scholarly journals Successional changes in feeding activity by threatened cockatoos in revegetated mine sites

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim S. Doherty ◽  
Briana N. Wingfield ◽  
Vicki L. Stokes ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Jessica G. H. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mine Sites ◽  
Floristic Variation

Context Provision of key habitat resources is essential for effectively managing species that have specific ecological requirements and occur in production landscapes. Threatened black cockatoos in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia have a wide range, so their conservation requires support from all land tenures, not just reserves. Mining in the jarrah forest temporarily removes cockatoo feeding habitat, so it is important to understand how cockatoos exploit revegetated areas for food resources. Aims We aimed to determine whether there were successional patterns in cockatoo feeding activity in revegetation aged from 4 to 23 years at three mine sites in the jarrah forest in south-western Australia. Methods We surveyed 232 plots in revegetation to document (1) structural and floristic variation in vegetation across mine sites and revegetation ages, (2) differences in cockatoo feeding activity across mine sites and revegetation ages on the basis of feeding residues and (3) any edge effect reflecting preferential use of vegetation at the interior or exterior of mine pits. We also documented the frequency of occurrence of cockatoo food plants and feeding residues in 480 plots in unmined forest to compare with revegetated areas. Key results Marri (Corymbia calophylla) and jarrah were commonly consumed in unmined forest and Banksia and Hakea species were also fed on to a lesser extent. Revegetated mine pits provided food within 4 years and continued to do so up until the oldest plots studied (23 years). The relative importance of food plants shifted from proteaceous species in young revegetation to myrtaceous species in intermediate to older revegetation. However, extent of feeding on myrtaceous species in older revegetation did not equate to feeding rates in unmined forest, with lower frequencies recorded in revegetation. Conclusions Black cockatoos fed in revegetation at all three mine sites, despite variations in vegetation age, structure and floristics. Feeding on proteaceous and myrtaceous food plants occurred within 4 and 7 years of revegetation being established, respectively, indicating that some food resources are restored quickly after mining disturbance of the jarrah forest. Implications Our results emphasise the importance of monitoring fauna recolonisation over appropriate time scales, to understand how successional processes in revegetation influence fauna population persistence in production landscapes.

scholarly journals Feeding activity of threatened black cockatoos in mine-site rehabilitation in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia

2013 ◽  
Vol 61 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica Lee ◽  
Hugh Finn ◽  
Michael Calver
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Vegetation Succession ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Mine Site ◽  
Rehabilitation Protocols ◽  
Small Scales ◽  
Site Rehabilitation ◽  
Feeding Trace

Land clearing threatens three black cockatoo species (forest red-tailed black cockatoo, (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso), Carnaby’s cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus latirostris), and Baudin’s cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus baudinii) endemic to south-western Australia, so revegetation is important to their recovery. Over three years we studied cockatoo activity in 7–14-year-old mine-site rehabilitation in the region’s jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata)–marri (Corymbia calophylla) forest to give the most detailed description to date of the use of rehabilitation by the birds. Pits varied floristically and structurally (despite similar rehabilitation prescriptions), but interior and exterior plots (100 m2) were similar within pits. Using feeding traces (e.g. chewed husks), and behavioural observations we confirmed feeding within eight years of revegetation. Plots containing feeding trace were similar to plots without, so factors determining black cockatoo feeding may not be apparent at small scales. Returning food resources reflected vegetation succession, with regenerating marri and fast-maturing proteaceous species providing most food. Carnaby’s cockatoo ate Banksia and Hakea seeds and Baudin’s cockatoo and the forest red-tailed black cockatoo consumed marri seeds. Banksia squarrosa, Hakea undulata, H. prostrata and marri were common foods in all years. Revegetation efforts elsewhere should consider these species, within the constraints of rehabilitation protocols addressing multiple aims.

Tree Species Preferences of Foraging Birds in Jarrah Forest in Western Australia.

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Abbott ◽  
PV Heurck
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Silvicultural Treatments ◽  
Species Preferences

A study of foraging by 10 bird species suggests that selective logging of large Eucalyptus marginata will only have affected Melithreptus lunatus, but that proposed silvicultural treatments, including removal of Banksia grandis, may affect several other bird species.

