Habitat selection of the Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis) in a Wandoo woodland, Western Australia

Abstract

Habitat selection of the Western Yellow Robin (Eopsaltria griseogularis) was examined during the 2001 breeding season at 52 sites throughout Dryandra Woodland, Western Australia. Western Yellow Robins occupied sites according to habitat attributes at various spatial scales. At a microhabitat scale, Western Yellow Robins occupied sites with a high canopy density, and a higher density of leaf litter and logs than in unoccupied sites. These factors could indicate occupation of sites with lower ground surface temperatures and more leaf litter habitat, favouring a higher abundance of leaf litter prey and prey associated with logs compared with more open sites with a low canopy density and low log density. At a macrohabitat scale, occupied sites were characterised as those sites with high proportions of Wandoo (Eucalyptus wandoo) trees and Gastrolobium shrubs, plants associated with more productive downslope woodland soils. At the landscape scale, Western Yellow Robins occupied sites away from the woodland/agricultural ecotone, indicating sensitivity to edge effects and an inherent area-sensitivity. Persistence of the Western Yellow Robin in the wheatbelt requires the retention of large remnants of productive woodland. In addition, the exclusion of stock grazing in these large remnants would ensure the protection of ground substrate, an important component governing habitat selection by the species.