC grant (5/S19268) awarded to Jonathan Wright and the University of Wales, Bangor. This research was approved by the La Trobe University Animal Ethics Committee (licence AEC01/19(L)/V2) and the Department of Sustainability and Environment (licence 10002082)
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