Manorina melanotis

Life-forms

Superregnum: Eukaryota
Cladus: Unikonta
Cladus: Opisthokonta
Cladus: Holozoa
Regnum: Animalia
Subregnum: Eumetazoa
Cladus: Bilateria
Cladus: Nephrozoa
Superphylum: Deuterostomia
Phylum: Chordata
Subphylum: Vertebrata
Infraphylum: Gnathostomata
Megaclassis: Osteichthyes
Cladus: Sarcopterygii
Cladus: Rhipidistia
Cladus: Tetrapodomorpha
Cladus: Eotetrapodiformes
Cladus: Elpistostegalia
Superclassis: Tetrapoda
Cladus: Reptiliomorpha
Cladus: Amniota
Classis: Reptilia
Cladus: Eureptilia
Cladus: Romeriida
Subclassis: Diapsida
Cladus: Sauria
Infraclassis: Archosauromorpha
Cladus: Crurotarsi
Divisio: Archosauria
Cladus: Avemetatarsalia
Cladus: Ornithodira
Subtaxon: Dinosauromorpha
Cladus: Dinosauriformes
Cladus: Dracohors
Cladus: Dinosauria
Cladus: Saurischia
Cladus: Eusaurischia
Subordo: Theropoda
Cladus: Neotheropoda
Cladus: Averostra
Cladus: Tetanurae
Cladus: Avetheropoda
Cladus: Coelurosauria
Cladus: Tyrannoraptora
Cladus: Maniraptoromorpha
Cladus: Maniraptoriformes
Cladus: Maniraptora
Cladus: Pennaraptora
Cladus: Paraves
Cladus: Eumaniraptora
Cladus: Avialae
Infraclassis: Aves
Cladus: Avebrevicauda
Cladus: Pygostylia
Cladus: Ornithothoraces
Cladus: Ornithuromorpha
Cladus: Carinatae
Parvclassis: Neornithes
Cohors: Neognathae
Cladus: Neoaves
Cladus: Telluraves
Cladus: Australaves
Ordo: Passeriformes
Subordo: Passeri
Infraordo: Corvida
Superfamilia: Meliphagoidea

Familia: Meliphagidae
Genus: Manorina
Species: Manorina melanotis
Name

Manorina melanotis (Wilson, FE, 1911)

Original combination: Myzantha melanotis (protonym)

References

Emu 11, p.124 BHL.
IUCN: Manorina melanotis (Endangered)

Vernacular names
English: Black-eared Miner
français: Méliphage à oreillons noirs
magyar: Feketefülű mézmadár
Nederlands: Zwartoorhoningeter
norsk: Svartørehonningeter
Diné bizaad: Aniłtʼánii yildeełí binákʼee halzhinígíí
svenska: svartörad honungsstare

The black-eared miner (Manorina melanotis) is an endangered honeyeater endemic to mallee woodland in south-eastern Australia.
Taxonomy

Manorina melanotis was identified by Francis Erasmus Wilson in 1911.[2] It is closely related to the much more widely distributed yellow-throated miner M. flavigula, and the taxonomic status of the black-eared miner is the subject of some controversy, with some researchers considering it a subspecies of M. flavigula.[3]
Behaviour

Black-eared miners are co-operative breeders, living in colonies during the breeding season, and dispersing into the bush during non-breeding periods. Little is known of their movements during these periods.[3]

In 2022, it was reported that the species had been interbreeding with the yellow-throated miner.[4]
Distribution and habitat

IBA (Important Bird and Biodiversity Areas), identified by BirdLife International as being important for black-eared miner conservation, are areas containing relatively intact, mallee woodland in north-western Victoria and south-eastern South Australia. They comprise Murray-Sunset, Hattah and Annuello, the Riverland Mallee, and Wyperfeld, Big Desert and Ngarkat.[5]
Conservation status
Yellow-throated miner (right) and black-eared miner × yellow-throated miner hybrid (left). Recent contact of black-earned miner and yellow-throated miner populations is due to human impacts on mallee habitat[6]

Black-eared miners' survival became threatened by habitat clearance to make way for agriculture, and the bird experienced competition from goats, rabbits, kangaroos, and other herbivores, which then had access to water which they had not previously had.[4] The species was assessed as "probably Australia's rarest and most endangered bird" in 2016 by ornithologist John McLaughlin,[7] while a 2018 study ranked it as the 10th bird at most risk of extinction.[8]

As of 2022, there remain around 200 colonies, with up to 20 birds within each colony. Interbreeding with the yellow-throated miner has affected the genetic integrity of the black-eared miner, which adds to the risk to their population.[4]

The species is listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List (2021.3) and under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999,[2] and its conservation status in several Australian states is as follows:

New South Wales: Listed as "Critically Endangered" by the Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016 (NSW), as of February 2022.[2]
South Australia: Listed as "Endangered" by the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1972, as of January 2020.[2]
Victoria: Listed as "Threatened" by the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act (1988), as of October 2021, and as "endangered" on the 2007 advisory list of threatened vertebrate fauna.[9][10] Under this Act, an Action Statement for the recovery and future management of this species has been prepared.[11][2]

Conservation measures

In July 2022, it was announced that AUD$125,000 has been dedicated to protect the black-eared miner. The Australian Government has provided the funding to the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board (MRLB) and their partners for the project.[12] As part of the project, researchers will do genetic testing of birds in the 200 populations.[4]
See also

Calperum Station (reserve)
Gluepot Reserve
Taylorville Station (reserve)

References

BirdLife International (2016). "Manorina melanotis". IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. 2016: e.T22704441A93968828. doi:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T22704441A93968828.en. Retrieved 12 November 2021.
"Manorina melanotis – Black-eared Miner". Species Profile and Threats Database. Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Australian Government. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
Higgins, Peter; Christidis, Les; Ford, Hugh (4 March 2020). Del Hoyo, Josep; Elliott, Andrew; Sargatal, Jordi; Christie, David; De Juana, Eduardo (eds.). "Black-eared Miner (Manorina melanotis)". Birds of the World. doi:10.2173/bow.blemin1.01. S2CID 216212426. Retrieved 25 February 2024.
Landau, Sophie (9 July 2022). "Endangered black-eared miner to be scrutinised by researchers to learn extent of cross-species breeding". Australia: ABC News. Retrieved 11 July 2022.
"Black-eared Miner". Important Bird Areas. BirdLife International. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 July 2007. Retrieved 4 November 2012.
"Black-eared Miner - profile". Office of Environment and Heritage. NSW Government. Retrieved 23 September 2023.
McLaughlin, John (26 May 2016). "The Identification of the Endangered Black-eared Miner Manorina melanotis". Australian Field Ornithology. 15 (3). Retrieved 11 July 2022.
Geyle, Hayley M.; Woinarski, John C. Z.; et al. (20 April 2018). "Quantifying extinction risk and forecasting the number of impending Australian bird and mammal extinctions". Pacific Conservation Biology. 24 (2): 157–167. doi:10.1071/PC18006. hdl:10536/DRO/DU:30109156. ISSN 2204-4604. Retrieved 11 July 2022. PDF
Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment (2007). Advisory List of Threatened Vertebrate Fauna in Victoria – 2007. East Melbourne: Department of Sustainability and Environment. p. 15. ISBN 978-1-74208-039-0.
"Listed Items". Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. Archived from the original on 18 July 2005.
"Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act: Action Statement Index by Category and Scientific Name". Department of Sustainability and Environment, Victoria. Archived from the original on 11 September 2006.
Lowe, Sam (8 July 2022). "New conservation project to protect endangered species". The Murray Valley Standard. Retrieved 11 July 2022.