Distribution of mammals in monsoon rainforests of the Northern Territory

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 295 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Menkhorst ◽  
JCZ Woinarski
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Moisture Condition ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Historical Processes ◽  
Monsoon Rainforest

The mammal fauna of 50 patches of monsoon rainforest in the Northern Territory, Australia, was surveyed. No mammal species is restricted to this habitat, and most of the region's marnmal fauna uses it at least occasionally. Mammal species composition within monsoon rainforests undergoes substantial variation along an extensive environmental gradient reflecting moisture condition and rockiness. For most mammal species, variation in abundance among patches was related more to the position of the patch on this environmental gradient than to patch size or extent of disturbance. Disturbance was positively correlated with the richness and abundance in quadrats of three taxonomic groupingsrodents, 'other' native species, and all native species (other than bats)-and negatively correlated with richness and abundance of macropods. Compared with surrounding (open forest and savanna woodland) vegetation, monsoon rainforests have few grazing herbivores and small granivorous rodents, but more species that eat fleshy fruits and seeds from woody plants. The mammal fauna of monsoon rainforests in the Northern Territory is similar to that of monsoon rainforests of the Kimberley (to the west) but unlike that of wet tropical rainforests in Cape York (to the east). These differences, and the current impoverishment of the mammal fauna of the Northern Territory monsoon rainforest, are attributable to historical processes and the current small area of this highly fragmented monsoon rainforest estate. Three bat species may be important for pollination and dispersal of monsoon rainforest plants.

Some Aspects of the Ecology of the Mammal Fauna of the Jabiluka Area. Northern Territory

1984 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 207 ◽  
Author(s):  
JA Kerle ◽  
MA Burgman
Keyword(s):  
Success Rate ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Fire Occurrence ◽  
Edaphic Factors ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Site Preferences ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Riparian Woodland

On the Pancontinental Jabiluka exploration lease, between July 1979 and September 1981, mammals of 30 native and five introduced species were recorded, with an overall trap success rate of 5% and an average of 1.9 sightings per spotlight-hour. Three major groups of mammal species corresponded to the primary groupings of vegetation in the study area: riparian woodland, dryland woodland and open forest, and sandstone. This last group was subdivided into three on site preferences. Two ungrouped species were found in a variety of habitats. The distribution of mammals was very patchy, and their abundance varied seasonally. This may result from rainfall patterns, fire occurrence and fire history, as well as from landform and edaphic factors. The species responded to the variation in environment and the consequent mosaic of habitats by three strategies: by rapid response to changes in microhabitat through increased dispersion or moving to more favourable habitats, by restriction to stable habitats, or by adaptation to a variety of habitats.

The conservation status of rodents in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 421 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Z. Woinarski
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Historical Data ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Distribution Maps ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Lack Of Information ◽  
Full Complement

The rodent fauna of the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory comprises 23 native species and two introduced species. Three species (Zyzomys maini, Z. palatalis and Pseudomys calabyi) are endemic to the area, and four species (Pseudomys hermannsburgensis, P. desertor, P. johnsoni and Notomys alexis) enter the area only on its southern (arid) fringe. The rodent fauna is closely related to that of the Kimberley, Western Australia. Distribution maps for all species are given. One species (Z. palatalis) has an extremely restricted range and is regarded as critically endangered. The lack of information on the distribution and abundance of rodents in general in this area is evident in the national classification of five of its species (Xeromys myoides, Mesembriomys macrurus, Notomys aquilo, Pseudomys desertor and Pseudomys johnsoni) as Insufficiently Known. The two introduced rodents (Mus domesticus and Rattus rattus) are virtually restricted to urban and highly modified areas, although R. rattus also occurs on one uninhabited island. In contrast to that of much of the rest of Australia, this rodent fauna has apparently retained its full complement of species since European colonisation. This enduring legacy is attributable largely to the relatively limited modification of its environments. However, three species (Mesembriomys macrurus, Rattus tunneyi and Conilurus penicillatus) appear to be declining. The pattern of decline in these species, and in the mammal fauna generally, is obscured by the very limited historical data. However, declines appear most pronounced in the cattle country of the Victoria River District and Gulf regions. Priorities for the management of this rodent fauna include survey of poorly known areas, survey for poorly known species, monitoring of rodent communities, and landscape-wide management of the three pervasive processes with probably greatest impacts – fire, grazing and feral predators.

scholarly journals Terrestrial mammals of the Gnangara Groundwater System, Western Australia: history, status, and the possible impacts of a drying climate

