scholarly journals A test of the dear enemy hypothesis in female New Zealand bellbirds (Anthornis melanura): female neighbors as threats

2008 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 791-798 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Brunton ◽  
B. Evans ◽  
T. Cope ◽  
W. Ji
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Dear Enemy ◽  
Enemy Hypothesis ◽  
Anthornis Melanura

A new endemic family of New Zealand passerine birds: adding heat to a biodiversity hotspot

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 73 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amy Driskell ◽  
Les Christidis ◽  
B. J. Gill ◽  
Walter E. Boles ◽  
F. Keith Barker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Evolutionary History ◽  
Divergence Time ◽  
Biodiversity Hotspot ◽  
Passerine Birds ◽  
New Family ◽  
Close Relationship ◽  
History Of ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Notiomystis Cincta

The results of phylogenetic analysis of two molecular datasets sampling all three endemic New Zealand ‘honeyeaters’ (Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, Anthornis melanura and Notiomystis cincta) are reported. The undisputed relatedness of the first two species to other honeyeaters (Meliphagidae), and a close relationship between them, are demonstrated. However, our results confirm that Notiomystis is not a honeyeater, but is instead most closely related to the Callaeidae (New Zealand wattlebirds) represented by Philesturnus carunculatus in our study. An estimated divergence time for Notiomystis and Philesturnus of 33.8 mya (Oligocene) suggests a very long evolutionary history of this clade in New Zealand. As a taxonomic interpretation of these data we place Notiomystis in a new family of its own which takes the name Notiomystidae. We expect this new phylogenetic and taxonomic information to assist policy decisions for the conservation of this rare bird.

Avian translocations and disease; implications for New Zealand conservation

2006 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kevin A. Parker ◽  
Dianne H. Brunton ◽  
Richard Jakob-Hoff
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Disease Screening ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Salmonella Spp ◽  
Faecal Samples ◽  
New Zealand Robin ◽  
Avian Pox ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Differential White Blood Cell ◽  
Spreading Disease

There is little published information on the pathogens present in New Zealand passerines. We report here on a preliminary survey of selected pathogens and haematology profiles for seven species in the Auckland region. Avian translocations are commonly used for the recovery of threatened species. Translocations may increase the risk of spreading disease to immunologically na�ve populations. It is therefore important to take every opportuntty to gather baseline disease data and test hypotheses associated with disease. Blood, cloacal and faecal samples were collected from Fernbird Bowdleria punctata, Tui Prosthemadera novaeseelandiae, Bellbird Anthornis melanura, Tomtit Petroica macrocephala, New Zealand Robin Petroica australis, Whitehead Mohua albicilla and Starling Sturnus vulgaris during four translocations to and from Tiritiri Matangi Island. Birds (n = 137) were also examined for external lesions typical of avian pox. Blood samples (n = 40) were screened by microscopy for Plasmodium spp., Atoxoplasma spp. and other blood parasites and a differential white blood cell count was made. Cloacal swabs (n = 38) were cultured for Yersinia spp., Salmonella spp. and Campyobaeter spp. Faecal samples were screened for coccidia spp. (n = 28). An unidentified coccidian sp. and a Haemoproteus sp. were detected in one Fembird and one robin respectively. No other organisms with the potential to cause disease were detected. Despite the effort required to complete disease screening, we argue that disease samples and baseline haematology normal values should be collected at an opportunities. We make recommendations for future disease screening, and discuss the importance and potential significance of disease to the conservation of New Zealand's biodiversity.

scholarly journals Long-term changes in the breeding biology of a New Zealand bellbird population suggest plasticity in life-history responses to ecological restoration

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle M. Roper ◽  
M.T. Harmer Aaron ◽  
Dianne H Brunton
Keyword(s):  
Life History ◽  
New Zealand ◽  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Ecological Restoration ◽  
Breeding Biology ◽  
Life History Strategies ◽  
Local Conditions ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Over Time

AbstractEcological restoration projects provide excellent opportunities to study how animals adapt their life-history strategies in response to changeable environments. A fundamental way animals can optimise reproductive success in changing conditions is trading-off aspects of their breeding system. The New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura) has had a long-term presence on the small restoration island, Tiritiri Matangi Island (Tiri), spanning the island’s degraded agricultural past to its current extensively restored state. We studied the breeding biology of this bellbird population to assess how their reproductive life-history strategies have responded over time to the restoration on Tiri. We compared the current breeding data (2012–2016) of the bellbirds with data from between 2001–2010 (including Baillie, 2011, Cope, 2007), and from 1977–1978 (Anderson and Craig, 2003), prior to the island’s restoration. We also explored associations between abiotic/biotic factors and bellbird reproductive success for the most recent period (2012–2016). Our main finding was that clutch size significantly declined over time from a mean of 3.6 to 2.4 eggs per nest and this decline correlated with increasing population density. This is consistent with a density dependent effect, although further data are required to empirically test this conclusion. Overall, the earliest spring laying dates were in late August and the latest extended to January, with all chicks fledged by the end of February. Nest success was 47% (range 40 – 54%) across 2012–2016, falling within a similar range as previous studies. We found little effect of year, weather, parental age or morphometrics on reproductive success. We observed directional change in patterns of parental investment between 1977–1978 and 2012–2016; in 2012–2016, parents persisted with raising single broods rather than abandoning and re-nesting to raise larger broods. These results suggest that the bellbirds’ life-history traits are plastic in response to local conditions which provides an advantage when repopulating a regenerating or changing habitat.

