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Burrow entrance attrition rate in Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus colonies on Rottnest Island, Western Australia

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������������������ et al.: �u���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e i� Wedge-���iled She��w���e� ��l��ies� ����

M��i�e O��i��h�l�gy ��: ��–�6 (�005) INTRODUCTION

She��w���e�s� Puffinus s�pp. ��e g�eg��i�us�, pel�gi� s�e�bi�ds� ��h��� b�eed m���g�m�us�ly ��d s�h�w � high level �� m���e �ideli��y (W��h�m 1990). The bi�ds� ��e ��l��i�l �es���e�s�, us�u�lly �� is�l��ds�, ��d �lm�s���

�ll s�pe�ies� ex��v���e bu���ws� i� whi�h � s�i�gle egg is� i��ub���ed pe� ye��. The �hi�k �em�i�s� i� ��he bu���w u���il �ledgi�g. �u���ws�

���vey � ���ge �� �dv�����ges� ��� s�he��w���e�s�, s�u�h �s� s�hel��e� ���m e�vi���me����l ex���emes� �� �e�i�l p�ed�����s�, �mpli�i����i�� �� v���l

��mmu�i����i��, ��d ���s������� ���m�s�phe�i� ���di��i��s� ��d �s�s���i���ed phys�i�l�gi� be�e�i��s� (Whi�����w et al. 1987, W��h�m 1990, J�h�s�����e

& S����� 1998). C�l��ies�, h�weve�, ��e ����e� p�s�i��i��ed i� exp�s�ed

��e�s� whe�e ��he p�ev�ili�g we���he� ��� ��us�e e��s�i�� �� d�m�ge ���

bu���ws� ��h��� is� dis��dv�����ge�us� ��� ��he ���up����s� (W��h�m 1990, Fu��es�s� 1991). The m�s��� ��mm��ly �i��ed p��blem is� i�u�d���i�� ��

bu���ws� wi��h w���e�, ���m he�vy ��i���ll eve���s� �� high ��ides�, ��d s�ubs�eque��� �es��� ��ilu�e (e.g. ����ke 1990, W��h�m 1990, Th�mps���

& Fu��es�s� 1991, ���w� et al. 199�, S�h�eibe� & �u�ge� �00�).

Whe�e ��i���ll ��d ��ides� d� ���� exe��� � m�j�� i��lue��e, ��he phys�i��l

��ll�ps�e �� bu���ws� m�y be �� imp�������� de��e�mi����� �� �ep��du���ive s�u��es�s� (H���is� 1984, C����e� 1997).

Al��h�ugh i�� is� ge�e��lly ���ep��ed ��h��� s�he��w���e�s� s�ele��� �es��� s�i��es�

s�� �s� ��� mi�imis�e ��he �is�k �� bu���w ��ll�ps�e ��d ��h��� s��il s����e�g��h, s��il m�is���u�e �����e��� ��d �ve�l�yi�g vege�����i�� m�y ���e��� ��he bu���w i���eg�i��y, publis�hed i����m���i�� �� ��he ��eque��y �� bu���w

��ll�ps�e is� l��ki�g (Neil & Dye� 199�, C����e� 1997). Simil��ly, �ll e��l�gi� s�umm��ies� �� s�he��w���e� �ep��du���ive bi�l�gy i�di����e

��h��� ��� le�s��� s��me bi�ds� will �e-ex��v���e p����i�lly ��ll�ps�ed bu���ws�

��� ��he ��mme��eme��� �� � b�eedi�g s�e�s���, ye�� s������ empi�i��l evide��e is� �v�il�ble �b�u�� ��he ex��e��� �� ��his� beh�vi�u� (M���h���� &

Higgi�s� 1990, W��h�m 1990, S�h�eibe� & �u�ge� �00�).

