The influence of livestock grazing and weed invasion on habitat use by birds in grassy woodland remnants

Article


Maron, Martine and Lill, Alan. 2005. "The influence of livestock grazing and weed invasion on habitat use by birds in grassy woodland remnants." Biological Conservation. 124 (4), pp. 439-450. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.02.002
Article Title

The influence of livestock grazing and weed invasion on habitat use by birds in grassy woodland remnants

ERA Journal ID3211
Article CategoryArticle
AuthorsMaron, Martine (Author) and Lill, Alan (Author)
Journal TitleBiological Conservation
Journal Citation124 (4), pp. 439-450
Number of Pages12
Year2005
PublisherElsevier
Place of PublicationAmsterdam, Netherlands
ISSN0006-3207
1873-2917
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2005.02.002
Web Address (URL)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0006320705000753
Abstract

Remnants of native vegetation in regions dominated by agriculture are subject to degradation, especially by livestock grazing and weed invasion. Ground-foraging birds
are amongst the most threatened bird groups in Australia, and these agents of degradation might be contributing to their decline by causing a reduction in food availability. We studied the foraging behaviour and microhabitat use of seven species of ground-foraging insectivores in south-eastern Australian buloke woodland remnants with native, grazed and weedy ground-layers. If birds must resort to using more energetically expensive prey-attack manoeuvres, or selectively use substrates and microhabitats that are less available in degraded habitats, then such degradation is likely to be negatively impacting on these species. We found evidence of a negative impact of one or both of these types of degradation on five of the seven bird species. Three species that employ a range of foraging manoeuvres to attack prey used potentially more energetically-expensive aerial manoeuvres significantly more frequently in weedy remnants than in remnants with a native or grazed ground layer. Red-capped robins Petroica goodenovii and brown treecreepers Climacteris picumnus both selectively foraged near trees in grazed sites, and hooded robins Melanodryas
cucullata, red-capped robins and willie wagtails Rhipidura leucophrys avoided foraging in microhabitats with a high percentage cover of exotic grasses in weedy sites. Brown
treecreepers were also less likely to be present in weedy sites that had been protected from grazing than in either grazed or native sites. These results suggest that although
grazing appears to have a detrimental impact on foraging habitat of ground-foraging birds, the exclusion of livestock grazing from previously disturbed buloke remnants
alone is not adequate to restore habitat values for ground-foraging birds. A conservation strategy for this habitat type should consider the exclusion of heavy grazing from sites 3 with an intact cryptogamic crust and the management of weeds in disturbed remnants, potentially through the use of carefully controlled light grazing.

Keywordsvegetation remnants; ground-foraging birds
ANZSRC Field of Research 2020310308. Terrestrial ecology
410206. Landscape ecology
410401. Conservation and biodiversity
Public Notes

File reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher/author.

Byline AffiliationsMonash University
Permalink -

https://research.usq.edu.au/item/9y0q8/the-influence-of-livestock-grazing-and-weed-invasion-on-habitat-use-by-birds-in-grassy-woodland-remnants

  • 2041
    total views
  • 93
    total downloads
  • 0
    views this month
  • 0
    downloads this month