2012 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Barbara A. Wilson ◽  
Leonie E. Valentine ◽  
Alice Reaveley ◽  
Joanne Isaac ◽  
Kristen M. Wolfe
Keyword(s):  
Native Species ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
General Survey ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Groundwater System ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Hydromys Chrysogaster ◽  
And Control

Over the last 30 years declining rainfall and increased aquifer abstraction have heavily impacted water availability and ecosystems on the Gnangara Groundwater System (GGS). The mammal fauna of the area is considered to have been rich, with up to 28 terrestrial and 5 volant native species recorded since European settlement. This study investigated previous and current distribution of mammals on the GGS, and assessed potential impacts of predicted rainfall and groundwater declines on mammals. A general survey was conducted at 40 sites, and targeted trapping was undertaken for Hydromys chrysogaster and Isoodon obesulus fusciventer at wetlands. Nine native and seven introduced terrestrial mammal species were recorded during the general survey and capture rates were very low (1.05%). The most commonly captured native species was Tarsipes rostratus. There is evidence that only 11 (9 recorded and 2 considered to be extant) of the 28 historically recorded terrestrial native mammals still persist in the area. The species predicted to be most susceptible to rainfall and groundwater level declines include H. chrysogaster, I. obesulus fusciventer, and T. rostratus. Management and recovery actions required to protect mammals under predicted climatic changes include identification and maintenance of refugia and ecological linkages, supplementation of lakes, development of ecologically appropriate fire regimes, and control of predators.

The mammal fauna of the Sir Edward Pellew island group, Northern Territory, Australia: refuge and death-trap

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (4) ◽  
pp. 307 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
S. Ward ◽  
T. Mahney ◽  
J. Bradley ◽  
K. Brennan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Survey Methods ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Biological Knowledge ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Primary Role ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Island Populations ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Sampling Procedures ◽  
Insight Into

Context Australian islands have provided a major conservation refuge for many native mammals; however, conversely, island populations may also be highly susceptible to the introduction of novel threats. Nearby islands subject to different arrays of threats or different timing of arrival of those threats may provide a natural experiment, offering particular insight into the relative impacts of different threats to Australian mammals more generally. Aims The present study sought to document the native mammal fauna occurring on the main islands of the Sir Edward Pellew group, Northern Territory, and the changes in that fauna over a ~50-year period, and to seek to identify those factors that have contributed to such change. Methods In different combinations, the five main islands (and three smaller islands) were subject to standard wildlife survey methods in 1966–67, 1988, 2003, 2004–05, and 2009–10. Sampling procedures were not identical in all periods; however, a measure of abundance (trap success rate) could be calculated for all sampling. This conventional survey approach was complemented by documentation of ethno-biological knowledge. Key results For many species, these islands held populations of biogeographic or conservation significance. However, there has been a major loss or decline of mammal species from most islands. Extirpation is difficult to prove; however, we consider it most likely that the important regional populations of brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), northern brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale pirata), common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and canefield rat (Rattus sordidus) have been lost from these islands, and that northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), western chestnut mouse (Pseudomys nanus), pale field-rat (Rattus tunneyi) and long-haired rat (Rattus villosissimus) have been lost from most of the islands on which they formerly occurred. Some species–island combinations are known only from the ethno-biological record, and the loss of these populations probably mostly occurred in the period 30–50 years ago. Many other declines and losses occurred in the period between the second (1988) and third (2003) survey. The loss of the northern quoll from Vanderlin Island occurred in 2008. No single factor unambiguously accounts for the declines, although the introduction of cats (Felis catus) provides the best fit to the pattern of decline. A notable exception is the extirpation of northern quoll on Vanderlin Island, which is closely linked to the colonisation of that island by cane toads (Rhinella marina). Conclusions The Sir Edward Pellew group of islands have lost much of their formerly high conservation significance for native mammals over the past 50 years, mostly because of introductions of cats, and to a lesser extent, natural colonisation of the islands by cane toads. Implications The present study has provided some insight into the relative impacts of a range of factors that have been considered as possibly implicated in the decline of native mammals on the northern Australian mainland, with most support being offered here for a primary role for predation by feral cats. The study has also demonstrated the need for better quarantining of islands with significant conservation values. The comprehensive natural colonisation of these islands by cane toads offers a further lesson, of most importance to managers of islands in north-western Australia currently just beyond the range of toads.

