Differential effects of exotic predator-control on nest success of native and introduced birds in New Zealand

Starling-Windhof, Amanda; Massaro, Melanie; Briskie, James V.

doi:10.1007/s10530-010-9886-5

Cited by 31 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Introduced birds and biogeographically recent native species shared an evolutionary past with mammals more recently (Starling‐Windhof et al. , Worthy et al. ); thus, these species may possess life history strategies that help them evade mammal predation more effectively than naïve, endemic island species (Starling‐Windhof et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…); thus, these species may possess life history strategies that help them evade mammal predation more effectively than naïve, endemic island species (Starling‐Windhof et al. , Parlato et al. ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…, , Starling‐Windhof et al. ). Adult mortality may also be reduced; females sitting on nests commonly experience high mortality, although little is known about predation rates on adults away from nests (Innes et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fenced sanctuaries deliver conservation benefits for most common and threatened native island birds in New Zealand

2018

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Island species are disproportionately threatened with extinction, and invasive species are the primary driver of biodiversity loss. Globally, eradicating invasive mammals from small oceanic islands has led to the recovery of threatened populations, but eradicating mammals from large islands and continents is more challenging. In New Zealand, conservation organizations have established a large network of fenced sanctuaries that use predator‐proof fencing to exclude invasive mammals and conserve native flora and fauna. Yet, critics question if sanctuaries meet these targets, given a lack of evidence on outcomes. We surveyed birds in three sanctuaries and three paired sites on New Zealand's North Island to investigate whether sanctuaries increase bird population densities relative to sites with minimal mammal control. Densities of nine endemic bird species were higher in sanctuaries compared to unprotected sites (0.27–9.00 more birds/ha), but we found no significant difference in mean population densities for introduced and biogeographically recent native species. These findings provide compelling evidence that fenced sanctuaries effectively conserve native island bird populations, and affirm predictions that native species are more likely to benefit from invasive mammal eradications than introduced species. New Zealand's novel approach to recovering rare species holds great promise for conserving biota at risk from invasion in other global hotspots of endemism.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fenced sanctuaries deliver conservation benefits for most common and threatened native island birds in New Zealand

2018

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“…North Island robins are an anomaly because they are capable of complex cognitive tasks (e.g., [51], [52]), but have (so far) failed to adapt to urban environments. Their failure to adapt to urban environments is probably because of life history constraints and a lack of behavioural defences against mammalian predators rather than a lack of cognitive ability or a lack of exposure to humans [53], [54]. Although it may be surprising that small passerines are able to discriminate between humans, it is probable that many avian taxa, under some circumstances, need to remember salient information about their environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ability of North Island Robins to Discriminate between Humans Is Related to Their Behavioural Type

et al. 2013

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Animals are able to learn to identify persistent threats to themselves and their offspring. For example, birds are able to quickly learn to discriminate between humans that have previously threatened their nests from humans with whom they have had no prior experience. However, no study has yet examined whether a bird's ability to discriminate between humans is related to the bird's underlying behavioural type. In this study, we examined whether there were differences among North Island (NI) robins (Petroica longipes), based on their underlying behavioural type, in their abilities to discriminate between familiar and novel human observers. Using a simple feeding experiment, we timed how long it took birds to attack a food item placed next to an observer on each of 7 days. On the eighth day, a different observer timed the birds. We found that birds could be split into two behaviour types based on their attack behaviour: fast attackers (latencies <20 sec) and slow attackers (latencies >20 secs). Interestingly, the fast birds did not increase their attack latency in response to the novel observer whereas the slow attackers did. This result, for the first time, demonstrates that a bird's ability to discriminate between humans can vary among birds based on their behavioural type.

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“…Kowhai Bush has little mammalian predator control, except for some poisoning of possums around the eastern edges where forest adjoins farmland. (Hunt 1978;Starling-Windhof et al 2011). Along its eastern margins, large areas have been invaded by the introduced fleshy-fruited woody weeds Berberis glaucocarpa and Crataegus monogyna.…”

Section: Study Sitementioning

confidence: 99%

Quantifying seed dispersal by birds and possums in a lowland New Zealand forest

Wyman¹,

Kelly²

2017

NZ J Ecol

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Declines in native birds in New Zealand have raised questions about whether seed dispersal limits plant regeneration and whether introduced mammals such as brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) can replace absent native birds. We determined the relative contribution to seed dispersal by birds and possums in native secondary forest at Kowhai Bush, Kaikoura. The number of seeds dispersed per hectare per day by each animal species was determined based on the number of seeds per faecal pellet, the number of faecal pellets per animal per day, and the density of animals per hectare. Five dispersers had many seeds in their faecal samples: bellbirds (Anthornis melanura, mean 11.5 seeds per sample), silvereyes (Zosterops lateralis, 7.0), song thrushes (Turdus philomelos, 8.3), blackbirds (Turdus merula, 15.1) and possums (8.4). However, possums produced half as many faeces per day as birds and were present at lower densities than birds (1 possum, 3 bellbirds, 2.7 silvereyes, 6.4 song thrushes, and 3.2 blackbirds per ha). Consequently, on a per hectare basis, possums dispersed <3% of the total seeds, much less than bellbirds (22%), silvereyes (12%), song thrushes (33%) and blackbirds (30%). Possums also destroyed approximately 15% of seeds found in faeces, reduced the germination of gutpassed Coprosma robusta seed to half of that from bird faeces, and did not swallow fruit any larger (max 7 mm diameter) than those moved by birds. Consequently, possums provided little benefit from seed dispersal.

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Differential effects of exotic predator-control on nest success of native and introduced birds in New Zealand

Cited by 31 publications

References 30 publications

Fenced sanctuaries deliver conservation benefits for most common and threatened native island birds in New Zealand

Fenced sanctuaries deliver conservation benefits for most common and threatened native island birds in New Zealand

The Ability of North Island Robins to Discriminate between Humans Is Related to Their Behavioural Type

Quantifying seed dispersal by birds and possums in a lowland New Zealand forest

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