Aspects of the ecology of the Atherton antechinus (Antechinus godmani) living in sympatry with the rusty antechinus (A. adustus) in the Wet Tropics, Queensland – a trapping and radio-tracking study

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Geoffrey C. Smith ◽  
Kath Means ◽  
Sue Churchill
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Male Condition ◽  
Baseline Information ◽  
June July ◽  
Old Trees

The ecology of the geographically restricted Atherton antechinus (Antechinus godmani) is poorly known. This trapping and radio-tracking study provides historical baseline information on its ecology. The Atherton antechinus foraged primarily at night in deep leaf litter and rotting logs. The sympatric, smaller rusty antechinus (A. adustus) was arboreal and active both day and night, suggesting resource partitioning between species. The diet of the Atherton antechinus included a significant component of beetles, centipedes, spiders, cockroaches, crickets, and ants; minor items included a frog and a skink. Declines in male condition of both antechinus species occurred in June–July. Free-living young of the rusty and the Atherton antechinus were first trapped in November and January, respectively. Minimum convex polygon home ranges for the Atherton antechinus were 2.5–5.8 ha for males and 3.6 ha for a female. Multiple nest sites were used by individual Atherton antechinuses with simultaneous sharing of nests observed only between sexes. A home range of a single female was overlapped by the home ranges of numerous males. The Atherton antechinus prefers contiguous areas of wet tropical upland rainforest with old-growth characteristics, including large old trees for nest sites, fallen woody debris and deep leaf litter for foraging. The impacts of climate change could be devastating.

Habitat and spatial requirements of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) at Hamilton, Victoria

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 459 ◽  
Author(s):  
AC Dufty
Keyword(s):  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Artificial Materials ◽  
Nocturnal Foraging ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Optimal Habitat ◽  
Homogeneous Composition ◽  
Agricultural Areas

Perameles gunnii was greatly affected by the introduction of European agriculture to the volcanic plains in Victoria. At Hamilton, agricultural areas possessed little structural complexity and supported a fairly homogeneous composition of pasture species that were generally shorter than 100 mm because of heavy stock grazing. No P. gurznii were caught in agricultural areas at Hamilton. At the Hamilton Municipal Tip, most captures and nest sites occurred where food resources and structural complexity were greatest. Descriptions of 16 diurnal nest sites indicated that a range of natural and artificial materials was used for shelter, including fallen branches, sawn timber, cement culverts, galvanised iron, and scrap metal. Earthworms were most frequently observed in faecal and stomach material, while beetles and crickets were also common. Optimal habitat for P. gunnii was defined by high structural complexity and habitat heterogeneity. Older P. gunnii may usurp optimal habitat and force subordinate adult females into sub-optimal habitat. Associated with their occupation of optimal habitat, older P. gunnii may utilise smaller nocturnal foraging areas. Analysis of the movement of P. gunnii within the Hamilton Municipal Tip indicated that males occupied significantly larger nocturnal foraging areas than females. Mean female and male home ranges (defined by Minimum Convex Polygon analysis) were 1.6 ha (n = 13, range 0.02-5.9 ha) and 4 ha (n = 18, range 0.8-9.0 ha), respectively. Also, nocturnal foraging areas were analysed on the basis of pattern of use of an area, and these were referred to as utilisation distributions. The mean utilisation distributions (defined by Minimum Area v. Probability [0.95] analysis) for females and males were 0.64 ha (n = 13, range 0.01-4.7 ha) and 4.0 ha (n = 18, range 0.01-19.6 ha), respectively. Mean female and male observed range lengths were 173 m (tz = 26, range 0-364 m) and 249 m (n = 34, range 50430 m), respectively. Mean ( +/-s.e ) observed range length (214+/-20, n = 60, range 50-430 m) was less than half the grid width (500 m), which suggests that grid size did not negatively bias the calculated home-range sizes.

scholarly journals Importance of canopy connectivity for home range and movements of the rainforest arboreal ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides)

