RESPONSE OF NEW ZEALAND BIRDS TO THE PRESENCE OF NOVEL PREDATORS A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE MASTER OF SCIENCE IN ECOLOGY UNIVERSITY OF CANTERBURY BY ROBYN WHITE University of Canterbury 2014 i TABLE OF CONTENTS List of figures ............................................................................................................................ iv Abstract ...................................................................................................................................... 1 Chapter One: General Introduction ............................................................................................ 3 Predator Recognition ............................................................................................................. 3 Personality.............................................................................................................................. 6 Conservation .......................................................................................................................... 8 Outline of thesis ..................................................................................................................... 9 References ............................................................................................................................ 12 Chapter Two: Recognition of novel predators ......................................................................... 18 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 18 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 20 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 23 Study sites ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Study species ................................................................................................................................. 23 Model Predators ............................................................................................................................ 24 Behaviours .................................................................................................................................... 26 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................................... 27 Results .................................................................................................................................. 27 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 28 Future studies ................................................................................................................................ 32 Conservation Implications ............................................................................................................ 32 ii References ............................................................................................................................ 35 Figures.................................................................................................................................. 41 Chapter Three: Novel predator recognition in mainland vs island South Island robins. ......... 45 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 45 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 47 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 49 Study Sites .................................................................................................................................... 50 Study Species ................................................................................................................................ 51 Model Presentations ...................................................................................................................... 51 Behaviours .................................................................................................................................... 53 Statistical analysis ......................................................................................................................... 53 Results .................................................................................................................................. 54 Response to presentations at Kaikoura ......................................................................................... 54 Response to predators on Motuara Island ..................................................................................... 54 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 55 Future research .............................................................................................................................. 58 Conservation implications............................................................................................................. 59 References ............................................................................................................................ 61 Figures.................................................................................................................................. 67 Chapter Four: Personality differences between mainland and island South Island robins ...... 69 Abstract ................................................................................................................................ 69 Introduction .......................................................................................................................... 70 Methodology ........................................................................................................................ 73 Study Sites .................................................................................................................................... 73 Statistical Analysis ........................................................................................................................ 76 Results .................................................................................................................................. 76 iii Probability of approach in relation to distance ............................................................................. 77 Latency, handling and total times ................................................................................................. 77 Discussion ............................................................................................................................ 78 Future Studies ............................................................................................................................... 81 Conservation implications............................................................................................................. 82 References ............................................................................................................................ 83 Figures.................................................................................................................................. 89 Chapter Five: General Discussion ........................................................................................... 91 Research Summary .............................................................................................................. 91 Mechanisms of predator recognition ................................................................................... 93 Conservation implications and future research .................................................................... 96 References ............................................................................................................................ 98 Acknowledgements ................................................................................................................ 101 iv LIST OF FIGURES Figure 2.1. Bar graph showing behaviours of four introduced bird species 41 during model presentations, including swooping, feeding nestlings and alarm call frequency. Figure 2.2. Bar graph showing behaviours of four native bird species 43 during model presentations, , including swooping, feeding nestlings and alarm call frequency Figure 3.1. Bar graph showing behaviours of South Island robins at 66 Kaikoura (mainland site) during model presentations, including performing broken wing display, swooping, feeding nestlings and alarm call frequency. Figure 3.2. Bar graph showing behaviours of South Island robins on 67 Motuara Island during model presentations, including performing broken wing display, swooping, feeding nestlings and alarm call frequency. v Figure 4.1. Bar graph showing percentage of South Island robins at 88 Kaikoura and on Motuara Island that approached a researcher to retrieve mealworms at three distances. Figure 4.2. Bar graph showing mean latency times for South Island robins 88 to approach and remove the first mealworm at