ABSTRACT The critically endangered and iconic plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus) is phylogenetically distinct and endemic to south eastern Australia, and is a high conservation priority. Furthermore, it relies on critically-endangered native grasslands for its survival, which vary temporally in structure and hence do not always provide suitable habitat. To manage the remaining native grasslands appropriately, it is essential to understand the temporal and spatial dynamics of plains-wanderer habitat preferences. We monitored plains-wanderers and habitat measurements for nine years to link habitat preferences to specific elements of grassland structure. We also observed habitat selection by plains-wanderers at two spatial scales – sites (paddocks) and at microsites (immediate vicinity of the birds). The plains-wanderer population declined rapidly after a dramatic increase in native grass cover in 2011, and recovery of the population since then has been slow. In 2015/16, plains-wanderers were generally encountered at microsites with higher bare ground and cryptogam cover. However, at the site scale, paddocks with plains-wanderers had similar cover of native grass and bare ground than those without plains-wanderers. The results suggest that observation of highly-localised habitat components alone may mask aspects of the habitat selection occurring at larger spatial scales. Plains-wanderers may require areas of denser perennial grass for nesting and shelter, as well as access to the open areas where they are commonly encountered. We discuss how private land used for commercial grazing may be crucial to plains-wanderer conservation. The results also prompt consideration of how we measure and interpret habitat selection for grassland birds globally.

中文翻译：

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气候介导的草原结构变化决定了极度濒危的平原流浪者（Pedionomus torquatus）的栖息地适宜性

摘要 极度濒危和标志性的平原流浪者（Pedionomus torquatus）在系统发育上是独特的，是澳大利亚东南部特有的，是高度保护的优先事项。此外，它依赖极度濒危的原生草原生存，这些草原在结构上随时间变化，因此并不总是提供合适的栖息地。为了适当地管理剩余的原生草原，必须了解平原流浪者栖息地偏好的时空动态。我们对平原流浪者和栖息地测量进行了九年的监测，以将栖息地偏好与草原结构的特定元素联系起来。我们还观察了平原流浪者在两个空间尺度上的栖息地选择——地点（围场）和微型地点（鸟类的直接附近）。2011 年原生草覆盖率急剧增加后，平原流浪者数量迅速下降，此后人口恢复缓慢。在 2015/16 年，平原流浪者通常会在裸露地面和密码覆盖率较高的微型站点遇到。然而，在现场规模上，有平原流浪者的围场与没有平原流浪者的围场相比，具有相似的原生草覆盖和裸露的地面。结果表明，仅观察高度局部化的栖息地成分可能会掩盖在更大空间尺度上发生的栖息地选择的各个方面。平原流浪者可能需要更密集的多年生草区域来筑巢和庇护，以及进入他们经常遇到的开放区域。我们讨论了用于商业放牧的私人土地如何对平原流浪者保护至关重要。