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn F. Wilson ◽  
Helene Marsh ◽  
John Winter
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
The Road ◽  
North East ◽  
Wide Road ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Roads and powerline corridors destroy canopy connectivity in the rainforest of north-east Australia. We tested the hypotheses that linear barriers affect (a) the alignment of home ranges, (b) use of habitat either side of linear barriers, and (c) the crossing of them by the strictly arboreal lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), which is known to be vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Radio-tracking and a translocation experiment were conducted at a narrow 7-m-wide road and an 80-m-wide powerline. Homes ranges of lemuroid ringtails ranged from 0.15 to 1.67 ha (minimum convex polygon) and were aligned with the road but not powerline corridors. When lemuroid ringtails were experimentally translocated, wider canopy clearings over roads reduced their capacity to return to their original home range, and the powerline corridor was a nearly insurmountable barrier. No possums were observed crossing roads or the powerline corridor at ground level or residing in the intervening matrix, indicating that loss of canopy connectivity has a negative impact on their movements.

scholarly journals A radio tracking study of home range and movements of the marsupial Micoureus demerarae (Thomas) (Mammalia, Didelphidae) in the Atlantic forest of south-eastern Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edsel Amorim Moraes Junior ◽  
Adriano Garcia Chiarello
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Convex Polygon ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Biological Reserve

From August 2001 to July 2002 the home range and movements of seven Micoureus demerarae (Thomas, 1905) (three males and four females) were investigated using radio tracking in the União Biological Reserve, state of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. A total of 436 locations was obtained and home range estimated with fixed Kernel (95% of data points), and minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, with 100 and 95% of data points. Male home ranges estimated by MCP (100%) ranged from 5.4-24.2 ha and females from 0.3-10.7 ha. Corresponding figures calculated with Kernel (95%) were 4-10.9 ha for males and 1.3-5.9 ha for females. Animals travelled on average 423 m/night, with males travelling significantly further (582.8 m/night) than females (335.1 m/night) (t test, t = 3.609, p = 0.001). We concluded that radio tracking produced much larger home ranges than those estimated with traditional live-trapping techniques, suggesting that the latter might underestimate ranging when the area covered with traps is relatively small (ca. 1 ha or less). Radio tracking also indicated that M. demerarae, although predominantly arboreal and weighting only ca. 130 g., has movements similar in magnitude to larger-sized terrestrial didelphimorph marsupials, such as Didelphis Linnaeus, 1758, Philander Linnaeus, 1758 and Metachirus (Desmarest, 1817).

scholarly journals Riparian old-growth forests provide critical nesting and foraging habitat for Blakiston's fish owl Bubo blakistoni in Russia

Oryx ◽  
2013 ◽  
Vol 47 (4) ◽  
pp. 553-560 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan C. Slaght ◽  
Sergei G. Surmach ◽  
R.J. Gutiérrez
Keyword(s):  
Woody Debris ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Foraging Habitat ◽  
Old Growth ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Old Growth Forest ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
Old Growth Forests

AbstractConservation efforts for Blakiston's fish owl Bubo blakistoni in Russia are limited, partly because habitat use by these rare owls is poorly known. We therefore studied nesting and foraging habitat characteristics of Blakiston's fish owls in Primorye, Russia. We sampled habitat at 14 nest sites, 12 nest stand sites and 13 random sites; we also sampled rivers within 14 fish owl home ranges across our 20,213 km2 study area. We found that large old trees and riparian old-growth forest were the primary characteristics of nest and foraging sites, respectively. Large trees were probably used as nest sites because they have cavities large enough to accommodate these birds. Big trees are also important because they are primary sources of large woody debris in rivers, which enhances suitable habitat for salmon, the owl's primary prey. Based on habitat characteristics, nest sites were correctly distinguished from random sites 74% (Kappa = 0.48) of the time, nest stands from random sites 56% (Kappa = 0.12) of the time, and used sites from available foraging sites 68% (Kappa = 0.36) of the time. The management and conservation of old-growth forests is essential for sustaining this species because they are central to the owls' nesting and foraging behaviour. Moreover, conservation of these forests sustains habitat for many other species.

