Seasonal changes in the diet of the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) assessed by analysis of faecal scats and of stable isotopes in blood

2005 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 87 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Thums ◽  
Marcel Klaassen ◽  
Ian D. Hume
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
New South ◽  
Isotope Analysis ◽  
Scat Analysis ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
Invertebrate Prey ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lepidopteran Larvae ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Assimilated Diet

The diet of long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) on the central coast of New South Wales, Australia, was examined over two summers and two winters using a combination of faecal scat analysis for food fragments and stable isotope analysis (ratios of 13C/12C and 15N/14N) of blood. Isotope ratios in blood overlapped most strongly with those in invertebrate prey, and varied much less between seasons than did those in most dietary items, suggesting that the assimilated diet of long-nosed bandicoots is dominated by invertebrates throughout the year. Invertebrate remains dominated collected faeces in both seasons, even though the availability of invertebrate prey was higher in summer. Thus both techniques indicated that long-nosed bandicoots were primarily insectivorous year-round. Faecal scat analysis indicated that invertebrate eggs were more abundant in summer than winter. At a finer scale, spiders, orthopterans, lepidopteran larvae, ants, leaf material (non-grass monocot) and seeds were more abundant in summer, while cicada larvae, roots, fungi, grass leaves and Acacia bract (small modified leaves appearing as scales) were more abundant in winter. Subterranean foods (cicada larvae, plant roots and hypogeous fungi) were more abundant in winter and more abundant in the diet of males than of either lactating or non-lactating females.

Seasonal energetics of the long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) in coastal New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 51 (2) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Thums ◽  
Ian D. Hume ◽  
Lesley A. Gibson
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Turnover Rate ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
New South ◽  
Metabolic Rates ◽  
Turnover Rates ◽  
Water Turnover ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Field Metabolic Rates

Water-turnover rates and field metabolic rates were measured in long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) near Newcastle, New South Wales, over two summers and two winters. Water-turnover rates were higher in lactating than in non-lactating females, and higher in winter than in summer, possibly because of a relatively high proportion (50%) of females at or near peak lactation in one winter. There were no significant differences in field metabolic rates between seasons or among groups (males, lactating females and non-lactating females). The overall field metabolic rate of the long-nosed bandicoot was within 9% of the predicted value for a marsupial of its size, and similar to rates reported for most other bandicoots, both temperate and arid-zone species. Its overall water-turnover rate was within 18% of the predicted marsupial value, but higher than values reported for arid-zone bandicoot species. Comparison with other data indicates that seasonal changes in water-turnover rate are related to changes in reproductive status (especially lactation), as in this study, but for field metabolic rate, seasonal changes are related to changes in water status and thus productivity of the environment.

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.

Habitat Selection by Sex, Age and Reproductive Class in the Red Kangaroo, Macropus rufus, in Western New South Wales

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 465 ◽  
Author(s):  
CN Johnson ◽  
PG Bayliss
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
National Park ◽  
Mating Systems ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Red Kangaroo ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Macropus Rufus ◽  
Lactating Females

The kangaroo populations of Kinchega National Park respond differently to shifts in pasture productivity, red kangaroos Macropus rufus being mobile and unevenly distributed with respect to soil and vegetation types, by comparison with the more evenly dispersed western grey kangaroos M. fuliginosus and the sedentary and localized euros M, robustus erubescens. Red kangaroo population classes tend to be differentially distributed, so that large males and heavily lactating females predominate on the seasonally preferred pastures, while other classes tend to predominate elsewhere. This finding has several implications for the management of red kangaroos and for our understanding of their resource ecology and mating systems.

Ecology of the Little Black Cormorant, Phalacrocorax sulcirostris, and Little Pied Cormorant, P. melanoleucos, in Inland New South Wales I. Food and Feeding Habits.

