Holland Honeyeater Research Articles

<i>Corrigendum to</i>: The role of grass-tree <i>Xanthorrhoea semiplana</i> (Asphodelaceae) canopies in temperature regulation and waterproofing for ground-dwelling wildlife

<sec> Context Birds appear to be better suited than mammals or reptiles to adapt to fast-changing landscapes because of their greater mobility; however, the behavioural effects of urbanisation on birds in Australia remain broadly unexplored. </sec> <sec> Aims This study aimed to investigate the effects of urbanisation on behavioural responses exhibited by a common and widespread meliphagid, the bandiny or New Holland honeyeater (<i>Phylidonyris novaehollandiae</i>) while undergoing standard bird banding processes. </sec> <sec> Methods Five non-invasive techniques (alarm calling, wriggling, biting, breathing rate, and tonic immobility) were explored for efficacy in identifying underlying differences in distress arising from mist-netting at urban and exurban localities in southwestern Western Australia. </sec> <sec> Key results Breathing rate was the most important variable for identifying differences in post-capture distress response. The breathing rate of urban bandiny following capture was lower than those of exurban areas. All other parameters proved suboptimal for detecting differential behavioural responses to handling between urban and exurban populations, despite having been successfully used in other international studies. </sec> <sec> Conclusions We suggest that urban honeyeaters exhibit lower mean breathing rates due to chronic overstimulation in response to urban lifestyles and are not able to further elevate this behaviour in response to stressful stimuli. The failure of other approaches explored highlights the need to apply ecosystem-appropriate methods for investigating urbanisation within an Australian context. </sec> <sec> Implications Our results suggest that behavioural approaches to quantifying avian stress developed internationally require additional consideration when applied to the ecosystems of Australia, whose birds are evolved to accommodate a different regime of seasonality that has shaped them behaviourally and morphologically. </sec>

Distress responses during handling in urban and exurban bandiny, the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), in southwestern Western Australia

Context Birds appear to be better suited than mammals or reptiles to adapt to fast-changing landscapes because of their greater mobility; however, the behavioural effects of urbanisation on birds in Australia remain broadly unexplored. Aims This study aimed to investigate the effects of urbanisation on behavioural responses exhibited by a common and widespread meliphagid, the bandiny or New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) while undergoing standard bird banding processes. Methods Five non-invasive techniques (alarm calling, wriggling, biting, breathing rate, and tonic immobility) were explored for efficacy in identifying underlying differences in distress arising from mist-netting at urban and exurban localities in southwestern Western Australia. Key results Breathing rate was the most important variable for identifying differences in post-capture distress response. The breathing rate of urban bandiny following capture was lower than those of exurban areas. All other parameters proved suboptimal for detecting differential behavioural responses to handling between urban and exurban populations, despite having been successfully used in other international studies. Conclusions We suggest that urban honeyeaters exhibit lower mean breathing rates due to chronic overstimulation in response to urban lifestyles and are not able to further elevate this behaviour in response to stressful stimuli. The failure of other approaches explored highlights the need to apply ecosystem-appropriate methods for investigating urbanisation within an Australian context. Implications Our results suggest that behavioural approaches to quantifying avian stress developed internationally require additional consideration when applied to the ecosystems of Australia, whose birds are evolved to accommodate a different regime of seasonality that has shaped them behaviourally and morphologically.

Morphological and molecular description of a new species of Isospora (Apicomplexa) from a New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae).

