Do kangaroos exhibit water-focused grazing patterns in arid New South Wales? A case study in Sturt National Park.

2004 ◽  
Vol 26 (1) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
R Montague-Drake ◽  
DB Croft

The density of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) within 5 km of current and former artificial watering points in Sturt National Park (NSW) was studied over a two-year period using the line transect method. Kangaroo densities were not significantly related to water proximity and did not significantly differ between open and closed watering points. Infrared sensors detected and counted kangaroo movements to and from artificial watering points and these were positively correlated with temperature. However, line transect counts did not reveal a shift in kangaroo distributions to water-proximate areas in warmer seasons. The results suggest that kangaroos travel to drink and then return to relatively stable home ranges that take advantage of sites offering the best grazing and resting opportunities. Vegetation surveys, using a wheel point device, revealed that the biomass of Atriplex spp. decreased significantly with increased proximity to artificial watering points, but the biomass of Poaceae spp. and numerous forbs did not. Vegetative diversity was unrelated to water proximity. Low vegetation biomass near artificial watering points in Sturt National Park may be more correctly attributed to the effects from past sheep-grazing pressure, than to any current grazing pressure. The implications of artificial watering point closure on conservation values and nature-based tourism are discussed.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay

The movements of a subalpine population of feral pigs were examined at Kosciusko National Park in southeastern New South Wales. Sufficient data were collected to estimate the home-range area of 20 pigs on the basis of 782 telemetry and trap locations. Mean (+/- s.d.) home-range size (minimum convex polygon method) for males (35.0 t 22.2 km*2) was significantly greater than that for females (1 1.1 +/- 5.2 km*2). Use of capture-recapture distances to estimate home-range size was considered inappropriate. A test for nomadism suggests that, although home ranges of pigs in this environment were larger than those reported for other pigs in Australia, the pigs were essentially sedentary. Management implications for this population are discussed.


1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Shepherd ◽  
G Wellard

Home ranges of sympatric red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, were determined by radiotracking 48 individuals over 20 months. More than 90% of individuals of each species remained within home ranges of less than 10 km2 (mean � SE, 7.74 � 0.90, reds; 6.92 � 0.77, western greys). At no time did any individual disperse far, the longest movement being 13 km. Based on diurnal locations (resting sites) only, home ranges of red kangaroos were larger than those of western greys (P<O.001), and those of kangaroos on Kinchega National Park smaller than those on the adjacent pastoral leasehold (P<O.05). Home ranges calculated from nocturnal and diurnal locations (feeding sites and resting sites) were no different in size for either species, sex or location, but reds, males, and kangaroos on Tandou sometimes moved further between nights and between seasons than did western greys, females, and kangaroos on Kinchega, respectively. Size of quarterly home ranges of red kangaroos changed over time, being positively correlated with minimum temperature (r=0.96; P<O.O5), solar radiation (r=0.99; P<0.05) and evaporation (r=0.99; P<O.O5). Home-range size for western greys did not change significantly over the duration of the study.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Bubela ◽  
Robert Bartell ◽  
Warren Müller

The factors that affect the trappability of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) in alpine and subalpine New South Wales were examined by means of treadle snares. Trapping (1) on animal tracks without the use of a bait or lure, and (2) by setting snares around a bait, led to the capture of individuals of both sexes and all age-classes. A greater number of foxes was captured per number of snares set in winter than in other seasons because of the commensal foraging patterns of foxes at this time. Foxes were more likely to be caught within 100 m of their home-range boundaries during snow-free months and outside their home ranges while foraging at ski resorts in winter. Snares were found to be difficult to set, and foxes were captured in only 50% of sprung snares. Treadle snares caused no apparent long-term injuries to 40 red foxes that were radio- tracked and observed for 1–24 months after capture.


1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Coulson

The western grey kangaroo, Macropus fuliginosus, typically occurs at highest population densities in areas of greatest habitat heterogeneity. Hattah-Kulkyne National Park, in semiarid north-western Victoria, supports a relatively high density of this species, and has a mosaic of four major vegetation associations: mallee, woodland, lake bed and grassland. The patterns of habitat use by western grey kangaroos at Hattah-Kulkyne were examined from March 1983 until May 1985 using line-transect surveys to estimate population density in each habitat, and radio-tracking to estimate home range. The population was not dispersed randomly, but generally exhibited either positive or negative preferences for each of the four habitats in early morning and at midday, and on different bimonthly surveys. These preferences often reversed between times of day and between surveys. Home ranges of individuals ranged from 221 to 459 ha (asymptotic MAP[O.95] estimates), each encompassing three or four habitat types, and there was extensive spatial and temporal overlap between individuals. Kangaroos at Hattah-Kulkyne thus alternated between adjacent habitats that offered a range of forage conditions and shelter.


