Melanesian megapode

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Melanesian megapode
Megapodius eremita.jpg
Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Aves
Order: Galliformes
Family: Megapodiidae
Genus: Megapodius
Species:
M. eremita
Binomial name
Megapodius eremita
Hartlaub, 1868

The Melanesian scrubfowl or Melanesian megapode (Megapodius eremita) is a megapode species that is endemic to islands within Melanesia. [2] The Melanesian scrubfowl has a unique strategy of egg incubation in which it relies on environmental heat sources. [3] This bird species is culturally important for Indigenous peoples in Melanesia. [4]

Contents

Taxonomy and systematics

Two names are commonly used to refer to the species Megapodius eremita: the Melanesian scrubfowl and Melanesian megapode. [5] M. eremita belongs to the family Megapodiidae (the megapodes) and genus Megapodius (the scrubfowl). [6] Following this classification, some taxonomists prefer the common designation "scrubfowl" because it is more precise, identifying the species as part of its particular genus rather than the megapode family as a whole. [5]

The species M. eremita was first described and introduced to 'Western' taxonomy by Hartlaub in 1868. [7] But, as later taxonomists struggled to identify whether scrubfowl groups were distinct species or subspecies, the Melanesian scrubfowl was often reclassified as a subspecies of M. freycinet (the Dusky scrubfowl) (several other scrubfowl species were similarly considered subspecies of M. freycinet). [5] [6] Molecular phylogenetic analyses support the classification of M. eremita as one of the 13 distinct scrubfowl species. [6] [3] The Melanesian scrubfowl shows morphological variation within its range but is considered monotypic (with no subspecies). [8]

A 2002 study focused on the evolutionary relationships between megapode species and found that the species in the Megapodius genus are "very closely related". [6] A 2014 study with more extensive and complete sampling further resolved the relationships between megapode species and showed that M. eremita is the third most recently diverged scrubfowl group and most closely related to a clade containing the New Guinea scrubfowl, the Dusky scrubfowl and the Forsten's scrubfowl. [3]

Megapodius species appear to have radiated within the last two million years, as they dispersed through and settled the islands of Australasia [3] where they now occupy mostly non-overlapping ranges. [9] The Melanesian scrubfowl hybridises with the New Guinea scrubfowl (M. decollatus) where their ranges overlap on the islands of Karkar and Bagabag near mainland New Guinea. [10]

Description

Similar to other megapodes, Melanesian scrubfowl have a stout body shape, characteristically large feet, and rounded wings. [5] Scrubfowl, including M. eremita, also have very short tails, giving the birds a distinctive silhouette lacking a visible tail. [5] Adult Melanesian scrubfowl measure around 34 to 39 cm and have a short crest. [11]

The Melanesian scrubfowl has three different plumage types during its lifecycle: the juvenile plumage of chicks, a second immature plumage, and adult plumage. [10] Adult birds have a brown back; dark grey head, neck and underparts; brown-, grey- or olive-coloured legs; red patches of bare skin on the face (notably on the forehead); and a yellow bill-tip. [8] [12] Females and males cannot easily be distinguished visually but the female may have lighter-coloured legs and a brighter brown colour. [11] [2] The plumage of M. eremita chicks is dark brown with paler underparts, obvious barring on their upperparts and includes flight feathers. [2] [13] Megapode hatchlings are relatively large (proportionally to adults) [13] (no average sizes are reported for M. eremita chicks but Jones et al. (1995) observed an 11 cm hatchling [11] ). The second immature plumage closely resembles the adult but often has darker colours. [2] The Melanesian scrubfowl shows some variation in its appearance across its range with eastern populations being lighter and more red-brown in colour. [2]

The Melanesian scrubfowl is generally easily distinguished from other species within its range by the characteristics described above. With clear observation, plumage pattern and facial colours suffice to separate the Melanesian scrubfowl (adults, immatures and chicks) from species of rails, crakes, pigeons and the Australasian swamphen. [2] Observing only the silhouette, the distinguishing features of the Melanesian scrubfowl are its stout shape, short tail and short head crest. [2] The trailing legs of scrubfowl in flight can help identify them but the Australasian swamphen has a similar flying posture, differing only in its slower flight. [2] Where the Melanesian scrubfowl occurs together with the New Guinea scrubfowl, it may be distinguished by its shorter crest (longer and more pointed in M. decollatus) and its bare forehead (feathered in M. decollatus), although hybrids may complicate visual identification). [10]

