Nest predation in New Zealand songbirds: Exotic predators, introduced prey and long-term changes in predation risk

Remeš, Vladimír; Matysioková, Beata; Cockburn, Andrew

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2012.01.063

Cited by 29 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 49 publications

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“…Since the arrival of humans in New Zealand, the introduction of novel mammalian predators (Remes et al . ) and a 70% reduction of the indigenous forest (Ewers et al . ) have led to the extinction of 50% of the endemic bird species from the two main islands and many other species have become rare or uncommon (Innes et al .…”

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“…Since the arrival of humans in New Zealand, the introduction of novel mammalian predators (Remes et al 2012) and a 70% reduction of the indigenous forest (Ewers et al 2006) have led to the extinction of 50% of the endemic bird species from the two main islands and many other species have become rare or uncommon (Innes et al 2010). The endemic New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura (Meliphagidae) historically occupied most of this once forest-dominated country (Ewers et al 2006) extending up to the tree line (Craig & Douglas 1984, Sagar & Scofield 2006.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Population genetic connectivity of an endemic New Zealand passerine after large‐scale local extirpations: a model of re‐colonization potential

Baillie

Ritchie

Brunton

2014

Ibis

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Little is known about how a 70% loss of native forests has affected the genetic connectivity of remnant bird populations in New Zealand. We use the common and widely distributed New Zealand Bellbird Anthornis melanura as an indicator species of population connectivity for well‐flighted birds. Using eight microsatellite loci, we identified five main genetic populations in the North Island, South Island, sub‐Antarctic Auckland Islands and two small remnant island populations adjacent to a large region of avian extirpations in northern North Island. Only one remnant island population, on a 30‐year‐old conservation reserve at Tiritiri Matangi, displayed a clear signature of recent genetic bottleneck. The 7% migration rate at Tiritiri Matangi indicates that bottlenecks can be maintained despite habitat rehabilitation, possibly through behavioural barriers to gene flow. Adjacent to the same extirpation zone, Bellbirds on the Poor Knights Islands were found to have low genetic diversity and low re‐colonization potential. Two gaps concordant with deforestation patterns separated the Kapiti Coast of southern North Island from populations to both the north and the south. In summary, we identified linked avian habitats, as well as isolated and inbred populations and suggest that Bellbirds are good re‐colonizers. We emphasize the importance of genetic studies that assess animal dispersal among newly rehabilitated habitat patches.

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Population genetic connectivity of an endemic New Zealand passerine after large‐scale local extirpations: a model of re‐colonization potential

Baillie

Ritchie

Brunton

2014

Ibis

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“…North Island robins are an anomaly because they are capable of complex cognitive tasks (e.g., [51], [52]), but have (so far) failed to adapt to urban environments. Their failure to adapt to urban environments is probably because of life history constraints and a lack of behavioural defences against mammalian predators rather than a lack of cognitive ability or a lack of exposure to humans [53], [54]. Although it may be surprising that small passerines are able to discriminate between humans, it is probable that many avian taxa, under some circumstances, need to remember salient information about their environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Ability of North Island Robins to Discriminate between Humans Is Related to Their Behavioural Type

et al. 2013

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Animals are able to learn to identify persistent threats to themselves and their offspring. For example, birds are able to quickly learn to discriminate between humans that have previously threatened their nests from humans with whom they have had no prior experience. However, no study has yet examined whether a bird's ability to discriminate between humans is related to the bird's underlying behavioural type. In this study, we examined whether there were differences among North Island (NI) robins (Petroica longipes), based on their underlying behavioural type, in their abilities to discriminate between familiar and novel human observers. Using a simple feeding experiment, we timed how long it took birds to attack a food item placed next to an observer on each of 7 days. On the eighth day, a different observer timed the birds. We found that birds could be split into two behaviour types based on their attack behaviour: fast attackers (latencies <20 sec) and slow attackers (latencies >20 secs). Interestingly, the fast birds did not increase their attack latency in response to the novel observer whereas the slow attackers did. This result, for the first time, demonstrates that a bird's ability to discriminate between humans can vary among birds based on their behavioural type.

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“…In particular, nest predation can cause population declines in birds [48][49][50], and ground-nesting birds may be particularly vulnerable [43,51,52]. Therefore, we categorized NZ birds according to whether they are known to nest primarily on the ground or not.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstructing past species assemblages reveals the changing patterns and drivers of extinction through time

et al. 2012

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Predicting future species extinctions from patterns of past extinctions or current threat status relies on the assumption that the taxonomic and biological selectivity of extinction is consistent through time. If the driving forces of extinction change through time, this assumption may be unrealistic. Testing the consistency of extinction patterns between the past and the present has been difficult, because the phylogenetically explicit methods used to model present-day extinction risk typically cannot be applied to the data from the fossil record. However, the detailed historical and fossil records of the New Zealand avifauna provide a unique opportunity to reconstruct a complete, large faunal assemblage for different periods in the past. Using the first complete phylogeny of all known native New Zealand bird species, both extant and extinct, we show how the taxonomic and phylogenetic selectivity of extinction, and biological correlates of extinction, change from the pre-human period through Polynesian and European occupation, to the present. These changes can be explained both by changes in primary threatening processes, and by the operation of extinction filter effects. The variable patterns of extinction through time may confound attempts to identify risk factors that apply across time periods, and to infer future species declines from past extinction patterns and current threat status.

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Nest predation in New Zealand songbirds: Exotic predators, introduced prey and long-term changes in predation risk

Cited by 29 publications

References 49 publications

Population genetic connectivity of an endemic New Zealand passerine after large‐scale local extirpations: a model of re‐colonization potential

Population genetic connectivity of an endemic New Zealand passerine after large‐scale local extirpations: a model of re‐colonization potential

The Ability of North Island Robins to Discriminate between Humans Is Related to Their Behavioural Type

Reconstructing past species assemblages reveals the changing patterns and drivers of extinction through time

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