2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 457 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. Fukuda ◽  
H. I. McCallum ◽  
G. C. Grigg ◽  
A. R. Pople

Provision of artificial waterpoints in Australian rangelands has resulted in an increase in the range and density of kangaroos. At high densities, kangaroos can inhibit vegetation regeneration, particularly in some protected areas where harvesting is prohibited. Fencing off waterpoints has been proposed to limit these impacts. Our aim was to determine whether fencing off waterpoints during a drought (when kangaroos would be especially water-limited) would influence the density and distribution of red kangaroos (Macropus rufus). Two waterpoints were fenced within the first 6 months of the 27-month study and a further two waterpoints were kept unfenced as controls in Idalia National Park, western Queensland. We estimated kangaroo densities around waterpoints from walked line-transect counts, and their grazing distribution from dung-pellet counts. Fencing off waterpoints failed to influence either the density or distribution up to 4 km from the waterpoints. Our results indicate that food availability, rather than the location of waterpoints, determines kangaroo distribution. Few areas in the rangelands are beyond kangaroos’ convenient reach from permanent waterpoints. Therefore, fencing off waterpoints without explicitly considering the spatial context in relation to other available water sources will fail to achieve vegetation regeneration.


2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 94 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney P. Kavanagh ◽  
Matthew A. Stanton ◽  
Traecey E. Brassil

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a charismatic, high-profile species whose conservation needs are commonly perceived to be incompatible with logging. However, koala biology and the results of chronosequence studies elsewhere suggest that this species may tolerate a degree of habitat alteration caused by logging. In this study, 30 koalas, five in each of six areas available for logging within a mixed white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla)–Eucalyptus forest in north-western New South Wales, were radio-tracked for one year during 1997–1998 to determine their movements, home-range sizes and tree preferences. Five months after the study began, three of these areas were logged selectively for sawlogs and thinnings of the white cypress pine, a tree that is important to koalas for daytime shelter. This removed about one-quarter of the stand basal area, but the eucalypt component was unaffected. The remaining three areas were left undisturbed as controls. Radio-tracking continued in all six areas for another seven months. Koalas continued to occupy all or part of their previous home-ranges after selective logging, and home-range sizes remained similar between logged and unlogged areas. Home-ranges for both sexes overlapped and were ~12 ha for males and 9 ha for females. Koala survival and the proportions of breeding females were similar in logged and unlogged areas. The principal food trees of the koala were red gums, mainly Eucalyptus blakelyi and E. chloroclada, and the pilliga box (E. pilligaensis), none of which were logged in this study. These results suggest that selective logging for white cypress pine does not appear to adversely affect koala populations and that koalas may not be as sensitive to logging as previously thought. Further work is required to determine thresholds in the level of retention of koala food trees in logging operations.


Jurnal BIOMA ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 83
Author(s):  
Siwi Arthapati Mandiri ◽  
Paskal Sukandar ◽  
Yossa Istiadi

Borneo has wide land that support high biodiversity. One of them is Tanjung Puting National Park (TPNP), which have biodiversity such as terrestrial mammalian carnivore. Carnivore has a role to maintain its ecosystems. But, there are no data for population density of terrestrial mammalian carnivore. The object of this research is to find out population density of terrestrial mammalian carnivore in Camp Leakey, TPNP, Central Borneo. This research accomplished in September-October 2015 in Camp Leakey. Using line-transect sampling. Data collection was accomplished at 18.00-24.00 Central Indonesian Time (WITA) on eight transects with three times replication by direct surveys and indirect surveys. This research has obtained five species, malayan sun bear (Helarctos malayanus), sunda clouded leopard (Neofelis diardi), leopard cat, and group of civet, like small-toothed palm civet (Arctogalidia trivirgata) and asian palm civet (Paradoxurus hermaphroditus). Population density of each species from the highest to the lowest is 13,5 Individual of leopard cat/km2, 9,84 Individual of malayan sun bears/km2, 4,31 Individual of sunda clouded leopard/km2, and 3,65 Individual of civet/km2. Malayan sun bears, sunda clouded leopards and civets prefer to be in land forest. Leopard cats prefers to be in transition forest.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
ARIDA SUSILOWATI ◽  
DENI ELFIATI ◽  
HENTI HENDALSTUTI RACHMAT ◽  
KUSUMADEWI SRI YULITA ◽  
ADI NURUL HADI ◽  
...  

