Home range and movement of foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in coastal New South Wales, Australia

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Meek ◽  
Glen Saunders
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
New South ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Coastal Habitat ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Fox Control ◽  
Polygon Method

Data on the home range and activity of 14 foxes was collected from coastal habitat in Jervis Bay, New South Wales during 1993–95. Radio-collared foxes had a mean home range of 135 ha and core activity areas of 23 ha (determined by the Minimum Convex Polygon method). There were no significant differences in the home ranges of male and female foxes. The home ranges of some foxes shifted throughout the study. Some animals went on long forays beyond their normal range. All animals displayed nocturnal activity patterns except during the breeding season or after long spells of wet weather when some foraging occurred during daylight hours. The information collected in this study is discussed in the context of fox control.

Movements and Home Ranges of Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales

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.

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.

Home ranges of feral cats (Felis catus) in central-western New South Wales, Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (7) ◽  
pp. 587 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn Molsher ◽  
Chris Dickman ◽  
Alan Newsome ◽  
Warren Müller
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Use ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Adult Cats

Twenty-one feral cats were radio-tracked using direct sighting and triangulation techniques (amassing 730 location fixes) during winter in an agricultural landscape in central-western New South Wales. Factors affecting home-range size, home-range overlap and habitat use were assessed. Mean home-range size was 248 ha (s.e. = 34.9, n = 15 cats, 598 location fixes). Home-range size and habitat use were not influenced by sex or age of adult cats, prey abundance or time of day. However, cat weight significantly influenced range size, with heavier cats having larger ranges than smaller cats. Although the cats are apparently solitary, their home ranges overlapped considerably, particularly between young adults and old adult cats. Cats were active both by day and night and did not occupy permanent dens. Home ranges encompassed mixed habitat types that provided both shelter and prey. Open woodland and open forest were the main habitat types covered by home ranges, but within these areas cats showed a preference for grassland, where rabbits were more abundant. The results recorded in this study indicate that cat-control programs should concentrate in mixed habitat areas, where both shelter and food are available, and over widely dispersed areas. The absence of group living suggests that the effectiveness of virally vectored fertility or biological control agents would be limited.

Home Range of the Common Wallaroo, Macropus-Robustus-Erubescens, in Far Western New South Wales

1990 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 659 ◽  
Author(s):  
TF Clancy ◽  
DB Croft
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Bivariate Normal Distribution ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
The Common

Aspects of the home range and space-use patterns of the common wallaroo or euro (Macropus robustus erubescens) were studied over a three year period in arid New South Wales. Thirty-five adults (19 males and 16 females) were captured and fitted with radio-transmitters and their movements followed. The home ranges of the majority of animals were significantly different from that of a bivariate normal distribution, indicating a heterogeneity of space use. Home ranges were small and essentially stable over time. There were significant differences between the sexes in all parameters of home range measured due to differences in ecological and social requirements. Males had significantly larger weekly home ranges in winter than females (77.2 +/- 47.5 ha and 30.5 +/- 16.5 ha, respectively) but in summer home ranges were similar (30.2 +/- 20.4 ha and 27.6 +/- 15.0 ha). On a yearly basis males ranged over an area approximately three times the size of that used by females. Yearly home-range size in males was positively correlated with body size when conditions were poor.

Movements of Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) at Sunny Corner, New South Wales.

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Sus Scrofa ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Peak Activity ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales

This study describes the movements of feral pigs at Sunny Corner in eastern New South Wales. Population density at this site was 2 pigs km-2. Twenty-two pigs (12 males and 10 females) were captured and fitted with telemetry transmitters. Aggregate home range for males (10.7 � 6.9 km2) was significantly greater than for females (4.9 � 1.4 km2) as was 24 h home range (1.4� 1.1 km2, males and 0.8 � 0.4 km2, females). Seasonal home ranges were greatest in the winter and smallest in the autumn. These differences were attributed to variations in food availability. During all seasons there was a preference for creeklines that had vegetative cover. This was the result of thermoregulatory needs, refuge availability and food supply. Peak activity throughout the study occurred between 1900 and 2400 hours with little movement during the middle of the day. The implications of these results to management programs are discussed.

