Does the presence of grevilleas and eucalypts in urban gardens influence the distribution and foraging ecology of Noisy Miners?

Ashley, Lisa C.; Major, Richard E.; Taylor, Charlotte

doi:10.1071/mu07043

Cited by 15 publications

(15 citation statements)

References 43 publications

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“…More sedentary honeyeaters rely upon additional non-nectar sources of carbohydrate (e.g. lerps) during periods when localised nectar sources are not available (Ashley et al 2009). Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus haematodus) however, are highly mobile and can spend up to 94 % of their time foraging at flowers (Ashley et al 2009;Hasebe and Franklin 2004;Higgins 1999).…”

Section: Presence Of Nectarivorous Parrotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…E. sideroxylon) trees that are recognised for their prolific flowering, which increases in intensity, frequency and duration as they mature (Nagendra and Gopal 2010;Smith and Lill 2008;Tzilkowski et al 1986;White et al 2005;Williams et al 2006). Elevated nectar availability from ornamental urban plantings has been anecdotally hypothesised to explain increases in nectarivore density (Anderies et al 2007;McCaffrey and Mannan 2012;McGoldrick and Mac Nally 1998) however to date, only a few studies have addressed the contribution of nectar from ornamental plantings (see Ashley et al 2009;Sewell and Catterall 1998). Additionally, it has been suggested that remnant vegetation may form an intermediate environment between the climate conditions within the urban environment and those within the non-urban environment (Carreiro and Tripler 2005).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Do trees flower longer in the city? A comparison of flowering eucalyptus trees in streets, remnants and continuous forest and their association with nectarivorous birds

2015

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Human-dominated environments are often subjected to increased nutrient and moisture regimes which have the potential to influence the flowering phenology of plants. Protracted flowering periods within urban landscapes may result in increased food resources, in the form of nectar, and this high resource availability may support a high density of nectarivorous birds within cities. In order to determine whether there was a difference in the productivity and flowering period associated with urbanisation, we compared the number of flowers produced and duration of flowering period for three species of native tree that were present in streetscapes, remnant vegetation and continuous forest. We also recorded the presence of nectarivorous parrots at flowering trees to determine if the presence of nectarivores was associated with flower productivity. All three species in streetscapes produced more flowers and flowered for longer than in remnants and continuous forest. The number of flowers per tree significantly predicted the presence of nectarivorous parrots in streetscapes. This study demonstrates that the flowering phenology of plants within streetscapes can differ from continuous forest, with remnants appearing to be intermediate. This increased flower productivity within urban landscapes may be partially responsible for the high abundance of nectarivorous parrots within some cities.

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Section: Presence Of Nectarivorous Parrotsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Do trees flower longer in the city? A comparison of flowering eucalyptus trees in streets, remnants and continuous forest and their association with nectarivorous birds

2015

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“…Nectarivore abundance has previously been found to be positively associated with the amount of nectar provided by nectar-bearing plants, within both forested areas and the urban landscape (Ashley et al 2009;Collins and Newland 1986;Cotton 2007;Franklin and Noske 1999;French et al 2005;Pauw and Louw 2012;Pyke et al 1993;Ramsay 1989;Symes et al 2008). Within Australia, species of Eucalyptus and Grevillea, particularly large hybrid Grevillea spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Within Australia, species of Eucalyptus and Grevillea, particularly large hybrid Grevillea spp. that are popular in garden plantings, are recognised as important nectarproviding resources within suburban regions of cities, particularly as they produce more nectar than some non-natives (Ashley et al 2009;Catterall et al 1998;French et al 2005;Sewell and Catterall 1998). The composition and diversity of flowering vegetation within the suburban landscape has the potential to result in either a prolonged period of nectar availability or a continuous supply of nectar when nectar within non-urban habitat is scarce (Ashley et al 2009;Catterall et al 1998;French et al 2005;Sewell and Catterall 1998;Smith and Lill 2008).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The association between nectar availability and nectarivore density in urban and natural environments

2014

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In some Australian and South American cities, nectarivorous birds have become a conspicuous component of the avifaunal community. One mechanism that has been proposed to explain their success is an increased availability of nectar that is provided by suburban gardens and other ornamental plantings. To determine whether the amount of nectar within the suburban landscape is comparable to that of the natural environment, we measured floral density and nectar concentrations in 24 sites in Sydney, Australia. We also measured the density of four species of nectarivores and available nectar energy over a period of 18 months within the suburban landscape (streetscapes and remnant vegetation) and the natural environment (forest and heathland) to determine whether nectar availability explains nectarivore density. Two species of nectarivorous parrot, the rainbow lorikeet and musk lorikeet were present in higher densities within the suburban landscapes compared to the natural environment, and the suburban landscapes provided significantly more nectar than the natural environment during spring and winter. Both the rainbow lorikeet and musk lorikeet were associated with flowering of Eucalyptus spp. and red wattlebirds with the flowering of Grevillea and Callistemon spp. within streetscapes. Suburban landscapes appear to provide a constant supply of nectar for large-bodied nectarivores and provide for more efficient foraging, explaining the success of these species in urban environments.Urban Ecosyst

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“…Miner abundance and distribution have increased dramatically in Canberra in the last 10 years [46]. Their preferred habitat is woodland, including both trees (often eucalypts) and open areas [47][48][49].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

A micro-geography of fear: learning to eavesdrop on alarm calls of neighbouring heterospecifics

Magrath

Bennett

2011

Proc. R. Soc. B.

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Many vertebrates eavesdrop on alarm calls of other species, which is a remarkable ability, given geographical variation in community composition and call diversity within and among species. We used micro-geographical variation in community composition to test whether individuals recognize heterospecific alarm calls by: (i) responding to acoustic features shared among alarm calls; (ii) having innate responses to particular heterospecific calls; or (iii) learning specific alarm calls. We found that superb fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) fled to cover to playback of noisy miner (Manorina melanocephala) aerial predator alarm calls only in locations where miners were present, suggesting that learning rather than acoustic structure determines response. Sites with and without miners were well within the dispersal distance of fairy-wrens, and philopatric males and dispersing females showed the same pattern, so that local genetic adaptation is extremely unlikely. Furthermore, where miners were present, fairy-wrens responded appropriately to different miner calls, implying eavesdropping on their signalling system rather than fleeing from miners themselves. Learned eavesdropping on alarm calls enables individuals to harvest ecologically relevant information from heterospecifics on an astonishingly fine spatial scale. Such phenotypic plasticity is valuable in a changing world, where individuals can be exposed to new species.

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Does the presence of grevilleas and eucalypts in urban gardens influence the distribution and foraging ecology of Noisy Miners?

Cited by 15 publications

References 43 publications

Do trees flower longer in the city? A comparison of flowering eucalyptus trees in streets, remnants and continuous forest and their association with nectarivorous birds

Do trees flower longer in the city? A comparison of flowering eucalyptus trees in streets, remnants and continuous forest and their association with nectarivorous birds

The association between nectar availability and nectarivore density in urban and natural environments

A micro-geography of fear: learning to eavesdrop on alarm calls of neighbouring heterospecifics

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