The spatial dynamics of the White-browed Babbler in a fragmented agricultural landscape

Abstract

The Kellerberrin district of the central wheatbelt of Western Australia has undergone extensive and rapid changes in its 130 years of agricultural development. These changes have severely reduced the area of the original vegetation communities (approximately 7% remains), producing landscapes with remnants, which are generally small, scattered throughout a mosaic of agricultural land uses. These landscape changes have resulted in major changes to the avifauna of the region. Although the White browed Babbler is still relatively common in the Kellerberrin area, this does not mean that the changes to the landscapes in this area have not had adverse effects on this species. Habitat loss and fragmentation, and changes in the ecological processes within remnant vegetation (e.g. changes in disturbance regimes), have affected the demographics and social dynamics of babbler groups, and the population dynamics of this species.