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The Ecological Significance of Sexual Dimorphism in the Crescent Honeye Ater, Phylídonyris Pyrrhoptena

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The Ecological Significance of Sexual Dimorphism in the Crescent Honeye Ater, Phylídonyris Pyrrhoptena The ecological significance of sexual dimorphism in the Crescent Honeye ater, Phylídonyris pyrrhoptena. Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy (Facutty of Science) Aprit 2001 Paul Foster (B.Sc.Hons.) Department of Environmental Biology' Adelaide l.IniversitY Table of contents List of Figures and Tables ll Abstract x I)eclaration xu Acknowledgements xll Chapter 1: Literature Review 1 Chapter 2: Sex-related differences in morphology and energetics in the Crescent Honeyeater, Phylidonyris pyrrhopteta, at Cromer Conseruation Park, and Parndana, Kangaroo Island. 29 Chapter 3: Sex differences in the behavioural ecology of the Crescent Honeyeate r, Phylidonyrts pythopteru 66 Chapter 4: Population structure and sex differences in residency and surryival of Crescent Honeyeaters, Phylidonyris pyrrhoptera,, at Cromer Conservation Parþ South Australia. 108 Chapter 5: Response of Crescent Honeyeater females to removal of males from local habitats at Cromer Conservation Park, and Parndana, Kangaroo Island, South Australia. 158 Chapter 6: Foraging height, nectar preference and dominance inteiactions of the Crescent Honeyeater, Phylidonyrís pyrrhoptera, under aviary conditions. 203 Chapter 7: Model of mechanisms determining sexual dimorphism in Crescent Honeyeaters, and imptications for conservation and management of honeyeater species in Australasia. 2s4 8: References. 274 ll List of figures and tables Chapter 2 Figures ilre 2.1 Log relationship with linear regression line þlus confidence belts), between ap-pendage length and body mass for Crescent Honeyeaters according to sex and ageclass. above each plot). 1rþession coeÈrcients 1r'¡, ilopes of curves and sample sizes (n) are displayed Figure 2.2 Relationship between body mass and bill length for adult honeyeater species at Cromer CP. Figure 2.3 Relationship between body mass and tarsus length for adult honeyeater species at Cromer CP Figure 2.4 Relationship between body mass and wing length for adult honeyeater species at Cromer CP Figure 2.5 Relationship between ambient temperature (Ta) and body temperature (Tb), as e*pressed by scatter pl,ot and linear regression (with confidence belts) for A) female, and B) male Crescent Honeyeaters during respirometry' Figure 2.6 Standard metabolic rate in relation to ambient temperature (Ta) as expressed by Ñg.n consumption of A) female, and B) male Crescent Honeyeaters during respirometry; scatter plot and linear regtession (with confidence belts). Fisure 2.7 Standard metabolic rate of Crescent Honeyeaters during respirometry, scaled for boiy mass (mlO 2N go'75); scatter plot and linear regression. Tables Table 2.1 Morphological criteria for sexing and aging Crescent Honeyeaters' Table 2.2 Macronutrient content of solution fed to birds during captivity Table 2.3 Mean + sem (n) body mass (g) and bill, tarsus and wing length (mm) of Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, by sex and age. Table 2.4 Mean mass (g) + sem (n), of adult male and female Crescent Honeyeaters caught in different seasons at Cromer CP. Table 2.5 Mean mass (g) + sem (n), of Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP and Parndana by sex and age. Table2.6 Mean bill length (mm) t sem (n), of Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP and Parndana by sex and age. Table 2.7 Mean tarsus length (mm) + sem (n), of Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP and Parndana by sex and age. Table 2.8 Mean wing length (mm) t sem (n), of Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP and Parndana by sex and age. Table 2.9 Mean adult body mass (g) + sem (n), of honeyeater species at Cromer CP' 11l Table 2.10 Mean adult bill length (mm) t sem (n), of honeyeater species at Cromer CP' CP Table 2.1 1 Mean adult tarsus length (mm) t sem (n), of honeyeater species at Cromer Table2.l}Mean adult wing length (mm) + sem (n)' of honeyeater species at Cromer CP' Chapter 3 Figures fig*. : I Mean percentage time spent in different behaviours by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP. Figure 3.2çeanpercentage time spent singing by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP. Figure 3.3 Mean percentage time spent in social interaction by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP. Figure 3.4 Mean percentage time spent at a height stratum, all time periods, by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP. Figure 3.5 Mean percentage time spent at a height stratum according to season, by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP. Fþre 3.6 Mean percentage time spent at a height stratum by Crescent Honeyeaters according to time of day, Cromer CP. Figure 3.7 Meanpercentage day time spent in different behaviours by breeding female and -ãle Cr"sc.nt Honeyeaters during the incubation phase, Cromer CP. Figure 3.8 Mean percentage day time spent in