He�e we �ep���� ��he �es�ul��s� ���m � s�m�ll expe�ime��� ��h��� i�ves���ig���ed

��he ������i��i�� ����e �� bu���w e�������es� i� � ��l��y �� Wedge-���iled She��w���e�s� P. pacificus �� R������es��� Is�l��d, Wes���e�� Aus�����li�. We p�es�e��� d���� �� ��he ����u��l ����e �� bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e �ve� � s�i�gle b�eedi�g s�e�s��� ��d ��he s�ubs�eque��� wi���e�, ��he p��p����i�� ��

��ll�ps�ed-e�������e bu���ws� ��h��� ��e �e-ex��v���ed ��� ��he begi��i�g ��

� b�eedi�g s�e�s���, ��he e��e��� �� �ve�l�yi�g vege�����i�� ��ype, ��d ��he p��p����i�� �� bu���ws� ��h��� h�ve pe�s�is���ed �ve� � 10-ye�� pe�i�d. We us�e �u� d���� ��� ��l�ul���e ��he s��il dis�pl��eme��� ����e �s�s���i���ed wi��h bu���w e�������e �e-ex��v���i��, ��d we m�ke s�ugges���i��s� �� �u��u�e

�es�e���h di�e���i��s� ��d ���s�ide����i��s�.

METHODS

Site and shearwater breeding phenology

The s���udy w�s� ���du���ed �� R������es��� Is�l��d (��°00′S, 115°�1′E), 18 km ��� ��he ���s��� �� F�em����le, Wes���e�� Aus�����li�. The ��w� l��ges���

��l��ies� �� ��he is�l��d we�e ��he s�i��es� ��� ��he s���udy: R�d�� Ree�

��l��y ��� �e-ex��v���i�� ����e, ����u��l de��y ��d l��g-��e�m bu���w

BURROW ENTRANCE ATTRITION RATE IN WEDGE-TAILED SHEARWATER PUFFINUS PACIFICUS COLONIES ON

ROTTNEST ISLAND, WESTERN AUSTRALIA

WESLEY J. �ANCROFT1, J. DALE RO�ERTS1 & MARK J. GARKAKLIS�,�

1 School of Animal Biology, M092, University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia (wes@graduate.uwa.edu.au)

2 Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management, Swan Region, PO Box 1167, Bentley Delivery Centre, Bentley, Western Australia, 6983, Australia

3 School of Biological Sciences and Biotechnology, Murdoch University, Murdoch, Western Australia, 6150, Australia

Received 5 July 2004, accepted 7 August 2005 SUMMARY

�ANCROFT, W.J., RO�ERTS, J.D. & GARKAKLIS, M.J. �005. �u���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e i� Wedge-���iled She��w���e� Puffinus pacificus ��l��ies� �� R������es��� Is�l��d, Wes���e�� Aus�����li�. Marine Ornithology ��: ��–�6.

She��w���e�s� (Puffinus s�pp.) �ppe�� ��� s�ele��� bu���w-�es��� s�i��es� ��� mi�imis�e ��he �is�k �� bu���w ��ll�ps�e ��d ��e k��w� ��� �le�� ��d �e-ex��v���e d�m�ged bu���ws�, ye�� empi�i��l evide��e �� ��he i��ide��e �� bu���w ��ll�ps�e is� l��ki�g. We p��vide p�elimi���y d���� �� ����es� �� bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e i� � ��l��y �� Wedge-���iled She��w���e�s� (P. pacificus) �� R������es��� Is�l��d, Wes���e�� Aus�����li�. E�������es� ��� 67.8% �� bu���ws�

��h��� we�e ����ive du�i�g ��he l�yi�g ph�s�e �� ��he �00�/0� b�eedi�g s�e�s��� h�d ��ll�ps�ed by ��he begi��i�g �� ��he �ex�� s�e�s���. The ������i��i�� ����e w�s�

li�e�� �ve� ��ime, ��d ��ll�ps�ed p����i��s� h�d � me�� le�g��h �� 17.9 ± �.7 �m (s�����d��d e����). �u���w e�������es� �ve�l�i� wi��h s�h�ll�w-�����ed,

