Home range, habitat suitability and population modelling of feral Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (2) ◽  
pp. 107 ◽  
Author(s):  
Calum X. Cunningham ◽  
Thomas A. A. Prowse ◽  
Pip Masters ◽  
Phillip Cassey
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Population Modelling ◽  
Demographic Models ◽  
Pavo Cristatus

The Indian peafowl (Pavo cristatus) is a declared alien pest species on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, where it is implicated in a range of social problems and potential ecological impacts. To inform the management of feral peafowl, we aimed to (1) provide an estimate of peafowl distribution and abundance; (2) measure peafowl home ranges; (3) calculate the area of suitable peafowl habitat; and (4) estimate how the population could change under various culling scenarios. Using expert and landholder surveys, we estimated that ~380 individuals (range 330–428) were distributed among 21 separate groups on Kangaroo Island. Habitat suitability modelling identified native vegetation near agriculture as the preferred peafowl habitat and indicated that substantial unoccupied suitable habitat is available. The mean home range of eight peafowl was 52 ha and one dispersal event of 4.5 km demonstrated that unoccupied suitable habitat could feasibly be colonised. Demographic models indicated that, if unmanaged, the peafowl population could exceed 2000 individuals after 10 years, but that culling ~85 individuals annually could maintain the current population size. We therefore suggest that control of the Kangaroo Island peafowl population is warranted while the current distribution of peafowl is well understood.

The ecology of sympatric scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in arid South Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Read
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Local Species ◽  
Olympic Dam

Ctenotus skinks are the most diverse and abundant diurnal reptile genus at Olympic Dam, in the South Australian arid zone. The home range, demography, reproduction and diet of five syntopic Ctenotus species was studied over a 6-year period in chenopod shrubland. Longevity frequently exceeded three years in C. regius, four years in C. schomburgkii and five years in C. leonhardii, with a 7-year-old specimen of C. leonhardii being recorded. Females of most species tended to be larger and lived longer than males. Two eggs were typically laid by each species in early summer. Annual reproductive effort, particularly in C. leonhardii, varied considerably depending upon the prevailing environmental conditions. All local species apparently occupied home ranges, with maximum recapture radii in different species of 40–60 m. Ctenotus appear to be unspecialised insectivores, although plant material and lizards are sometimes eaten by the larger species.

Urban cat (Felis catus) movement and predation activity associated with a wetland reserve in New Zealand

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (7) ◽  
pp. 574 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. A. Morgan ◽  
C. M. Hansen ◽  
J. G. Ross ◽  
G. J. Hickling ◽  
S. C. Ogilvie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New Zealand ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Domestic Cats ◽  
Hunting Activity ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Prey Items

Context. House cats are increasingly suggested as having major ecological impacts in semiurban environments. Information on the activity of house cats is relatively scarce, especially in habitats such as wetlands. Aims. This study examines the movement and foraging behaviour of house cats living on the periphery of a wetland reserve in Christchurch city, New Zealand. Methods. Twenty-one domestic cats living in a suburban residential area were studied using radiotelemetry to determine home-range size, mean and maximum distances travelled into the adjacent wetland, and the proportion of time spent in the wetland over a 12-month period. Surveys of prey retrieval for 88 cats were also carried out by cat owners over the same 12-month period. Key results. Cat age and the distance of the cat’s home from the periphery of the wetland were highly correlated with cat movement and hunting activity. These movements were not markedly influenced by season or time of day. Younger cats (<6 years of age) living on the periphery of the wetland had larger home-range sizes, moved significantly further into the wetland and spent a significantly greater proportion of time in the wetland. Cats living close to the wetland also brought a greater diversity and a greater total number of prey items to their home-site. Rates of predation were not significantly influenced by sex or whether the cat was wearing a bell. The most common prey items were introduced rodents and birds; however, 172 of 981 prey items were identified as a native common skink. Conclusions.Consequently, cats living in households on the wetland periphery currently pose a predation risk for the wetland species, and the impact of cats on the native skink population warrants further investigation. Implications. This study suggests that domestic cats will exploit wild habitats but that their potential impact will have both positive (predation of introduced pest species) and negative (occasional direct predation) effects on native wildlife.

