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Large-scale habitat selection by parrots in New Caledonia
Citation
Legault, A. and Chartendrault, V and Theuerkauf, J and Rouys, S and Barre, N, Large-scale habitat selection by parrots in New Caledonia, Journal of Ornithology, 152, (2) pp. 409-419. ISSN 0021-8375 (2011) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
The definitive published version is available online at: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
Official URL: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/
DOI: doi:10.1007/s10336-010-0602-0
Abstract
Habitat studies are important for conservation,
particularly for parrots, as many are threatened and their
ecological requirements are often poorly known. Our aim
was to contribute to the conservation of parrots in New
Caledonia by examining their selection of habitat at a large
scale. From 2002 to 2010, we documented 1,357 encounters with New Caledonian Parakeets (Cyanoramphus
saisseti), Horned Parakeets (Eunymphicus cornutus), and
New Caledonian Rainbow Lorikeets (Trichoglossus
haematodus deplanchii) throughout mainland New Caledonia. We used GIS to infer habitat selection in relation to
vegetation, forest cover, forest size, altitude, rainfall, and
soil. New Caledonian Parakeets selected forested areas
with oligotrophic soils, particularly those from ultramafic
substrates. Horned Parakeets selected habitats with a high
proportion of rainforest, as well as oligotrophic soils on
metamorphic substrates, yet soil fertility was less important
for them. Both parakeet species favoured large forests, and appeared to avoid areas with low forest cover. Altitude had
a relatively minor influence upon habitat selection by
parakeets. Rainbow Lorikeets favoured areas at low altitudes with minimal rainfall and mesotrophic soils, although
they were not influenced by soil fertility to the same degree
as the parakeets. We consider rainforests on oligotrophic
soils at intermediate altitudes (200–800 m) to be most
important for parrot conservation in New Caledonia, as
these habitats are likely to support significant parakeet
populations.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | parrot, conservation, New Caledonia, rainforest |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Behavioural ecology |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Terrestrial biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Legault, A. (Mr Andrew Legault) |
| ID Code: | 69904 |
| Year Published: | 2011 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 13 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2011-05-24 |
| Last Modified: | 2012-10-29 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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