���u�l pl����s� (89.7% ��ll�ps�e ����e) we�e m��e ��h�� ��wi�e �s� likely ��� ��ll�ps�e �s� ��h�s�e l�����ed be�e���h deepe�-�����i�g, pe�e��i�l s�h�ubs� (40.9%

��ll�ps�e ����e). Th�ee qu����e�s� �� ��ll�ps�ed e�������es� we�e �e-ex��v���ed ��he ��ll�wi�g s�e�s���, ��d ��� le�s��� 11.5 �� h�–1 y�–1 (8.5 m h�–1 y�–1) �� s��il w�s� dis�pl��ed ��h��ugh ��his� p���es�s�. O� m��ke� p�s���s� ��h��� we�e pl��ed ��� ��he e�������es� �� bu���ws� i� 199� (� = �64), ��% we�e ��u�d i� �00�.

O� ��he p�s���s� ��h��� we�e ��u�d, 19% �em�i�ed �s�s���i���ed wi��h � bu���w e�������e. We ���s�ide� ��h��� m�s��� e�������e ��ll�ps�es� i� ��his� s���udy �e�le���

�b��d��me��� �� bu���ws� by ��he bi�ds�. Ou� d���� p�edi��� ��h���, i� � �u��e��� i���e�s�e i� s�h�ll�w-�����ed vege�����i�� i� ��l��y ��e�s� �����i�ues�, ��he ����e

�� e�������e ��ll�ps�e ��d ��l��y e��s�i�� will i���e�s�e. Al��h�ugh we did ���� �����emp�� ��� qu����i�y ��he e��e��� ��h��� bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e h�s� ��

��he �ep��du���ive bi�l�gy �� ��he s�he��w���e�s�, we h�pe ��h��� �u� w��k will �����lys�e �u��u�e i�ves���ig���i�� i� ��his� �ield.

Key w��ds�: She��w���e�, bu���w, ��ll�ps�e, bi�ped��u�b���i��, e��s�ys���em e�gi�ee�i�g, R������es��� Is�l��d

��

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�4 ������������������ et al.: �u���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e i� Wedge-���iled She��w���e� ��l��ies�

M��i�e O��i��h�l�gy ��: ��–�6 (�005) pe�s�is���e��e s���udies�, ��d C�pe Vl�mi�gh ��� ��he ����u��l de��y s���udy.

F�� ��l��y m�ps� ��d des���ip��i��s� s�ee ��������� et al. (�004�).

The b�eedi�g phe��l�gy �� Wedge-���iled She��w���e�s� �� R������es���

Is�l��d h�s� bee� d��ume���ed by M���h���� & Higgi�s� (1990), G��k�klis� et al. (1998) ��d J�h�s�����e & S����� (1998). Adul�� bi�ds�

���ive i� mid-Augus��� ��� begi� bu���w ex��v���i�� �� �le��i�g ��d

��u���i�g, wi��h � ��w�-week p�e-l�yi�g ex�dus� ���u��i�g i� e��ly N�vembe�. Eggs� ��e l�id ��d i��ub���ed ���m l���e N�vembe�. Chi�ks�

h����h ���m mid-J��u��y, ��e �e��ed ���m J��u��y ��� l���e Ap�il, ��d

�ledge by mid-M�y. �i�ds� mig����e �w�y ���m ��he is�l��d ��� ��he

�em�i�de� �� ��he ye��.

Re-excavation rate

The �e-ex��v���i�� ����e s���udy ��mme��ed i� July �00�, du�i�g

��he pe�i�d whe� ��he s�he��w���e�s� we�e �bs�e��� ���m ��hei� b�eedi�g

��l��ies�. We s�ele���ed �0 bu���ws� ��h��ugh ���d�mly ge�e����ed

��mp�s�s� be��i�gs� ��d dis������e me�s�u�eme���s� ���m �� ��bi�����ily pl��ed ��igi� wi��hi� ��he ��l��y. A�� e��h bu���w, ��he e�������e ��d

��he �i�s��� �0 �m �� ��u��el we�e m��u�lly ��ll�ps�ed, ��d ��he ��e� w�s�

levelled �lus�h wi��h ��he s�u���u�di�g ��l��y s�u����e. �u���ws� we�e s�ubs�eque���ly ex�mi�ed �� s�eve� ����s�i��s� be��wee� � Sep��embe�

�00� ��d 1� M�y �00�, ��d s����ed �s� �pe� (e�������e �le��ly �e- ex��v���ed ��d bi�ds� i� ���up���i��) �� ��ll�ps�ed (e�������e ��ll�ps�ed

��d �� evide��e �� ���up���i��).

