Data for: Context dependency in interference competition among birds in an endangered woodland ecosystem

Aim Much research has quantified species responses to human-modified
ecosystems. However, there has been relatively limited work on how
human-modified ecosystems may reshape competitive interactions between
species. Using extensive data gathered over 19 years across an area
exceeding three million ha, we asked: Are levels of interference
competition between bird species context-dependent and influenced by
habitat structure and productivity? We focussed on the hyper-aggressive
behaviour of the Noisy Miner, which has been recognised as a Key
Threatening Process for other woodland bird species. Location Temperate
woodlands of south-eastern Australia Methods We constructed Bayesian
multi-species occupancy/detection models of bird species in woodland
patches and tested the fixed and interactive effects of Noisy Miner
presence, the amount of tree cover, net primary productivity, and time. We
quantified the responses of 31 species, many with known interactions with
the Noisy Miner documented in previous studies at fine spatial scales.
However, whether environmental conditions such as amount of forest cover
and net primary productivity mediate the impact of Noisy Miners remains
untested at large spatial scales and over decadal time scales. Results We
identified negative associations between the Noisy Miner and 18 bird
species, including, unexpectedly, both small- and large-bodied taxa. Site
occupancy in some species was influenced by interactions between Noisy
Miner presence and increasing amounts of tree cover or productivity. Our
results suggest that for some species, interference competition by the
Noisy Miner is context-dependent and mitigated by increasing tree cover
and/or increasing net primary productivity Main conclusions Areas of high
productivity or tree cover may be important refugia for some species of
woodland birds. Vegetation clearing that reduces tree cover could likely
strengthen interference competition by the Noisy Miner on parts of the
remaining woodland bird community, including species of conservation
concern.