Obsevations on the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) I. Numbers, home, range, movements and food in two populations

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Guiler
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Differential Mortality ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Abundant Food ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii

Two geographically separate populations of S. harrisii were studied. There is evidence that long-term population cycles exist in this species. Devils are non-territorial and have a home range which may be shared by several animals. Sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub are their favoured habitats. Individuals in the two populations showed different movements, probably related to food availability; those in areas of abundant food moved about 2 miles and had small home ranges whereas those in areas with less food moved over at least 10 miles per night. The density of population was high in one area, reaching over 30 per square mile, but this is abnormal. Devils have a wide food spectrum and use introduced species as well as native, but in each area their food was based upon one to three species. Man is the principal predator on adult devils. Females were more numerous in all populations but a heavier mortality of this sex occurs in late life. This differential mortality took place at immaturity in one population. Juvenile recruitment was greater in areas with less food than in areas of abundant food, due to the absence of overcrowding.

Demography and home range of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in south-eastern Tasmania

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Mallick ◽  
Michael M. Driessen ◽  
Gregory J. Hocking
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Small Width ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Two Populations

We used live-trapping to study the demography and movement of two populations of the eastern barred bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, in south-eastern Tasmania from 1992 to 1996. Densities were 0.35–2.35 animals ha–1. Sex ratios were male-dominated on Grid I and female-dominated on Grid II. The average body weight for sexual maturity was 700g for males and 680g for females, while the lowest recorded weight for a breeding female was 570g. Perameles gunnii was sexually dimorphic, with males having a greater body weight and pes length than females. Recruitment was 25.4–32.1%, residence 46.7–100.0%, and emigration 16.5–25.5% of the population. Three juveniles were recruited to the Grid I population, 55 to Grid II, with a steady decline in the number of juveniles recruited to Grid II over the four years of the study. Breeding occurred year-round. Mean litter size was 2.53, with 78.2% of all litters having either 2 or 3 young. Mean longevity for male and female P. gunnii was 7.91 and 10.54 months, respectively. Home ranges of males (4.29 ha) were significantly larger than those of females (2.34 ha), although this may represent a significant underestimate due to the small width of our grids (200m) relative to the home-range area. There was only moderate overlap (19.3%) between home ranges of males and females. The overlap between male/male home ranges (4.4%) was significantly less than the overlap between female/female home ranges (15.8%). Perameles gunnii carried both ticks and fleas, with flea infestation being significantly higher on Grid I than on Grid II. Both populations underwent a significant decline over the study period, apparently the result of the unusually dry conditions over the first 3 years of the study. A deterioration in conditions was associated with a steady loss of resident adults, declining recruitment of juveniles and an increase in the male/female sex ratio. The sex ratio of P. gunnii populations may provide a convenient index of habitat quality, with poor or deteriorating conditions apparently associated with a high or increasing numbers of males to females.

Terrestrial activity and summer home range of the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond D. Semlitsch
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Carolina Bays ◽  
Mole Salamander ◽  
Ambystoma Talpoideum ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Activity Center ◽  
Two Populations

The terrestrial activity and summer home range of Ambystoma talpoideum is described in two populations in South Carolina. Emigration of adults from breeding sites occurred from March through May during 1979 and 1980. Adults spent 237–354 days in terrestrial habitats before returning to breeding sites during autumn and early winter. Females spent significantly more time in terrestrial habitats than males. Movement of A. talpoideum into and out of the breeding sites around the perimeter of the Carolina bays was nonrandom. Salamanders used corridors of dense vegetation more frequently than open, grassy shoreline areas. Emigration of individual adults to summer home ranges occurred within several nights and summer home ranges were established 81–261 m from the edge of the bays. Juveniles emigrated significantly shorter distances (12–67 m) than adults. Summer home ranges comprised several focal points of activity or "activity centers." The area of each activity center was relatively constant among individuals (0.02–0.21 m2) when compared with the area of a "minimum polygon" home range (0.11–23.3 m2). Ambystoma talpoideum inhabited burrow systems within each activity center. Burrows ran parallel to the surface of the forest floor and averaged 1.7 cm in diameter and 4.7 cm below the surface.

