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Accelerometry reveals limits to use of an energy‐saving anthropogenic food source by a threatened species: A case of Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) and canola
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Accelerometry reveals limits to use of an energy‐saving anthropogenic food source by a threatened species: A case of Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) and canola

Karen J. Riley, Kristin Warren, Nicola Armstrong, Lian Yeap, Rick Dawson, Peter R. Mawson, Denis A. Saunders, Christine E. Cooper and Jill M. Shephard
Ecology and evolution, Vol.13(10), e10598
2023
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/ece3.10598
Appears in  Open Access via Read & Publish Agreements
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Published2.20 MBDownloadView
CC BY V4.0,  Open Access

Abstract

Behavioural Ecology Conservation Ecology Movement Ecology
The use of anthropogenic resources is becoming increasingly common as species adapt to human‐induced environmental changes, but their use can expose species to new risks. Understanding how animals exploit these resources is important for guiding conservation management, particularly where species are threatened. The introduction of canola cropping to breeding areas of endangered Carnaby's cockatoo (Zanda latirostris) has been attributed to an increase in the birds' reproductive success; however, the seed may be protein‐limiting for nestling growth and its use by cockatoos has been implicated in the emergence of a new disease. We used high‐resolution accelerometer‐capable GPS tags to track eight birds. Accelerometer data were used to calculate overall dynamic body acceleration (ODBA), a proxy for energy expenditure, and to identify and quantify canola and native vegetation foraging behaviours. We used linear mixed models to determine which factors affected patterns of resource use and to determine whether, and to what extent, canola use was associated with reduced energetic and movement costs. We then compared the energetic content of canola seed and native food sources to inform patterns of behaviour and habitat use revealed by our tracking data. Use of canola was associated with reduced movement costs and energy expenditure. However, there was an apparent reluctance to increase foraging on canola above a threshold of time, even when conditions reduced time available to utilise native food sources. While anthropogenic resources may appear to improve population trends in some cases, careful investigations of patterns of resource use are necessary to guide appropriate conservation management efforts. For Carnaby's cockatoos, conservation efforts should focus on retention, protection and expansion of native food sources. We used accelerometer‐capable GPS tracking to investigate the use of a novel food source by endangered Carnaby's cockatoos (Zanda latirostris) during nestling provisioning. We found the importance of canola relative to native food sources increased with increased maximum daily temperature; however, there was a threshold for time spent in canola, even when conditions required time spent foraging on native food sources be reduced. Our findings highlight the care that conservation managers should take to investigate patterns of novel resource use, even where they appear to improve conservation outcomes for threatened species.

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#15 Life on Land

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21 File views/ downloads
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3 Times Cited - Web of Science

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Collaboration types
Domestic collaboration
Citation topics
3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
3.35 Zoology & Animal Ecology
3.35.33 Avian Ecology
Web Of Science research areas
Ecology
Evolutionary Biology
ESI research areas
Environment/Ecology
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