Distribution and habitat

All megapodes are found in Australasia, [3] and, within this region, the Melanesian scrubfowl has an island distribution encompassing the Bismarck Archipelago and Solomon Islands. [5] The Melanesian scrubfowl lives on small and large islands, and is fairly common (although more or less so throughout its range). [5] [8] [2]

The Melanesian scrubfowl moves between different habitat types required for breeding and for foraging. With its specialised nesting behaviour (see § Reproduction, below), the Melanesian scrubfowl uses breeding grounds where the substrate can be or is heated by environmental heat sources. [12] Common breeding grounds include sandy beaches warmed by the sun, geothermal sites (i.e., heat from Earth's interior surfacing around volcanoes), and in soils with decaying organic matter. [11] The Melanesian scrubfowl preferably forages in lowland rainforests with large trees, an open understorey, a thick surface layer of dead plant material and deep soils. [14] [4]

In some parts of its range, the Melanesian scrubfowl travels between and uses different habitats as a response to seasonal changes. For example, in West New Britain, scrubfowl use north coast breeding grounds during the local dry season (from late March and December) and avoid these areas during the local rainy season when the site becomes flooded. [14]

Behaviour and ecology

Reproduction

The Melanesian scrubfowl is thought to be socially monogamous [15] but their social behaviour, including pair bonds, is not well documented. [14]

However, the family Megapodiidae are well known for their unique nesting strategies in which they lay eggs in mounds or burrows where heat from the environment and not from the body ensures the development of embryos. [13] The nesting behaviour of the Melanesian scrubfowl varies considerably throughout its range with the species using either burrows or mounds, and relying on heat from various sources including decomposition, volcanism, and sunshine. [3] [8] The use of mounds by the Melanesian scrubfowl is poorly studied while the burrowing activity of Melanesian scrubfowl has been more widely documented.

Where mound-nesting occurs, Melanesian scrubfowl build large, volcano-shaped mounds with soil or sand, and leaves. [10] Information specific to M. eremita is unavailable, but studies on other megapodes show that the heating of mounds depends primarily on the decomposition of the organic matter (and, sometimes, partly on solar radiation) and that one or both sexes tend the mound, regularly adding in more organic matter. [16] [17]

In contrast, burrow-nesters choose nesting sites that are already heated through geothermal energy, solar radiation or the decomposition of tree roots. [3] Melanesian scrubfowl only visit breeding grounds to lay eggs and the female likely digs the burrow alone; [11] the birds do not have to tend the burrows and are not thought to defend them. [17] Where M. eremita burrows have been studied, they measure between 20 and 90 cm in diameter, contain layers of eggs laid between 30 and 90 cm deep, and are maintained at relatively high and constant temperatures (e.g., at one nesting site, the eggs were surrounded by soil with temperatures of 36 and 37 °C while the air temperature was 31 °C). [12] [4]

Where it burrows, M. eremita may nest singly (e.g., in forests at the base of trees) or communally, with very large nesting fields occurring at geothermal sites. [8] [2] On Lou Island, Melanesian scrubfowl dig hundreds of burrows in volcanically heated soils. [8] The largest communal breeding grounds are at Pokili and Garu on the north coast of West New Britain where, in the 1970s, thousands to tens of thousands of birds were documented to nest in around 10,000 burrows at each site. [14] [8] In these communal nesting fields, scrubfowl dig burrows closely together, often less than a metre apart. [14] Researchers do not yet know whether Melanesian scrubfowl share burrows nor if they lay eggs in multiple burrows. [14]

Female Melanesian scrubfowl lay around ten to 30 eggs per year with intervals of two to 15 days between each egg. [15] In this species, breeding and egg-laying appears to occur either year-round or seasonally in different parts of its range: on the north coast of West New Britain, M. eremita only digs burrows and lays eggs during the dry season (between late March and December); [14] on Savo Island, Melanesian scrubfowl appear to lay eggs throughout the year; [8] on Simbo Island, this scrubfowl lays more eggs between June and December. [4]

Like other megapodes, Melanesian scrubfowl lay large eggs with a high yolk content (possibly as high as 65-69% of egg content compared to 15-40% in other birds). [16] [18] Melanesian scrubfowl eggs are adapted to surviving underground (e.g., thin egg shells improve gas exchange [3] ) during their incubation which lasts between six and ten weeks. [11] Chicks lack an egg tooth, instead using their strong legs to crack the egg and dig to the surface. [3] [13] As a result of the high yolk content and long incubation time, megapode hatchlings are superprecocial, never interacting with their parents and capable of running, foraging and short-distance flying as soon as they surface. [3] [10] [13]