Population Ecology of Mesembriomys-Gouldii (Rodentia, Muridae) in the Wet-Dry Tropics of the Northern-Territory

1987 ◽  
Vol 14 (3) ◽  
pp. 293 ◽  
Author(s):  
GR Friend
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Population Increase ◽  
Reproductive Pattern ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Young Females ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
General Decline

A population of the black-footed tree-rat Mesembriomys gouldii was studied between September 1980 and January 1983 in tropical open-forest in the Northern Territory. Twenty-four males and 32 females were captured over 2900 wire-cage trap-nights. Abundance peaked in May-June and October-November of each year, reflecting increased trappability of adults and/or influxes of immature animals following breeding pulses in an otherwise non-seasonal reproductive pattern. There was a marked increase in population during 1981, followed by a general decline to very low numbers during 1982. Females outnumbered males throughout most of the study, and particularly between March and July each year when more young females than males entered the trappable population. Marked seasonal differences in composition, transiency and trappability were apparent between the male and female populations, suggesting a relatively non-social behavioural pattern. The preference shown by M. gouldii for relatively stable, structurally diverse open-forest areas, which are characterised by shrubs and trees with conspicuous and/or fleshy fruits, accords with the limited data on diet. It is further suggested that a geographically but not temporally restricted food resource may explain the patchy distribution and non-seasonal breeding pattern recorded for this species. Climatic variability (particularly rainfall), through its influence on plant phenology and food availability, may strongly influence demographic changes, however, and was deemed responsible for both the population increase in 1981 and the subsequent marked decline during 1982. Long-term studies are needed in the wet-dry tropics to clarify the relationship between many such mammal species and their environment.

scholarly journals Declines in the mammal assemblage of a rugged sandstone environment in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory, Australia

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 181 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Ibbett ◽  
J. C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
M. Oakwood
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Northern Australia ◽  
Success Rates ◽  
Sampling Area ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Clear Cut ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
The Common ◽  
Intermittent Sampling

There has been marked recent decline in the terrestrial mammal fauna across much of northern Australia, with most documentation of such decline for lowland areas. Here we report changes in the assemblage of small mammals in a rugged sandstone environment (Nawurlandja, in Kakadu National Park) over intermittent sampling between 1977 and 2002. Four native mammal species were commonly recorded in the original sampling: sandstone antechinus (Pseudantechinus bilarni), northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), Arnhem rock-rat (Zyzomys maini) and common rock-rat (Z. argurus). Trap success rates declined significantly for the northern quoll, Arnhem rock-rat and all species combined, but increased for the common rock-rat. Despite being recorded commonly in the initial (1977–79) study, no Arnhem rock-rats were recorded in the most recent (2002) sampling. Trap success rates for northern quoll declined by ~90% from 1977–79 to 2002. The reasons for change are not clear-cut. Notably, all sampling occurred before the arrival of cane toads (Rhinella marina), a factor that has caused severe decline in northern quoll numbers elsewhere. Fire was more frequent in the sampling area in the period preceding the 2002 sampling than it was in the period preceding the initial (1977–79) sampling, and this may have contributed to change in mammal abundance.

Gradient analysis of the distribution of mammals in Stage III of Kakadu National Park, with a review of the distribution patterns of mammals across north-western Australia

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
JCZ Woinarski ◽  
RW Braithwaite ◽  
KA Menkhorst ◽  
S Griffin ◽  
r Fishe ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
National Park ◽  
Distribution Patterns ◽  
Stage Iii ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Rainfall Gradient ◽  
Mammal Fauna ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Mammal Diversity ◽  
North Western

A total of 56 native mammal species (about one quarter of the species of land mammals known from Australia) was recorded from the Stage III area of Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. A single environmental gradient (of substrate and disturbance) described well the distributions of species other than bats from this area. For most species, there was little shift in gradient position between three trapping periods (spaced over three years). The mammal fauna comprised a rocky upland assemblage, a lowland monsoon rainforest-swamp assemblage, and an open forest-woodland assemblage. Mammal diversity and abundance was greatest in the rocky uplands. The distribution of most bat species was not clearly associated with this gradient. The Stage III mammal fauna is compared with that described from elsewhere in north-western Australia. Across this region, the fauna shows little variation with longitude, but undergoes substantial latitudinal change in conjunction with a steep rainfall gradient. The habitat reSationships of the Stage III mammal fauna are broadly repeated across north-western Australia. The fauna of sandstone ranges is attenuated with decreasing size and increasing isolation of these ranges. The mammal fauna of monsoon rainforests is depauperate, reflecting the small size and patchiness of this habitat. The mammal fauna of open forest/woodland is characterised by extensive distributions of its constituent species and a relative lack of arboreal folivores and small macropods.

scholarly journals Local-scale determinants of arboreal spider beta diversity in a temperate forest: roles of tree architecture, spatial distance, and dispersal capacity

