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Nest Ecology of a Threatened Woodland Avifauna

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Nest Ecology of a Threatened Woodland Avifauna Graham R. FULTON B.Sc. (Syd). Hons. (UNE). Macleay Miklouho-Maclay Centenary Research Fellow (Syd). Willie Wagtail Rhipidura leucophrys nestlings just prior to fledging A thesis submitted for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at The University of Queensland in 2019 School of Biological Sciences ABSTRACT The vast clearing of temperate eucalypt woodland and forest for agriculture in Australia has led to the concomitant decline of its biota. This thesis investigated the nest ecology of this disappearing landscape’s threatened avifauna to obtain baseline/life-history data to support the avifauna’s conservation and inform evolutionary theory. The nesting ecology of this avifauna was reviewed both qualitatively and quantitatively. Field data were collected from a large 27,000 ha woodland with ecologically functional numbers of birds and where invasive species were controlled. This woodland, Dryandra, is located within a region (in south-western Australia) where up to 97% of the native woodland vegetation has been removed. Despite this Dryandra’s avifauna has increased in abundance since the 1950s. An Australia-wide review and a meta-analyses established the identity of 94 nests predators in temperate forest and woodland and identified important metrics and trends, such as: mesopredators being found to iteratively replace one another as larger species were removed; artificial nests were concluded, at best, to be generators of hypotheses to be tested at natural nests; edge-effects were equivocal and thus fragment size, structure and faunal assemblage set in a more complex paradigm were considered more appropriate in explaining differences in nest predation; and, the various types of evidence used to identify nest predators were considered with cameras deemed the most functional and direct observations the most informative. A highly significant and positive correlation was detected between predator and prey masses, showing the mass of nest predators varies between a quarter and a fifth of their prey’s mass (based on adult sizes). Exposed cup and dome nests were reported to be depredated more frequently than hollow, ground and burrow nests. In field trials at Dryandra: rare marsupials depredated eggs at artificial ground nests. Since artificial nests only generate hypotheses these results were validated by literature searches, which confirmed that the marsupials had carnivorous components to their diets. The effect 18 storms on the assemblage of birds was assessed: wind was found to be significantly important in nest failure, while nest position (within trees), storm duration and the amount of precipitation were not significant. Tree-nesting birds were recorded nesting more frequently in the northern hemispheres of trees that provided them with significantly greater foliage cover, which led to significantly greater nesting success. These results supported the hypothesis of a group response of nest concealment. Additionally, the threatened assemblage of woodland birds were detected preferentially nesting in the low-lying contours of the landscape, on the most productive soils in Eucalyptus wandoo woodland. Overall, the results obtained from this threatened assemblage of birds are proposed as authentic natural results derived from within the context of an intact natural community—such results are representative of natural populations prior to European disturbances. Thus, these results are deemed useful for informing strategies for rehabilitation, revegetation, reintroductions and other conservation efforts in temperate Australian forest and woodland landscapes. 1 Declaration by author This thesis is composed of my original work, and contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference has been made in the text. I have clearly stated the contribution by others to jointly-authored works that I have included in my thesis. I have clearly stated the contribution of others to my thesis as a whole, including statistical assistance, survey design, data analysis, significant technical procedures, professional editorial advice, financial support and any other original research work used or reported in my thesis. The content of my thesis is the result of work I have carried out since the commencement of my higher degree by research candidature and does not include a substantial part of work that has been submitted to qualify for the award of any other degree or diploma in any university or other tertiary institution. I have clearly stated which parts of my thesis, if any, have been submitted to qualify for another award. I acknowledge that an electronic copy of my thesis must be lodged with the University Library and, subject to the policy and procedures of The University of Queensland, the thesis be made available for research and study in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968 unless a period of embargo has been approved by the Dean of the Graduate School. I acknowledge that copyright of all material contained in my thesis resides with the copyright holder(s) of that material. Where appropriate I have obtained copyright permission from the copyright holder to reproduce material in this thesis and have sought permission from co-authors for any jointly authored works included in the thesis. 