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THE EFFECT of URBANISATION on the SUPERB FAIRY-WREN (Malurus Cyaneus)

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THE EFFECT of URBANISATION on the SUPERB FAIRY-WREN (Malurus Cyaneus) University of Wollongong Thesis Collections University of Wollongong Thesis Collection University of Wollongong Year The effect of urbanisation on the superb fairy-wren (malurus cyaneus) Holly Maree Parsons University of Wollongong Parsons, Holly M, The effect of urbanisation on the superb fairy-wren (malurus cya- neus), PhD thesis, School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, 2009. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/821 This paper is posted at Research Online. http://ro.uow.edu.au/theses/821 THE EFFECT OF URBANISATION ON THE SUPERB FAIRY-WREN (Malurus cyaneus) A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY From UNIVERSITY OF WOLLONGONG By HOLLY MAREE PARSONS BACHELOR OF ADVANCED SCIENCE (BIOLOGY: HONS) SCHOOL OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 2009 THESIS CERTIFICATION I, Holly M. Parsons, declare that this thesis, submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of Doctor of Philosophy, in the School of Biological Sciences, University of Wollongong, is wholly my own work unless otherwise referenced or acknowledged. The document has not been submitted for qualification at any other academic institution. Holly M. Parsons Date 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS THESIS CERTIFICATION .......................................................................................2 TABLE OF CONTENTS ............................................................................................3 LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................8 LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................11 LIST OF PHOTOGRAPHS...................................................................................... 16 ABSTRACT................................................................................................................17 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ......................................................................................19 CHAPTER ONE: Introduction and Literature Review ........................................................................20 1.1 Anthropogenic Habitat Modification...........................................................20 1.2 Urbanised Landscapes as New Habitat........................................................21 1.3 Urban Faunal Communities..........................................................................25 1.4 Avian Urban Bird Communities...................................................................29 1.4.1 Birds in Australian Urban Habitats.....................................................31 1.5 Habitat Selection in Urbanised Landscapes................................................33 1.5.1 Consequences of Habitat Selection for Urban Tolerators..................35 1.5.2 Correlates of Habitat Selection for Territorial Species......................38 1.5.3 Assessing the Quality of Habitat Patches for Urban Tolerators .......40 1.6 Thesis Aim......................................................................................................41 1.7 Study Species: Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) .............................41 1.7.1 Distribution.............................................................................................41 3 1.7.2 The Life History and Ecology of Superb Fairy-wrens .......................42 1.7.3 Habitat Requirements ...........................................................................46 1.8 This Study.......................................................................................................47 1.9 References.......................................................................................................51 CHAPTER TWO: The Vegetation Requirements of Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus) in Non- Urban Edge and Urbanised Habitats.......................................................................77 2.1 Introduction....................................................................................................77 2.2 Materials and Methods..................................................................................82 2.2.1 Habitat Characteristics .........................................................................82 2.2.2 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................83 2.3 Results .............................................................................................................85 2.3.1 Difference in Vegetation Between Habitats – Univariate Analyses...85 2.3.2 What Characteristics Distinguish Differences Amongst Habitats? – Multivariate Analyses............................................................................93 2.3.2.1 Overall Structure ...............................................................................93 2.3.2.2 Floristic Origin...................................................................................96 2.4 Discussion........................................................................................................97 2.5 References.....................................................................................................102 CHAPTER THREE: The Effect of Urbanisation on the Size and Quality of Superb Fairy-wren (Malurus cyaneus) Territories.................................................................................110 3.1 Introduction..................................................................................................110 3.2 Materials and Methods................................................................................114 3.2.1 Study-sites.............................................................................................114 4 3.2.2 Radio-telemetry....................................................................................115 3.2.3 Territory Size and Shape Estimates...................................................117 3.2.4 Vegetation Assessment.........................................................................119 3.3 Results ...........................................................................................................120 3.3.1 Territory Size and Shape.....................................................................120 3.3.2 Group Size............................................................................................122 3.3.3 Vegetation Characteristics ..................................................................123 3.4 Discussion......................................................................................................124 3.5 References.....................................................................................................130 CHAPTER FOUR: Habitat Modification and its Effects of Foraging Behaviour and Habitat Use of Superb Fairy-wrens (Malurus cyaneus).................................................................139 4.1 Introduction..................................................................................................139 4.2 Materials and Methods................................................................................145 4.2.1 Study Area............................................................................................145 4.2.2 Behavioural Sampling and Habitat Utilisation .................................145 4.2.3 Habitat Characteristics .......................................................................148 4.2.4 Statistical Analysis ...............................................................................148 4.3 Results ...........................................................................................................150 4.3.1 Habitat Use ...........................................................................................150 4.3.1.1 Females..............................................................................................150 4.3.2.1 Males .................................................................................................155 4.3.3 Non-foraging Behaviour......................................................................158 4.3.3.1 Females..............................................................................................158 4.3.3.2 Males .................................................................................................159 4.3.4 Foraging Behaviour .............................................................................160 4.3.4.1 Females..............................................................................................160 4.3.4.2 Males .................................................................................................161 5 4.4 Discussion......................................................................................................163 4.4.1 Food Limitation Hypothesis................................................................164 4.4.2 Predator Disturbance Hypothesis ......................................................166 4.4.3 Conclusions...........................................................................................168 4.5 References.....................................................................................................168 CHAPTER FIVE: The Ground Arthropod Community of Suburban Areas: Are Foraging Resources Limiting the Distribution of Insectivorous Birds?..............................177 5.1 Introduction..................................................................................................177 5.2 Materials and Methods................................................................................180
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