Improved technique for capturing the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) using burrow cage traps

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (2) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. M. McGregor ◽  
K. E. Moseby
Keyword(s):  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Entire Population ◽  
Improved Method ◽  
Improved Technique ◽  
Central South ◽  
Very High ◽  
Capture Rates

The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is generally trap shy and uninterested in baits, therefore difficult to capture. In order to capture an entire population of bilbies in the Arid Recovery Reserve of central South Australia, we developed an improved method of using burrow cage traps. Traps were set to engulf the entrance of the burrow and the base was camouflaged with sand. We obtained a very high capture rate (6% overall, and 73% for confirmed burrows). Assuming that occupied burrows can be detected, this method should improve capture rates for this endangered and cryptic species.

Influence of habitats, climate, grazing and mining on terrestrial vertebrates at Olympic Dam, South Australia.

1992 ◽  
Vol 14 (2) ◽  
pp. 143 ◽  
Author(s):  
JL Read
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Population Size ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Terrestrial Vertebrates ◽  
Population Sizes ◽  
Central South ◽  
Heavy Rains ◽  
Capture Rates ◽  
Olympic Dam

Small mammals, reptiles and amphibians were trapped in pitfalls in a range of habitats around the Olympic Dam Operations mine in central South Australia over a five year period (1987-91) to assess the impacts on these groups of climate, mining and grazing. Neobatrachus centralis, a frog, was the most abundant vertebrate in the region but was only recorded after heavy rains. Reptiles were both diverse and abundant in summer samples and in general maintained their population sizes during droughts. Mammals, however, exhibited considerable fluctuations in population size which were associated with climatic cycles. Sites within the mining lease consistently yielded higher species diversities and capture rates of reptiles than sites in pastoral land, but this could not be related directly to land use.

scholarly journals Q fever in South Australia: an outbreak in a meat-works

1962 ◽  
Vol 60 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-20 ◽  
Author(s):  
Margaret D. Beech ◽  
A. E. Duxbury ◽  
Peter Warner
Keyword(s):  
Q Fever ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
American Continent ◽  
North American Continent ◽  
The Past ◽  
The North ◽  
Epidemiological Features ◽  
Very High ◽  
Abattoir Workers

This paper consists of an epidemiological study of 52 cases of Q fever occurring in metropolitan Adelaide in 1957 and also a description of the results of a survey of 516 sera obtained from abattoir workers.The only case occurring outside the abattoirs was a dairy farmer who probably became infected while visiting the abattoirs. If this were so the incubation period (35 days) of his disease would have been exceptionally long.The general features of the outbreak, which lasted several months, differed from those on the North American continent in that the latter occurred explosively within a few days with very high attack rates. The situation in the Adelaide abattoirs is similar to that in Brisbane, where the disease appears to be endemic. However, unlike in Adelaide, cases are commonly recognized outside the abattoirs in Brisbane.In the abattoirs the disease affected mainly inspectors, those working on killing beef, and those working on offal. Mutton workers were not so severely affected. However, all these groups had similar incidences of low titre antibodies suggesting that in the past Q fever spread equally in all killing departments. In departments not directly associated with slaughtering the incidence both of cases in 1957 and low titre antibodies was relatively small.It was suggested that the epidemiological features of Q fever in Adelaide could be explained by the irregular appearance of animals from infected herds situated perhaps in Queensland—a known endemic area. Perhaps the appearance of such animals in the Adelaide abattoirs might be governed by meteorological conditions such that they were prevented from going to the ordinarily most convenient slaughterhouse.

scholarly journals Ciliary chemosensitivity is enhanced by cilium geometry and motility

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Hickey ◽  
Andrej Vilfan ◽  
Ramin Golestanian
Keyword(s):  
Shear Flow ◽  
Surface Area ◽  
Diffusion Model ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Advection Diffusion ◽  
Beating Frequency ◽  
Sensory Functions ◽  
Capture Rates ◽  
Quiescent Fluid

