Habitat Selection and Post-Release Movement of Reintroduced Brown Treecreeper Individuals in Restored Temperate Woodland

Abstract

It is essential to choose suitable habitat when reintroducing a species into its former range. Habitat quality may influence an individual’s dispersal decisions and also ultimately where they choose to settle. We examined whether variation in habitat quality (quantified by the level of ground vegetation cover and the installation of nest boxes) influenced the movement, habitat choice and survival of a reintroduced bird species. We experimentally reintroduced seven social groups (43 individuals) of the brown treecreeper (Climacteris picumnus) into two nature reserves in south-eastern Australia. We radio-tracked 18 brown treecreepers from release in November 2009 until February 2010. We observed extensive movements by individuals irrespective of the release environment or an individual’s gender. This indicated that individuals were capable of dispersing and actively selecting optimum habitat. This may alleviate pressure on wildlife planners to accurately select the most optimum release sites, so long as the species’ requirements are met. There was significant variation in movement between social groups, suggesting that social factors may be a more important influence on movement than habitat characteristics. We found a significant effect of ground vegetation cover on the likelihood of settlement by social groups, with high rates of settlement and survival in dry forests, rather than woodland (where the species typically resides), which has implications for the success of woodland restoration. However, overall the effects of variation in habitat quality were not as strong as we had expected, and resulted in some unpredicted effects such as low survival and settlement in woodland areas with medium levels of ground vegetation cover. The extensive movement by individuals and unforeseen effects of habitat characteristics make it difficult to predict the outcome of reintroductions, the movement behaviour and habitat selection of reintroduced individuals, particularly when based on current knowledge of a species’ ecology.

Comparison of movements, body weight, and habitat selection between translocated and resident gopher tortoises

“…Greater post‐release movements of translocated individuals compared to residents are common in wildlife translocation studies (Hester et al , Nussear et al , Scillitani et al ). These movements are likely due to disorientation, attempts to return to the donor site, or searches for suitable habitat or familiar environmental cues (Stamps and Swaisgood , Dickens et al , Bennett et al ). Post‐release movements may result in emigration from the release area, decreased survival, and ultimately translocation failure (Hester et al , Germano and Bishop , Roe et al ).…”

Habitat Selection and Behaviour of a Reintroduced Passerine: Linking Experimental Restoration, Behaviour and Habitat Ecology

“…Large variations in the number of observations can be attributed to either an individual losing a transmitter early or the death of an individual. We observed brown treecreepers moving extensively through the reserves and across multiple polygons of varying treatment types [43]. Although some radio-tracked individuals did undertake separate dispersal movements, individuals were recorded within 10 m of other group members the majority of the time.…”

“…These areas were used during the extensive dispersal of individuals, but also after settlement as final home ranges [43]. For these areas, we classified non-experimental woodland areas as medium or high ground vegetation cover through comparison with experimental polygons.…”

“…Movement prior to the establishment of a home range was taken as an “adjustment period” during which individuals may exhibit altered behaviour due to being unfamiliar with their environment or as a reaction to the reintroduction process [53], [54]. We determined the point at which a social group settled and established a home range using the methods described in Bennett et al [43]. Data was included only for those individuals for whom we had obtained data both pre- and post-settlement.…”

Evaluating interactions between space‐use sharing and defence under increasing density conditions for the group‐territorial Red‐cockaded Woodpecker Leuconotopicus borealis

“…), selecting sites for habitat restoration (Bennett et al . , , Stanton et al . ) and determining compliance with regulatory guidelines for recovery of endangered species (Fedy et al .…”