How many mature microhabitats does a slow-recolonising reptile require? Implications for restoration of bauxite minesites in south-western Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Angela M. Benkovic ◽  
Andrew H. Grigg ◽  
Giles E. St J. Hardy ◽  
Patricia A. Fleming ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Random Samples ◽  
Successional Species

If we are to accelerate the recolonisation of restored areas by slow-recolonising species, we must provide suitable microhabitats at appropriate densities. Previous research in south-western Australia has shown that Napoleon’s skink (Egernia napoleonis) rarely recolonises restored areas. We trapped Napoleon’s skink in restoration and unmined forest to confirm the species was late successional. We also radio-tracked six skinks in unmined forest, to determine types and characteristics of used microhabitats, and estimated home ranges to determine required microhabitat densities, with the aim of accelerating skink recolonisation of restored areas. All tracked skinks used logs and hollow-bearing trees. Used logs were larger, and used trees were larger and taller than random samples, probably because large logs and trees were more likely to contain cracks and hollows that provide a refuge from predators. Extrapolations from home-range estimates indicated that a minimum of four logs ha–1 are required in restored areas to facilitate recolonisation by skinks, with skink densities likely to increase with log densities. Our study demonstrated that not all fauna will naturally recolonise restored areas and management of these areas is required to provide suitable habitat for late-successional species. Our approach could potentially be applied to other ecosystems or species.

scholarly journals Urban Rats in Wellington: Estimating Home Ranges, Population Densities and Detection Probabilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Mackenzie
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Detection Probability ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Spatial Behavior ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ship Rat ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Bait Station

<p><b>The ship rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) are prolific pest species with a near- global distribution. Their spread has had serious public health repercussions as carriers of disease and by causing considerable agricultural losses. They are also invasive to many native ecosystems, degrading ecosystem processes, and preying upon native species, resulting in significant losses to biodiversity. </b></p><p>This study aims to guide more effective rat management strategies through an increased understanding of the spatial ecology of rats in an urban environment. Three separate studies were conducted, all located in Wellington, New Zealand: </p><p>1) A radio-telemetry study looked at the home range and spatial behavior of 10 urban ship rats. Results showed comparatively small home ranges (0.01 - 0.45 ha at 100% minimum convex polygons) with maximum linear distances within a home range of 19-74m. There was significant spatial overlap between home ranges– up to 90% (between two adjacent home ranges); co-nesting behavior between both sexes; frequent diurnal activity amongst ship rats (9 of 10 rats); and two longer distance dispersal events (~120m) by ship rats. Implications for rat management include: a need for tighter spacing of devices in urban habitats for control and detection of survivors, potentially every 20-25m if eradication is the goal. </p><p>2) A capture mark re-sight study to estimate the minimum density of ship rats in an 0.63 ha urban bush fragment. A total of five rats were live caught in cage traps and uniquely marked before release. An additional eight wild rats were uniquely identified on cameras based on distinctive features of their appearance. A conservative Lincoln-Petersen estimate was used to estimate the number of rats within the bush fragment: this produced an estimate of 14.6 rats with 95% confidence intervals [7.69-55.6], which translates to a density of 23.2 rats/ha [12.2-88.25]. These densities are significantly higher than those found in most mainland studies and more comparable to those in island habitats. This could be because ship rats are subsidizing their diet with human-derived foods, although this was not confirmed here. </p><p>3) A detection probability study investigated the sensitivity of three devices (wax tag, chew card and bait station) to ship rat presence and examining age-related differences in detection. The bait station was found to have the highest detection probability (0.5 detections/sighting) followed by the wax tag (0.44 detections/sighting) and chew card (0.37 detections/sighting) although results were based on data retrieved from a low sample size of devices (n=2 of each type). The bait station showed a sharp difference between the adult (0.1 detections/sighting) and adolescent populations (0.89 detections/sighting) detection probability. Furthermore, this difference in detection probability was found, although less pronounced, in both the wax tag and chew card. Implications for rat management include: a recommendation that wax tags be used as the primary means of ship rat monitoring; a need for further behavioral studies looking at detection probabilities across a range of kill and monitoring devices so that the most effective ones can be identified; and the development and testing of devices that are attractive to adult rats that may have become “trap shy”. </p><p>These three studies together provide useful insights into urban rat ecology with implications for pest management. However, a more comprehensive study with larger sample sizes is recommended to fully substantiate this work. </p>

scholarly journals Estimating encounter location distributions from animal tracking data

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael J. Noonan ◽  
Ricardo Martinez-Garcia ◽  
Grace H. Davis ◽  
Margaret C. Crofoot ◽  
Roland Kays ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Animal Movement ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Simulated Data ◽  
Theoretical Concept ◽  
Barro Colorado Island ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
List Type ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Animal Tracking