Cilia are hairlike organelles involved in both sensory functions and motility. We discuss the question of whether the location of chemical receptors on cilia provides an advantage in terms of sensitivity. Using a simple advection-diffusion model, we compute the capture rates of diffusive molecules on a cilium. Because of its geometry, a non-motile cilium in a quiescent fluid has a capture rate equivalent to a circular absorbing region with ~ 4× its surface area. When the cilium is exposed to an external shear flow, the equivalent surface area increases to ~ 10×. Alternatively, if the cilium beats in a non-reciprocal way, its capture rate increases with the beating frequency to the power of 1/3. Altogether, our results show that the protruding geometry of a cilium could be one of the reasons why so many receptors are located on cilia. They also point to the advantage of combining motility with chemical reception.

scholarly journals Do dense layers of invasive plants elevate the foraging intensity of small mammals in temperate deciduous forests? A case study from Pennsylvania, USA

NeoBiota ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 56 ◽  
pp. 73-88
Author(s):  
Ryan M. Utz ◽  
Alysha Slater ◽  
Hannah R. Rosche ◽  
Walter P. Carson
Keyword(s):  
Experimental Design ◽  
Invasive Plants ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Tree Seedling ◽  
Invasive Shrub ◽  
Temperate Deciduous ◽  
Temperate Deciduous Forests ◽  
Capture Rates

Monospecific stands of invasive plants can dramatically restructure habitat for fauna, thereby elevating population densities or promoting foraging of consumer species who benefit in the altered habitat. For example, dense stands of invasive plants may protect small mammals from predators, which in turn could increase foraging pressure on seeds that small mammals feed upon. We used a before-after, control-impact experimental design to test whether small mammal capture rates were higher and giving-up densities (GUDs) lower beneath dense stands of Berberis thunbergii, an invasive shrub with a rapidly expanding range throughout eastern North America. Our experimental design included three plot categories: 1) plots heavily invaded by B. thunbergii, 2) control plots lacking invasive shrub cover, and 3) invaded plots where we eradicated B. thunbergii midway through the study. Although our overall small mammal capture rate was low, small mammal captures were 65% higher in B. thunbergii invaded habitat relative to control plots and eradication lowered capture rates by 77%. GUDs were also 26% higher within B. thunbergii relative to control plots and eradication decreased GUDs by 65%. Our findings suggest that small mammals perceive dense stands of B. thunbergii as relatively safe foraging habitat. Prior surveys within our study locations revealed dramatically depressed tree seedling densities under B. thunbergii, thus invasive plants may promote intensive foraging by small mammals and reduce recruitment for species with foraged seeds or seedlings.

An Experimental Analysis of Macrophyte Growth Forms as Fish Foraging Habitat

1991 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 123-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michele Dionne ◽  
Carol L. Folt
Keyword(s):  
Plant Growth ◽  
Growth Form ◽  
Plant Density ◽  
Prey Capture ◽  
Capture Rate ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Growth Forms ◽  
Plant Growth Form ◽  
Macrophyte Growth ◽  
Capture Rates

In this laboratory study we measured the independent effects of macrophyte growth form, plant density, and prey abundance on the foraging rate of the pumpkinseed sunfish (Lepomis gibbosus). We demonstrate that macrophyte growth forms are not all similar in their effects on fish foraging. Prey capture rates of pumpkinseeds foraging among Scirpus validus (cylindrical stems) were 53 and 365% times greater than for Potamogeton amplifolius (leafy stems) for cladoceran (Sida crystallina) and larval damselfly (Coenagrionidae) prey, respectively. Plant growth form influenced prey capture rates more than charges in natural plant density. Plant density effects ranged from none on damselfly capture rates to a 29% decline in cladoceran capture rate over a twofold increase in plant density. Our results indicate that in plant-structured habitats, variation in plant growth form can be an important determinant of fish foraging and habitat associations.