different behaviours by breeding female and -il" C.esc"nt Honeyeaters during the nestling phase, Cromer CP. Figure 3.9 Mean percentage of foraging day time spent by male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, during A) incubation phase, and B) nestling phase. Figure 3.10 Mean percentage day time spent at a height stratum by breeding male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, during A) incubation phase, and B) nestling phase. Figure 3.1 1 Mean percentage of foraging day time spent at different heights by breeding male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, during A) incubation phase, and B) nestling phase. Tables Table 3. I The absolute and relative number of social interactions per sex for Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP (expressed as a o/o of total interactions, both intra- and inter- specific, for that sex). Table 3.2 Dominanlsubmissive and intra/inter-sexual interactions as ao/o of the total interactions for each sex of the Crescent Honeyeater. lv Table 3.3 The percentage of feeding visits (as ao/oof Ihetotal number of feeding visits for a 12 that season) to individuãl plants/treés by Crescent Honeyeaters according to season, ovet month period. Chapter 4 Figures ftgur. 4.1 Percentage of marked plants in peak flower per month at Cromer CP, over one flowering season and within a 12 month period. Figure 4.Zçeannumber of species recorded in each month, and total birds per 100m transect averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.3 Mean total honeyeater count per 100m transect, over 6 years at Cromer CP' Figure 4.4 Mean monthly numbers of each of eight species of honeyeater þer l00m transect) averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.5 Mean monthly Crescent Honeyeater numbers per l00m transect avetaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.6 Pearson correlation (r) with linear regression (s:s/ope) between numbers of male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, with no lag time applied to males' Figure 4.7 Pearson correlation (r) with linear regression (s:s/ope) between numbers of male and female Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP, with I month lag time applied to males. Figure 4.8 Mean monthly trapping rates for all age groups of Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.9 Pearson correlation with male lag time of 0 and I month applied to mean trapping rates for all agegroups of Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.10 Mean monthly trapping rates for adult Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.11 Pearson correlation with male lag time of 0 and I month applied to mean trapping rates for adult Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.I2[eanmonthly trapping rates for immature Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.13 Pearson correlation with male lag time of 0 and I month applied to mean trapping rates for immature Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.14 Mean monthly trapping rates for juvenile Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.15 Pearson correlation with male lag time of 0 and I month applied to mean trapping rates for juvenile Crescent Honeyeaters averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP' Figure 4.16 The proportion of female Crescent Honeyeaters in different residency categories by age group, averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.I7 Theproportion of male Crescent Honeyeaters in different residency categories by age group, averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4. I 8 The proportion of male and female Crescent Honeyeaters in different residency caiegories, totalsfor each sex averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.19 Number of nests that achieved incubation stage, produced by Crescent Honeyeaters per month and season at Cromer CP. Fþre 4.20 Number of Crescent Honeyeaters (all age groups) surviving according to years after first trapping averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Figure 4.2I Lognumber of Crescent Honeyeaters (all age groups) surviving according to years after first trappin g averaged over 6 years at Cromer CP. Tables Table 4.1 Pearson correlation values for peak flowering per plant species versus mean Crescent Honeyeater abundance. Table 4.2 Brood particulars for Crescent Honeyeaters at Cromer CP Chapter 5 Figures nigur. 5.1 Percentage of observations at each subsite that were males, before and after removal of some males. Figure 5.2 Percentage of observations at each subsite that were females, before and after removal of some males. Figure 5.3 Number of times male and female Crescent Honeyeaters were observed aggressively displacing other Crescent Honeyeaters (dominant interactions) at each subsite during observations at nine sites prior to removing some males. Figure 5.4 Number of times male and female Crescent Honeyeaters were observed being aggressively displaced by other Crescent Honeyeaters (submissive interactions) at each subsite during observations at nine sites prior to removing some males.
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