AbstractEcologists have long been interested in linking individual behavior with higher-level processes. For motile species, this ‘upscaling’ is governed by how well any given movement strategy maximizes encounters with positive factors, and minimizes encounters with negative factors. Despite the importance of encounter events for a broad range of ecological processes, encounter theory has not kept pace with developments in animal tracking or movement modeling. Furthermore, existing work has focused primarily on the relationship between animal movement and encounter rates while no theoretical framework exists for directly relating individual movement with the spatial locations of encounter events in the environment.Here, we bridge this gap by introducing a new theoretical concept describing the long-term encounter location probabilities for movement within home ranges, termed the conditional distribution of encounters (CDE). We then derive this distribution, as well as confidence intervals, implement its statistical estimator into open source software, and demonstrate the broad ecological relevance of this novel concept.We first use simulated data to show how our estimator provides asymptotically consistent estimates. We then demonstrate the general utility of this method for three simulation-based scenarios that occur routinely in biological systems: i) a population of individuals with home ranges that overlap with neighbors; ii) a pair of individuals with a hard territorial border between their home ranges; and iii) a predator with a large home range that encompassed the home ranges of multiple prey individuals. Using GPS data from white-faced capuchins (Cebus capucinus) tracked on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, and sleepy lizards (Tiliqua rugosa) tracked in Bundey, South Australia, we then show how the CDE can be used to estimate the locations of territorial borders, identify key resources, quantify the location-specific potential for competition, and/or identify any changes in behaviour that directly result from location-specific encounter probability.This novel target distribution enables researchers to better understand the dynamics of populations of interacting individuals. Notably, the general estimation framework developed in this work builds straightforwardly off of home range estimation and requires no specialised data collection protocols. This method is now openly available via the ctmm R package.

scholarly journals Bandicoots return to Booderee: initial survival, dispersal, home range and habitat preferences of reintroduced southern brown bandicoots (eastern sub species; Isoodon obesulus obesulus)

2018 ◽  
Vol 45 (2) ◽  
pp. 132 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. M. Robinson ◽  
C. I. MacGregor ◽  
B. A. Hradsky ◽  
N. Dexter ◽  
D. B. Lindenmayer
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
National Park ◽  
Effective Means ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Eastern Australia

Context Reintroductions can be an effective means of re-establishing locally extinct or declining faunal populations. However, incomplete knowledge of variables influencing survival and establishment can limit successful outcomes. Aim We aimed to examine the factors (e.g. sex, body mass, release order) influencing the survival, dispersal, home range and habitat selection of reintroduced southern brown bandicoots (eastern subspecies; Isoodon obesulus obesulus) into an unfenced, predator-managed environment in south-eastern Australia (Booderee National Park). Methods Over 2 weeks in May 2016, six female and five male bandicoots were wild-caught in state forest and hard released into the park. Release locations were approximately evenly distributed between three primary vegetation types assessed as suitable habitat: heath, woodland and forest. Bandicoots were radio-tracked day and night for 4 weeks from the initial release date. Key results No mortality was detected. Males dispersed more than twice as far as females (male 704 m, female 332 m), but there was no significant sex bias in home range size. At the landscape scale, bandicoots preferentially selected home ranges that contained heath and avoided forest. Within home ranges, heath and woodland were both favoured over forest. Conclusions Post-release dispersal is sex-biased, but more data are required to determine the influence of other predictors such as body mass and release order. Within the release area, bandicoots favoured non-forest vegetation types. Implications Our study outlines factors influencing the establishment of reintroduced bandicoots. We recommend that future bandicoot reintroductions to Booderee National Park occur within areas of heath and woodland, and that subsequent releases consider the potentially larger spatial requirements and conspecific avoidance among male bandicoots. Our findings contribute new knowledge for improving translocation methods of a nationally endangered medium-sized mammal.

scholarly journals Home Ranges and Spatial Organization of Fishers, Martes pennanti, in Central British Columbia

2009 ◽  
Vol 123 (2) ◽  
pp. 126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard D. Weir ◽  
Alton S. Harestad ◽  
Fraser B. Corbould
Keyword(s):  
British Columbia ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Spatial Organization ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Martes Pennanti ◽  
Utilization Distribution ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon

We described the size and spatial arrangement of aggregate and seasonal home ranges for 17 radio-tagged resident Fishers (Martes pennanti) that were >1.5 years old in two areas of central British Columbia during 1990-1993 and 1996-2000. We estimated home range size for each Fisher from the 95% isopleth of the utilization distribution generated using a fixed kernel model with smoothing selected by least-squares cross-validation (95% FK). For comparison to previous studies, we also calculated the minimum convex polygon estimate of home range size (MCP) for each animal. The aggregate home ranges (95% FK) of female Fishers (mean = 37.9 km², SD = 18.5, range = 10.5 – 81.2, n = 11) were significantly smaller than those of males (mean = 161.3 km², SD = 100.0, range = 46.0 – 225.2, n = 3; P = 0.019). We observed minor overlap among 95% FK home ranges of Fishers of the same sex, but considerable overlap among home ranges of males and females. Home ranges (95% FK or MCP) that we observed in central British Columbia were larger than those reported elsewhere in North America, particularly for males. We suggest that the distribution of resources for Fishers may occur at lower gross densitiesin central British Columbia than in other portions of the Fisher’s range and that suitable habitat in which Fishers can establish home ranges is not found uniformly across the landscape.