Comparative Studies in Selected Species of Eucalyptus Used in Rehabilitation of the Northern Jarrah Forest, Western Australia. I. Patterns of Xylem Pressure Potential and Diffusive Resistance of Leaves

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Colquhoun ◽  
RW Ridge ◽  
DT Bell ◽  
WA Loneragan ◽  
J Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Pressure Potential ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Xylem Pressure ◽  
Diffusive Resistance ◽  
Xylem Pressure Potential ◽  
The Impact

Land use which reduces tree canopy density and the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi are believed to be altering the hydrological balance of parts of the northern jarrah forest, Western Australia. In the drier eastern zones of the forest, replacement plant communities must maintain the soil-salt-water balance to prevent significant increases in salinization of streams in water supply catchments. Daily and seasonal patterns of the diffusive resistance of leaves and xylem pressure potential were determined for the major natural dominant of the region, Eucalyptus marginata, and five other species of Eucalyptus used in rehabilitation. Three types of daily and seasonal patterns were observed. E. marginata and E. calophylla exhibited little stomatal control of water loss, and leaf resistances remained low throughout the study period (type 1). E. maculata, E. resinifera and E. saligna exhibited marked stomatal regulation during summer days when xylem pressure potentials fell below -2.O MPa (type 2). E. wandoo (type 3) also controlled water loss but developed xylem pressure potentials far lower than all other species tested (<-3.0 MPa). Although none of the species tested replicated the summer stomatal resistance and xylem pressure potential patterns of E. marginata, it is suggested that total annual water use should be examined before selecting the most appropriate species to rehabilitate disturbed sites in the eastern zones of the northern jarrah forest region.

Distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi in the northern jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia in relation to dieback age and topography

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (1) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. L. McDougall ◽  
G. E. St J. Hardy ◽  
R. J. Hobbs
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Aerial Photography ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Ex Situ ◽  
Patchy Distribution ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Almost All

The spatial distribution of Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands at seven dieback sites in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn. ex Smith) forest of Western Australia was determined by the following two baiting techniques: in situ baiting with live Banksia grandis Willd. seedlings and ex situ baiting of sampled soil and root material. Four areas within each site were sampled, reflecting dieback age and position in the landscape. Approximate dieback ages of 50, 20 and 5 years were determined by aerial photography. The 50-year-old age class was divided into wet valley floor and dry gravelly slope. Phytophthora cinnamomi was recovered most frequently from the 5-year-old (dieback fronts) and wet 50-year-old areas by both baiting techniques. It was recovered from more than twice as many areas and about five times as many samples when in situ B. grandis baits were used compared with ex situ soil and root baiting. Almost all recoveries from in situ baits were made between October and December. From both methods, it appears that P. cinnamomi has a patchy distribution within dieback sites in the northern jarrah forest. It is easily detected only on dieback fronts and wet valley floors. On dry gravelly sites affected 20 years or more ago, P. cinnamomi is rare and may even be absent at some sites. This makes confident detection of the pathogen difficult. In situ baiting at least allows a temporal component to the sampling and will be a useful method of detection in areas where P. cinnamomi is rare or transient.

Effect of fire on the topsoil seed banks of rehabilitated bauxite mine sites in the jarrah forest of Western Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 50-60 ◽  
Author(s):  
By Martin A. Smith ◽  
William A. Loneragan ◽  
Carl D. Grant ◽  
John M. Koch
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Seed Banks ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Mine Sites ◽  
Bauxite Mine

Quantification of the susceptibility of the native flora of the South-West Botanical Province, Western Australia, to Phytophthora cinnamomi

2004 ◽  
Vol 52 (4) ◽  
pp. 435 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Shearer ◽  
C. E. Crane ◽  
A. Cochrane
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
National Park ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Natural Environments ◽  
The South ◽  
Irreversible Damage ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Native Flora ◽  
South West ◽  
Wide Range

This study compares, for the first time, variation in estimates of susceptibility of native flora to Phytophthora cinnamomi Rands among four databases and proposes an estimate of the proportion of the flora of the South-West Botanical Province of Western Australia that is susceptible to the pathogen. Estimates of the susceptibility of south-western native flora to P. cinnamomi infection were obtained from databases for Banksia woodland of the Swan Coastal Plain, jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata Donn. ex Smith) forest, the Stirling Range National Park and Rare and Threatened Flora of Western Australia. For the woodland, forest and national park databases, hosts were naturally infected in uncontrolled diverse natural environments. In contrast, threatened flora were artificially inoculated in a shadehouse environment. Considerable variation occurred within taxonomic units, making occurrence within family and genus poor predictors of species susceptibility. Identification of intra-specific resistance suggests that P. cinnamomi could be having a strong selection pressure on some threatened flora at infested sites and the populations could shift to more resistant types. Similar estimates of the proportion of species susceptible to P. cinnamomi among the databases from the wide range of environments suggests that a realistic estimate of species susceptibility to P. cinnamomi infection in the south-western region has been obtained. The mean of 40% susceptible and 14% highly susceptible equates to 2284 and 800 species of the 5710 described plant species in the South-West Botanical Province susceptible and highly susceptible to P. cinnamomi, respectively. Such estimates are important for determining the cost of disease to conservation values and for prioritising disease importance and research priorities. P. cinnamomi in south-western Australia is an unparalleled example of an introduced pathogen with a wide host range causing immense irreversible damage to unique, diverse but mainly susceptible plant communities.