Diet and foraging

The Melanesian scrubfowl is omnivorous, feeding on fruits, seeds (e.g., Canarium indicum nuts) and small invertebrates (e.g., insects, snails, millipedes, earthworms). [8] [4] Large numbers of these birds may nest in a restricted area and, when visiting these sites, they carry out some foraging. [14] But, in order to source adequate and sufficient foods, scrubfowl likely disperse throughout surrounding rainforests after they have laid each egg. [14] Notably, producing large, yolk-rich eggs requires a lot of energy that females must obtain through their diet. [16] [17] At their feeding habitats, they forage alone, in pairs or in small groups, by scratching the forest floor with their large feet and searching for food items in the leaf litter. [2] Sometimes, they jump to pick low-hanging Ficus fruits. [11]

Vocalisation

Melanesian scrubfowl vocalise regularly, loudly and throughout the day and night. [10] Males produce territorial calls that last between one and five seconds and include honking, wailing and grunting sounds (e.g., kee-yah, kio, ko--ko--ko, etc. ). [10] [11] [2] The species' song involves paired M. eremita singing a duet in which one partner produces a laugh-like "keyououourrr" sound and the other partner replies with a "keyou keyourr". Generally, duets are thought to aid in forming and strengthening pair bonds; this supports the assumption of monogamy in this scrubfowl species. [17]

Movement

As opposed to other megapodes who fly poorly over short distances, Megapodius species are strong flyers and can travel long distances by flight; this ability likely allowed them to colonise and inhabit their island habitats. [3] They flap their wings slowly and powerfully, stopping occasionally to glide. [2] Melanesian scrubfowl fly between their breeding and foraging habits, and flight allows them to disperse throughout rainforests and access suitable foods. [8] As mentioned previously, Melanesian scrubfowl may migrate over short-distances in response to seasonal change (e.g., in West New Britain in response to local precipitation patterns). [14]

Predators

Mammals (e.g., dogs), raptors and varanid lizards may feed on Melanesian scrubfowl chicks, especially those under four weeks old. [4] Various species including varanids, snakes, dogs and pigs can also locate the conspicuous nesting mounds or burrows, and dig up and eat scrubfowl eggs. [4]

Relationship with Humans

Throughout its range, the Melanesian scrubfowl is an important part of Human cultures and economies, with people harvesting its eggs as a food source and traditional trade item. [4] [14] Indigenous Melanesian peoples have lived alongside this scrubfowl for thousands of years, collecting its eggs at high but sustainable levels and gaining significant traditional ecological knowledge about its behaviour and ecology. [4] [16] In some places, people build shading structures over scrubfowl burrows to mark harvesting areas and improve the birds' nesting conditions. [4]

Yet, studies of the region's fossil record show that Humans, upon their arrival in Oceania, also caused the extinction of many megapode species. [19] So, while the Melanesian scrubfowl remains a species of least concern, changes in Human activity may affect the viability of this species. Notably, growing Human populations, the abandoning of traditional resource management systems and exploitative industries may threaten this species. [14] For example, while Melanesian scrubfowl may tolerate light selective logging, large-scale and clear-cut commercial logging removes the rainforests that this species depends on for food. [14] In the current context of often rapidly changing Human activities, Sinclair et al. highlight how conservation biologists and Indigenous peoples can work together, sharing scientific and traditional ecological knowledge, in order to strengthen existing systems of traditional resource management and ensure the persistence of the Melanesian scrubfowl. [4]

Related Research Articles

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The megapodes, also known as incubator birds or mound-builders, are stocky, medium-large, chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet in the family Megapodiidae. Their name literally means "large foot" and is a reference to the heavy legs and feet typical of these terrestrial birds. All are browsers, and all but the malleefowl occupy wooded habitats. Most are brown or black in color. Megapodes are superprecocial, hatching from their eggs in the most mature condition of any bird. They hatch with open eyes, bodily coordination and strength, full wing feathers, and downy body feathers, and are able to run, pursue prey, and in some species, fly on the same day they hatch.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Egg incubation</span> The process by which certain egg-laying animals hatch their eggs

Egg incubation is the process by which an egg, of oviparous (egg-laying) animals, develops an embryo within the egg, after the egg's formation and ovipositional release. Egg incubation is done under favorable environmental conditions, possibly by brooding and hatching the egg.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bird nest</span> Place where a bird broods its eggs