A new Isospora species is described from New Holland honeyeaters (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). Sporulated oocysts (n=25) were characterised as subspheroidal, 29-32×28-31 (29.8×29.4); length/width (L/W) ratio 1.01-1.02 (1.01). Wall bi-layered, 1.3-1.6 (1.5) thick, outer layer smooth, c.2/3 of total thickness. Micropyle and oocyst residuum absent, but usually two polar granules are present. Sporocysts (n=25) ovoidal, 18-19×12-14 (18.4×12.3); L/W ratio 1.42-1.53 (1.50). Stieda body present, flattened, c.0.5 deep × 2.5 wide; sub-Stieda present, rounded, c.2.5 deep × 3.5 wide; para-Stieda body absent; sporocyst residuum present, usually a distinctly irregular body consisting of numerous small granules that appear to be membrane-bound. Sporozoites vermiform, with robust anterior and posterior refractile bodies. Molecular characterization was conducted at the 18S and 28S ribosomal RNA and the mitochondrial (mt) cytochrome oxidase (COI) loci. Phylogenetic analysis of genomic 18S and mt COI sequences indicated that Isospora phylidonyrisae n. sp. was genetically similar to Isospora coronoideae, isolated from an Australian raven (Corvus coronoides) in Western Australia, with a 99.3% and 98.4% homology, respectively. The 28S rRNA sequence was most similar to Isospora anthochaerae (KF766053) and Isospora manorinae (KT224381), both with a 98.2% genetic similarity. Based on morphological and genetic data, this isolate is a new species of Isospora, which is named Isospora phylidonyrisae n. sp. after its host.

A photographic record of a possible New Holland Honeyeater Phylidonyris novaehollandiae longirostris × White-cheeked Honeyeater P. niger gouldii hybrid

An unusual Phylidonyris honeyeater was photographed in a tract of remnant bushland in a suburb of Perth, Western Australia. My initial field impression was of a New Holland Honeyeater but later inspection of photographs revealed some unusual characteristics. Although no additional field information was obtained, the possibility that the bird was a New Holland Honeyeater P. novaehollandiae longirostris × White-cheeked Honeyeater P. niger gouldii hybrid is explored.

Nest Predation by Commensal Rodents in Urban Bushland Remnants.

Exotic predators are a major threat to native wildlife in many parts of the world. Developing and implementing effective strategies to mitigate their effects requires robust quantitative data so that management can be evidence-based, yet in many ecosystems this is missing. Birds in particular have been severely impacted by exotic mammalian predators, and a plethora of studies on islands record predation of bird eggs, fledglings and adults by exotic species such as rodents, stoats and cats. By comparison, few studies have examined nest predation around mainland urban centres which often act as dispersal hubs, especially for commensal species such as rodents. Here, we experimentally examine nest predation rates in habitat patches with varying black rat (Rattus rattus) densities in Sydney, Australia and test whether these exotic rats have the effects expected of exotic predators using effect size benchmarks. In the case where black rats have replaced native Rattus spp., we expected that black rats, being more arboreal than native Rattus spp., would be a significant source of predation on birds because they can readily access the arboreal niche where many birds nest. We tested this idea using above-ground artificial nests to represent those of typical small bird species such as the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). We found that fewer eggs were depredated by rodents on sites where we removed black rats compared to unmanipulated sites, and that the effect size calculated from the total number of eggs surviving beyond the typical incubation period was similar to that expected for an exotic predator. Our results suggest that, although Australian birds have co-evolved with native Rattus species, in the case where black rats have replaced native Rattus species, exotic black rats appear to pose an additive source of predation on birds in remnant habitats, most likely due to their ability to climb more efficiently than their native counterparts. Management of these commensal rodents may be necessary to retain urban birdlife.

Relationships between time since fire and honeyeater abundance in montane heathland

Montane heath communities in south-eastern Australia provide a valuable nectar resource for honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) but are subject to variable fire regimes that may influence the production of this resource and the abundance of honeyeaters. Little is known about changes in honeyeater communities through time after fire. We examined seasonal relationships between characteristics of the honeyeater community and time since fire in Blue Mountains Heath using regression analysis. Positive trends were expected, with possible eventual declines owing to senescence of the vegetation community. Twelve sites ranging from 2 to 39 years since fire were sampled in late winter-spring (cool season) and in late summer (warm season). In the warm season, abundance of all honeyeaters and abundance of New Holland Honeyeaters showed saturation relationships with time since fire. A steep rate of increase in abundance reached a plateau 10 years after fire for all honeyeaters and New Holland Honeyeaters. In the cool season, New Holland Honeyeater abundance was positively influenced by time since fire. This study showed that honeyeaters used heath across a broad range of post-fire intervals >10 years and there was no evidence of a decline as the heath matured (to 39 years post-fire). Our research has contributed to the understanding of the links between fire ecology and avian habitat use, which in turn provides a scientific basis for ecologically sustainable fire management of natural areas.