Natural decay

The ����e �� ����u��l bu���w de��y w�s� me�s�u�ed by m��ki�g 90 ����ive bu���ws� du�i�g ��he l�yi�g ph�s�e �� ��he s�he��w���e�s�’ b�eedi�g �y�le (s�ee ��������� et al. �005�) ��� e�s�u�e ��h��� �ll we�e well-es����blis�hed bu���ws� (18 De�embe� �00�). �u���ws� we�e ����eg��is�ed �s� “����ive”

i� ��es�h �����ks� �� diggi�gs� �� b���h we�e ���s�is���e���ly �bs�e�ved ���

��he e�������e i� ��he ��w� weeks� be���e ��mme��eme��� �� ��he s���udy.

�u���ws� we�e �h�s�e� ��� ���d�m �s� des���ibed ��� �e-ex��v���i��

����e. The pl���� s�pe�ies� �ve�l�yi�g ��he e�������e ��� e��h bu���w we�e �e���ded. �u���ws� we�e i�s�pe���ed �� ��u� ����s�i��s� u���il jus���

be���e ��he s�ubs�eque��� b�eedi�g s�e�s��� (19 Augus��� �00�) ��d we�e s����ed �s� “�pe�” (e�������e �el���ively �le�� �� s��il) �� “��ll�ps�ed”

(e�������e bl��ked by s��il �� �� l��ge� exis���e���). I�� is� ���� ��h�ugh��

��h��� Wedge-���iled She��w���e�s� ����ively plug ��hei� bu���w e�������es�

(M���h���� & Higgi�s� 1990). Whe�e ��he e�������e w�s� bl��ked, ��

es���im���e �� ��he le�g��h �� ��he ��ll�ps�ed p����i�� �� ��he bu���w w�s�

m�de.

A� es���im���e �� ��he ����e �� s��il dis���u�b���e ������ibu���ble ��� bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e w�s� m�de wi��h �e�e�e��e ��� ��he ��l�ul���i��s� ��

��������� et al. (�004b). The me�� ���s�s�-s�e���i���l ��e� �� � bu���w (��������� et al. �004b) w�s� mul��iplied by ��he me�� le�g��h ��

e�������e ��ll�ps�e, de�ived he�e, ��� es���im���e me�� ��ll�ps�e v�lume.

This� �igu�e w�s� ��he� mul��iplied by me�� bu���w de�s�i��y (���������

et al. �004�) ��� es���im���e me�� v�lume �� ��ll�ps�e pe� u�i�� �� ��l��y

��e�. Th��� �es�ul�� w�s� �u���he� mul��iplied by me�� s��il bulk de�s�i��y (��������� et al. �004b) ��� es���im���e ��he m�s�s� �� s��il dis�pl��ed

��h��ugh ��ll�ps�e pe� u�i�� ��e�.

Long-term burrow persistence

I� 1991/9�, �64 bu���ws� ��� R�d�� Ree� we�e m��ked du�i�g � s���udy

�� s�he��w���e� b�eedi�g phe��l�gy (G��k�klis� 199�, G��k�klis� et al. 1998). A s�e���h ��d ��u��� �� ��hes�e p�s���s� w�s� m�de i� Feb�u��y

�00�, ��d we �e���ded whe��he� e��h p�s��� w�s� ���vi��i�gly

�s�s���i���ed wi��h � bu���w e�������e (wi��hi� �0 �m).