Home-range fidelity in the Australian sleepy lizard, Tiliqua rugosa

1999 ◽  
Vol 47 (2) ◽  
pp. 125 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Michael Bull ◽  
Michael J. Freake
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Time Interval ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Spring Season ◽  
Tiliqua Rugosa ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
One Year ◽  
Semi Arid

A study was conducted at a semi-arid site near Mt Mary, South Australia. Fifty-eight adult sleepy lizards, Tiliqua rugosa, were radio-tagged and regularly located over the spring season, when they are most active, for 2-5 years. Home-range area did not differ between males and females. Changes in home-range position between years were assessed by the distance between home-range centres measured at intervals of one, two, three or four years. Mean distances for successive years were less than the span of the home range in one year. The distance did not differ between sexes, it was not related to lizard size, nor did it increase with increased time interval. This implies that for the resident adult population, lizards retain their home ranges for at least five years, and that the sexes do not differ in their fidelity to home range.

scholarly journals Urban Rats in Wellington: Estimating Home Ranges, Population Densities and Detection Probabilities

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry Mackenzie
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Detection Probability ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Spatial Behavior ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Pest Species ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Ship Rat ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
Bait Station

<p><b>The ship rat (Rattus rattus) and Norway rat (Rattus norvegicus) are prolific pest species with a near- global distribution. Their spread has had serious public health repercussions as carriers of disease and by causing considerable agricultural losses. They are also invasive to many native ecosystems, degrading ecosystem processes, and preying upon native species, resulting in significant losses to biodiversity. </b></p><p>This study aims to guide more effective rat management strategies through an increased understanding of the spatial ecology of rats in an urban environment. Three separate studies were conducted, all located in Wellington, New Zealand: </p><p>1) A radio-telemetry study looked at the home range and spatial behavior of 10 urban ship rats. Results showed comparatively small home ranges (0.01 - 0.45 ha at 100% minimum convex polygons) with maximum linear distances within a home range of 19-74m. There was significant spatial overlap between home ranges– up to 90% (between two adjacent home ranges); co-nesting behavior between both sexes; frequent diurnal activity amongst ship rats (9 of 10 rats); and two longer distance dispersal events (~120m) by ship rats. Implications for rat management include: a need for tighter spacing of devices in urban habitats for control and detection of survivors, potentially every 20-25m if eradication is the goal. </p><p>2) A capture mark re-sight study to estimate the minimum density of ship rats in an 0.63 ha urban bush fragment. A total of five rats were live caught in cage traps and uniquely marked before release. An additional eight wild rats were uniquely identified on cameras based on distinctive features of their appearance. A conservative Lincoln-Petersen estimate was used to estimate the number of rats within the bush fragment: this produced an estimate of 14.6 rats with 95% confidence intervals [7.69-55.6], which translates to a density of 23.2 rats/ha [12.2-88.25]. These densities are significantly higher than those found in most mainland studies and more comparable to those in island habitats. This could be because ship rats are subsidizing their diet with human-derived foods, although this was not confirmed here. </p><p>3) A detection probability study investigated the sensitivity of three devices (wax tag, chew card and bait station) to ship rat presence and examining age-related differences in detection. The bait station was found to have the highest detection probability (0.5 detections/sighting) followed by the wax tag (0.44 detections/sighting) and chew card (0.37 detections/sighting) although results were based on data retrieved from a low sample size of devices (n=2 of each type). The bait station showed a sharp difference between the adult (0.1 detections/sighting) and adolescent populations (0.89 detections/sighting) detection probability. Furthermore, this difference in detection probability was found, although less pronounced, in both the wax tag and chew card. Implications for rat management include: a recommendation that wax tags be used as the primary means of ship rat monitoring; a need for further behavioral studies looking at detection probabilities across a range of kill and monitoring devices so that the most effective ones can be identified; and the development and testing of devices that are attractive to adult rats that may have become “trap shy”. </p><p>These three studies together provide useful insights into urban rat ecology with implications for pest management. However, a more comprehensive study with larger sample sizes is recommended to fully substantiate this work. </p>

Home Range and Activity Patterns of the Sand Goanna, Varanus gouldii (Reptilia: Varanidae)

1978 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 417 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Green ◽  
D King
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Activity Areas

The movements of two subspecies of the sand goanna, V. gouldii, were studied at two localities in South Australia. The estimated home ranges of individuals of V.g. rosenbergi differed considerably, the largest area being 25 times the size of the smallest. Daily activity areas varied with the season, being largest in summer and smallest in winter. There were distinct differences between the two subspecies in their activity patterns, V. g. rosenbergi being active throughout the year whereas Kg. gouldii remained underground during winter.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document