Does Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) Response to Heterospecific Alarm Calls Depend on Familiarity or Acoustic Similarity?

AbstractIn habitats in which multiple species are prey to the same predators, individuals can greatly benefit from recognizing information regarding predators that is provided by other species. Past studies have demonstrated that various mammals respond to familiar heterospecific alarm calls, but whether acoustic similarity to a familiar call can prompt a mammal's recognition of an unfamiliar call has yet to be shown. We presented alarm calls to free‐ranging eastern gray squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) and recorded behavioral changes in vigilance and antipredatory response. Playbacks included alarm calls of a sympatric bird (American robin, Turdus migratorius), an allopatric bird with a call structure similar to that of the robin (common blackbird, Turdus merula), and an allopatric bird with a distinct call structure (New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). Squirrels responded significantly more frequently to squirrel alarm calls (positive control) than to robin song (negative control) or honeyeater calls. Squirrel response to robin and blackbird alarm calls was statistically similar to their response to squirrel alarm calls, indicating that squirrels responded to those alarm calls as if they provided information about the presence of predators. However, squirrel response to robin song was not statistically different from response to any of the other avian calls, including the robin and blackbird alarms, suggesting that squirrels neither respond to blackbird alarms as if they clearly signify danger, nor as if they clearly do not signify danger, perhaps reflecting some ambiguity in interpretation of the calls. These results suggest that squirrel responses to alarm calls are generally based on call familiarity, but that acoustic similarity of an unfamiliar allopatric call to a familiar call also can elicit antipredator behavior. The lack of response to honeyeater alarm calls also supports the hypothesis that call recognition by gray squirrels is dependent on familiarity, rather than simply detection of an acoustic feature common to alarm calls across a variety of avian species.

Eavesdropping on the neighbours: fledglings learn to respond to heterospecific alarm calls

Young birds and mammals suffer from a high risk of predation, and should be under strong selection for early response to cues indicating danger, including the alarm calls of other species. Despite this prediction, there has been little investigation of the development of response by young animals to heterospecific alarm calls, and none on fledgling birds. Previous studies have suggested that learning is important in the recognition of heterospecific alarm calls in adult birds, but when learning occurs is unknown. We examined the responses of fledgling white-browed scrubwrens, Sericornis frontalis, at three ages to playback of the aerial alarm calls of the sympatric superb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus, and New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae. Fairy-wren and scrubwren alarm calls are acoustically similar, while honeyeater alarm calls are distinct, but adult scrubwrens respond to both. Recently fledged scrubwrens responded strongly to conspecific alarm calls, but weakly to heterospecific alarm calls. By contrast, only 2 weeks after leaving the nest most fledglings responded to fairy-wren and honeyeater alarm calls similarly to conspecific alarm calls. However, fledglings in territories without honeyeaters ignored honeyeater alarm calls. Three weeks later, fledglings on all territories responded to all heterospecific alarm calls, an identical response to that of their parents. These results demonstrate that fledglings can quickly develop appropriate responses to heterospecific alarm calls, and present strong evidence that response is learned over a microgeographical scale.

Learning to listen? Nestling response to heterospecific alarm calls

Many nestling birds go silent in response to parental alarm calls, potentially lowering their risk of being overheard by predators. Parents are not always nearby, however, and so offspring could also benefit if they respond to the alarm calls of other species. Response could be innate, particularly if heterospecific alarm calls are acoustically similar to conspecific alarms, or learned through experience or association with parental behaviour. We investigated the responses of both young (5–6 days old) and older (10–11 days old, close to fledging) nestling white-browed scrubwrens, Sericornis frontalis , to the mobbing alarm calls of three heterospecifics whose nests are vulnerable to similar predators. Brown thornbills, Acanthiza pusilla , produce the most similar alarm calls to scrubwrens, while superb fairy-wren, Malurus cyaneus , and New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae , produce alarm calls that are distinct. Heterospecific mobbing assays demonstrated that nestlings were likely to overhear the alarm calls of all three species. In support of innate response, even young nestlings suppressed calling after hearing both thornbill and parental alarms. However, young nestlings ignored or increased calling to fairy-wren and honeyeater alarms. Older nestlings continued to suppress calling to thornbill and parental alarm calls, but also suppressed calling to honeyeater and fairy-wren alarms, suggesting that they could have learnt to recognize those calls. This study thus demonstrates that nestlings can respond to the alarm calls of other species, and that these responses are likely to be enabled through both innate mechanisms and learning.