Home Range, Burrow Usage and Diel Activity of Platypuses on the Duckmaloi Weir, New South Wales.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (2) ◽  
pp. 308
Author(s):  
M. Mcleod ◽  
D. Goldney
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
River System ◽  
Diel Activity ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ornithorhynchus Anatinus ◽  
Mark Release Recapture ◽  
Individual Variations

Platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, have been studied on the Duckmaloi River, New South Wales, in a long term mark-release-recapture project from 1986 to 1996. Some animals are recaptured regularly, while others are trapped only once. A high percentage of juveniles are never retrapped. New animals continue to be captured each year. Hence radio-tracking was employed to examine the movements of animals within the river system including their spatial utilisation of the Duckmaloi Weir. Concurrent studies on activity patterns and burrow usage were undertaken. Seventeen animals (I 0 juveniles, 2 subadults and 5 adults) were radio-tracked for various lengths of time between January and October 1993. Telemetric data revealed that radio-tagged animals were not recaptured on all possible occasions. Home ranges (length of river) varied from 0.5 km to 3.5 km. Home ranges of all animals, overlapped extensively, while core area overlap also occurred in the pool behind the Duckmaloi weir. One juvenile male dispersed 8.5 km upstream from the weir. Platypuses typically utilised areas when feeding with water depth between I to 2.5 m, rarely using areas less than 0.5 m deep. Juvenile platypuses were crepuscular and nocturnal, while adults, although mainly nocturnal also exhibited individual variations in diurnality. Although some individuals remained active throughout the night, others returned to burrows before re-entering the water. Animals commonly returned to certain burrow complexes with some exhibiting a higher degree of burrow site specificity than others. Certain burrows were used by nearly all radio-tagged animals over time while others were used by only a select number of individuals. Some animals tracked in the weir pool were found to share burrows.

Contrast between the visible abundance of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, and its rarity in fox and dog scats in the gorges east of Armidale, New South Wales

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 373 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Lunney ◽  
B Law ◽  
C Rummery
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Small Populations ◽  
Scat Analysis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Collection Period ◽  
Natal Home

Predator scats were collected near colonies of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, in gorges near Armidale, New South Wales. Scat collection coincided with the two periods when these macropodids are believed to be most vulnerable to predation: when juveniles vacate the pouch (September) and when they disperse from natal home ranges (April). The ratio of known dingo to fox scats did not differ significantly from 1 : 1 for each collection period. The most common dietary items identified in the scat analysis were as follows: rabbits (in 30% of scats); swamp wallabies (21%); cattle (16%); and brushtail possums (10%). Despite a visible abundance of P. penicillata in the study area, it occurred rarely (1%) in the 342 canid scats collected, and no P. penicillata was detected in fox scats. While the collection and analysis of predator scats does detect P. penicillata, it does not provide an efficient means of doing so and is unlikely to be effective at detecting small populations of this species.

Bird Distributions on Small Rainforest Remnants in New South Wales.

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
RW Howe ◽  
TD Howe ◽  
HA Ford
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Additional Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
High Dispersal ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Bird Distributions ◽  
Open Country

We studied bird distributions on 15 small patches of subtropical rainforest, ranging from 0.08 to 2.5 ha, in north-eastern New South Wales. Three-quarters of the bird species found in an extensive area of nearby rainforest were recorded in one or more of these isolated patches. Species that were not recorded, generally were rare in the extensive forest or are characterized by large home ranges. Several species more typical of open country were also found in the isolated patches. The number of resident species per patch ranged from one to 19; these were added in a rather predictable order from small to larger areas. Additional species observed in the patches either were transient or had home ranges encompassing several discontinuous areas. Although area is the best single predictor of species richness, isolation, disturbance by livestock and distance from water all tend to reduce the number of resident bird species. We propose that high dispersal abilities of rainforest birds near Dorrigo reflect the geographical and palaeogeographical distribution of Australian rainforest. The small total area and discontinuity of original tracts of rainforest, perhaps accentuated during the Pleistocene, have generally prevented persistence or colonization of highly sedentary, specialized bird species.

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