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

Kemmerer, Ernst P.; Shields, Jim; Tidemann, Christopher R.

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.12.035

Cited by 10 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 22 publications

(36 reference statements)

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“…; Debus ; Kemmerer et al . ). The bell miner ( Manorina melanophrys ; Meliphagidae) is arguably the best‐known species in this regard and is common in coastal and sub‐coastal south‐eastern Australia in open eucalypt woodlands and both dry and wet sclerophyll forests with a shrubby understorey (Higgins et al .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…; Kemmerer et al . ). Most species between the understorey and canopy are driven out, whereas species that keep to the understorey are rarely attacked (Smith & Robertson ; Clarke ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…Kemmerer et al . () analyzed the relationship between bell miner population density and the density of other bird populations through linear regression analysis, finding that both richness and abundance of other species were negatively correlated with bell miner density and abundance respectively.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, Kemmerer et al . () proposed that maximum bell miner density occurs at the centre of a colony and reduces incrementally with the distance from the colony centre, with a corresponding incremental increase in species richness. Several studies have also suggested that understorey‐dwelling species are not impacted by bell miner aggression, although these reports have been largely anecdotal (Smith & Robertson ; Clarke ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys)

2014

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Bell miners (Manorina melanophrys; Meliphagidae) are a highly social and very aggressive honeyeater. They are despotic and cooperate in the defence of their territories against other bird species, leading to the almost complete exclusion of other avifauna from miner-occupied regions. This study aimed to resolve some of the fine-scale effects of bell miner aggression on avian diversity both within and adjacent to colonies to determine the true impact of a colony on local avifaunal abundance. Three areas, distributed throughout the range of the bell miner, were surveyed across both non-breeding and breeding seasons to assess the temporal and spatial impacts of bell miner aggression on other bird species. Bell miner colonies were found to occupy very clearly defined areas and had the expected negative impact on avian diversity within their colony. The effects of bell miner colony presence on abundance and richness of avian species were found to cease at the colony boundary, with both recovering to normal levels immediately outside the bell miner colony.Whether bell miners were breeding or not, and irrespective of the amount of vegetation coverage, bell miner colonies were found to have relatively marginal impacts on avian richness and abundance. No impact of colony presence/absence was found on the richness or abundance of the avian species that dwell in the undergrowth, with some evidence that these species were actually more common at the colony edge. Our results demonstrate that the influence of bell miner colony presence upon avian biodiversity is restricted to the confines of the colony and does not radiate outwards into the surrounding habitat. Colony presence influences, therefore, have implications when considering the impact of bell miner behaviour on the diversity of insectivorous birds and processes, most notably the propagation of Bell Miner Associated Dieback.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

“…; Kemmerer et al . ). Most species between the understorey and canopy are driven out, whereas species that keep to the understorey are rarely attacked (Smith & Robertson ; Clarke ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys)

2014

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“…Evidence suggests that bell miner colonies defend areas containing high levels of damaging insect populations, particularly psyllids, from other insectivorous birds, indirectly leading to the death of canopy trees [12] [14] [39] [40]. Chewing insects have been found to be the most damaging insects in eucalypts [41], and one of feeding guilds that bell miner chicks and adults consume [42] [43].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Avian Biodiversity and a Weedy Understorey on Canopy Arthropod Assembly

Lambert¹,

Andrew²,

McDonald³

2014

OJE

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Identifying the factor causing species decline from a multitude of potential disturbances is essential for successful management. Invasive species are often drivers of decline, either through direct effects such as recruitment limitation, or through indirect effects such as habitat modification that facilitate biota changes in other taxa. In this study, we tested the importance of bird predation on arthropods in eucalypt canopies in wet sclerophyll forest that had been invaded by the understorey weed Lantana camara. A strong top-down effect is in agreement with studies that show elevated numbers of insectivorous birds, such as the despotic bell miner, Manorina melanophrys, reduce damaging herbivorous insect numbers and their effect on tree health. Abundance, order and family composition were compared among sites, feeding guilds, among the presence and absence of a despotic bird, and among presence and absence within sites, using a three-way nested Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA), and tested our representation of insect feeding guilds with rarefaction curves. In total, we found arthropods from 20 families on eucalypt trees, 16 where bell miners were present and 18 where they were absent (a sampling efficiency of 78% and 92% of families based on the Chao-I index). Overall, there was a difference in the abundance of insects in areas where bell miners were present (n = 181), and where they were absent (n = 67). There was also a difference in the families present in areas with bell miners and without them. Under some conditions, despotic birds may not change the insect canopy community. Further studies should examine the effects of a despotic bird on the insect canopy community in a variety of conditions and throughout their range.

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Behavioural Ecology: Noise Annoys at Community Level

Slabbekoorn

Halfwerk

2009

Current Biology

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

Cited by 10 publications

References 22 publications

Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys)

Fine‐scale impacts on avian biodiversity due to a despotic species, the bell miner (Manorina melanophrys)

The Influence of Avian Biodiversity and a Weedy Understorey on Canopy Arthropod Assembly

Behavioural Ecology: Noise Annoys at Community Level

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