scholarly journals Ecology of a Recently Discovered Population Segment of Blanding’s Turtles, Emydoidea blandingii, in Barren Meadow and Keddy Brooks, Nova Scotia

2012 ◽  
Vol 126 (2) ◽  
pp. 89
Author(s):  
José Lefebvre ◽  
Stephen W. Mockford ◽  
Tom B. Herman
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Restricted Gene Flow ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
River Population ◽  
Emydoidea Blandingii ◽  
Nesting Sites ◽  
Population Segment

Blanding’s Turtles in Barren Meadow Brook and Keddy Brook are part of the Pleasant River population, the easternmost population currently recognized in Nova Scotia. Previous genetic analysis demonstrated restricted gene flow among the populations of Nova Scotia. The conservation of this genetic diversity is important to reduce genetic drift and bottleneck effects in these populations. Between 2006 and 2008, the population in Barren Meadow Brook and Keddy Brook was estimated using visual surveys, trapping, and radio-tracking. Over the three years, surveys yielded 69 individuals (14 females, 22 males, 29 juveniles, 4 undetermined). Capture-mark-recapture analysis using the Chapman variation of Petersen formulas for bi-census yielded population estimates of 88 Blanding’s Turtles. The sex ratio did not deviate significantly from 1:1. Applying minimum convex polygon (MCP) and kernel methods to radio-tracking data yielded preliminary estimates of home range size and location for males and females. Females had larger homes ranges, probably because of the limited availability of nesting sites in Barren Meadow and Keddy Brooks. New overwintering sites and three new nesting sites were identified. Home ranges of males did not overlap, and males seemed to show territorial behaviour. An expanded sample, particularly of males, is needed to improve the assessment of home ranges, movements, and behaviour. To date, conservation efforts in this population have focused on females. If home ranges of males in an expanded sample also do not overlap, then conservation of this population requires closer scrutiny of males and their population genetic structure.

Field Observations on the Common Striped Possum (Dactylopsila Trivirgata) in North Queensland.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 755 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Handasyde ◽  
RW Martin
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Far North ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
The Common ◽  
Primary Habitat

Habitat utilisation and foraging behaviour by the common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) was investigated by means of spotlighting and radio-tracking at Shiptons Flat, far north Queensland. Vine forest was the primary habitat of D. trivirgata; however, animals were also observed in open eucalypt (Eucalyptus tereticornis) woodland. Information collected on foraging behaviour suggests that D. trivirgata are generalist insectivores consuming some fruit and other foodstuffs, such as honey. Radio-tracking data were used to calculate the home-range areas of two subadult males. The home range of the smaller male (body weight 290 g) was 5.2 ha (by the 95% harmonic mean (HM) method) or 6.5 ha (by the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method), and that of the larger male (body weight 415 g) was 21.2 ha (95% HM) or 21.3 ha (MCP). Large trees with hollows, which are utilized for denning, appear to be an important feature of the habitat for this species. D. trivirgata exhibits a pronounced degree of sociality and may breed seasonally. Observations suggest that amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina) may be major predators of D. trivirgata at Shiptons Flat.

scholarly journals Home range and activity of African goshawks Accipiter tachiro in relation to their predation on bats

Koedoe ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Rautenbach ◽  
M.B. Fenton ◽  
A.C. Kemp ◽  
S.J. Van Jaarsveld
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Previous Summer

Winter radio-tracking of three African goshawks Accipiter tachiro showed that they each occupied well-wooded home ranges of at least 28 hectares. They perched and roosted mainly within densely foliaged trees and an adult female changed perches on average 4,7 times per hour. No crepuscular predation of bats was recorded, in contrast to regular summer predation on colonies of little free-tailed bats, Tadarida pumila, but winter emergence rates of these bats at dusk had dropped to < 5 of the previous summer. We predict that many accipiters will be regular predators of bats and that skewed sex ratios and high fecundity may be two means by which bats counter this predation.

scholarly journals The Influence of Prescribed Fire, Habitat, and Weather on Amblyomma americanum (Ixodida: Ixodidae) in West-Central Illinois, USA