Characteristics of nest trees and nest hollows used by the forest red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) in south-west Western Australia: comments on Johnstone et al. (2013)

2015 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
K. R. Whitford ◽  
D. Wiseman ◽  
W. L. McCaw ◽  
F. J. Bradshaw
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Timber Harvesting ◽  
Substantial Contribution ◽  
Partial Cutting ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
South West ◽  
Size And Age Structure ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Minimum Age ◽  
Management Context

Johnstone et al. (2013) (Pacific Conservation Biology 19, 122–141) make a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the forest red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) (FRTBC), presenting data on nest hollows and nest tree attributes. They discuss the threats to the current and future breeding hollows and conclude that ‘we are facing a major crisis in southern forests’. Although there are sound reasons for concern over the conservation of cockatoo species, the imminence of a crisis is not established by the data presented. We provide spatial and management context and present data relevant to discussion of threats to FRTBC hollows in south-west Western Australia. The primary strategy for providing habitat across the publicly owned forests is reservation, which formally excludes timber harvesting from more than 50% (1.3 million ha) of the forest, informally protects a further 11%, and protects habitat trees within harvested areas. Timber harvesting in these forests generally involves partial cutting, which retains trees of a wide range of size and age classes. A realistic minimum age for trees bearing hollows used by FRTBC in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest is ~120–150 years (trees diameters of 50–60 cm), well below the 209 years highlighted by Johnstone et al. (2013). Most nest hollows occur in intermediate-sized trees. Clustering of FRTBC nest trees was not demonstrated in their data but is worthy of further investigation. Improved estimates of nest tree availability and loss would provide perspective on the threats to FRTBC, as would knowledge of population size and age structure of the FRTBC. The protection of known nest trees and control of feral competitors, where possible, would benefit FRTBC.

Effect of the fungicide phosphite on pollen fertility of perennial species of the Eucalyptus marginata forest and northern sandplains of Western Australia.

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (6) ◽  
pp. 769 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Pollen Fertility ◽  
Perennial Species ◽  
The South ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
South West ◽  
Run Off

The fungicide phosphite was shown to affect pollen fertility in a range of perennial species from the south-west of Western Australia. Phosphite was applied to perennial species of the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest by spraying to run-off with 2.5, 5 and 10 g L–1 phosphite in either autumn or spring. Pollen fertility of Dryandra sessilis was reduced by phosphite for up to 35 and 60 weeks after spraying in spring or autumn, respectively. Trymalium ledifolium pollen fertility was reduced by phosphite 38 and 61 weeks after spraying in spring or autumn, respectively. Lasiopetalum floribundum was less affected with a reduction in pollen fertility being observed for up to 3 weeks after spraying in spring. Other perennial understorey species of the jarrah forest, Adenanthos barbiger, Boronia cymosa, Hovea elliptica and Phyllanthus calycinus were also shown to have reduced pollen fertility after treatment in autumn or spring, as did Comesperma calymega, Eremaea astrocarpa and Hibbertia hypericoides, species of the northern sandplains when sprayed in summer.

scholarly journals Plant food resources exploited by Blue-and-Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna, Linnaeus 1758) at an urban area in Central Brazil

2014 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 429-437 ◽  
Author(s):  
AA. Santos ◽  
J. Ragusa-Netto
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Plant Food ◽  
Native Plant ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Mato Grosso ◽  
Feeding Niche

In this study, we described the food plants available to Blue-and-Yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna), its feeding habits and the relationship between these parameters with feeding niche breadth. We established four transects, each one 12 km long, to sample fruiting plants and the feeding habits of this macaw (monthly 40 h, of observations), at the urban areas of Três Lagoas (Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil). During all studied months, macaws foraged for palm fruits, mainly Syagrus oleracea and Acrocomia aculeata fruit pulp, both available all year, as well as Caryocar brasiliense and Anacardium occidentale seeds, in the wet season. The year-round feeding activity of macaws suggests Três Lagoas city as an adequate feeding area. The permanent availability of plant food resources, potentially, resulted from the diverse fruiting patterns of exotic and, mainly, native plant species, which provided a variety of suitable fruit patches.

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