Breeding biology and life-history traits of an Australasian tropical granivore, the Crimson Finch (<i>Neochmia phaeton</i>)

Milenkaya, Olga; Legge, Sarah; Walters, Jeffrey R.

doi:10.1071/mu10088

Cited by 16 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 47 publications

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“…The high predation rates suffered by the nestlings and, especially, the eggs of Crimson Finches in the present study is apparently typical of this species; egg and nestling predation rates for the species were 60% and 40%, respectively, in a population ;330 km southwest of our study site (Milenkaya et al 2011). The present study, however, was the first to identify the main predators, with V. mitchelli accounting for 100% of egg predation and V. mertensi for 40% of nestling predation in monitored nests.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

“…Although finches can renest after a predation event, the costs to the individual of renesting (Williams 2005) can, presumably, reduce individual fitness and affect population growth. The relationship between Crimson Finch fledging success and these predatory lizards is likely to be general, as the finches essentially nest only in Pandanus bushes in riparian zones where both monitor species spend the majority of their time (Immelmann 1982, Verbeek et al 1993, Christian 2004, Schultz and Doody 2004, Milenkaya et al 2011). Thus, as toads continue to invade new areas of the Kimberley Region they will likely facilitate Crimson Finch populations by increasing fledging success.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Invasive toads shift predator–prey densities in animal communities by removing top predators

Doody

Soanes

Castellano³

et al. 2015

Ecology

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Although invasive species can have substantial impacts on animal communities, cases of invasive species facilitating native species by removing their predators have rarely been demonstrated across vertebrate trophic linkages. The predictable spread of the invasive cane toad (Rhinella marina), however, offered a unique opportunity to quantify cascading effects. In northern Australia, three species of predatory monitor lizards suffered severe population declines due to toad-induced lethal toxic ingestion (yellow-spotted monitor (Varanus panoptes), Mertens' water monitor (V. mertensi), Mitchell's water monitor (V. mitchelli). We, thus, predicted subsequent increases in the abundance and recruitment of prey species due to the reduction of those predators. Toad-induced population-level declines in the water monitor species approached 50% over a five-year period spanning the toad invasion, apparently causing fledging success of the Crimson Finch (Neochmia.phaeton) to increase from 55% to 81%. The consensus of our original and published long-term data is that invasive cane toads are causing predators to lose a foothold on top-down regulation of their prey, triggering shifts in the relative densities of predator and prey in the Australian tropical savannah ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 49%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Invasive toads shift predator–prey densities in animal communities by removing top predators

Doody

Soanes

Castellano³

et al. 2015

Ecology

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“…In the afternoon, during the hottest part of the day, birds rested in shade, usually as a single flock. In comparison, crimson finches formed flocks of about 13.16 ± 0.48 individuals during the non-breading season but formed smaller groups (4.2±0.05) or pairs during breeding season [64]. In the early 1990s, Mitchell (1996) [51] recorded a BTF flock of about 150 individuals.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Movement Patterns, Home Range Size and Habitat Selection of an Endangered Resource Tracking Species, the Black-Throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta)

et al. 2016

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Understanding movement patterns and home range of species is paramount in ecology; it is particularly important for threatened taxa as it can provide valuable information for conservation management. To address this knowledge gap for a range-restricted endangered bird, we estimated home range size, daily movement patterns and habitat use of a granivorous subspecies in northeast Australia, the black-throated finch (Poephila cincta cincta; BTF) using radio-tracking and re-sighting of colour banded birds. Little is known about basic aspects of its ecology including movement patterns and home range sizes. From 2011–2014 we colour-banded 102 BTF and radio-tracked 15 birds. We generated home ranges (calculated using kernel and Minimum Convex Polygons techniques of the 15 tracked BTF). More than 50% of the re-sightings occurred within 200 m of the banding site (n = 51 out of 93 events) and within 100 days of capture. Mean home-range estimates with kernel (50%, 95% probability) and Minimum Convex Polygons were 10.59 ha, 50.79 ha and 46.27 ha, respectively. Home range size differed between two capture sites but no seasonal differences were observed. BTF home ranges overlapped four habitat types among eight available. Habitat selection was different from random at Site 1 (χ2 = 373.41, df = 42, p<0.001) and Site 2 (χ2 = 1896.1, df = 45, p<0.001); however, the preferred habitats differed between the two sites. BTF moved further than expected on the basis of current knowledge, with three individuals being resighted over 15 km from the banding location. However, BTF maintain small home ranges over short time-frames. Occasional long-distance movements may be related to resource bottleneck periods. Daily movement patterns differed between sites, which is likely linked to the fact that the sites differ in the spatial distribution of resources. The work provides information about home range sizes and local movement of BTF that will be valuable for targeting effective management and conservation strategies for this endangered granivore.

