Book contents
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Historical background
- Part III Biogeography of taxa
- 7 Invasive plants of the Mediterranean Basin
- 8 Invasive vascular plants of California
- 9 Introduction of plants into the mediterranean-type climate area of Chile
- 10 Introduced plants of the fynbos biome of South Africa
- 11 Invasive plants of southern Australia
- 12 Life cycles of some Mediterranean invasive plants
- 13 Invasion processes as related to succession and disturbance
- 14 Is fire an agent favouring plant invasions?
- 15 Plant invasion and soil seed banks: control by water and nutrients
- 16 Invasion by annual brome grasses: a case study challenging the homoclime approach to invasions
- 17 Patterns of Pleistocene turnover, current distribution and speciation among Mediterranean mammals
- 18 Introduced mammals in California
- 19 Ecology of a successful invader: the European rabbit in central Chile
- 20 Mammals introduced to the mediterranean region of South Africa
- 21 Mammals introduced to southern Australia
- 22 Invasions and range modifications of birds in the Mediterranean Basin
- 23 Invasions in the mediterranean avifaunas of California and Chile
- 24 Birds introduced to the fynbos biome of South Africa
- 25 Species of introduced birds in mediterranean Australia
- Part IV Applied aspects of mediterranean invasions
- Part V Overview
- Index of scientific names
- Subject index
25 - Species of introduced birds in mediterranean Australia
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 02 December 2009
- Frontmatter
- Contents
- List of contributors
- Preface
- Part I Introduction
- Part II Historical background
- Part III Biogeography of taxa
- 7 Invasive plants of the Mediterranean Basin
- 8 Invasive vascular plants of California
- 9 Introduction of plants into the mediterranean-type climate area of Chile
- 10 Introduced plants of the fynbos biome of South Africa
- 11 Invasive plants of southern Australia
- 12 Life cycles of some Mediterranean invasive plants
- 13 Invasion processes as related to succession and disturbance
- 14 Is fire an agent favouring plant invasions?
- 15 Plant invasion and soil seed banks: control by water and nutrients
- 16 Invasion by annual brome grasses: a case study challenging the homoclime approach to invasions
- 17 Patterns of Pleistocene turnover, current distribution and speciation among Mediterranean mammals
- 18 Introduced mammals in California
- 19 Ecology of a successful invader: the European rabbit in central Chile
- 20 Mammals introduced to the mediterranean region of South Africa
- 21 Mammals introduced to southern Australia
- 22 Invasions and range modifications of birds in the Mediterranean Basin
- 23 Invasions in the mediterranean avifaunas of California and Chile
- 24 Birds introduced to the fynbos biome of South Africa
- 25 Species of introduced birds in mediterranean Australia
- Part IV Applied aspects of mediterranean invasions
- Part V Overview
- Index of scientific names
- Subject index
Summary
More than 70 and probably over 100 species of birds have been introduced to Australia (Long, 1981). At present, at least 22 species of birds of foreign origin are established (Table 25.1), at least half of which originated in the Mediterranean Basin. Four previously established species now appear to have become extinct and seven species are tenuously established in very restricted ranges. Two species are classed as ‘feral’ birds and at least 13 native species of birds have been translocated or reintroduced within Australia.
The majority of the species which were introduced and became established in Australia were deliberate releases by acclimatisation societies. Balmford (1978) discussed the events leading up to the establishment in 1861 of the first of these societies in Australia: namely, the Acclimatization Society of Victoria. Fortunately for Australia, the efforts made by these societies were less successful than their founders probably anticipated. Other successful species are the results of accidental arrivals, aviary escapes and releases from captivity and also from colonisation.
Generally, those taxa which have become at all widespread in Australia are those which have wide ecological niches in their region of origin. For birds, as for plants, there is a tendency for the more evolutionarily advanced taxa to be more successful than primitive ones (Sibley & Ahlquist, 1986).
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- Biogeography of Mediterranean Invasions , pp. 365 - 376Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 1991
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