scholarly journals Recent Results from the CANGAROO Project

1996 ◽  
Vol 160 ◽  
pp. 363-364
Author(s):  
S.A. Dazeley ◽  
P.G. Edwards ◽  
J.R. Patterson ◽  
G.P. Rowell ◽  
M. Sinnott ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gamma Rays ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Cosmic Ray ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Relativistic Electrons ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Inverse Compton ◽  
Very High Energy ◽  
Large Telescopes ◽  
Very High

TheCollaboration ofAustralia andNippon for aGAmmaRayObservatory in theOutback operates two large telescopes at Woomera (South Australia), which detect the Čerenkov light images produced in the atmosphere by electronpositron cascades initiated by very high energy (~1 TeV or 1012eV) gamma rays. These gamma rays arise from a different mechanism than at EGRET energies: inverse Compton (IC) emission from relativistic electrons.The spoke-like images are recorded by a multi-pixel camera which facilitates the rejection of the large numbers of oblique and ragged cosmic ray images. A field of view ~3.5° is required. The Australian team operates a triple 4 m diameter mirror telescope, BIGRAT, with a 37 photomultiplier tube camera and energy threshold 600 GeV. The Japanese operate a single, highly accurate 3.8 m diameter f/1 telescope and high resolution 256 photomultipler tube camera. In 1998 a new 7 m telescope is planned for Woomera with a design threshold ~;200GeV.

Interactions Between Introduced and Native Millipede Species in South Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 129 ◽  
Author(s):  
TT Griffin ◽  
CM Bull
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Activity Time ◽  
Species Overlap ◽  
Ecological Changes ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Very High

The Portugese millipede Ommaroiulus moreleti (Lucas) (Diplopoda:Julidae) has recently been introduced to South Australia where it has reached very high densities. In parts of the Adelaide Hills it now co-occurs with two native millipedes, Oncocladosoma clavigerum Jeekel (Diplopoda: Paradoxosomatidae) and Dimerogonus orophilus (Attems) (Diplopoda: Cambalidae). We attempted to show whether the introduced species, which has successfully invaded the detrivore community, has affected the ecology or behaviour of the native millipede members of that community. Experiments in laboratory and field arenas showed that the three species overlap broadly in activity time and microhabitat. The two native species showed no significant difference in habitat choice or aggregating behaviour when alone or mixed with the introduced O. moreleti, and the natives commonly aggregated with the introduced species. Although D. orophilus had reduced feeding activity in the presence of O. moreleti, neither native species rejected food that had been in contact with O. moreleti. We conclude that direct interactions between the introduced invader and the native species cause few behavioural or ecological changes within the detrivorous millipede community.

scholarly journals The Influence of Climate on Foliar Symptoms of Eutypa Dieback in Grapevines

2007 ◽  
Vol 97 (10) ◽  
pp. 1284-1289 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. R. Sosnowski ◽  
D. Shtienberg ◽  
M. L. Creaser ◽  
T. J. Wicks ◽  
R. Lardner ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Disease Incidence ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Symptom Expression ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
Eutypa Lata ◽  
Eutypa Dieback ◽  
Foliar Symptoms ◽  
Geographical Regions ◽  
Very High

Foliar symptoms of Eutypa dieback, caused by Eutypa lata, in grapevines, cv. Shiraz, varied from year to year in a 6-year study conducted in South Australia and, although trends were similar for vineyards within geographical regions, differences were observed between regions. We attempted to elucidate the causes underlying this variation and hypothesized that it was influenced by climatic factors. A number of possible relationships were identified between climate and symptom expression: (i) increased symptom expression was related to increased winter rainfall 18 months earlier, (ii) decreased disease incidence and prevalence were related to increased temperature in spring, and (iii) a reduction in disease incidence was related to both very high and very low rainfall in October. Theories for these relationships are proposed and require further investigation. A conceptual model was developed which requires validation and has the potential to predict the incidence of foliar symptoms of Eutypa dieback. Information from this study could lead to an improved integrated pest management system to suppress foliar symptoms and sustain productivity of vines infected with E. lata.