Rainfall can explain adaptive phenotypic variation with high gene flow in the New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae)

Identifying environmentally driven changes in traits that serve an ecological function is essential for predicting evolutionary outcomes of climate change. We examined population genetic structure, sex-specific dispersal patterns, and morphology in relation to rainfall patterns across an island and three peninsulas in South Australia. The study system was the New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), a nectarivorous passerine that is a key pollinator species. We predicted that rainfall-related mechanisms would be driving local adaptation of morphological traits, such that in areas of lower rainfall, where nectar is less available, more insectivorous traits – shorter, deeper bills, longer tarsi, and longer wings – would be favored. The study populations differed in phenotype across the Eyre, Yorke, and Fleurieu Peninsulas and Kangaroo Island despite high gene flow (single continuous population) and sex-biased dispersal (males were philopatric and females dispersed). We tested the role of rainfall in shaping the observed phenotypic differences, and found strong support for our predicted relationships: birds in areas of higher rainfall had higher condition indices, as well as longer bill-head length, deeper bills, and shorter tarsi. Bill depth in males in high-rainfall sites showed signals of stabilizing selection, suggesting local adaptation. In addition to these local indications of selection, a global pattern of directional selection toward larger size for bill-head length, bill-nostril length, and wing length was also observed. We suggest this pattern may reflect an adaptive response to the relatively dry conditions that South Australia has experienced over the last decade. We conclude that rainfall has shaped aspects of phenology in P. novaehollandiae, both locally, with different patterns of stabilizing and directional selection, and globally, with evidence of adaptive divergence at a landscape scale.

An avian eavesdropping network: alarm signal reliability and heterospecific response

Alarm calls potentially provide information about predators to heterospecifics, but little is known about patterns of eavesdropping among species. Many cases of eavesdropping in birds and mammals involve social species in mixed-species groups, but this is not always true and the reliability of information may also be critical. We used a playback experiment and observations of natural alarm calling to test for understanding of aerial ‘‘hawk’’ alarms among 3 species of passerine and assess call reliability. Superb fairy-wrens and white-browed scrubwrens are ecologically similar and can share mixed-species flocks, whereas New Holland honeyeaters are ecologically distinct and do not flock with the other species. Fairy-wrens and scrubwrens fled to cover to each other’s alarm calls, but they also both fled to honeyeater alarms. Honeyeaters fled to scrubwren but usually not fairy-wren alarms. The pattern of heterospecific responses appears related to call reliability from each species’ perspective. Honeyeaters called only to predators of all 3 species and so provided reliable information to all. From a honeyeater’s perspective, fairy-wrens were least reliable, as they gave 52% of their calls to nonpredators, whereas scrubwrens gave only 18% to nonpredators. However, from a scrubwren’s perspective, fairy-wrens were largely reliable because most calls to nonpredators were to red wattlebirds, which pose a physical threat to fairy-wrens and scrubwrens but not honeyeaters. We conclude that there can be mutual responses to alarm calls between ecologically distinct species, that responses can be symmetrical or asymmetrical between species, and that call reliability appears to affect response. Key words: aerial alarm calls, eavesdropping, interspecific communication, New Holland honeyeater, predation, signal reliability, superb fairy-wren, white-browed scrubwren. [Behav Ecol]

New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) microsatellites: isolation and characterization of 15 novel markers using an enrichment method

The New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) plays a significant role in the pollination and sustainability of Australia's endemic flora, and hence fauna. Despite this key ecosystem function, knowledge of P. novaehollandiae life-history traits and population dynamics remain poorly understood. We describe the development of primers amplifying 22 P. novaehollandiae microsatellite loci. Fifteen of the loci were found to be polymorphic, with observed heterozygosity between 0.500 and 1.000, and from four to 17 alleles per locus in adult birds from the study site.