Export as

Related outputs

Unburnt areas in subtropical woodlands contain distinct reptile communities after extensive wildfire
Emery, Jon-Paul, Doherty, Tim S., Bruton, M.J., Peck, Stephen and Maron, Martine. 2024. "Unburnt areas in subtropical woodlands contain distinct reptile communities after extensive wildfire." Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere. 49 (6). https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13547
Using a Bayesian network model to assess ecological responses to hydrological factor interactions
Kath, Jarrod M., Le Brocque, Andrew F. and Maron, Martine. 2016. "Using a Bayesian network model to assess ecological responses to hydrological factor interactions." Ecohydrology. 9 (1), pp. 11-20. https://doi.org/10.1002/eco.1597
A palaeoclimatic rainfall history from Lake Broadwater, southeast Queensland, Australia
Cottrill, D. A., Ribbe, J., Maron, M. and Jacobsen, G.. 2014. "A palaeoclimatic rainfall history from Lake Broadwater, southeast Queensland, Australia." Proceedings of the Royal Society of Queensland. 119, pp. 35-43.
Foraging guild perturbations and ecological homogenization driven by a despotic native bird species
Howes, Alison, MacNally, Ralph, Loyn, Richard, Kath, Jarrod, Bowen, Michiala, McAlpine, Clive and Maron, Martine. 2014. "Foraging guild perturbations and ecological homogenization driven by a despotic native bird species." IBIS: The International Journal of Avian Science. 156 (2), pp. 341-354. https://doi.org/10.1111/ibi.12136
Do arthropod assemblages display globally consistent responses to intensified agricultural land use and management?
Attwood, S. J., Maron, M., House, A. P. N. and Zammit, C.. 2008. "Do arthropod assemblages display globally consistent responses to intensified agricultural land use and management? " Global Ecology and Biogeography. 17 (5), pp. 585-599. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1466-8238.2008.00399.x
Drivers of Poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) recruitment in a production landscape, southern Queensland
Fritz, Lisa, Le Brocque, Andy and Maron, Martine. 2011. "Drivers of Poplar box (Eucalyptus populnea) recruitment in a production landscape, southern Queensland." 2011 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2011). Hobart, Australia 21 - 25 Nov 2011 Australia.
Size isn’t everything: the importance of small remnants to the conservation of woodland birds in Australia
Maron, Martine. 2008. "Size isn’t everything: the importance of small remnants to the conservation of woodland birds in Australia." Australian Field Ornithology. 25 (2), pp. 53-58.
Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland
Eyre, Teresa J., Maron, Martine, Mathieson, Michael T. and Haseler, Murray. 2009. "Impacts of grazing, selective logging and hyper-aggressors on diurnal bird fauna in intact forest landscapes of the Brigalow Belt, Queensland." Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere. 34 (6), pp. 705-716. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2009.01979.x
Interspecific competition and small bird diversity in an urbanizing landscape
Kath, Jarrod, Maron, Martine and Dunn, Peter K.. 2009. "Interspecific competition and small bird diversity in an urbanizing landscape." Landscape and Urban Planning. 92 (2), pp. 72-79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landurbplan.2009.02.007
Temporal variation in bird assemblages: how representative is a one-year snapshot?
Maron, Martine, Lill, Alan, Watson, David M. and MacNally, Ralph. 2005. "Temporal variation in bird assemblages: how representative is a one-year snapshot?" Austral Ecology: a journal of ecology in the Southern Hemisphere. 30 (4), pp. 383-394. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.2005.01480.x
Windharps of the Wimmera
Maron, Martine. 2006. "Windharps of the Wimmera." Wingspan. 16 (3), pp. 22-25.
Interspecific competition and conservation management of continuous subtropical woodlands
Howes, Alison L. and Maron, Martine. 2009. "Interspecific competition and conservation management of continuous subtropical woodlands ." Wildlife Research. 36 (7), pp. 617-626. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR09054
Can offsets really compensate for habitat removal? The case of the endangered red-tailed black-cockatoo
Maron, Martine, Dunn, Peter K., McAlpine, Clive A. and Apan, Armando. 2010. "Can offsets really compensate for habitat removal? The case of the endangered red-tailed black-cockatoo." Journal of Applied Ecology. 47 (2), pp. 348-355. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2664.2010.01787.x
Relative influence of habitat modification and interspecific competition on woodland bird assemblages in eastern Australia
Maron, M., Main, A., Bowen, M., Howes, A., Kath, J., Pillette, C. and McAlpine, C. A.. 2011. "Relative influence of habitat modification and interspecific competition on woodland bird assemblages in eastern Australia." Emu: austral ornithology. 111 (1), pp. 40-51. https://doi.org/10.1071/MU09108
How resilient are poplar box (E. populnea) woodlands in production landscapes?
Fritz, Lisa, Le Brocque, Andrew F. and Maron, Martine. 2010. "How resilient are poplar box (E. populnea) woodlands in production landscapes?" 2010 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2010). Canberra, Australia 06 - 10 Dec 2010 Australia.
Nesting, foraging and aggression of noisy miners relative to road edges in an extensive Queensland forest
Maron, Martine. 2009. "Nesting, foraging and aggression of noisy miners relative to road edges in an extensive Queensland forest." Emu: austral ornithology. 109 (1), pp. 75-81. https://doi.org/10.1071/MU08064
Maximising woodland bird diversity in brigalow belt forests
Howes, Alison and Maron, Martine. 2008. Maximising woodland bird diversity in brigalow belt forests . Canberra, Australia. Land and Water Australia.
A detailed proxy rainfall record from Lake Broadwater, Dalby, Southeast Queensland
Cottrill, Andrew, Ribbe, Joachim and Maron, Martine. 2009. "A detailed proxy rainfall record from Lake Broadwater, Dalby, Southeast Queensland." 9th International Conference on Southern Hemisphere Meteorology and Oceanography. Melbourne, Australia 09 - 13 Feb 2009 Boston, MA.
