Social Organization of Bell Miners

Smith, Ailie; Robertson, Bob

doi:10.1071/mu9780169

Cited by 44 publications

(19 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…Therefore, successful bell miner colonies can occur in a range of eucalypt forest types but typically in mesic eucalypt forests supporting a dense shrubby understorey suitable for nesting (e.g. McCulloch and Noelker 1974;Smith and Robertson 1978;Higgins et al 2001). The significance of forest structure influencing bell miner populations is not unique.…”

Section: Site Factorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

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Bell-miner-associated dieback at the tree crown scale: a multi-trophic process

Stone

2005

Australian Forestry

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This paper examines some of the factors and processes which interact within eucalypt stands affected by bell-miner-associated dieback. A key symptom of this form of dieback is sustained foliar damage from herbivorous insects. in particular psyllids. Repeated cycles of defoliation/refoliation result in branch death and crown contraction. Weakened trees become more susceptible to secondary stressors such as wood borers. soil fungal pathogens and abnormal levels of soil moisture. Psyllid outbreaks can occur through a reduction in the efficacy of their natural enemy complex. and the provision of sufficient favourable foliage to sustain high insect populations. The young foliage preferred for feeding and oviposition by most eucalypt insect herbivores can occur when soil moisture and nutrients and canopy irradiation are nonlimiting. Bell miner colonies require high insect densities in their food source and they reinforce this situation through their feeding behaviour and territorial defence. The study suggests the effect of bell miners on the populations of herbivorous insects. and hence the amount of insect-damaged foliage, is density dependent. Bell miners also require dense understorey, about 2-5 m high, for nesting sites, and the presence of surface water. Any management practice that reduces bell miner density will in turn reduce the density of insect herbivores and hence foliar damage in the eucalypt tree crowns. Then. if the trees have not become too debilitated, crown recovery is likely to occur.

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Section: Site Factorsmentioning

confidence: 98%

“…An optimal height of the understorey for nesting is about 2-5m (e.g. Smith and Robertson 1978;Clarke 1988;Poiani 1993a).…”

Section: Sustained Foliar Grazingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bell-miner-associated dieback at the tree crown scale: a multi-trophic process

Stone

2005

Australian Forestry

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“…Similarly, the social structure and organisation of the bell miner have been studied and their high population levels have been attributed to their co-operative breeding strategies, colony development and overall territorial behaviour (Clarke, 1987(Clarke, , 1984Poiani, 1992;Smith and Robertson, 1978). www.elsevier.com/locate/foreco Available online at www.sciencedirect.com Forest Ecology and Management 255 (2008) [2094][2095][2096][2097][2098][2099][2100][2101][2102] As bell miners are highly territorial and socially organised birds, they are likely to affect the population density of other birds.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

High densities of bell miners Manorina melanophrys associated with reduced diversity of other birds in wet eucalypt forest: Potential for adaptive management

Kemmerer¹,

Shields²,

Tidemann

2008

Forest Ecology and Management

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“…1984). They form colonies consisting of numerous breeding pairs that occupy overlapping foraging ranges that they share with nonbreeding offspring and immigrants (Smith and Robertson 1978;Poiani 1993;Clarke and Fitz-Gerald 1994). The colony's territory is communally defended against interspecific competitors and predators, resulting in a significant reduction of avian diversity within the canopy stratum (Smith and Robertson 1978;Loyn et a/.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest canopy health and stand structure associated with bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) on the central coast of New South Wales

Stone

Kathuria

Carney

et al. 2008

Australian Forestry

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Forest attributes including canopy health and stand structure were visually assessed to identify features commonly associated with the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys, Meliphagidae), a cooperatively breeding, insectivorous honeyeater endemic to south-eastern Australia. A stratified random sampling methodology, using a combination of SPOTS satellite imagery and a 25-m pixel digital altitude model, was used to establish 130 circular plots 40 m in diameter within a 12 800 ha study area in the Watagan mountain range, central coast of New South Wales (NSW). In this study site, the presence of bell miners was significantly associated with unhealthy eucalypt crowns. This supports the proposition that a dieback syndrome known as bell-miner-associated dieback (BMAD) exists in central coastal forests ofNSW. Our results also demonstrate a strong association of a sparse eucalypt canopy over a dense lower midstorey with the presence of bell miners. Altitude and fire frequency were negatively correlated with bell miners while the topographical wetness index was positively correlated with bell miners. Logistic regression was used to quantify the effects of a series of explanatory variables including tree species, forest structure variables and selected topographic variables. Although there were significant differences in the ranking of crown condition between eucalypt species, tree species was not selected in the final model. The final variables identified by the logistic regression for the presence ofbell miners included sparse eucalypt overstorey cover, dense lower midstorey cover, the absence of young vigorous regrowth trees and higher values of the topographic wetness index. Based on the results of our survey we discuss practical options for managing the forest dieback syndrome associated with bell miners in the central coast region of NSW and an approach to mapping forests at risk from BMAD.

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Social Organization of Bell Miners

Cited by 44 publications

References 14 publications

Bell-miner-associated dieback at the tree crown scale: a multi-trophic process

Bell-miner-associated dieback at the tree crown scale: a multi-trophic process

High densities of bell miners Manorina melanophrys associated with reduced diversity of other birds in wet eucalypt forest: Potential for adaptive management

Forest canopy health and stand structure associated with bell miners (Manorina melanophrys) on the central coast of New South Wales

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