RESULTS

Th�ee qu����e�s� �� bu���w e�������es� ��h��� we�e ��ll�ps�ed du�i�g ��he

���-b�eedi�g s�e�s��� we�e �e-ex��v���ed ���e s�he��w���e�s� �e��u��ed

��� ��hei� ��l��ies� (T�ble 1). M�s��� �� ��hes�e bu���ws� h�d bee� �e- ex��v���ed by mid-O����be�, wi��h ��he pe�k i� De�embe�. A de��e�s�e

���m De�embe� ��� M�y �ep�es�e���s� ����u��l ������i��i��. O��e � bu���w e�������e h�d �e-��ll�ps�ed (wi��hi� ��he b�eedi�g s�e�s���), i�� w�s� ����

�e-ex��v���ed.

O� bu���ws� ����ive du�i�g ��he l�yi�g ph�s�e �� ��e s�e�s���, ��ly

��.�% �em�i�ed �pe� be���e ��he ��mme��eme��� �� ��he �ex�� s�e�s���

(Fig. 1). We �bs�e�ved � s�ig�i�i�����, �eg���ive, li�e�� �eg�es�s�i��

be��wee� ��he d�y �� �bs�e�v���i�� ��d ��he pe��e����ge �� bu���ws� ��h���

�em�i�ed �pe� (Fig. 1; y = –0.�86x + 96.997; R = 0.956; ANOVA:= 0.956; ANOVA:

F1,� = 87.1, P = 0.00�). A g�e���e� p��p����i�� �� bu���w e�������es� ��h���

we�e �ve�l�i� wi��h ��he p��s�������e ���u�l pl���� Mesembryanthemum crystallinum h�d ��ll�ps�ed by ��he e�d �� ��he s���udy (89.7%) ��h��

h�d e�������es� l�����ed u�de� ��� le�s��� ��e s�pe�ies� �� pe�e��i�l s�h�ub (40.9%; Rhagodia baccata, Tetragonia implexicoma �� Threlkeldia diffusa; T�ble �). O� �ve��ge, 17.9 ± �.7 �m (s�����d��d e����; ���ge:

5–105 �m) �� ��he bu���w e�������e h�d ��ll�ps�ed.

TABLE 1

The percentage of experimentally collapsed Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus burrows that had been

re-excavated on each of the occasions surveyed

D���e Ope� bu���ws� (%)

�1 July �00� 0

� Sep��embe� �00� 45

6 Sep��embe� �00� 60

�� Sep��embe� �00� 60

1� O����be� �00� 65

17 De�embe� �00� 75

19 Feb�u��y �00� 75

1� M�y �00� 45

All bu���ws� we�e expe�ime����lly ��ll�ps�ed �� ��his� d���e.

Fig. 1. Li�e�� �eg�es�s�i�� �� ��he pe��e����ge �� bu���ws� ��h���Li�e�� �eg�es�s�i�� �� ��he pe��e����ge �� bu���ws� ��h���

�em�i�ed �pe� ��h��ugh�u�� ��he s���udy. See ��ex�� ��� �eg�es�s�i��

equ���i��. ��eedi�g ph�s�es� ��e s�h�w� bel�w �h���� ��d ��ll�w

��������� et al. (�005): L, l�yi�g; R, �e��i�g; F, �ledgi�g; A, �bs�e���;

C, �le��i�g.

Dec 02 Feb 03 Apr 03 Jun 03 Aug 03

0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Percentage of burrows open

L R F A C

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������������������ et al.: �u���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e i� Wedge-���iled She��w���e� ��l��ies� �5�5

M��i�e O��i��h�l�gy ��: ��–�6 (�005) Give� ��he me�� bu���w dime�s�i��s�, s�h�pe, bu���w de�s�i��y ��d s��il

bulk de�s�i��y �� R������es��� Is�l��d (��������� et al. �004�, �004b), ��d

��he me�� le�g��h �� e�������e ��ll�ps�e �ep����ed he�e, ��� le�s��� 11.5 ��

h�–1 y�–1 (8.5 m h�–1 y�–1) �� s��il is� dis�pl��ed ��h��ugh �le��i�g ��

bu���w e�������es�.

