Landscape context affects honeyeater communities and their foraging behaviour in Australia: implications for plant pollination |
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| Authors: | Carole P Elliott David B Lindenmayer Saul A Cunningham Andrew G Young |
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| Institution: | (1) CSIRO Plant Industry, GPO Box 1600, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia;(2) The Australian National University, Fenner School of Environment and Society, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia;(3) CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences, GPO Box 1700, Canberra, ACT, 2601, Australia |
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| Abstract: | We investigated the species richness and composition of bird communities in mallee woodland remnants in a highly fragmented
landscape, focusing specifically on honeyeaters and their foraging behaviour. We observed birds around flowering Eremophila glabra ssp. glabra plants in three replicated contexts: (1) the interior of large remnants, (2) linear remnants within ~3 km of a large remnant,
and (3) linear remnants 5–7 km from a large remnant. We found species richness differed among elements, with an increase in
the number of species that tolerate disturbed, open habitat and a decrease in the number of woodland-dependent species in
linear elements. Honeyeater assemblages were similar in species richness and abundance among the elements, but differed in
composition due to a higher number of large-sized honeyeater species in distant elements. Honeyeater movement patterns into
a site and within a site were similar among the elements. Floral visitation varied among honeyeater species and was positively
correlated with their abundance in the far element. Our results demonstrate that bird species respond differently to the spatial
context of remnants in a fragmented landscape; however, the degree of isolation of linear remnants was not important. Linear
remnants appear to be frequently used by honeyeaters, but the changes in community composition among the elements may influence
the quality of pollination, which could have implications for plant reproduction. |
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