Stranger Danger: A meta-analysis of the dear enemy hypothesis

2021 ◽  
pp. 104542
Author(s):  
Jo A. Werba ◽  
Adam MM Stuckert ◽  
Matthew Edwards ◽  
Michael W. McCoy
Keyword(s):  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Dear Enemy ◽  
Enemy Hypothesis ◽  
Stranger Danger

Diversity, distribution and biogeographical origins of Plasmodium parasites from the New Zealand bellbird (Anthornis melanura)

Parasitology ◽  
2011 ◽  
Vol 138 (14) ◽  
pp. 1843-1851 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. M. BAILLIE ◽  
D. H. BRUNTON
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sequence Divergence ◽  
Blood Parasites ◽  
Avian Host ◽  
Exact Match ◽  
Cold Environments ◽  
Large Databases ◽  
Molecular Phylogenetic ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
First Time

SUMMARYUnderstanding the origin of invasive parasites and ecological transmission barriers on the distribution of mosquito-borne pathogens is enriched by molecular phylogenetic approaches now that large databases are becoming available. Here we assess the biogeographical relationships among haemosporidian blood parasites and an avian host, the New Zealand bellbird (Meliphagidae, Anthornis melanura). Four Plasmodium haplotypes were identified among 93 infected bellbirds (693 screened) using nested PCR of a mitochondrial DNA cytochrome b gene fragment. The most common lineage, LIN1 (11%), is confined to northern New Zealand and falls within a known clade of Plasmodium (subgenus Novyella) sp. infecting Australian meliphagids. LIN1 differs within that clade by 4 9% sequence divergence suggestive of an endemic lineage to New Zealand. The most widespread lineage, LIN2 (2%), is an exact match with a global cosmopolitan (P. elongatum GRW06). Two rare lineages, LIN3 and LIN4 are less abundant, geographically restricted within New Zealand and have <1% sequence divergence with P. (Novyella) sp. (AFTRU08) and P. relictum (LINOLI01) documented from Africa. For the first time, we provide invaluable information on possible rates of entry of invading parasites in New Zealand and their distribution from temperate to cold environments.

scholarly journals Frequency of Egg Rejection by Potential Hosts of the New Zealand Cuckoos

The Condor ◽  
2003 ◽  
Vol 105 (4) ◽  
pp. 719-727 ◽  
Author(s):  
James V. Briskie
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Host Use ◽  
Egg Rejection ◽  
Widespread Occurrence ◽  
Brood Parasites ◽  
New Zealand Robin ◽  
Egg Mimicry ◽  
Para Determinar ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Brown Creeper

Abstract Host-specific brood parasites use a limited diversity of host species to raise their young. The two species of parasitic cuckoo that occur in New Zealand, Shining Cuckoo (Chrysococcyx lucidus) and Long-tailed Cuckoo (Eudynamys taitensis), are both host specific despite the availability of other apparently suitable species to act as hosts. To determine if host specificity has been shaped by the widespread occurrence of egg rejection among potential hosts, I tested the response of nine native passerine species to brood parasitism by the experimental addition of artificial cuckoo eggs to their nests. Artificial Shining Cuckoo eggs were rejected at least some of the time in eight of nine species tested, but levels of rejection were generally low. The majority of hosts accepted artificial Long-tailed Cuckoo eggs, and only the Brown Creeper (Mohoua novaeseelandiae) rejected eggs of both cuckoos. The occurrence of egg rejection in species currently not used as hosts (e.g., New Zealand Robin [Petroica australis]) suggests that they may have been parasitized by cuckoos in the past. Although egg rejection appears to limit the number of species currently suitable as hosts, it is not clear why acceptor species such as Fantails (Rhipidura fuliginosa) and Bellbirds (Anthornis melanura) are rarely parasitized, nor why egg mimicry as a counteradaptation to rejector species such as Brown Creepers and the New Zealand Pipit (Anthus novaeseelandiae) is poorly developed. On islands with depauperate avifaunas such as New Zealand, it is possible that the evolution of antiparasite adaptations in a small number of potential hosts may restrict the ability of brood parasites to evolve generalist strategies of host use. Frecuencia de Rechazo de Huevos por Hospederos Potenciales de los Cucos de Nueva Zelanda Resumen. Los parásitos de cría hospedero-específico utilizan una diversidad limitada de especies hospederas para criar a sus pichones. Las dos especies de cucos parásitos que se encuentran en Nueva Zelanda, Chrysococcyx lucidus y Eudynamys taitensis, son hospedero-específicas a pesar de la disponibilidad de otras especies aparentemente apropiadas para servir como hospederas. Para determinar si la especificidad de hospedero ha sido moldeada por una alta frecuencia de rechazo de huevos por parte de los hospederos potenciales, puse a prueba la respuesta de nueve especies de paserinos nativos ante el parasitismo de cría añadiendo huevos de cucos en sus nidos experimentalmente. Los huevos artificiales de C. lucidus fueron rechazados al menos algunas veces en ocho de las nueve especies estudiadas, pero los niveles de rechazo fueron generalmente bajos. La mayoría de los hospederos aceptaron los huevos artificiales de E. taitensis, y sólo Mohoua novaeseelandiae rechazó los huevos de ambos cucos. La ocurrencia de rechazo de huevos en especies no utilizadas actualmente como hospederos (e.g., Petroica australis) sugiere que éstas podrían haber sido parasitadas por cucos en el pasado. Aunque el rechazo de huevos parece limitar el número de especies actualmente apropiadas para servir como hospederas, no es claro por qué especies que aceptan los huevos (como Rhipidura fuliginosa y Anthornis melanura) son raramente parasitadas, ni por qué está poco desarrollado el mimetismo de huevos como una contra-adaptación ante especies que rechazan los huevos (como M. novaeseelandiae y Anthus novaeseelandiae). En islas con avifaunas empobrecidas como Nueva Zelanda, es posible que la evolución de adaptaciones antiparásitos en un pequeño número de hospederos potenciales restrinja la habilidad de los parásitos de cría para evolucionar hacia estrategias generalistas de uso de hospederos.