The sweet life: diet sugar concentration influences paracellular glucose absorption

Small birds and bats face strong selection pressure to digest food rapidly in order to reduce digesta mass carried during flight. One mechanism is rapid absorption of a high proportion of glucose via the paracellular pathway (transfer between epithelial cells, not mediated by transporter proteins). Intestinal paracellular permeability to glucose was assessed for two nectarivorous passerines, the Australian New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae) and African white-bellied sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) by measuring the bioavailability of radiolabelled, passively absorbed L-glucose. Bioavailability was high in both species and increased with diet sugar concentration (honeyeaters, 37 and 81% and sunbirds, 53 and 71% for 250 and 1,000 mmoll-1 sucrose diets, respectively). We conclude that the relative contribution of paracellular to total glucose absorption increases with greater digesta retention time in the intestine, and paracellular absorption may also be modulated by factors such as intestinal lumen osmolality and interaction with mediated glucose uptake. The dynamic state of paracellular absorption should be taken into account in future studies.

Nest concealment but not human visitation predicts predation of New Holland Honeyeater nests

Nest concealment but not human visitation predicts predation of New Holland Honeyeater nests

Nest concealment but not human visitation predicts predation of New Holland Honeyeater nests

The vegetation characteristics surrounding 31 New Holland Honeyeater nest-sites were measured in two study sites in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, to determine if predation outcome (depredated or fledged) covaried with vegetation parameters. We controlled for the influence of human visitation level on nesting outcome through an experimental design, randomly allocating each encountered nest to low or high levels of visitation by the observer. We compared nest vegetation parameters for the two visitation level groups and found no significant differences across experimental treatments. There was also no effect of human visitation level on predation outcome. In contrast, nest-concealment variables (percentage cover above, below, at sides and canopy cover) were significantly related to levels of predation, as revealed using binary logistic regression. In particular, the variable nest concealment to the sides was important for predation outcome, with lower levels of predation at concealed nests. The identity of the nest predators remained unknown.

How specialized is the plant–pollinator association between Eucalyptus globulus ssp. globulus and the swift parrot Lathamus discolor?

Abstract The swift parrot Lathamus discolor (Shaw) (Psittacidae) evolved from granivorous ancestors to become a specialized flower‐feeder in a monotypic genus. Its reproduction is dependent largely on flowers of Eucalyptus globulus Labill. ssp. globulus (Myrtaceae), the birds migrating to breed within the natural distribution of this tree. This paper investigates the extent to which this dependence of L. discolor on E. globulus is mirrored by dependence of the tree on the bird. It was found that L. discolor carried significantly more eucalypt pollen within 22 mm of its bill tip than did the New Holland honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae (Latham) (Meliphagidae), and that pollen was concentrated on the regions of the head of L. discolor that consistently contact stigmas. Larger pollen loads on L. discolor can be attributed to it consuming both pollen and nectar, while honeyeaters take nectar only. The short thick bill of L. discolor necessitates regular stigmatic contact while the long slender bills of honeyeaters are unlikely to contact stigmas as often in these bowl‐shaped flowers. These factors suggest that L. discolor has a greater capacity to deposit pollen on stigmas of E. globulus than do honeyeaters. However, the characteristics of L. discolor that make it such an effective pollinator of E. globulus are also exhibited by a lorikeet (Psittacidae) that feeds on flowers of E. globulus. The association between E. globulus and L. discolor is therefore only moderately specialized because the flowers are also adapted to the more recently associated lorikeet and are almost certainly also pollinated by honeyeaters.

