The Small Mammals of Little Nourlangie Rock, N. T IV.* Ecology of Zyzomys woodwardi, the Large Rock-rat, and Z.argurus, the Common Rock-rat, (Rodentia : Muridae)

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Begg

A capture-mark-release program was conducted on Zyzomys woodwardi and Z. argurus at Little Nourlangie Rock, N.T. From February 1977 to June 1979, 34,800 trap-nights were set for a total catch of 205 male and 148 female Z. woodwardi, and 152 male and 118 female Z. argurus. Breeding peaked in March-May, but some young were born in most other months. Rats were classed as adults on the basis of body weight (Z. woodwardi adults >70 g; Z. argurus adults >29 g). Testes became scrota1 around this weight and remained so. Significantly more males than females were caught for both species, due to the greater mobility of males, as evidenced by their high transiency rates and greater mean distances between captures. Trappability dropped to almost zero around March-April, just before the breeding season, but this was not a result of mortality or emigration. There was a clear spatial separation between species. Z. woodwardi were caught most often in the Closed Forest and no Z. argurus were resident there. The latter were most common on the Scree Slope.

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 57 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Begg

In a capture-mark-release program on Antechinus bilarni at Little Nourlangie Rock, N.T., from February 1977 to June 1979, 34,800 trap nights were set, for a total catch of 174 males and 162 females. Breeding is strictly seasonal, with mating around late June. Pouch young are carried in August and September. Lactation continues until December, when free-living young are first trapped. Males show a seasonal increase in testes size, with a decrease after mating. There is no die-off of males; both males and females may survive for a second breeding season. Males undergo a second cycle of increase in testes size, and histological sampling revealed spermatogenesis during their second breeding season. Individual males and females were trapped for up to 24 and 25 months respectively; KTBA estimates are similar for both sexes. Both sexes continue to increase in body weight throughout life. although males lose weight substantially after each breeding season. Sex ratios dropped during October of each year because the activity and trappability of males dropped. Males were recaptured with the onset of the wet season. The preferred habitat was scree slope, at an altitude of around 40-55 m. Some seasonal shifts in habitat were probably related to food availability.


1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 515 ◽  
Author(s):  
RJ Begg ◽  
KC Martin ◽  
NF Price

Following a capture-mark-release program (February 1977-June 1979) on Dasyurus hallucatus, Antechinus bilarni, Zyzomys argurus and Zyzomys woodwardi, the study area was burnt to determine the effects of fire on these species. The area was described in terms of fuel characteristics and details of the fire were recorded. Post-fire trapping began July 1979 and continued until July 1980 (15,600 trap-nights). A. bilarni was the only species to suffer an increased mortality immediately after the fire, but the number of animals known to be alive declined over the year following the fire, for all species except D. hallucatus. The fire affected reproduction in all four species, but in different ways. Breeding in D. hallucatus was delayed by 1 month, and the mean number of young leaving the pouch per female was lower than before the fire. A higher number of resident females kept recruitment up. Litter size in A. bilarni was not affected, but a reduced number of resident females meant that recruitment was halved. Zyzomys argurus and Z. woodwardi showed few lactating and pregnant females in July-August following the fire, and the numbers of juveniles were lower than in the previous two years. Following the fire, no detectable differences in body weight were recorded, but all species except D. hallucatus changed their preferred habitat, moving to the Scree Slope. Z. woodwardi was most affected, and moved from the Closed Forest.


2014 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-37 ◽  
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Kempinska-Podhorodecka ◽  
Marcin Krawczyk ◽  
Marta Klak ◽  
Malgorzata Blatkiewicz ◽  
Frank Lammert ◽  
...  