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“…Most of the northern Australian observations relate either to (i) coastal streams with rapid flood peaks of low height and short duration compared to the main rivers of the Fitzroy River basin; or (ii) inland rivers in flat terrain with low banks. Further, breeding in the Fitzroy was recorded in most months and all seasons, compared with the dominant summer–autumn of Northern Australia (Milenkaya et al ., ). These data indicate that Crimson Finches cope with the highly unpredictable rainfall regime of this region, like other species of the wet–dry tropics (Shine and Brown, ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The Crimson Finch Neochmia phaeton (Estrildidae) is a riparian specialist of the coastally flowing catchments of tropical Australia. It nests and forages in riparian forests with tall grasses near permanent water (Todd et al, 2003;Milenkaya et al, 2011), especially those with complex flood channels and dense Chionachne (or River Grass) Chionachne cyathopoda (Todd, 2002). Crimson Finches primarily feed on immature and ripe seeds of grasses with variable seasonal availability, supplemented by insects during breeding (Todd et al, 2003).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

EFFECT OF A MAJOR FLOOD ON BREEDING AND HABITAT OF THE CRIMSON FINCH (NEOCHMIA PHAETON): A RIPARIAN SPECIALIST

Houston

Black

2013

River Research & Apps

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Riparian specialists, such as the Crimson Finch (Estrildidae: Neochmia phaeton), are vulnerable to declines in habitat quality, including alterations of flow regime associated with dam construction. Crimson Finches persisted and bred in substantial numbers following two large floods in the Isaac-Connors catchment in early 2008. Major flooding was not detrimental to nesting and breeding success, although the immediate post-flood period was identified as a bottleneck in the availability of riparian grass seed. Crimson Finches nested at 16 m or more above the normal river level (compared with an average of 2-3 m elsewhere in Northern Australia); indicating that they have adapted to the extreme flood peaks in the Fitzroy River basin. The tall river-associated grass Chionachne cyathopoda was a key habitat plant, retaining seed well into the dry season when most other grasses are expended. It also provided abundant seeds following floods, coinciding with peaks in abundance of dependent young finches. The adaptations of both Crimson Finches and Chionachne suggest that increased flooding, predicted by climate change, is unlikely to be a problem. In contrast, a proposed dam on the Connors River may be a threat. River regulation that reduces peaks of major floods may favour introduced riparian grasses over flood adapted native grasses such as Chionachne. Any change in the quantity of this species could be detrimental to persistence of Crimson Finches. Environmental managers should carefully consider the ecology of Chionachne when making decisions about river flows.

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Breeding biology and life-history traits of an Australasian tropical granivore, the Crimson Finch (Neochmia phaeton)

Cited by 16 publications

References 47 publications

Invasive toads shift predator–prey densities in animal communities by removing top predators

Invasive toads shift predator–prey densities in animal communities by removing top predators

Movement Patterns, Home Range Size and Habitat Selection of an Endangered Resource Tracking Species, the Black-Throated Finch (Poephila cincta cincta)

EFFECT OF A MAJOR FLOOD ON BREEDING AND HABITAT OF THE CRIMSON FINCH (NEOCHMIA PHAETON): A RIPARIAN SPECIALIST

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