O� �64 m��ke� p�s���s� pl��ed i� ��he s�he��w���e� ��l��y by G��k�klis�

(199�), 59 we�e ��u�d (��%). Eleve� �� ��hes�e (19% �� p�s���s� ��u�d, 4% �ve��ll) we�e s���ill �s�s���i���ed wi��h � bu���w.

DISCUSSION

Qu����i�����ive s���udies� �� bu���w ��ll�ps�e ����e ��e ���e. This� ���i��y

��uld be � �u����i�� �� ��he di��i�ul��y i� de�i�i�g � bu���w ��ll�ps�e.

We �i��umve���ed ��he p��blem by �es����i���i�g �u� de�i�i��i�� ��� ��he

��ll�ps�e ��d bl��k�ge �� bu���w e�������es�. H�weve�, i� ��he �bs�e��e

�� bu���w ���up���y d����, i�� is� di��i�ul�� ��� �s�s�es�s� ��he e��l�gi�

me��i�g �� e�������e ��ll�ps�e.

We p�evi�us�ly s�h�wed ��h���, whe� p�es�e���, bi�ds� �����i�u�lly eje��� s��il

���m ��hei� bu���ws� ��h��ugh�u�� ��he b�eedi�g s�e�s��� (��������� et al.

�005�). Give� ��he high ����e �� �e-�pe�i�g �� ��ll�ps�ed e�������es� ���

��he begi��i�g �� � b�eedi�g s�e�s���, i�� s�eems� u�likely ��h��� mid-s�e�s���

��ll�ps�e w�uld p��hibi�� �u���he� �����e�d���e by s�he��w���e�s�. C�ll�ps�e

�� e�������es� wi��hi� � b�eedi�g s�e�s��� m�s��� likely �e�le���s� �b��d��ed bu���ws� ��d is� ��ly �e���ded whe� bi�ds� ��e �� l��ge� m�i����i�i�g

��he bu���w. The �00�/0� b�eedi�g s�e�s��� w�s� p��� ��� Wedge-���iled She��w���e�s�, wi��h � �el���ively l�w level �� bu���w ���up���y ��

m��y Wes���e�� Aus�����li�� is�l��ds� (I. Ki�s���e�, C. Su�m�� & N. Du�l�p pe�s�. ��mm.), ��d m�y expl�i� ��he high ����e �� ������i��i�� �bs�e�ved he�e. Level �� ���up���y mus��� be ���ke� i���� ���s�ide����i�� i� �u��u�e s���udies� �� bu���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e.

�u���w e�������es� dug be�e���h ��he s�h�ll�w-�����ed, ���u�l M. crystallinum we�e m��e ��h�� ��wi�e �s� likely ��� ��ll�ps�e �s� ��h�s�e u�de� deepe�-�����i�g, pe�e��i�l s�h�ubs�. Al��h�ugh �����s� m�y m�ke bu���w ���s����u���i�� m��e di��i�ul�� ��� ��he s�he��w���e�s�, ��hey �ls��

s����bilis�e ��he s��il, p�es�e�ve bu���w i���eg�i��y ��d �edu�e ��he v�lume

�� s��il ex��v���ed (Gillh�m 1961, H���is� 1984, W��h�m 1990).

�u���wi�g by s�he��w���e�s� �� R������es��� Is�l��d p��m���es� ���u�l, s�h�ll�w-�����ed vege�����i�� (��������� et al. �005b), ��d i� ��he l�s���

50 ye��s�, ��he ��l��ies� h�ve �ls�� d��m���i��lly exp��ded i� s�ize (��������� et al. �004�). I� ��hes�e ���e�ds� �����i�ue, �u� d���� p�edi���

�� i���e�s�e i� ��he ����e �� e�������e ��ll�ps�e, �� i���e�s�e i� s��il dis�pl��eme���, ��d �� i���e�s�e i� ��he e��s�i�� �� ��l��y ��e�s�.

