Amazing lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), a species closely attached to the ground of a wet, moist eucalyptus forest in southeastern Australia, engineer microhabitat fattens its prey, worms, centipedes, spiders and more with its host before returning to the East Feast later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ovteokvs5zw
“Superrier birds are large ground-dwelling passers-inhabiting the wet forests of eastern Australia, and are renowned for their imitation and incredible courtship displays,” said a researcher at Latovo University. Alex Maizie And a colleague.
“During nutrition, aging populations replace vast amounts of garbage and soil during foraging.”
“The reelbird spits out the litter from its leaves and digs into the soil, creating a fine mosaic of exposed soil and foraging herds within the leaf matrix.”
“Depending on the long-term lyrebird activity, reduced soil compaction and increased litter and soil aeration and infiltration can benefit macroinvertebrates.”
“This presents a mechanism that allows lyrebirds engineering activities to create a feedback loop and essentially “farm” prey. ”
Maisey et al. We looked into whether this engineering activity by the amazing lyrebirds is (Menura novaehollandiae) It helps to promote the “agricultural” effect on prey by increasing biomass and taxonomic abundance of biomass and invertebrate animals and altering the composition of invertebrate communities. Image credits: Alex Maisy, University of Wollongong.
This study was conducted in three forest areas in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia. (i) Sherbrooke Forest, part of the Dandenong Mountains National Park. (ii) Yarrarrange National Park. (iii) Britannia Creek catchment in Yarra State Forest.
Researchers surrounded an aging environment from small areas in the forest, creating an environment that does not age.
In some of these areas, the authors raked up leaf trash and soil to simulate highlands.
When racking was performed, there were more types and larger invertebrates than the areas without foraging of simulated lyrebird.
“This type of animal agriculture was essentially rare,” Dr. Maisie said.
“Grey establishes a home that is best for prey, creates conditions with more food resources and effectively fattens them before they are eaten.”
“Through foraging, these birds had a major impact on the plants and animals that lived in forests southeastern Australia.”
“In this project, Reelbirds were measured to move an average of 155 tonnes of garbage and soil per hectare per year while farming invertebrates.”
“They also reduce the strength of wildfires by filling up leaves and branches that burn fuel fires, thereby shaping the entire ecosystem.”
“Rielbirds operate across millions of hectares of forests. Their agricultural behavior plays an important role in maintaining forest biodiversity.”
study It was released this week Journal of Animal Ecology.
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Alex C. Myge et al. Foraging activities by the stunning lyrebird, an ecosystem engineer, “farm” its invertebrate prey. Journal of Animal EcologyPublished online on March 4th, 2025. doi:10.1111/1365-2656.70009
Source: www.sci.news