Insects ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 36 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mary Gilliam ◽  
Will Rechkemmer ◽  
Kenneth McCravy ◽  
Seán Jenkins
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Negative Correlation ◽  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Life Stage ◽  
Amblyomma Americanum ◽  
Sample Period ◽  
Bare Ground ◽  
Tick Abundance ◽  
Weak Negative Correlation

The distribution of Amblyomma americanum (L.) is changing and reports of tick-borne disease transmitted by A. americanum are increasing in the USA. We used flagging to collect ticks, surveyed vegetation and collected weather data in 2015 and 2016. A. americanum dominated collections in both years (97%). Ticks did not differ among burn treatments; however, tick abundance differed between years among total, adult, and larval ticks. Habitat variables showed a weak negative correlation to total ticks in respect to: Shannon diversity index, percent bare ground, perennial cover, and coarse woody debris. Nymphal ticks showed a weak negative correlation to percent bare ground and fewer adults were collected in areas with more leaf litter and coarse woody debris. Conversely, we found larvae more often in areas with more total cover, biennials, vines, shrubs, and leaf litter, suggesting habitat is important for this life stage. We compared weather variables to tick presence and found, in 2015, temperature, precipitation, humidity, and sample period influenced tick collection and were life stage specific. In 2016, temperature, precipitation, humidity, wind, and sample period influenced tick collection and were also life stage specific. These results indicate that spring burns in an oak woodland do not reduce ticks; other variables such as habitat and weather are more influential on tick abundance or presence at different life stages.

Variation in the home-range size of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David J. Sharpe ◽  
Matt D. J. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
New South ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Range Estimate

The home-range area of animals may vary geographically and in response to habitat quality. We investigated the size of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) home ranges near Brisbane, Queensland, and at Tea Gardens on the central coast of New South Wales. Habitat at both sites had been partially cleared and had been subjected to grazing for several decades. Twelve gliders were tracked over an average of 3.5 months in Brisbane. The fixed kernel (FK95%) home-range estimate averaged 4.6 ± 0.7 (s.e.) ha while the minimum convex polygon (MCP100%) averaged 6.7 ± 1.5 ha. Six gliders were tracked over 1 month at Tea Gardens. The FK95% home-range estimate averaged 14.8 ± 2.4 ha while the MCP100% averaged 13.3 ± 3.1 ha. The Tea Gardens values are derived from relatively short periods and are likely to underestimate the areas used. This study demonstrates that home-range size can vary substantially in the squirrel glider. This has implications for understanding how this species responds to variation in habitat quality and highlights the need for site-specific studies to inform aspects of management.

Ceasefire: minimal aggression among Murray River crayfish feeding upon patches of allochthonous material

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danswell Starrs ◽  
Brendan C. Ebner ◽  
Christopher J. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Leaf Litter ◽  
Aquatic Ecosystems ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Freshwater Crayfish ◽  
Fine Woody Debris ◽  
Trophic Pathways ◽  
Murray River ◽  
Freshwater Invertebrate

Transport and processing of allochthonous material is crucial for trophic pathways in headwater streams. Freshwater crayfish are known to affect and exploit the break-down of in-stream terrestrial plant material into detritus. We recorded Euastacus armatus (Murray River crayfish) individuals feeding on discrete patches of allochthonous material within an unregulated section of the Goodradigbee River, an upland stream in temperate Australia. Despite suggestions of aggressive territoriality, E. armatus were observed by remote and manual underwater filming to feed in non-aggressive aggregations on these piles of fine woody debris and leaf litter. On the basis of observations of 25 individuals found in the vicinity of the allochthonous patches, this population comprised mostly female individuals at smaller sizes of maturity than has been recorded for lowland populations of E. armatus. Our study confirms the importance of concentrated allochthonous food patches for detritivores, and points to the important trophic linkage between terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems via a widespread and iconic freshwater invertebrate. Moreover, these non-aggressive feeding aggregations of E. armatus challenge notions of aggression in this species that have been developed in small-scale aquarium studies.

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