Brown Treecreeper Reintroduction in Eucalypt Woodland
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Return of the Fauna: Brown Treecreeper Reintroduction in Eucalypt Woodland Victoria Bennett A thesis submitted in the fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Of the Australian National University July 2012 Declaration This thesis is my own original work and no part has been previously submitted for a degree. Where others have contributed they are duly acknowledged in the Preface and Acknowledgements sections. Victoria Bennett July 2012 1 2 Table of Contents Declaration …………………………………………………………………………. 1 Preface ……………………………………………………………………………… 5 Acknowledgements ………………………………………………………………… 7 Abstract …………………………………………………………………………… 11 Extended Context Statement ……………………………………………………… 13 Paper I: An assessment of scientific approaches towards species relocations in Australia ………………………………………………………………………... 37 Paper II: The anatomy of a failed reintroduction: a case study with the Brown Treecreeper ……….…………………………………………………...…... 83 Paper III: Habitat selection and post-release movement of reintroduced Brown Treecreeper individuals in restored temperate woodland ……………….. 129 Paper IV: Habitat selection and behaviour of a reintroduced passerine: Linking experimental restoration, behaviour and habitat ecology ……..………... 189 Paper V: Causes of reintroduction failure of the Brown Treecreeper: Implications for ecosystem restoration…………………………………………... 227 Thesis Conclusions ….…………………………………………………………… 265 Thesis References .……………………………………………………………….. 277 3 4 Preface This thesis is based on the following publications, which are referred to by their roman numerals in the text: I. Sheean V.A., Manning A.D. & Lindenmayer D.B. (2012) An assessment of scientific approaches towards species relocations in Australia. Austral Ecology 37, 204-215. II. Bennett V.A., Doerr V.A.J., Doerr E.D., Manning A.D. & Lindenmayer D.B. (2012) The anatomy of a failed reintroduction: a case study with the Brown Treecreeper. Emu III. Bennett V.A., Doerr V.A.J., Doerr E.D., Manning A.D., Lindenmayer D.B. & Yoon H-J. (In Press) Habitat selection and post-release movement of reintroduced Brown Treecreeper individuals in restored temperate woodland. PLoS ONE IV. Bennett V.A., Doerr V.A.J., Doerr E.D., Manning A.D., Lindenmayer D.B. & Yoon H-J. (In Review) Habitat selection and behaviour of a reintroduced passerine: Linking experimental restoration, behaviour and habitat ecology. V. Bennett V.A., Doerr V.A.J., Doerr E.D., Manning A.D., Lindenmayer D.B. & Yoon H-J. (In Press) Causes of reintroduction failure of the Brown Treecreeper: Implications for ecosystem restoration. Austral Ecology This thesis is submitted as a ‘thesis by publication’, therefore the primary chapters of this thesis are papers developed for independent publication in scientific journals. Hence, some repetition between papers is unavoidable. Each of the papers may contain slight editorial differences to align to guidelines in the relevant journal within which it has been submitted or accepted. Although all papers include work with collaborators, I carried out the vast majority of work within these publications. This includes the majority of the literature searches, experimental design, field data collection, analysis and interpretation, and writing. My supervisors Professor David Lindenmayer, Dr. Adrian Manning, Dr. Veronica Doerr and Dr. Erik Doerr provided valuable contributions, particularly through helpful discussions, providing guidance in the organisation of the project, assisting in designing the experiments and providing 5 editorial advice on manuscript drafts. Dr. Veronica Doerr and Dr. Erik Doerr also assisted in the field work, including locating and monitoring the source population, the capture and release of the Brown Treecreepers, and assisting in the training of volunteers to monitor released Brown Treecreepers. Dr. Veronica Doerr and Dr. Erik Doerr also provided statistical advice on papers, and performed the statistical analyses performed in SYSTAT 10. Dr. Hwan-Jin Yoon provided valuable statistical advice on the experimental design and data analysis. Dr. Yoon also conducted some of the statistical analyses, particularly those conducted in R. The project was conducted under a New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage Scientific Licence (S12906) and Export Licence (IE095650); and a Licence to Import from the Australian Capital Territory Department of Territory and Municipal Services (LI2008330). Accessed land was a mixture of private property, travelling stock reserves managed by the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority and Nature Reserves managed by the Australian Capital Territory Department of Territory and Municipal Services. This study was conducted in strict accordance with animal ethics approval obtained through The Australian National University Animal Experimentation Ethics Committee (C.RE.55.08). 