Seasonal variation in body mass and fat of Zebra Finches in south-eastern Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 103 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-19 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jan Rozman ◽  
David Runciman ◽  
Richard A. Zann
Keyword(s):  
Seasonal Variation ◽  
Body Mass ◽  
Zebra Finches ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Longevity in wild populations of the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis.

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 239 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van der Ree ◽  
M. J. Harper ◽  
M. Crane
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Physical Characteristics ◽  
Wild Populations ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Age Category ◽  
Age Estimates ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Petaurus norfolcensis were trapped between December 1996 and April 2005 at 3 sites in south-eastern Australia. In 2005 nine individuals marked in previous years were captured. Age estimates at first capture were based on body mass, tooth wear and pouch condition. Most recaptured individual were propertly assigned to the correct age category (>3 years), but the age of 2 were underestimated. This indicates uncertainty in using physical characteristics, chiefly wear of upper incisors, to estimate age in P. norfolcensis.One individual captured in 2005 was over 7 years 9 months old. This compares to captive P. breviceps and P. australis records of 9 years and 16 years respectively.

Predicting mammalian target-specificity of the M-44 ejector in south-eastern Australia

2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clive A. Marks ◽  
Rebecca Wilson
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Red Fox ◽  
Simple Relationship ◽  
Dose Rates ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Adult Body Mass ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Pulling Forces ◽  
Pulling Force ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Meat-based baits are currently used for the control of the exotic red fox (Vulpes vulpes) in south-eastern Australia. Thirty-one quadrupedal endemic mammals are considered to be potentially bait consuming (PBC) and may be exposed to bait toxicants. Mechanical toxicant ejectors may be more selective if some PBC species cannot apply enough upward force to trigger them. A simple relationship between body mass and pulling force was sought to enable estimates of ejector specificity to be made. The pulling force applied to ejector baits was measured for the red fox and six endemic mammals. The relationship between body mass and pulling force was highly significant (P < 0.001) and the resulting regression equation was used to estimate the highest pulling forces for 31 quadrupedal mammals based upon the largest body mass recorded for each species. In a sample of 640 foxes, taken by a range of methods in south-eastern Australia, the lowest adult body mass detected from January to September was 3 kg and declined only when cubs were present in the population from October to December. An ejector trigger force of 26.46 N was estimated to allow foxes weighing >3 kg to trigger the device, while eliminating exposure of 26 of the 31 PBC mammals. Appropriate toxicant selection and dose rates may ensure that four out of five susceptible mammals are less likely to be affected by unwanted exposure.

Hematological and Body-Mass Changes of Small Passerines Overwintering in South-Eastern Australia

1995 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 31 ◽  
Author(s):  
K Breuer ◽  
A Lill ◽  
J Baldwin
Keyword(s):  
Body Mass ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Volume Ratio ◽  
Passerine Bird ◽  
Minor Role ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
The North ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Haemoglobin Content ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Haematological parameters and body mass of four passerine bird species resident in south-eastern Australia were compared in winter and summer to determine whether there were changes indicative of metabolic adjustments associated with seasonal acclimatisation. Haematocrit and whole-blood haemoglobin content did not change seasonally, but erythrocyte numbers increased (by 45-72%) and erythrocyte volume decreased (by 40-73%) significantly in winter in all species. The greater surface area to volume ratio and shorter diffusion pathway of smaller erythrocytes in winter should enhance blood oxygen transport efficiency and thus potentially facilitate metabolic acclimatisation to cold stress. Only one species showed a significant, but small (3%), increase in body mass in winter, suggesting only a minor role for winter fattening in any such seasonal metabolic adjustments in the species studied. The findings contrast with those for some passerines overwintering in the north temperate zone, but the generality of these possible north-south differences needs further investigation.

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