Twelve new microsatellite loci for the Korimako (New Zealand Bellbird), Anthornis melanura

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (S1) ◽  
pp. 257-259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ian G. Paterson ◽  
Shauna M. Baillie ◽  
Dianne H. Brunton ◽  
Peter A. Ritchie ◽  
Paul Bentzen
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Microsatellite Loci ◽  
Anthornis Melanura

scholarly journals Female Scarcity and Natal Dispersal Differences Between Sexes Among Bellbirds (Anthornis melanura)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hilary Misha Cresko
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Intrasexual Competition ◽  
Natal Dispersal ◽  
Supplemental Food ◽  
Dispersal Distances ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Sex Ratio Imbalance

<p>Sex ratio imbalances in wild bird populations have been a challenge for wildlife managers for decades. Differences between sexes during natal dispersal has long been thought to promote sex ratio imbalances. Natal dispersal distances may differ between sexes because of competition for food and space, or intrasexual competition and aggression. I investigated natal dispersal and intrasexual competition as mechanisms for a sex ratio imbalance in a small, translocated population of a New Zealand honeyeater, the bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary- Zealandia, Wellington, New Zealand. I analysed long term records of population size and structure to document annual variation in sex ratios since the reintroduction of bellbirds to Zealandia. Radio telemetry was used to track the 2008/2009 cohort of bellbirds for five months after fledging to observe movements and distances travelled from their hatching location. Observations at a supplemental food source that was used by both adults and fledglings, were used to study intrasexual competition and aggression. Dispersal distances did not differ between the sexes for any of the measurement types used. Males did however significantly dominate the use of a supplemental food source and were significantly more aggressive around this food source, which is most likely responsible for the lower feeding rate among females. Therefore, I conclude that the sex ratio imbalance in the bellbird population in Zealandia may not result from a difference in natal dispersal, but from males dominating a supplemental food source, raising their population and fitness over that of females.</p>

scholarly journals Female Scarcity and Natal Dispersal Differences Between Sexes Among Bellbirds (Anthornis melanura)

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Hilary Misha Cresko
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Intrasexual Competition ◽  
Natal Dispersal ◽  
Supplemental Food ◽  
Dispersal Distances ◽  
Anthornis Melanura ◽  
Sex Ratio Imbalance

<p>Sex ratio imbalances in wild bird populations have been a challenge for wildlife managers for decades. Differences between sexes during natal dispersal has long been thought to promote sex ratio imbalances. Natal dispersal distances may differ between sexes because of competition for food and space, or intrasexual competition and aggression. I investigated natal dispersal and intrasexual competition as mechanisms for a sex ratio imbalance in a small, translocated population of a New Zealand honeyeater, the bellbird (Anthornis melanura) in the Karori Wildlife Sanctuary- Zealandia, Wellington, New Zealand. I analysed long term records of population size and structure to document annual variation in sex ratios since the reintroduction of bellbirds to Zealandia. Radio telemetry was used to track the 2008/2009 cohort of bellbirds for five months after fledging to observe movements and distances travelled from their hatching location. Observations at a supplemental food source that was used by both adults and fledglings, were used to study intrasexual competition and aggression. Dispersal distances did not differ between the sexes for any of the measurement types used. Males did however significantly dominate the use of a supplemental food source and were significantly more aggressive around this food source, which is most likely responsible for the lower feeding rate among females. Therefore, I conclude that the sex ratio imbalance in the bellbird population in Zealandia may not result from a difference in natal dispersal, but from males dominating a supplemental food source, raising their population and fitness over that of females.</p>

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