Abstract. Susilowati A, Elfiati D, Rachmat HH, Yulita KS, Hadi AN, Kusuma YS, Batu SAL. 2020. Vegetation structure and floristic composition of tree species in the habitat of Scaphium macropodum in Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3025-3033. Scaphium macropodum (Miq.) Beumee Ex K Heyne is a member of Malvaceae tree species and globally recognized as malva nut and locally known as ‘kembang semangkok’, ‘tempayang’, ‘merpayang’ or ‘kepayang’. The nut of S. macropodum has many benefits for medicinal purposes, yet destructive extraction of this tree species has led them to extinction. Among its natural distribution in Indonesia, North Sumatra Province, Indonesia is known as its original range, but there is limited information about the existence of this species. This study aimed to determine the vegetation structure of some tree species in the habitat of S. macropodum in Sikundur, Gunung Leuser National Park, Sumatra, Indonesia. Purposive sampling technique was employed by creating line transect at some forest areas where the population of S. macropodum is known to grow naturally. Four line transects with each transect consisting of five plots with nested plots within were established to record data at four growth stages, resulting in 80 plots in total. The results showed that the Important Value Index (IVI) of S. macropodum within the floristic community at the studied area was 21.98, 13.85, 27.30, and 39.60 for tree, pole, sapling, and seedlings stages, respectively. The Shannon-Wiener Diversity Index (H) were 3.80, 3.70, 3.06 and 2.45, Index of evenness (E) are 0.94, 0.92, 0.86, 0.77 and the Index of Richness (R) are 11.76, 10.73, 6.59, 4.10 for tree, pole, sapling, and seedlings stages. This result suggests that the natural population of S. macropodum in Sikundur forest was still in good condition at all stages from tree to seedling.


Sociobiology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 66 (3) ◽  
pp. 480
Author(s):  
Angele Nicodenin Soro ◽  
Juan Lapuente ◽  
Abduoulaye Ngolo Kone ◽  
Kolo Yeo ◽  
Souleymane Konate

The goal of this study was to explain the patterns of diversity and distribution of arboreal social bees nesting in forest habitats of the Comoé National park, within the home-ranges of wild chimpanzees that consume their honey. Investigations were done using a total sixteen plots, one hectare each, established in three habitat types (mature forest island, secondary forest island and gallery forest). The diversity and distribution of arboreal social bees was estimated with visuals searches. The exploitation of the beehives of these bee by the chimpanzees was also evaluated using chimpanzees’ honey dipping tools as indicators. Results revealed five bees’ species belonging to two tribes; Meliponini (Meliponula ferruginea, Meliponula togoensis, Meliponula bocandei, Hypotrigona gribodoi) and Apini (Apis mellifera). Frequent exploitation of the honey of stingless bees by the chimpanzees was observed, except for H. gribodoi. Meliponula ferruginea was the most exploited species by chimpanzees. A total of 114 beehives were found in the overall established plots leading to an estimated density of 2.4 beehives/ha in the study area. Among the surveyed habitats, mature forest island was found to harbor the highest beehive density (4.2 beehives/ha), followed respectively by secondary-forest island (1.9 beehives/ha) and gallery forest (1.1 beehives/ha). Finally, all bee species were found nesting in cavities of trees with a DBH ranging from 15 to 87.3 cm, with a special preference for Dialium guinneense. However, the DBH of nesting trees and beehives’ height, measured from the ground level, did not significantly influence the honey exploitation by chimpanzees. In sum bee species diversity and distribution might be important in the survival of chimpanzees of a forest savanna landscape.


2021 ◽  
pp. 153-157
Author(s):  
Joanna Sumner ◽  
Margaret L. Haines ◽  
Peter Lawrence ◽  
Jenny Lawrence ◽  
Nick Clemann

The alpine she-oak skink Cyclodomorphus praealtus is a threatened alpine endemic lizard from the mainland of Australia. The species is previously known from disjunct populations in Kosciuszko National Park in New South Wales and three isolated localities in the Victorian Alps. The New South Wales and Victorian populations represent separate evolutionarily significant units. In 2011, a fourth Victorian population was discovered. We conducted a phylogenetic analysis and determined that the newly discovered population is discrete and may have been separated from other populations since the end of the last glacial maxima. This population requires separate management.


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