A bird nest is the spot in which a bird lays and incubates its eggs and raises its young. Although the term popularly refers to a specific structure made by the bird itself—such as the grassy cup nest of the American robin or Eurasian blackbird, or the elaborately woven hanging nest of the Montezuma oropendola or the village weaver—that is too restrictive a definition. For some species, a nest is simply a shallow depression made in sand; for others, it is the knot-hole left by a broken branch, a burrow dug into the ground, a chamber drilled into a tree, an enormous rotting pile of vegetation and earth, a shelf made of dried saliva or a mud dome with an entrance tunnel. The smallest bird nests are those of some hummingbirds, tiny cups which can be a mere 2 cm (0.8 in) across and 2–3 cm (0.8–1.2 in) high. At the other extreme, some nest mounds built by the dusky scrubfowl measure more than 11 m (36 ft) in diameter and stand nearly 5 m (16 ft) tall. The study of birds' nests is known as caliology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wedge-tailed shearwater</span> Species of bird

The wedge-tailed shearwater is a medium-large shearwater in the seabird family Procellariidae. It is one of the shearwater species that is sometimes referred to as a muttonbird, like the sooty shearwater of New Zealand and the short-tailed shearwater of Australia. It ranges throughout the tropical Pacific and Indian Oceans, roughly between latitudes 35°N and 35°S. It breeds on islands off Japan, on the Islas Revillagigedo, the Hawaiian Islands, the Seychelles, the Northern Mariana Islands, and off Eastern and Western Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Australian brushturkey</span> Species of bird

The Australian brushturkey or Australian brush-turkey or gweela, also frequently called the scrub turkey or bush turkey, is a common, widespread species of mound-building bird from the family Megapodiidae found in eastern Australia from Far North Queensland to Eurobodalla on the South Coast of New South Wales. The Australian brushturkey has also been introduced to Kangaroo Island in South Australia. It is the largest extant representative of the family Megapodiidae, and is one of three species to inhabit Australia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nicobar megapode</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orange-footed scrubfowl</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Micronesian megapode</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sula megapode</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philippine megapode</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Biak scrubfowl</span> Species of bird

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pycroft's petrel</span> Species of bird

Pycroft's petrel is a species of seabird in the petrel and shearwater family Procellariidae.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scrubfowl</span> Genus of birds

The scrubfowl are the genus Megapodius of the mound-builders, stocky, medium-large chicken-like birds with small heads and large feet in the family Megapodiidae. They are found from south-east Asia to north Australia and islands in the west Pacific.

The Tanimbar megapode or Tanimbar scrubfowl is a small megapode endemic to the Tanimbar Islands of Indonesia. It is sometimes considered to be a subspecies of the orange-footed scrubfowl, Megapodius reinwardt.

The consumed scrubfowl is an extinct megapode that was native to Fiji and Tonga in the south-west Pacific Ocean. It was originally described from subfossil remains collected by David Steadman from an archaeological site at Tongoleleka, on the island of Lifuka in the Haʻapai group of the Kingdom of Tonga. The specific epithet and vernacular name refer to its evident use as a food item. Subsequently, remains were also found on Lakeba and Mago in the Lau group of Fiji by Trevor Worthy. It likely became extinct through overhunting following human settlement of the islands some 3,500 years ago but may have persisted until the mid-late 19th century:

References

  1. ↑ BirdLife International (2018). "Megapodius eremita". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species . 2018: e.T22678611A132049670. doi: 10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-2.RLTS.T22678611A132049670.en . Retrieved 12 November 2021.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Dutson, Guy. C. L. (2011). Birds of Melanesia: Bismarcks, Solomons, Vanuatu, and New Caledonia. Princeton University Press. ISBN   978-0-7136-6540-6.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Harris, Rebecca B.; Birks, Sharon M.; Leaché, Adam D. (2014). "Incubator birds: biogeographical origins and evolution of underground nesting in megapodes (Galliformes: Megapodiidae)". Journal of Biogeography. 41 (11): 2045–2056. doi:10.1111/jbi.12357. ISSN   1365-2699. S2CID   53532720.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 Sinclair, J. Ross; Tuke, Lorima; Opiang, Muse (2010). "What the Locals Know: Comparing Traditional and Scientific Knowledge of Megapodes in Melanesia". In Sonia C. Tidemann, Andrew Gosler (ed.). Ethno-ornithology. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781849774758. ISBN   978-1-84977-475-8 . Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Beehler, Bruce M.; Pratt, Thane K. (2016). Birds of New Guinea: Distribution, Taxonomy, and Systematics. Princeton: Princeton University Press. doi:10.1515/9781400880713. ISBN   978-1-4008-8071-3. This book is an ideal complement to the Birds of New Guinea field guide [see Birds of New Guinea, Second Edition] also published by Princeton, and is an essential technical reference for all scientific libraries, ornithologists, and those interested in bird classification.
  6. 1 2 3 4 Birks, Sharon M; Edwards, Scott V (2002-06-01). "A phylogeny of the megapodes (Aves: Megapodiidae) based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences". Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution. 23 (3): 408–421. doi:10.1016/S1055-7903(02)00002-7. ISSN   1055-7903. PMID   12099795.
  7. ↑ Hartlaub, Gustav (1868). "On a Collection of Birds from some less-known Localities in the Western Pacific". Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London. London: Academic Press, [etc.] 1867– via The Biodiversity Heritage Library.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 Elliott, A.; Kirwan, G. M. (2020). Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Melanesian Scrubfowl (Megapodius eremita)". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.melscr1.01. S2CID   240705897.
  9. ↑ Roselaar, C. S. (1994-01-01). "Systematic notes on Megapodiidae (Aves, Galliformes), including the description of five new subspecies". Bulletin Zoologisch Museum. 14 (2): 9–36. ISSN   0165-9464.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Beehler, Bruce M.; Pratt, Thane K. (2015). Birds of New Guinea, Second Edition. Princeton University Press. doi:10.1515/9781400865116. ISBN   978-1-4008-8071-3. This is the completely revised edition of the essential field guide to the birds of New Guinea
  11. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Jones, Darryl N.; Dekker, René W. R. J.; Roselaar, Cees S. (1995). The megapodes : Megapodiidae. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. p. 99. ISBN   0-19-854651-3. OCLC   31134323 , cited in Elliott, Andrew; Kirwan, Guy M. (2020). "Melanesian Scrubfowl (Megapodius eremita)". In Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.melscr1.01. S2CID   240705897.
  12. 1 2 3 Wolff, T (1965). "Volcanic heat incubation in Megapodius freycinet eremita, Hartl". Dansk Ornitologisk Forenings Tidsskrift. 59: 74–84.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Starck, J. Matthias; Sutter, Ernst (2000). "Patterns of growth and heterochrony in moundbuilders (Megapodiidae) and fowl (Phasianidae)". Journal of Avian Biology. 31 (4): 527–547. doi:10.1034/j.1600-048X.2000.310413.x. ISSN   1600-048X.
  14. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 Broome, L. S.; Bishop, K. D.; Anderson, D. R. (1984). "Population Density and Habitat Use by Megapodius freycinet eremita in West Britain". Wildlife Research. 11 (1): 161–171. doi:10.1071/wr9840161. ISSN   1448-5494.
  15. 1 2 Jones, Darryl N.; Dekker, René W. R. J.; Roselaar, Cees S. (1995). The megapodes : Megapodiidae. Oxford [England]: Oxford University Press. p. 99. ISBN   0-19-854651-3. OCLC   31134323 , cited in Sinclair, J. Ross; Tuke, Lorima; Opiang, Muse (2010). "What the Locals Know: Comparing Traditional and Scientific Knowledge of Megapodes in Melanesia". In Sonia C. Tidemann, Andrew Gosler (ed.). Ethno-ornithology. Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781849774758. ISBN   978-1-84977-475-8 . Retrieved 2021-11-09.
  16. 1 2 3 4 Jones, Darryl; Birks, Sharon (1992-03-01). "Megapodes: Recent ideas on origins, adaptations and reproduction". Trends in Ecology & Evolution. 7 (3): 88–91. doi:10.1016/0169-5347(92)90247-9. ISSN   0169-5347. PMID   21235963.
  17. 1 2 3 4 Göth, Ann; Vogel, Uwe (2004). "Is monogamy in the Polynesian Megapode (Megapodius pritchardii) related to its high relative egg-weight?". The Auk. 121 (2): 308–317. doi:10.1642/0004-8038(2004)121[0308:IMITPM]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0004-8038. S2CID   84424981.
  18. ↑ Dekker, Rwrj; Brom, T. G. (1990). "Maleo Eggs and the Amount of Yolk in Relation to Different Incubation Strategies in Megapodes". Australian Journal of Zoology. 38 (1): 19–24. doi:10.1071/zo9900019. ISSN   1446-5698.
  19. ↑ Steadman, David W. (2006). Extinction and Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds. University of Chicago Press. ISBN   978-0-226-77142-7.
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