AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

The survival rate of Australian passerines

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1992
Authors:Yom-Tov, Y, McCleery, R, PURCHASE, DAVID
Journal:Ibis
Volume:134
Issue:4
Date Published:1992
ISBN Number:1474-919X
Keywords:Asia, Australia, Erithacus, Erithacus rubecula, Guinea, Merula, Passer, Passer domesticus, Passeridae, Sturnidae, Sturnus, Sturnus vulgaris, Turdidae, Turdus, Turdus maximus, Turdus merula
Abstract:The Australian avifauna is composed largely of two groups–the ‘old endemics’, species that originated in Gondwana and radiated in Australia and New Guinea, and the ‘new invaders’, species that originated in Asia and invaded Australia during the Pleistocene. In addition, several species were introduced by Europeans during the last 200 years. The old endemics have clutch-sizes significantly smaller than those of the new invaders (Yom-Tov 1987). The aim of this paper was to study the survival rates of Australian passerines from the three groups. The survival rates of 3 5 species of Australian passerines were calculated by using recapture data provided by the Australian Bird Banding Scheme for birds older than one year. Survival depends primarily on body-mass, with no difference between the old endemics and the new invaders. It is suggested that the survival rates of birds younger than one year is different between the two main groups. Overall, the survival rates of Australian passerines is at least 1.2 greater than that of equal-sized British passerines. The survival rates of the introduced House Sparrow Passer domesticus and Blackbird Turdus merula were similar on the two continents, suggesting either that insufficient time had elapsed since their introduction to Australia for them to adapt to local conditions, or that the habitats occupied in Australia were so modified by human activities that selection did not favour long lives. The survival rate of the introduced Starling Sturnus vulgaris was lower in Australia, probably because it lives in natural habitats there.
URL:http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1474-919X.1992.tb08017.x
Short Title:Ibis
Scratchpads developed and conceived by (alphabetical): Ed Baker, Katherine Bouton Alice Heaton Dimitris Koureas, Laurence Livermore, Dave Roberts, Simon Rycroft, Ben Scott, Vince Smith