6 Acknowledgements The highest acknowledgements go to my God and my Saviour. He who sustains, comforts, guides, and in whom I lay my hope. Through Him I can put everything in perspective and be confident in His guidance, sovereignty and faithfulness. “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30 “For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 To my supervisors Prof. David Lindenmayer and Dr. Adrian Manning, thank you firstly for the opportunity to accomplish this project. Thank you for your guidance, wisdom and advice on everything from start to finish. I am also very grateful to my supervisors Dr. Veronica Doerr and Dr. Erik Doerr, without whom there would be no project. Their passion for the Brown Treecreeper is unrivalled and their knowledge is exceptional. Thank you for the unquestioned provision of your time, equipment, enthusiasm and answers to many numerous questions. A huge thank you also goes out to Dr Hwan-Jin Yoon, my statistician, who fielded many ridiculous questions and persisted through many various analyses. Those passionately working at Mulligans Flat Nature Reserve, Peter Mills and Grant Woodbridge (as well as Daniel Iglesias), were extremely helpful and kind in lending me their support and equipment. They helped greatly by installing the 216 nest boxes 7 within the reserves, and were also friendly faces out in the field. A huge thank you to Jenny Newport who assisted me almost every day out in the field radio-tracking Brown Treecreepers. Thank you for your enthusiasm, professionalism and company. Additionally, to the 27 field work volunteers, both in Canberra and Wagga Wagga, without whom I would not have obtained nearly as much valuable data. Thank you to the many people who provided support and guidance including the members of the Mulligans Flat Woodland Sanctuary Species Management Panel (particularly during the approvals process), the Mulligans Flat-Goorooyarroo Research Committee, and the Canberra Ornithologist Group (particularly Chris Davey and Jenny Bounds). Thank you also to Mauro Davanzo from the Fenner School field services (who taught me how to drive a manual car), Ian Clarke who made all 216 nest boxes and Micah Davies. Thank you to the property owners in Wagga Wagga who allowed me access to their land and to remove some of their Brown Treecreepers – particularly Alan and Belinda Cox and the Hume Livestock Health and Pest Authority. I also need to thank those who helped with ideas and commented on draft manuscripts including Professor Hugh Ford, Dr. Michael Clarke, Dr. Damon Oliver, Associate Professor Rob Magrath, Dr. Don Driscoll, Dr. Fred Ford, David Geering and Keith Cherry. This project would not have happened at all without the financial and material support received from many organisations. I am grateful for support from an Australian Postgraduate Award. Funding was provided by Birding NSW, Birdlife Australia – Stuart Leslie Bird Research Award, Canberra Ornithologists Group, Canberra Birds Conservation Fund, The Fenner School of Environment and Society at The Australian National University and The Conservation and Landscape Ecology Group within the Fenner School, The Foundation for National Parks and Wildlife, The Gould League of NSW 2010 Centenary Year Cayley Memorial Scholarship, The Mulligans Flat- Goorooyarroo Woodland Experiment (ARC Linkage Project LP0561817) and The Norman Wettenhall Foundation (reference 20108002). In-kind contributions were greatly appreciated from CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and The Parks and Conservation 8 Service within the Australian Capital Territory Government Department of Territory and Municipal Services. Thank you to these organisations for believing in the project. To my friends for providing support, breaks from writing, a listening ear and the all- important prayer. To my parents who have always supported me and told me that I could achieve whatever I set my heart on (but also that I would still be ok if I did nothing particularly special). Thank you for raising me, loving me, and guiding me. To my sister and brother, who I love and appreciate more now than I ever have before. Thank you for your love and letting me be so much a part of your family. The kids’ photos were always pinned up in my cubicle to provide happiness. 9 10