Home Range and Activity Patterns of Red Foxes in Nadgee Nature Reserve.

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (6) ◽  
pp. 677 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Phillips ◽  
PC Catling
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Wilderness Area ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Male Activity

Three adult red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in a 20-km2 wilderness area of coastal south-eastern Australia were studied during pre-denning and denning. Home ranges were defined by geographic featues, but not by roads. The foxes occupied exclusive home ranges, and observations suggest that they were territorial and existed alone or, at most, in mated pairs. Home-range sizes were small (1.2-5.2 km2) compared with those in North America and Europe, but similar to those in England and Wales. During denning the female's activity became almost entirely diurnal. When not active, the vixen was with the cubs. Male activity during denning was nocturnal, but, as found for the female, inactive periods were spent near the suspected den-site in his home range. Habitats that were frequented most by all foxes were those with the highest abundance of either small or medium-sized mammals. Dry sclerophyll forest was used consistently by all foxes but heathland and the beaches were rarely frequented. Small and medium-sized mammals, which were abundant in all habitats except the beach and heathland, made up 52.6% of items in the scats.

scholarly journals Long-term spatial stability of coyote (Canis latrans) home ranges in southeastern Colorado

2000 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 458-464 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ann M Kitchen ◽  
Eric M Gese ◽  
Edward R Schauster
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Distribution ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Canis Latrans ◽  
Core Area ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Spatial Stability ◽  
Long Term Stability ◽  
Period 2 ◽  
Territorial Boundaries

Long-term stability of territorial boundaries has not been well documented in canids. To evaluate the prevalence of long-term spatial stability of coyote (Canis latrans) home ranges, we compared the overlap of territorial boundaries and the spatial distribution of telemetry locations of packs in southeastern Colorado. From August 1983 to July 1988 (period 1), 16 coyotes from six packs were radio-tracked. From April 1996 to August 1997 (period 2), 12 coyotes from six packs were captured and tracked in the same area. Mean percentage of overlap of pack ranges was 89.8 ± 8.3% (±SD) for period 1 ranges over period 2 ranges and 55.8 ± 14.4% for period 2 ranges over period 1 ranges. Mean percentage of overlap of the 30% core area of the home ranges was 65.2 ± 13.9% for those of period 1 over those of period 2 and 66.3 ± 28.7% for those of period 2 over those of period 1. Despite substantial overlap of home-range and core-use areas, there were significant differences in the distribution of locations between periods in five of six home ranges. This suggests that, although packs are faithful to one site (i.e., boundaries remain similar over a period of years), their use of the site (i.e., distribution of locations within the range) may change temporally.

Long-term presence and movement patterns of juvenile bull sharks, Carcharhinus leucas, in an estuarine river system

2010 ◽  
Vol 61 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michelle R. Heupel ◽  
Beau G. Yeiser ◽  
Angela B. Collins ◽  
Lori Ortega ◽  
Colin A. Simpfendorfer
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Daily Activity ◽  
River System ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Activity Spaces ◽  
Diurnal Patterns ◽  
Carcharhinus Leucas ◽  
Acoustic Array ◽  
Caloosahatchee River

Elasmobranchs living in rivers and estuaries may be highly susceptible to environmental and anthropogenic changes to coastal habitats. To address this, patterns of movement of 67 juvenile bull sharks (Carcharhinus leucas) were examined in the Caloosahatchee River between 2003 and 2006 using an array of 25 acoustic receivers. Individuals were monitored for periods of 1–460 days with most present for periods of weeks to months. Individuals utilised the entire monitored section of the river (~27 km) and also moved upriver beyond the extent of the acoustic array. Daily activity spaces of individuals ranged from 0 to 14 km with most <5 km. Monthly mean home ranges were 0.9–5.6 km and although home-range sizes were consistent through time, location of individuals within the river changed through time. Individuals moved upstream during the day and downstream at night and this pattern persisted across years. Based on data collected from depth transmitters in 2006, individuals swam closer to the surface at night and remained in deeper water during the day, suggesting further diurnal patterns in habitat use. Long-term consistent use of this habitat by young C. leucas suggests this population is highly dependent on the Caloosahatchee River as a nursery area.

