The superb lyrebird (Menura novaehollandiae), a ground-dwelling species of moist eucalypt forests in south-eastern Australia, engineers micro-habitats to host and fatten its prey \u2014 worms, centipedes and spiders \u2014 before returning later to feast, according to new research.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe superb lyrebird is a large ground-dwelling passerine bird, widespread in wet forests of eastern Australia and renowned for its mimicry and remarkable courtship displays,\u201d said La Trobe University researcher Alex Maisey and colleagues.<\/p>\n
\u201cLyrebird populations displace enormous volumes of litter and soil whilst foraging.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLyrebirds rake the leaf litter and dig into the soil, creating a fine-scale mosaic of exposed soil and foraging ejecta within a matrix of leaf litter.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOver prolonged periods of lyrebird activity, reduced soil compaction and increased aeration and infiltration of the litter and soil could benefit macroinvertebrates.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThis presents a mechanism by which the engineering activities of lyrebirds may create a feedback loop, essentially enabling them to \u2018farm\u2019 their prey.\u201d<\/p>\n
The study was conducted in three forest locations in the Central Highlands of Victoria, Australia: (i) Sherbrooke Forest, part of the Dandenong Ranges National Park; (ii) Yarra Ranges National Park; and (iii) Britannia Creek catchment within the Yarra State Forest.<\/p>\n
The researchers fenced lyrebirds out from small areas throughout the forest to create lyrebird-free environments.<\/p>\n
In some of these areas, the authors raked the leaf litter and soil to simulated lyrebird foraging.<\/p>\n
Where raking had been undertaken, there were more types and larger invertebrates than the areas without simulated lyrebird foraging.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis type of animal farming was rarely seen in nature,\u201d Dr. Maisey said.<\/p>\n
\u201cLyrebirds set up the perfect home for their prey, creating conditions with more food resources and effectively fattening them up before eating them.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cThese birds, through foraging, heavily influenced the plants and animals that lived in Australia\u2019s south-eastern forests.\u201d<\/p>\n