A way to reduce interference with Elliott traps

Elliott traps are widely used in Australia to capture small terrestrial mammals. However, in some situations non-target species disturb the traps, resulting in fewer traps being available for the target species. This situation occurred on Faure Island Wildlife Sanctuary (Western Australia) where boodies (burrowing bettongs) were disturbing the Elliott traps deployed to monitor populations of shark bay mice and western barred bandicoots. This note presents the method used to alleviate this problem on Faure Island but would be more widely applicable in other situations where Elliott traps are disturbed by animals other than the target species.

Download Full-text

Long-term movement patterns of continental shelf and inner gulf snapper (Pagrus auratus, Sparidae) from tagging in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia

Marine and Freshwater Research ◽

10.1071/mf03012 ◽

2003 ◽

Vol 54 (8) ◽

pp. 913 ◽

Cited By ~ 29

Author(s):

M. Moran ◽

C. Burton ◽

J. Jenke

Keyword(s):

Continental Shelf ◽

Western Australia ◽

Fishery Management ◽

Target Species ◽

Release Point ◽

Shark Bay ◽

Movement Characteristics ◽

Pagrus Auratus ◽

Low Levels

Snapper is an important commercial and recreational target species in the Shark Bay region of Western Australia. The present study aimed to define the range of movements of snapper by tagging in the two inner gulfs of Shark Bay and on oceanic fishing grounds adjacent to the Bay. Recaptures by fishers fell to low levels within 4 years after tagging, but small numbers of recaptures were still being made up to 15 years after release. There was no mixing of snapper populations between the two inner gulfs nor was there any movement between the ocean and the inner bay. This supports genetic and other evidence for the existence of several separate stocks in the region. Snapper of the ocean stock were mostly recaptured within 20 km of their release point, although a few fish moved long distances of up to 370 km southwards along the continental shelf. The tagged snapper tended to become more dispersed along the shelf with increasing years at liberty. Yet, an empirical model indicated that of the snapper recruiting to the main oceanic fishing grounds near Koks Island, which have a mean life expectancy in the fishery of 1.5 years, 76% would remain within 93 km (50 nautical miles), even after 6 years. The distinct stocks and their movement characteristics are significant for snapper fishery management in the Shark Bay region.

Download Full-text

Integration of Cretaceous Morro do Chaves rock properties (NE Brazil) with the Holocene Hamelin Coquina architecture (Shark Bay, Western Australia) to model effective permeability

Petroleum Geoscience ◽

10.1144/petgeo2015-054 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 105-122 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Patrick W. M. Corbett ◽

Rayana Estrella ◽

Andrea Morales Rodriguez ◽

Ahmed Shoeir ◽

Leonardo Borghi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Effective Permeability ◽

Rock Properties ◽

The Holocene ◽

Shark Bay

Download Full-text

Potential impacts of poison baiting for introduced house mice on native animals on islands in Jurien Bay, Western Australia

Wildlife Research ◽

10.1071/wr15126 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 43 (1) ◽

pp. 61 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Clifford Bennison ◽

J. Anthony Friend ◽

Timothy Button ◽

Harriet Mills ◽

Cathy Lambert ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Western Australia ◽

Rhodamine B ◽

Native Species ◽

House Mice ◽

Mus Domesticus ◽

Target Species ◽

Island Populations ◽

Delivery Technique ◽

Poison Baiting ◽

Competition For Resources

Context House mice (Mus domesticus) are present on Boullanger and Whitlock islands, Western Australia, and could potentially threaten populations of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) and grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) through competition for resources. A workshop in 2007 recommended a study to assess the feasibility of eradicating house mice from the islands by using poison baits and of the risk posed to non-target native species. Aim We aimed to assess the risk to non-target native species if poison baiting was used to eradicate house mice on Boullanger and Whitlock islands. Methods Non-toxic baits containing the bait marker rhodamine B were distributed on Boullanger Island and on the mouse free Escape Island to determine the potential for primary poisoning. Acceptance of baits by mammals was measured through sampling and analysis of whiskers, and by reptiles through observations of dye in faeces. To determine the potential for secondary exposure to poison, the response of dibblers to mouse carcasses was observed using motion-activated cameras. Bait acceptance was compared using two methods of delivery, namely, scattering in the open and delivery in polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes. A cafeteria experiment of bait consumption by dibblers was also undertaken using captive animals held at the Perth Zoo. Ten dibblers were offered non-toxic baits containing rhodamine B in addition to their normal meals; consumption of bait and the presence of dye in whiskers were measured. Key results Bait acceptance on the islands was high for house mice (92% of individuals) and dibblers (48%) and it was independent of bait-delivery technique. There was no evidence of bait acceptance by grey-bellied dunnarts. Dibblers may consume mice carcasses if available; however, no direct consumption of mice carcasses was observed with movement sensor cameras but one dibbler was observed removing a mouse carcass and taking it away. During the cafeteria experiment, 9 of 10 captive dibblers consumed baits. Conclusions This investigation demonstrated that dibblers consume baits readily and island populations would experience high mortality if exposed to poison baits. Poison baiting could effectively eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands but not without mortality for dibblers. Implications Toxic baits could be used to eradicate mice from Boullanger and Whitlock islands, provided that non-target species such as dibblers were temporarily removed from the islands before the application of baits.

Download Full-text