scholarly journals Space use and movement of jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay

Mammalia ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (6) ◽  
pp. 540-549 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy T. McBride ◽  
Jeffrey J. Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Confidence Interval ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Density Estimator ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Brazilian Pantanal

AbstractHome range and core area size were estimated for jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay in the Dry Chaco, Humid Chaco and Pantanal using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Mean home range size was 818 km2(95% confidence interval: 425–1981) in the Dry Chaco and 237 km2(95% confidence interval: 90–427) in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal. Core areas, defined as the home range area where use was equal to expected use, was consistent across sexes and systems represented on average by the 59% home range isopleth (range: 56–64%). Males had a higher probability of larger home ranges and more directional and greater daily movements than females collectively and within systems. The large home ranges in the Dry Chaco are attributable to the relatively low productivity of that semi-arid ecosystem and high heterogeneity in resource distribution while larger than expected home ranges in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal compared to home range estimates from the Brazilian Pantanal may be due to differences in geomorphology and hydrological cycle. The large home ranges of jaguars in western Paraguay and a low proportional area of protected areas in the region demonstrate the importance of private ranchland for the long-term conservation of the species.

Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (5) ◽  
pp. 397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ronald S. C. Firth ◽  
John C. Z. Woinarski ◽  
Richard A. Noske
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Dry Seasons

Radio-telemetry was used to investigate the home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) from three sites in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Radio-tracking was conducted in a series of discontinuous 4–17-day sessions, over a 2-year period. The home ranges of 61 C. penicillatus were estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (K95% and K50%) methods. There were no significant differences in home-range size among the three sites or between wet and dry seasons, which suggests that vegetation structure, floristics and season play relatively little role in movements of C. penicillatus. The mean home-range size was 0.79 ± 0.09 ha (MCP estimate) to 0.97 ± 0.12 ha (K95% estimate). The home ranges of males were larger than those of females (mean MCP estimates of 1.07 ± 0.15 and 0.45 ± 0.06 ha respectively). C. penicillatus denned primarily in fallen logs and in hollows of eucalypts and bloodwoods (Corymbia spp.). Rough-barked trees appeared to be preferred. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of den trees varied significantly between the three sites, being greatest at site C1 (34.5 ± 2.4 cm) and least at site C2 (26.1 ± 1.0 cm). Den trees had larger DBH than randomly selected trees at each site. The diameter at the mid-point (DMP) of both den and randomly selected logs were not significantly different between sites. Many individuals used more than one den site per tracking session. The small home ranges of C. penicillatus and its reliance on hollows in trees and logs suggest that this species is very vulnerable to local extinction following long-term annual and destructive fire regimes and land clearing, even in comparatively small patches.

scholarly journals Space use and movement of jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Roy T McBride ◽  
Jeffrey J Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Hydrological Cycle ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Density Estimator ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Panthera Onca ◽  
Core Areas ◽  
Utility Distribution ◽  
Brazilian Pantanal

AbstractWe estimated home range and core area size for jaguar (Panthera onca) in western Paraguay in the Dry Chaco, Humid Chaco and Pantanal using an autocorrelated kernel density estimator. Mean home range size was 818 km2 (95% CI:425-1981) in the Dry Chaco and 237 km2 (95% CI:90-427) in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal. Core areas, defined as the home range area where use was equal to expected use, was consistent across sexes and systems represented on average by the 59% utility distribution isopleth (range:56-64%). Males had a higher probability of larger home ranges and more directional and greater daily movements than females collectively and within systems. The large home ranges in the Dry Chaco are attributable to the relatively low productivity of that semi-arid ecosystem and high heterogeneity in resource distribution while larger than expected home ranges in the Humid Chaco/Pantanal compared to home range estimates from the Brazilian Pantanal may be due to differences in geomorphology and hydrological cycle. The large home ranges of jaguars in western Paraguay and a low proportional area of protected areas in the region demonstrate the importance of private ranchland for the long-term conservation of the species.

