ABSTRACT

Habitat modification and destruction are known to be responsible for declines in avian taxa. Specialist species such as the vulnerable Glossy Black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami ssp. lathami) are particularly at risk due to the limited number of Casuarina and Allocasuarina species on which they feed, which is compounded by their propensity for selecting only specific individual feed trees within patches. This study aims to address the lack of understanding surrounding Glossy Black-cockatoo feeding ecology in southeast Queensland, Australia, by examining determinants of tree selection for Allocasuarina littoralis and A. torulosa. We conducted surveys to identify feed and non-feed trees of both Allocasuarina species, and differences between the physical and chemical characteristics of trees, cones, and seeds were investigated. We found that larger trees were preferentially foraged, with nutritional profitability as the primary factor governing tree selection. Feed tree cones had higher seed number and seed mass, with seeds containing higher levels of fatty acids and nutrients than non-feed tree cones. We conclude that further research should aim to delineate the factors contributing to these differences, alongside determining appropriate management strategies to support viable feeding habitat, which is most likely comprised of mixed age patches, capable of maintaining mature trees offering sufficient nutrient reward.

摘要

众所周知，栖息地的改变和破坏是造成禽类群下降的原因。专家物种，如脆弱光面黑鹦鹉（Calyptorhynchus lathami SSP。lathami）特别危险，由于数量有限木麻黄和Allocasuarina物种它们赖以，这是由它们的倾向内仅选择特定的个人进料树混补丁。这项研究的目的是通过研究对澳洲豆和澳洲拟南芥的树型选择决定因素，解决澳大利亚昆士兰东南部对有光泽的黑鹦鹉鹦鹉饲养生态系统缺乏了解的问题。。我们进行调查，以确定两者的饲料和非饲料树Allocasuarina种，并进行了调查的树木，球果和种子的物理和化学特性之间的差异。我们发现，较大的树木被优先采伐，营养收益率是决定树木选择的主要因素。饲料树球果具有更高的种子数量和种子质量，其中种子所含的脂肪酸和营养素含量高于非饲料树球果。我们得出结论，进一步的研究应旨在描述造成这些差异的因素，同时确定适当的管理策略来支持可行的觅食栖息地，其中最有可能是混合年龄斑块，能够维持成熟树木提供足够的营养回报。