Non-breeding territoriality in the New Holland Honeyeater, Phylidonyris novaehollandiae, in an unpredictable environment—short-term energy costs for possible long-term reproductive benefits

The short-term energetic and long-term reproductive costs and benefits of aggressive social behaviour of New Holland Honeyeaters were examined in an open forest where nectar availability for part of the year was highly unpredictable. Despite the variability in food supply, birds consistently maintained priority and, to varying degrees, exclusive access to certain areas. Feeding territories held between the autumn and spring breeding seasons did not always provide sufficient energy to cover the owner's daily costs of occupation. An indirect assessment of the net energy benefits revealed that owners may experience considerable periods of food shortage. Despite this, owners remained site faithful as the areas defended were all close to, or overlapped, sites used for nesting. These areas had a high density of both Banksia spp. (food plants) and Leptospermum spp. (nest plants). It appears that while non-breeding territories may be unprofitable in the short term, owners that maintain them benefit in the long term by ensuring access to nesting sites.

Breeding biology and nesting success of the Eastern Yellow Robin and the New Holland Honeyeater in a southern Victorian woodland

This study examines the nesting success and the role of nest predation in the breeding biology of birds in a woodland remnant of southern Victoria. In total, 225 nests of 21 species were found within the study area during the 1999–2000 breeding season, including 90 nests of the Eastern Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria australis), and 52 nests of the New Holland Honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae). Overall, only 39% of nests were successful, and 48% of nests were preyed upon. For nests of the Eastern Yellow Robin and the New Holland Honeyeater, the predation rate was 50% and 42%, respectively. The mean clutch size was 2.3 (±0.06, s.e.) for the Eastern Yellow Robin and 2.1 (±0.05, s.e.) for the New Holland Honeyeater. Eastern Yellow Robin clutches of three eggs were initiated significantly later in the season than clutches of two eggs. The clutch initiation dates of successful New Holland Honeyeater nests were significantly earlier than New Holland Honeyeater nests that were preyed upon, but this was not the case for the Eastern Yellow Robin. Nests of the Eastern Yellow Robin with two eggs were no more successful than nests with three eggs. The incubation and nestling periods of the Eastern Yellow Robin were 15.9 (±0.1, s.e.) and 12.9 (±0.2, s.e.) days, respectively, and for the New Holland Honeyeater were 13.6 (±0.2, s.e.) and 12.2 (±0.3, s.e.) days, respectively. There was no significant difference in the nestling periods of Eastern Yellow Robin nests with a clutch size of two and three.

Perception of terrestrial and aerial alarm calls by honeyeaters and falcons

This study tested the responses to aerial and terrestrial alarm and distress calls in an avian predator, the brown falcon, Falco berigora, and two potential avian prey species, the New Holland honeyeater, Philidonyris novaehollandiae, and noisy miner, Manorina melanocephala. Calls were delivered from a computer system at intensities 5–20 dB above background, to birds held in large cages. All birds located the broad-band alarm and distress calls easily, but they had difficulty locating the narrow-band aerial alarm calls, although they were able to detect most of these. Aerial alarm calls thus reduce risk to the caller. The performance of raptors and songbirds was similar. This result suggests that there are no reliable differences in the auditory characteristics of avian predators and prey, as have been described in species from the Northern Hemisphere.

Territoriality in Honeyeaters: Reviewing the Concept and Evaluating Available Information

We define territorial behaviour as aggressive behaviour that occurs repeatedly in about the same location with associated submissive behaviour on the part of the individuals or groups to which the aggression is directed. Of a worldwide total of about 170 honeyeater species (Meliphagidae), 36 have been described as being territorial and we consider that 28 of these have been shown to satisfy our definition of territoriality. We discuss the consequences of territorial behaviour and the determination of the boundaries and areas of territories. We also review the available information regarding territorial behaviour exhibited by the New Holland honeyeater (Phylidonyris novaehollandiae), the most studied of all honeyeater species. We recommend that future descriptions of territorial behaviour attempt to determine the intensity of the behaviour, sharpness of the territory boundary, degree of exclusive use of the relevant resource, and the extent to which areas separate from the territory are used by the territory owner or owners. For territoriality to become a useful concept for honeyeaters, behaviour that leads to the label of 'territorial' must be fully documented.