Introduction: The common PNPLA3 (adiponutrin) variant p.I148M represents a major genetic driver of progression in non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). NAFLD is commonly associated with traits of the metabolic syndrome, therefore it is mostly suspected in obese individuals. Here, we investigate the association between the PNPLA3 variant and anthropometric traits in a cohort of healthy individuals.Patients and methods: We recruited 1,000 (500 females; age 18 - 66 years) healthy blood donors. The PNPLA3 variant was genotyped using TaqMan assays. All individuals were phenotyped with respect to anthropometric characteristics. We also determined the percentage of total fat (F%) and active tissue (TA%) of body weight.Results: Healthy carriers of the PNPLA3 [IM] and [MM] genotypes, although not differing in height from individuals with the genotype [II], displayed significantly lower body weight and lower BMI (both P = 0.005), higher TA% (P = 0.03) but lower F% (P = 0.03) and smaller waist, chest and shin circumferences (all P < 0.05). Separate analysis for males and females demonstrated an association between the [IM] and [MM] genotypes and higher TA% but lower F% (P = 0.04) in females. In males, BMI and total weight were significantly (P = 0.04) lower among carriers of the [M] allele.Discussion: Healthy individuals carrying the prosteatotic PNPLA3 allele p.I48M may be leaner as compared to the carriers of the common allele. Hence in clinical practice they might be overlooked since they do not necessarily present with the anthropometric characteristics commonly associated with severe hepatic steatosis.Abbreviations: ATX - autotaxin; BMI - body mass index; F% - total fat of body weight in %; Fkg - total fat of body weight in kilograms; GWAS - genome-wide association study; LPA - lysophosphatidic acid; NAFLD, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease; NASH - non-alcoholic steatohepatitis; PA - phosphatidic acid; PNPLA3-patatin-like phospholipase domain containing 3 (adiponutrin); TA% - active tissue of body weight in %; TAkg - active tissue of body weight in kilograms; WHR - waist-to-hip ratio.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 755 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Handasyde ◽  
RW Martin

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.


1964 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 360-362 ◽  
Author(s):  
Leonard I. Kleinman ◽  
Edward P. Radford

Ventilation standards for small mammals have been prepared on the basis of the relationship between alveolar ventilation and metabolism. On the assumptions of an average respiratory quotient of 0.85 and physiological dead space directly proportional to tidal volume, the relationship between tidal volume, breathing frequency, and body weight has been derived. The standards are presented in a graphic form and as a slide rule. animal ventilation; artificial respiration; tidal volume, breathing frequency and body weight relationship Submitted on August 15, 1963


2016 ◽  
pp. 105-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ivana Novcic

The breeding population of the common kingfisher Alcedo atthis was studied in the Boracka River area in 2006 and 2007. A high breeding density was docu?mented in 2007 with five breeding pairs recorded along the 1.4 km section of a stream habitat. All of the studied nests were placed in vertical banks without excessive riparian vegetation, while the distance between adjacent nests ranged 120-430 m. The same nest holes were used in both years, although birds excavated a couple of new ones in 2007. One pair bred in two consecutive years; the same pair had two breeding attempts in 2007, while three breeding attempts were recorded for one male. Birds used the same holes for subsequent clutches or excavated new nests. Also, one nest was used by different pairs in the same breeding season. In the study period 21 individuals were banded - none of the juvenile in?dividuals was recaptured, suggesting that the fledglings dispersed shortly after they had left their nests. Also, none of the breeding individuals was recaptured at the river outside the breeding season.


2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Edy Riwidiharso ◽  
Darsono Darsono ◽  
Endang ariyani Setyowati ◽  
Hery Pratiknyo ◽  
EMING SUDIANA ◽  
...  

Abstract. Riwidiharso E, Darsono, Setyowati EA, Pratiknyo H, Sudiana E, Santoso S, Yani E, Widhiono I. 2020. Prevalence and diversity of ectoparasites in scavenging chickens (Gallus domesticus) and their association to body weight. Biodiversitas 21: 3163-3169. Domestic chickens (Gallus domesticus) which are traditionally fed by scavenging on farms predispose them to ectoparasites infestation. In this study, a preliminary survey was conducted on the common ectoparasites on G. domesticus in the rural areas of Banyumas. The purposes of this study were to determine the diversity of ectoparasites, their prevalence, and their relationship to the chickens body weight. This research was conducted by the survey method from December 2019 to April 2020 in five villages around the city of Purwokerto, Banyumas District, Central Java, Indonesia viz., Kedungwuluh, Kedungwringin, Kutasari, Karangsalam, and Karanggintung. Data analysis was conducted by Shannon Wiener and Evenness indexes. Analysis of variance was used to calculate the difference in prevalence among sample locations. Regression correlation analysis was used to determine the relationship between prevalence and chicken body weight. The results showed that there were six ectoparasite species  i.e., Menopon gallinae, Menacanthus cornutus, Lipeurus caponis, Dermanysus gallinae, Megninia ginglymura, and Haemaphysallis sp. parasitizing G. domesticus. The number of ectoparasite individuals among locations was significantly different (F 5.59 < 32.45; p <0.05). The most number of ectoparasite was found in Karangsalam (272 individuals). The most prevalent ectoparasite was M. cornutus (45%), followed by L. caponis (40%), and the lowest was M. synglineura (25%). Ectoparasite prevalence was associated with chicken weight loss (r = 0.98). The prevalence of ectoparasite of domestic chickens farm in the Banyumas Regency is classified as low but has the potential to influence body weight.


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