1979 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 79 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Miller
Keyword(s):  
Common Carp ◽  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
New South ◽  
Feeding Habits ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Live Weight ◽  
Exotic Fish ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Food And Feeding

The food and feeding habits of two species of cormorant were studied on a group of freshwater lakes in inland New South Wales. P. sulcirostris fed mainly on exotic fish (69% of live weight of prey), captured while fishing communally in the deeper waters. P. melanoleucos fed mainly on native decapod crustaceans (60% of prey) captured while fishing individually in the shallow parts of the lakes, and in nearby billabongs and farm dams. P. sulcirostris took larger common carp Carassius auratus, redfin Perca fluviatilis and yabby Cherax destructor than its congener. Seasonal changes in the diet of P. sulcirostris were similar in each year; its major prey, common carp and redfin, were least available during winter and spring, as fry grew too large to be captured and swallowed. Changes in diet of P. melanoleucos were irregular, as the availability of yabby, its major prey, was influenced by the turbidity, level and temperature of water. Seasonal changes in diets of both cormorants were attributed to changes in prey availability, and not changes in food preference. Food of nestlings sometimes differed from that of adults.

Diagnostic leaf analysis for stone fruit. 2. Seasonal changes in the leaf composition of peach

1974 ◽  
Vol 14 (71) ◽  
pp. 822 ◽  
Author(s):  
DR Leece ◽  
AR Gilmour
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
New South ◽  
Element Composition ◽  
Rate Of Change ◽  
Correction Factors ◽  
Nutrient Element ◽  
Composition Data ◽  
Leaf Analysis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Leaf Composition

Changes in the nutrient-element composition of leaves of peach cvs. Golden Queen, Gaum6, and Halehaven were measured monthly during the 1971 -72 and 1972-73 seasons in New South Wales. For all cultivars, the rate of change of leaf composition was least during January and February. Thus leaf composition standards should be based on January-February samples and diagnostic sampling should be confined to this period where possible. Correction factors for adjusting the composition November, December and March samples back to January 31 levels were calculated from polynomials with time fitted to the leaf composition data.

Seasonal changes in Ectoparasite infection of juvenile Yellowfin Bream, Acanthopagrus australis, (Gunther) (Pisces: Sparidae). from a small estuary in Northern NSW

1990 ◽  
Vol 41 (3) ◽  
pp. 411 ◽  
Author(s):  
FR Roubal
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
The Other ◽  
Copepod Species ◽  
Seasonal Prevalence ◽  
Intensity Of Infection ◽  
Annual Cycles ◽  
South Wales

Seven monogenean, 1 digenean and 9 copepod species of ectoparasite were found on 179 juvenile Acanthopagrus australis collected bimonthly over two 12-month periods from a small estuary at Red Rock in northern New South Wales. The monogenean Allomurraytrema spari and the copepod Alella macrotrachelus showed a consistent cycle of spring-summer high and late summer-autumn low in prevalence and intensity of infection, whereas the digenean Prototransversotrema steeri was present only in winter. The monogenean Haliotrema spariensis was highly prevalent year-round, but other monogeneans were inconsistent in seasonal prevalence and intensity. The copepods Paraergasilus acanthopagri and Dermoergasilus acanthopagri showed inconsistent annual cycles, but their fluctuations in prevalence and intensity were nearly identical. The other species of ectoparasite had no consistent cycles or were rarely found. Temperature does not appear to directly regulate the abundance of ectoparasites on juvenile Acanthopagrus australis in Red Rock estuary.

Seasonal changes in Pelage of Miniopterus schreibersi blepotis (Chiroptera) in north-eastern NSW.

1963 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 290 ◽  
Author(s):  
PD Dwyer
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Changes ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Age Groups ◽  
Adult Females ◽  
Early Autumn ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Reproductive Cycles

In M. s. blepotis, of north-eastern New South Wales, the annual moult occurs during the summer and early autumn and lasts about 14.5 weeks. Yearlings having their first moult usually initiate this some 3 weeks after the adults commence. In many adult females the moult is inhibited during lactation and again during the winter so that some individuals may be found moulting in all months of the year. The importance of considering annual pelage characters when using colour taxonomically in bats is emphasized, and possible relationships between moult and reproductive cycles are indicated. In addition the use of pelage characteristics, in conjunction with reproductive criteria as a means of recognizing age groups of M. s. blepotis, is discussed.

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