2 Publications included in this thesis Fulton, G. R. 2019. Meta-analyses of nest predation in temperate Australian forests and woodlands. Austral Ecology 44: 389-396. Fulton, G. R. 2018. Avian nest predation in Australian temperate forest and woodland: a review. Pacific Conservation Biology 24: 122-133. Fulton, G. R. 2018. Pied Currawong Strepera graculina nesting in an underground carpark. Australian Field Ornithology 35: 91-92. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Native marsupials as egg predators of artificial ground-nests in Australian woodland. Australian Journal of Zoology 65: 196-199. 3 Submitted manuscripts included in this thesis No manuscripts submitted for publication. 4 Other publications during candidature The following publications do not form a part of the thesis, though they were completed during the candidature and carried the address of The University of Queensland. Peer-reviewed Papers Fulton, G. R. and Milne, J. 2019. Letters from Thomas Reedy to Sir William Macarthur, during the Chevert Expedition of 1875. Cunninghamia 19: 29-42. Fulton, G. R. 2019. Additions to prey taken by Wedge-tailed Eagles Aquila audax after release of Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus haemorrhagic disease (Rabbit Calicivirus) in 1996. Australian Field Ornithology 36: 11-12 Fulton, G. R. and Bialek, P. 2018. The Chevert: A History. The Journal of Pacific History 53(2): 186-200. Fulton, G. R. 2018. Notes on the mammals collected on the Chevert Expedition, to New Guinea, in 1875. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 140(1):1-6. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Owl survey of the Peel-Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 65(2): 71-76. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Dr William H. James 1852-1876: Medical Doctor and Naturalist. The Bulletin of the British Ornithologists' Club 137(1): 71-87. Fulton, G. R. and Cheung, Y. W. 2017. Foraging behaviour of the Black-eared Kite Milvus migrans lineatus at Victoria Harbour and Kowloon Bay, Hong Kong. Journal of Asia-Pacific Biodiversity 10(1): 124-126. Fulton, G. R. 2016. Thomas Reedy 1842-1929: gardener for Sir William Macarthur and plant collector on the Chevert Expedition to New Guinea in 1875. Cunninghamia 16: 51-63. Fulton, G. R. 2016. Bramble Cay Melomys Melomys rubicola Thomas 1924: specimens in the Macleay Museum. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 138: 59-60. Fulton, G. R. 2016. A Necrophilic Copulation by a Bridled Tern Onychoprion anaethetus. Australian Field Ornithology 33: 235-236. Fulton, G. R. 2016. New Information about the Holotype, in the Macleay Museum, of the Allied Rock-wallaby Petrogale assimilis Ramsay, 1877 (Marsupialia, Macropodidae). Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 138: 57-58. Editorials Fulton, G. R. 2017. The Bramble Cay Melomys: the first mammalian extinction due to human- induced climate change. Pacific Conservation Biology 23(1): 1-3. 5 Book Reviews Fulton, G. R. 2019. A Bat’s End: The Christmas Island Pipistrelle and Extinction in Australia. CSIRO Publishing, Melbourne. In Pacific Conservation Biology 25(3): 326. Fulton, G. R. 2019. Birds of Thailand. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. In Pacific Conservation Biology 25(3): 327. Fulton, G. R. 2018. Birds of Eastern Polynesia. A biogeographic Atlas. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. In Pacific Conservation Biology 24(1): 103. Fulton, G. R. 2018. Birds of New Guinea. Including Bismarck Archipelago and Bougainville. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. In Pacific Conservation Biology 24(1): 102. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Birds of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East an Annotated Checklist. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. In Pacific Conservation Biology 23 (3): 308-309. Fulton, G. R. 2017. BirdLife International Illustrated Checklist of the Birds of the World: Volume 1 Non-passerines. Lynx Edicions, Barcelona. In Pacific Conservation Biology 23 (3): 307-308. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Birds of the Indonesian Archipelago. Greater Sundas and Wallacea. In Pacific Conservation Biology 23 (2): 213-214. Fulton, G. R. 2017. The View from Lazy Point: a natural year in an unnatural world. Picador, New York. In Pacific Conservation Biology 23 (1): 110-111. Fulton, G. R. 2017. Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Australian Birds. CSIRO, Collingwood. In Pacific Conservation
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