Estimating the home ranges of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) (Marsupialia: Petauridae), from grid-trapping and radiotelemetry

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (4) ◽  
pp. 471 ◽  
Author(s):  
DG Quin ◽  
AP Smith ◽  
SW Green ◽  
HB HInes
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Patterns Of Use ◽  
Highly Correlated ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Polygon Method

In this study, we examined the number of captures and radio-locations of sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps) necessary to give reasonable estimates of home ranges. Using home ranges determined by radiotelemetry (RTHR) as a standard, we compared nine methods of estimating trap home range (THR) from grid-based mark-recapture data. Correlation analysis was employed to determine which method of estimating THR most closely correlated with RTHRs. A minimum of 12 captures appears to be adequate for reasonable long-term THR estimates derived from the harmonic mean measure (HMM, 50% isopleth). When RTHRs were estimated by either the minimum convex polygon method (MCP) or the HMM (95% isopleth) from loci collected every 30min, a minimum of 36 radio-locations was adequate. Mean RTHR estimates for identical data sets were 53 775m*2 and 35 333m*2 calculated from the MCP and the HMM (95% isopleth) respectively. A number of methods for analysing grid-trapping data produced THR estimates that were significantly correlated with RTHR estimates. Correlations were highest when RTHRs were estimated with the HMM as opposed to the MCP. RTHR estimates derived from the MCP were most strongly correlated with THR estimates derived by the minimum area method, HMM (50% isopleth) and observed range circle (r*2>0.48). When RTHR estimates were derived from the HMM (95% isopleth), the same correlations were higher (r*2>0.88) and THRs estimated by the boundary-strip methods and the adjusted range circle were also highly correlated (r*2>0.65). The significance of the correlations suggests that reasonable short-term THR estimates may be obtained from small capture samples by these above-mentioned methods of calculation. The HMM appeared to exhibit the greatest overall utility, with both radio-tracking and grid-trapping data. The success of the HMM in describing home range appears to be in its ability to depict centres of activity. The technique is most appropriate for animals such as sugar gliders which use concentrated but patchily distributed food resources, and consequently display uneven patterns of use of space.

scholarly journals Mesoscale movement and recursion behaviors of Namibian black rhinos

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Dana Paige Seidel ◽  
Wayne L. Linklater ◽  
Werner Kilian ◽  
Pierre du Preez ◽  
Wayne M. Getz
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Time Use ◽  
Movement Behavior ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
General Area ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Intermediate Scale ◽  
Modis Imagery ◽  
Short And Long Term

Abstract Background Understanding rhino movement behavior, especially their recursive movements, holds significant promise for enhancing rhino conservation efforts, and protecting their habitats and the biodiversity they support. Here we investigate the daily, biweekly, and seasonal recursion behavior of rhinos, to aid conservation applications and increase our foundational knowledge about these important ecosystem engineers. Methods Using relocation data from 59 rhinos across northern Namibia and 8 years of sampling efforts, we investigated patterns in 24-h displacement at dawn, dusk, midday, and midnight to examine movement behaviors at an intermediate scale and across daily behavioral modes of foraging and resting. To understand recursion patterns across animals’ short and long-term ranges, we built T-LoCoH time use grids to estimate recursive movement by each individual. Comparing these grids to contemporaneous MODIS imagery, we investigated productivity’s influence on short-term space use and recursion. Finally, we investigated patterns of recursion within a year’s home range, measuring the time to return to the most intensively used patches. Results Twenty four-hour displacements at dawn were frequently smaller than 24-h displacements at dusk or at midday and midnight resting periods. Recursion analyses demonstrated that short-term recursion was most common in areas of median rather than maximum NDVI values. Investigated across a full year, recursion analysis showed rhinos most frequently returned to areas within 8–21 days, though visits were also seen separated by months likely suggesting seasonality in range use. Conclusions Our results indicate that rhinos may frequently stay within the same area of their home ranges for days at a time, and possibly return to the same general area days in a row especially during morning foraging bouts. Recursion across larger time scales is also evident, and likely a contributing mechanism for maintaining open landscapes and browsing lawns of the savanna.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document