Know your enemy? Conservation management causes loss of antipredator behaviour to novel predators in New Zealand robins

Muralidhar, Aishwarya; Moore, Freya Lucy; Easton, Luke J.; Jamieson, Ian G.; Seddon, Philip J.; Heezik, Yolanda van

doi:10.1016/j.anbehav.2019.01.014

Cited by 25 publications

(35 citation statements)

References 37 publications

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“…About 25% of small passerines from New Caledonia build nests in similar locations as the fan‐tailed gerygone, thus the low rate of predation by invasive rodents that we observed could be representative for a larger portion of the New Caledonian avifauna. A relocation study conducted in New Zealand found that when predation pressure by invasive species is suppressed, native birds lost their antipredator behaviour to novel predators within three years of relocation (Muralidhar et al ). This shows that behavioural changes to threats, or lack of it, can occur very rapidly.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of brood parasitism and predation on nest survival of the fan‐tailed gerygone in New Caledonia

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et al. 2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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Predation and brood parasitism are common reasons for nesting failure in passerine species and the additive impact by invasive species is a major conservation concern, particularly on tropical islands. Recognising the relative contribution of the different components of nesting failure rates is important to understand co‐evolutionary interactions within brood parasite–host systems. In the remote archipelago of New Caledonia, the fan‐tailed gerygone Gerygone flavolateralis is the exclusive host of the brood‐parasitic shining bronze‐cuckoo Chalcites lucidus. Additionally, invasive rodents also possibly have an impact on breeding success. To estimate the impact of potential nest predators, we 1) video monitored nests to identify predators, 2) estimated the probability of predation based on nest visibility and predator abundance and 3) tested the possibility that the location of experimental nests and lack of odour cues decrease the predation by rodents. In addition, we estimated nest survival rates using data collected in different habitats over the course of eight breeding seasons. Nesting success of fan‐tailed gerygones was relatively low and predation was the main cause of nesting failure. We recorded mainly predation by native birds, including the shining bronze‐cuckoo, whereas predation by rats was rare. In open habitats predation by cuckoos was much lower than predation by other avian predators. Neither predator activity around nests nor nest visibility influenced the probability of predation. Experimental nests in more accessible locations and containing an odorous bait were more exposed to rodent predation. Apparently, the fan‐tailed gerygone has either never been specifically vulnerable to predation by rats or has developed anti‐predator adaptations.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Impact of brood parasitism and predation on nest survival of the fan‐tailed gerygone in New Caledonia

Attisano

Groß

Sato

et al. 2020

Journal of Avian Biology

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“…2004; Blumstein & Daniel 2005; Muralidhar et al. 2019) and that in captive populations, antipredator traits can be lost quickly (McDougall et al. 2006).…”

Section: Figurementioning

confidence: 99%

“…It is clear that most antipredator traits are ultimately lost following long-term isolation from predators (Blumstein et al 2004;Blumstein & Daniel 2005;Muralidhar et al 2019) and that in captive populations, antipredator traits can be lost quickly (McDougall et al 2006). Recently, we documented the rapid loss of antipredator traits in an endangered population moved to an island haven (Jolly et al 2018a,b).…”

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confidence: 98%

“…The result is not so much relaxed selection in havens as directional selection toward predator naivete. Alarmingly, this very scenario could be playing out globally across conservation havens (Hayward & Kerley 2009;Muralidhar et al 2019). It is a common occurrence that populations in havens rapidly increase to high densities, to the point that haven managers have the perverse problem of too many animals in the haven (Bannister et al 2016).…”

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confidence: 99%

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Rapid evolution in predator‐free conservation havens and its effects on endangered species recovery

Jolly

Phillips

2020

Conservation Biology

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“…(ii) Exclusion fencing should exclude some, but not all, predators in order to allow the development of antipredator behaviours (Moseby et al ., 2018; West et al ., 2018). Whilst the benefits of exclusion fencing are clear, especially for species most at risk (Legge et al ., 2018), it is crucial that native mammals have the opportunity to develop and maintain antipredator behaviours (Jolly, Webb, & Phillips, 2018; Muralidhar et al ., 2019). (iii) The reintroduction of Australia's larger predators, potentially to compete with and displace introduced predators, should be investigated further (Hollings et al ., 2014; Westaway et al ., 2019).…”

Section: Recommendationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relaxed predation theory: size, sex and brains matter

et al. 2020

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Australia's wildlife is being considerably impacted by introduced mammalian predators such as cats (Felis catus), dogs (Canis lupus familiaris), and foxes (Vulpes vulpes). This is often attributed to native wildlife being naïve to these introduced predators. A systematic review of the literature reveals that native metatherians (body mass range 0.02–25 kg) do not recognise, and show relaxed antipredator behaviours towards, native and some introduced mammalian predators. Native eutherians (all with body mass < 2 kg), however, do appear to recognise and exhibit antipredator behaviours towards both native and introduced predators. Based on our findings, we propose a novel theory, the ‘Relaxed Predation Theory’. Our new theory is based on the absence of large mammalian predators leading to reduced predation pressure in Australia during the past 40000–50000 years, and on three key differences between Australian metatherians and eutherians: size, sex, and brains. In light of this Relaxed Predation Theory, we make a number of recommendations for the conservation of Australian wildlife: (i) predator avoidance training of suitable species; (ii) exclusion fencing to exclude some, but not all, predators to facilitate the development of antipredator behaviours; (iii) captive breeding programs to prevent the extinction of some species; and (iv) reintroduction of Australia's larger predators, potentially to compete with and displace introduced predators. A more detailed understanding of the responses of Australian mammals to predators will hopefully contribute to the improved conservation of susceptible species.

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Know your enemy? Conservation management causes loss of antipredator behaviour to novel predators in New Zealand robins

Cited by 25 publications

References 37 publications

Impact of brood parasitism and predation on nest survival of the fan‐tailed gerygone in New Caledonia

Impact of brood parasitism and predation on nest survival of the fan‐tailed gerygone in New Caledonia

Rapid evolution in predator‐free conservation havens and its effects on endangered species recovery

Relaxed predation theory: size, sex and brains matter

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