Methods and ethical considerations of pitfall trapping for the western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus Gould) (Marsupialia:Burramyidae), with observations on capture patterns and nest sites

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (4) ◽  
pp. 296 ◽  
Author(s):  
Angela J. L. Pestell ◽  
Sophie Petit
Keyword(s):  
Capture Rate ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Trap Depth ◽  
Pitfall Trap ◽  
House Mice ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Ethical Considerations ◽  
Ethical Implications ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Autumn And Winter

In order to enhance future trapping of the western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus) and minimise the capture of non-target species in the context of animal ethics, we examined the effectiveness of several pitfall-trap capture methods and described capture patterns at Innes National Park, South Australia. For 2606 trap-nights, 78 (2.99 per 100 trap-nights) captures were pygmy possums (70 individuals). They represented 69% of the 113 vertebrates captured, followed by house mice (Mus domesticus) (22%). Nocturnal captures of pygmy possums varied with season (5.21 per 100 trap-nights in spring and summer, and 1.02 in autumn and winter). Males were more commonly captured than females. Half of the pygmy possums used the artificial shelters provided in the traps. We alternated 39-cm-deep and 31-cm-deep pitfall traps along trap lines, with and without drift netting. Pitfall depth did not significantly affect the capture rate of pygmy possums, but house mice were captured significantly more often in deep pitfalls. Use of a drift net did not affect the capture of pygmy possums, but increased mouse captures. These results have significant ethical implications because the use of ‘shallow’ traps and the elimination of the drift net minimised the capture of non-target mice. We recommend reporting trapping details precisely, because a difference of only 8 cm in trap depth can have a significant impact on species selected for capture. Our study also showed that pygmy possums are able to use a range of structures for daily shelter and are not dependent on hollows.

Cryptic invasion by Capsella rubella in Chile detected by ARMS–PCR

2014 ◽  
Vol 62 (8) ◽  
pp. 623
Author(s):  
Sergio A. Castro ◽  
Roberto Ovalle
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Markers ◽  
South America ◽  
Iberian Peninsula ◽  
Cryptic Species ◽  
Amplification Refractory Mutation System ◽  
Similar Species ◽  
Cryptic Invasion ◽  
Capsella Rubella ◽  
Mutation System ◽  
Central South

Cryptic species are morphologically similar species that tend to be recognised as a single taxon. The genus Capsella contains two cryptic species, C. bursa-pastoris and C. rubella, which are sympatrically distributed on the Iberian Peninsula, but only one of them (C. bursa-pastoris) has been recognised as an introduced species in South America. In continental Chile, two specimens of C. rubella were collected from two distant sites, but it is unclear whether this indicates only local presence or a wider distribution. After extensive sampling throughout continental Chile, we analysed the diversity of collected Capsella specimens using molecular markers. Our aim was to establish the presence of C. bursa-pastoris and/or C. rubella in continental Chile. To this end, we used an amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) to detect the trnD–trnY fragment of cpDNA, which allowed the differential amplification of polymorphic sites for both species. A subsample of these amplification products (n = 8 fragments) was sequenced and compared with previously documented sequences for C. bursa-pastoris and C. rubella. Of 188 plants, 96.8% were identified as C. bursa-pastoris and 3.2% as C. rubella. C. bursa-pastoris was collected at all localities (28°34ʹS–53°09ʹS), whereas C. rubella was collected only in central-south Chile (34°59ʹS–41°28ʹS). This confirms that both C. bursa-pastoris and C. rubella are present in continental Chile, although they apparently exhibit different abundances and ranges. Our results suggest efforts to elucidate distribution of both Capsella species in South America.

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