L��g-��e�m pe�s�is���e��e �� bu���ws� is� � ��mplex ��d deb���e�ble is�s�ue. The�e is� �� d�ub�� ��h��� s�e�bi�d bu���ws� ��e dy��mi� i�

s�h�pe, s����u���u�e, l�����i�� ��d pe�s�is���e��e (H���is� 1984, ���������

et al. �004b). We ��u�d ��ly ��% �� �64 m��ke� p�s���s� ��h��� we�e pl��ed bes�ide bu���w e�������es� � de��de e��lie�. O� ��h�s�e p�s���s�, 19% (4% �ve��ll) we�e �le��ly �s�s���i���ed wi��h � bu���w e�������e i� �00�. The�e���e, be��us�e we ��uld ���� de��e�mi�e ��he ����e �� � l��ge p��p����i�� �� ��he u�de��e���ed ��igi��l m��ke�s�, we es���im���e

��h��� 4%–19% �� R������es��� Is�l��d bu���ws� m�i����i�ed i���eg�i��y �ve�

� de��de. We ��k��wledge ��h��� �u� es���im���e p��b�bly ����ies� � high deg�ee �� e����, bu�� we ���s�ide� i�� � �i�s��� �����emp�� ��� ����kli�g � l��g-

�v�ided ques���i��. I�� is� ���ve�ie��� ��d p�����i��l ��� m��k bu���ws�

��� ��hei� e�������e; h�weve�, we s��w ��h��� bu���ws� ��� s�h����e� by up

��� 105 �m wi��hi� � s�i�gle s�e�s���. The�e���e, �l��h�ugh � bu���w e�������e is� �� l��ge� �bvi�us�ly �s�s���i���ed wi��h � m��ke�, ��h��� l��k

�� �s�s���i���i�� d�es� ���� �e�es�s���ily me�� ��h��� ��h��� bu���w h�s� bee�

��mple��ely des�����yed �� h�s� l�s��� i��s� �u����i��. Give� ��he bu���w-

�ideli��y �ep����ed by m��y �u��h��s� (e.g. Se�ve���y et al. 1971, ����ke 1990, M���h���� & Higgi�s� 1990, W��h�m 1990, S�h�eibe� &

�u�ge� �00�), pe�h�ps� ���up����s� ��uld be us�ed ��� ide���i�y bu���ws�,

����he� ��h�� vi�e ve�s��. F�eque��� bu���w i�s�pe���i��s� (e.g. weekly ���

m����hly, ����he� ��h�� ye��ly �s� i� s��me s���udies� [���dley et al. �000]) w�uld �lm�s��� �e����i�ly ide���i�y �e�e��� ��ll�ps�es�.

N�vig���i�� ��� i�dividu�l �es���i�g bu���ws� by s�e�bi�ds� h�s� bee�

s�ubje��� ��� ���je���u�e. Seve��l me�h��is�ms� h�ve bee� p��p�s�ed, i��ludi�g ul����s���i�, m���e-���-m���e �udi����y, vis�u�l ��d �l�������y

�ues�, ��d mem��y (Se�ve���y et al. 1971, Fu��es�s� 1991). Se�ve���y et al. (1971) ��gue ��h��� � ��mbi����i�� �� s�igh�� ��d mem��y is� us�ed.

�i�ds� we�e �ble ��� l�����e ��d �e-ex��v���e ��h�ee qu����e�s� �� e�������es�

��h���, ��� ��he hum�� eye, we�e ��mp����ed ��d levelled �lus�h wi��h

��he �dj��e��� g��u�d s�u����e. Vege�����i�� ��ve� �ls�� d��m���i��lly

�h��ged be��wee� b�eedi�g s�e�s���s� (��������� et al. �005b), wi��h m��y ���me� bu���w e�������es� g��w� �ve�. I� �� i�s������e did we �i�d evide��e �� ��y expl�������y diggi�g �e�� ��he bu���w e�������es�.

