Diet of Petaurus breviceps (Marsupialia: Petauridae) in a mosaic of coastal woodland and heath.

1989 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 15
Author(s):  
J.L. Howard
Keyword(s):  
Sap Flow ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Feeding Observations

Diet of Petaurus breviceps in a coastal woodland and heath mosaic was assessed by timed feeding observations and qualitative faecal analysis. Feeding at banksia and eucalypt flowers was the most observed foraging behaviour. Faeces contained abundant pollen. The pattern of foraging closely followed changes in patterns of flowering in the area because P. breviceps regularly visited flowers for nectar and pollen. It fed at a faster rate per flower when foraging on eucalypts, but had a high number of inter-plant movements when foraging on banksias. Seventy-one per cent of Eucalyptus gummifera trees were incised to obtain sap. Values obtained for sap flow showed that incised trees exuded more sap than non-incised ones. Gum was abundant at Jervis Bay, and sap may be utilised when nectar is abundant.

Diet, Prey Selection and Foraging Behaviour of the Orange Horseshoe-Bat, Rhinonycteris Aurantius.

1994 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 115 ◽  
Author(s):  
SK Churchill
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Niche Breadth ◽  
Prey Selection ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Timing Of Reproduction ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Horseshoe Bat ◽  
Selection Of

Results of faecal analysis were compared with insect captures in light traps to examine the dietary preferences of R. aurantius in the Northern Territory, Australia. Relative proportions of insects eaten differed significantly from insects available. R. aurantius exhibited a medium niche breadth throughout the year, being neither a specialist not a generalist. It selectively foraged on Lepidoptera and Coleoptera, and was opportunistic in regard to seasonal abundances of Isoptera. This bat had dietary preferences similar to other members of the Hipposideridae. The timing of reproduction and selection of roost sites was related to the seasonal abundance of food resources.

Feeding Behaviour and Food Availability of the Yellow-Bellied Glider in North Queensland.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 637 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Quin ◽  
R Goldingay ◽  
S Churchill ◽  
D Engel
Keyword(s):  
Keystone Species ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Open Forest ◽  
Four Seasons ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Pollen Types ◽  
Sap Feeding ◽  
A Site ◽  
Feeding Observations

The diet of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) was examined at a site in north Queensland by extensive observation of individuals from 10 glider groups. The diet was assessed in four seasons over 12 months by collating large numbers of qualitative feeding observations and by analysis of faeces. Data were also collected on flowering and bark shedding in the forest. Sap feeding accounted for more than 80% of the feeding observations throughout the year. Nectar and pollen of eucalypts (Eucalyptus spp.) and banksias (Banksia spp.) accounted for much of the remainder of the diet although arthropods and honeydew were present in spring and summer. Faecal analysis was based on much smaller sample sizes but confirmed the qualitative result obtained from direct observations. It also revealed the presence of a wide variety of pollen types. Many of these could be attributed to incidental ingestion but at least six rain forest genera were moderately common in faeces, which is consistent with observations of brief and infrequent visits by gliders to these trees. Examination of eucalypt, banksia and other pollen types showed that 60-70% of pollen was devoid of cell contents, supporting earlier suggestions that gliders obtained protein from pollen digestion, but at this site also from harvesting arthropods. This study confirms the dependence of the yellow-bellied glider in north Queensland on the sap of the red stringybark (Eucalyptus resinifera) and that conservation of the yellow-bellied glider is intimately associated with the management of this tree species. The use of various species for nectar and pollen suggests that the yellow-bellied glider may be an important pollinator in these forests. Moreover, sap from the wounds created by gliders is used by a range of other animal species. These observations suggest that the yellow-bellied glider is likely to be a keystone species in the open-forest ecosystems of north Queensland and that it deserves special emphasis in management.

The diet of the allied rock-wallaby, Petrogale assimilis, in the wet-dry tropics

1992 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
A Horsup ◽  
H Marsh
Keyword(s):  
Food Item ◽  
Ratio Analysis ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Dry Tropics ◽  
Major Food ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Low Incidence ◽  
Natural Isotopes ◽  
Feeding Observations

The diet of the allied rock-wallaby, Petrogale assimilis, an inhabitant of the wet-dry tropics of North Queensland, was studied over three years by microscopic faecal analysis, feeding observations, and an analysis of the ratios of the natural isotopes of 12*C and 13*C in the faeces. Forbs were the major food item, accounting for 22-65% of the identified epidermis in the faeces, and tended to be actively selected by the wallabies. Browse (20-41%) and plants with stellate trichomes (6-32%) were the next most-important dietary items, the latter being eaten in significantly higher proportions in the dry seasons of 1987 and 1988. Grass comprised only 5-16% of recognisable epidermis in the faeces, but was eaten in significantly higher proportions when fresh new growth was available. Forbs were difficult to identify at night, and most plants that rock-wallabies were recorded eating were those with stellate trichomes rather than forbs. The low incidence of grass in the diet was confirmed by the carbon-ratio analysis.

Influence of intrinsic variation on foraging behaviour of adult female Australian fur seals

2015 ◽  
Vol 526 ◽  
pp. 227-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
AJ Hoskins ◽  
DP Costa ◽  
KE Wheatley ◽  
JR Gibbens ◽  
JPY Arnould
Keyword(s):  
Adult Female ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Fur Seals

Mechanisms for sex-based segregation in foraging behaviour by a polygynous marine carnivore

2019 ◽  
Vol 624 ◽  
pp. 213-226 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Salton ◽  
R Kirkwood ◽  
D Slip ◽  
R Harcourt
Keyword(s):  
Foraging Behaviour
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