Declining birds in Australian agricultural landscapes may benefit from aspects of the European agri-environment model
Attwood, Simon J., Park, Sarah E., Maron, Martine, Collard, Stuart J., Robinson, Doug, Reardon-Smith, Kathryn M. and Cockfield, Geoff. 2009. "Declining birds in Australian agricultural landscapes may benefit from aspects of the European agri-environment model ." Biological Conservation. 142 (10), pp. 1981-1991. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2009.04.008
Managing trade-offs in landscape restoration and revegetation projects
Maron, Martine and Cockfield, Geoff. 2008. "Managing trade-offs in landscape restoration and revegetation projects." Ecological Applications. 18 (8), pp. 2041-2049. https://doi.org/10.1890/07-1328.1
Future scenarios for endangered species habitat in an intensifying agricultural landscape
Apan, Armando, Maron, Martine and Dunn, Peter. 2007. "Future scenarios for endangered species habitat in an intensifying agricultural landscape." ESA 2007: Adapting to Change. Perth, Australia 25 - 30 Nov 2007 Perth, Australia. Ecological Society of Australia.
Intraspecific variation in detection of bird-habitat relationships: declining birds in Southern Australian Woodlands
Lill, Alan and Maron, Martine. 2006. "Intraspecific variation in detection of bird-habitat relationships: declining birds in Southern Australian Woodlands." Pacific Conservation Biology. 12 (4), pp. 301-312.
Arresting woodland bird decline in Australian agricultural landscapes: potential application of the European agri-environment model
Park, S. E., Attwood, S. J., Maron, M., Collard, S. J. and Reardon-Smith, K.. 2007. "Arresting woodland bird decline in Australian agricultural landscapes: potential application of the European agri-environment model." Jongman, Rob and Bunce, R. G. H. (ed.) IALE 2007: 25 Years Landscape Ecology: Scientific Principles in Practice. Wageningen, Netherlands 08 - 12 Jul 2007 Wageningden, Netherlands.
Continent-scale pattern in temporal dynamics of avian assemblages
Apan, Armando, Maron, Martine and Dunn, Peter K.. 2007. "Continent-scale pattern in temporal dynamics of avian assemblages." Bunce, R., Jongman, Rob, Hojas, L. and Weel, S. (ed.) IALE 2007: 25 Years Landscape Ecology: Scientific Principles in Practice. Wageningen, Netherlands 08 - 12 Jul 2007 Wageningen, Netherlands.
Discrimination among potential buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) feeding trees by the endangered south-eastern redtailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne)
Maron, Martine and Lill, Alan. 2004. "Discrimination among potential buloke (Allocasuarina luehmannii) feeding trees by the endangered south-eastern redtailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii graptogyne) ." Wildlife Research. 31 (3), pp. 311-317. https://doi.org/10.1071/WR03079
Can the biotic nestedness matrix be used predictively?
Maron, M., MacNally, R., Watson, D. M. and Lill, A.. 2004. "Can the biotic nestedness matrix be used predictively?" OIKOS. 106 (3), pp. 433-444. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.0030-1299.2004.13199.x
Roads, fire and aggressive competitors: determinants of bird distribution in subtropical production forests
Maron, Martine and Kennedy, Simon. 2007. "Roads, fire and aggressive competitors: determinants of bird distribution in subtropical production forests." Forest Ecology and Management. 240 (1-3), pp. 24-31. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2006.11.017
Agricultural change and paddock tree loss: implications for an endangered subspecies of red-tailed black-cockatoo
Maron, Martine. 2005. "Agricultural change and paddock tree loss: implications for an endangered subspecies of red-tailed black-cockatoo." Ecological Management and Restoration. 6 (3), pp. 206-211. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-8903.2005.00238.x
Agricultural intensification and loss of matrix habitat over 23 years in the West Wimmera, south-eastern Australia
Maron, Martine and Fitzsimons, James A.. 2007. "Agricultural intensification and loss of matrix habitat over 23 years in the West Wimmera, south-eastern Australia." Biological Conservation. 135 (4), pp. 587-593. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.10.051
Threshold effect of eucalypt density on an aggressive avian competitor
Maron, Martine. 2007. "Threshold effect of eucalypt density on an aggressive avian competitor." Biological Conservation. 136 (1), pp. 100-107. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2006.11.007
Arthropod assemblage response to agricultural land use intensification
Attwood, Simon J., Maron, Martine, House, Alan and Zammit, Charlie. 2006. "Arthropod assemblage response to agricultural land use intensification." Timmins, Susan (ed.) 3rd Joint Conference of the New Zealand Ecological Society and the Ecological Society of Australia. Wellington, New Zealand 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2006 Wellington, New Zealand.
Roads, fire and noisy miners: determinants of woodland bird distribution in southern Queensland forests
Maron, Martine and Kennedy, Simon. 2006. "Roads, fire and noisy miners: determinants of woodland bird distribution in southern Queensland forests." Timmins, Susan (ed.) 3rd Joint Conference of the New Zealand Ecological Society and the Ecological Society of Australia. Wellington, New Zealand 28 Aug - 01 Sep 2006 Wellington, New Zealand.
Threshold effect of eucalypt density on birds in buloke woodlands: the importance of species choice in restoration projects
Maron, Martine. 2005. "Threshold effect of eucalypt density on birds in buloke woodlands: the importance of species choice in restoration projects." Bell, Brian (ed.) 3rd Biennial Australasian Ornithological Conference (AOC2005). Blenheim, New Zealand 06 - 10 Dec 2005 Nelson, New Zealand.
A quantitative literature analysis of global invertebrate responses to agricultural intensification
Attwood, Simon J., Maron, Martine, Zammit, Charlie and House, Alan. 2005. "A quantitative literature analysis of global invertebrate responses to agricultural intensification." Miller, Craig (ed.) 2005 Conference of the Ecological Society of Australia (ESA 2005). Brisbane, Australia 28 Nov - 02 Dec 2005 Brisbane, Queensland.