PeerJ ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 6 ◽  
pp. e5596 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qiongdao Zhang ◽  
Dong He ◽  
Hua Wu ◽  
Wei Shi ◽  
Cong Chen
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Environmental Gradient ◽  
Dispersal Limitation ◽  
Local Scale ◽  
Tree Architecture ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Spatial Distance ◽  
Species Variation ◽  
Dispersal Capacity ◽  
Canopy Volume

Spiders are a functionally important taxon in forest ecosystems, but the determinants of arboreal spider beta diversity are poorly understood at the local scale. We examined spider assemblages in 324 European beech (Fagus sylvatica) trees of varying sizes across three forest stands in Würzburg (Germany) to disentangle the roles of tree architecture, spatial distance, and dispersal capacity on spider turnover across individual trees. A large proportion of tree pairs (66%) showed higher compositional dissimilarity in spider assemblages than expected by chance, suggesting prominent roles of habitat specialization and/or dispersal limitation. Trees with higher dissimilarity in DBH and canopy volume, and to a lesser extent in foliage cover, supported more dissimilar spider assemblages, suggesting that tree architecture comprised a relevant environmental gradient of sorting spider species. Variation partitioning revealed that 28.4% of the variation in beta diversity was jointly explained by tree architecture, spatial distance (measured by principal coordinates of neighbor matrices) and dispersal capacity (quantified by ballooning propensity). Among these, dispersal capacity accounted for a comparable proportion as spatial distance did (6.8% vs. 5.9%). Beta diversity did not significantly differ between high- and low-vagility groups, but beta diversity in species with high vagility was more strongly determined by spatially structured environmental variation. Altogether, both niche specialization, along the environmental gradient defined by tree architecture, and dispersal limitation are responsible for structuring arboreal spider assemblages. High dispersal capacity of spiders appears to reinforce the role of niche-related processes.

Powerline Easements: Do They Promote Edge Effects in Eucalypt Forest for Small Mammals?

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (6) ◽  
pp. 737 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Robert J. Whelan
Keyword(s):  
Small Mammals ◽  
Edge Effects ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Vegetative Cover ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Eucalypt Forest ◽  
Hair Sampling ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii

The distribution and abundance of small terrestrial mammals were assessed in forest adjacent to powerline easements at three different sites in New South Wales. At each site, four transects of 300 m length extended into the forest from the edge of the easement. The abundances of two native species (Antechinus stuartii, Rattus fuscipes) did not differ significantly with distance from the easement but abundances differed markedly among sites. Mammals were captured in only one easement where dense vegetation was present. Feral carnivores, which may mediate edge effects on small mammals, were surveyed by using hair-sampling tubes. Cats and dogs were detected only 50–200 m inside the forest. Foxes were not detected by hair-tubes but were observed on two easements. These results suggest that powerline easements may not create edge effects in eucalypt forest for some native mammal species, although further studies are needed to determine the generality of this conclusion. We recommend that easement management should be more benign to native mammals, given the ubiquity of this form of habitat fragmentation. Promotion of dense vegetative cover and habitat linkages within easements could achieve this.

An attempt to determine the size of the Common Barn-owl’s (Tyto alba) hunting area based on its prey composition

2021 ◽  
pp. 175815592110660
Author(s):  
Jenő J Purger ◽  
Dávid Szép
Keyword(s):  
Functional Groups ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Barn Owl ◽  
Tyto Alba ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Prey Composition ◽  
Small Mammal Species ◽  
Owl Pellets

The relative abundance of small mammal species detected from Common Barn-owl pellets reflects the landscape structure and habitat pattern of the owl’s hunting area, but it is also affected by the size of the collected pellet sample and the size of the supposed hunting area. The questions arise: how many pellets should be collected and analyzed as well as how large hunting area should be taken into consideration in order to reach the best correspondence between the owl’s prey composition and the distribution of habitats preferred by small mammals preyed in supposed hunting areas? For this study, we collected 1045 Common Barn-owl pellets in a village in southern Hungary. All detected small mammal species were classified into functional groups (guilds) preferring urban, open, forest and wetland habitats. The proportion of functional groups was compared to the proportion of these habitats around the pellet collection site within circles of one, two, and three km radius. Saturation curves showed that at least 300 pellets or ca. 600 mammalian remains are required for the detection of the 19 small mammal species. The share of small mammals detected in the prey and their functional groups according to their habitat preference showed an increasing consistency with the distribution of real habitats in the potential hunting area of a radius of 3 km around the owl’s breeding or resting place.

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