ABSTRACT

The behaviour and diet of the Tasman parakeet (Cyanoramphus cookii) have not been quantitively described. We quantified the relative frequency of behaviours and diversity of food items for the species during autumn and winter to help refine the current management of the species. We also collected information on the availability of one of their main foods: niau (Rhopalostylis baueri) fruits. Parakeets fed on fruit pulp and seeds of eight plant species. Niau fruits represented 44% of total feeding bouts indicating that this is an important food item during the autumn-winter period. The most common behavioural state during our observations was feeding (30% of behavioural states). Our estimate of niau fruit availability in the core area of Tasman parakeet occurrence indicates approximately 1.2 million fruits during the peak of fruiting in spring. Tasman parakeets are generalists, but niau fruits represent an abundant and important resource. Although niau are common and produce large quantities of fruit, introduced rats (Rattus spp.), potentially represent significant competitors to Tasman parakeets, because they also feed on niau fruits. Ongoing control of rats is thus critical to maintain large quantities of native fruits to sustain a growing population of Tasman parakeets.

摘要

塔斯曼长尾小鹦鹉 ( Cyanoramphus cookii )的行为和饮食尚未得到定量描述。我们量化了该物种在秋季和冬季的行为频率和食物多样性，以帮助完善当前对该物种的管理。我们还收集了有关其主要食物之一的可用性信息：niau（Rhopalostylis baueri） 水果。长尾小鹦鹉以八种植物的果肉和种子为食。Niau 水果占总喂食次数的 44%，表明这是秋冬季期间的重要食品。在我们的观察中，最常见的行为状态是进食（占行为状态的 30%）。我们对塔斯曼长尾小鹦鹉发生核心区的牛果实可用性的估计表明，在春季结果高峰期大约有 120 万个果实。塔斯曼长尾小鹦鹉是多面手，但鹦鹉果实代表了丰富而重要的资源。尽管 niau 很常见并且产生大量水果，但引入的老鼠（Rattus spp .)，可能是塔斯曼长尾小鹦鹉的重要竞争对手，因为它们也以牛果实为食。因此，持续控制老鼠对于维持大量本地水果以维持不断增长的塔斯曼长尾小鹦鹉种群至关重要。