Al��h�ugh �u� �es�ul��s� d� ���� p��vide �� i�di����i�� �� ��he e��e��� ��

bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e �� ��he �ep��du���ive bi�l�gy �� ��he Wedge-

���iled She��w���e�, ��hey s�uppleme��� �u� p�evi�us� i�ves���ig���i�� ��

bi�ped��u�b���i�� (diggi�g ��d bu���wi�g [��������� et al. �004b])

��d ������ibu��e ��� �� �pp�e�i���i�� �� ��hes�e bi�ds� �s� “e��s�ys���em e�gi�ee�s�” (J��es� et al. 1994). App��xim���ely 51% �� �ll bu���w e�������es� w�uld h�ve ��ll�ps�ed ��d bee� �e�pe�ed be��wee�

b�eedi�g s�e�s���s�. �u���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e w�s� es���im���ed ���

dis�pl��e ��� le�s��� 11.5 �� h�–1 y�–1 (8.5 m h�–1 y�–1) �� s��il. Summed wi��h �u� p�evi�us� es���im���es� �� ���u�l s��il dis�pl��eme��� (de�ived

���m ��l��y exp��s�i�� d���� ��d ���� �e-ex��v���i��, [��������� et al.

�004b]), ��his� equ���es� ��� ��� le�s��� ��.0 �� h�–1 y�–1 (16.� m h�–1 y�–1).

This� �igu�e d�es� ���� i��lude s��il ex��v���ed ���m bu���w ex��e�s�i��

�� i���e���l bu���w ��ll�ps�e ��d is� likely ��� be �� u�de�es���im���e ��

��he ����u�l bi�ped��u�b���i�� ����e.

The e��e��� �� ��he phys�i��l e�vi���me���—��d bu���w de��y—�� ��he

�ep��du���ive s�u��es�s� ��d m�����li��y �� s�he��w���e�s� �em�i�s� u��le��.

H�weve�, we h�ve m�de � �i�s��� �����emp�� ��� qu����i�y ��he dy��mi�

����u�e �� s�e�bi�d bu���ws�. Cle��ly bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e is� � m�j�� d�ive� �� s��il dis�pl��eme��� by ��hes�e ��im�ls�, ��d i�� ���e���s�

m�s��� bu���ws�. Al��h�ugh we h�ve �ep����ed ��ly s�imple ������i��i�� ����es�

��d ������� p�edi��� whe��he� e�������e ��ll�ps�e p��m���es� �� ��ll�ws�

bu���w �b��d��me���, �u� d���� will h�pe�ully �����lys�e �u���he�

i�ves���ig���i�� i���� ��he �s�s���i���i�� �� bu���w e�������e ��ll�ps�e wi��h

��he �ep��du���ive s�u��es�s� �� bu���wi�g s�e�bi�ds�.

TABLE 2

The number and percentage of collapsed Wedge-tailed Shearwater Puffinus pacificus burrows that were overlain by Mesembryanthemum crystallinum only, or by at least one

of the shrubs Rhagodia baccata, Tetragonia implexicoma or Threlkeldia diffusa

Pl���� s�pe�ies� Ope� ��

18 De�embe�

�00� (�)

C�ll�ps�ed by 19 Augus���

�00� (�)

% C�ll�ps�ed

Mesembryanthemum

crystallinum ��ly 68 61 89.7

A�� le�s��� ��e s�h�ub �� 9 40.9

(4)

�6 ������������������ et al.: �u���w e�������e ������i��i�� ����e i� Wedge-���iled She��w���e� ��l��ies�

M��i�e O��i��h�l�gy ��: ��–�6 (�005) ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This� s���udy w�s� �u�ded by ��he S�h��l �� A�im�l �i�l�gy, U�ive�s�i��y

�� Wes���e�� Aus�����li�. We ��h��k ��he R������es��� Is�l��d Au��h��i��y ���

��hei� ��-�pe����i��; I�d�e Ki�s���e�, Ch�is� Su�m��, ��d Ni� Du�l�p

��� ��hei� �dvi�e; ��d R�� W��lle� ��� his� ��h�ugh���ul dis��us�s�i��.

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