Home-range use by the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) (Marsupialia) in high-quality, spatially limited habitat

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rodney van der Ree ◽  
Todd R. Soderquist ◽  
Andrew F. Bennett

Nine phascogales (7 females, 2 males) were radio-tracked between March and July 1999 to investigate the spatial organisation of this species in spatially limited habitat near Euroa, Victoria. In this area, approximately 3.6% of the original woodland vegetation remains after 150 years of agricultural clearing. Most wooded habitat is confined to narrow linear strips along roads and streams. However, these remnants are on fertile soils and, because they have not experienced intensive harvesting, the density of large old trees is over 10 times that found in nearby State Forests and Parks. Female phascogales were monitored for 13–38 days over periods of 5–15 weeks. The size of home ranges of females was 2.3–8.0 ha, and averaged 5.0 ha. This value is one-eighth the mean home-range size previously recorded for the species in contiguous forest in Victoria. All individuals used multiple nest trees, with nests generally located in trees >80 cm diameter at breast height. Although fragmented and spatially limited, the stands of large old trees on productive soils near Euroa provide a network of well connected, high-quality habitat for phascogales. The relatively dense population of phascogales in these remnants suggests that prior to agricultural clearing and timber harvesting, phascogales may have been much more common in Victoria than at present.

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 847 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Meek

In this study 10 free-roaming domestic dogs from an Aboriginal community were radio-collared to determine the sizes of their home ranges and to observe their wandering behaviour. Half of the radio-tagged dogs went on wandering forays, while the other five roamed only within the vicinity of the community. Home-range size was highly variable within the study group: the mean for the wandering dogs was 927 ha whereas that of the sedentary dogs was 2.6 ha. Dogs travelled 8–30 km on forays. All forays were initiated at night and those that were recorded had an average duration of 26 h. Foray destinations were usually riparian habitats where macropod quarry were abundant.


The Auk ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 1407-1424 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darroch M. Whitaker ◽  
Dean F. Stauffer ◽  
Gary W. Norman ◽  
Patrick K. Devers ◽  
John Edwards ◽  
...  

Abstract From 1996 to 2001, researchers at 10 Appalachian study sites collected radiotracking data sufficient to delineate 1,054 seasonal home ranges of Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus; hereafter “grouse”). Using information-theoretic model selection and paired comparison of home ranges from individual grouse, we evaluated individual, local, and landscape factors hypothesized to affect grouse home-range size. Females and juvenile males occupied home ranges that averaged >2× larger than those of adult males, and home ranges of females averaged 2.6× larger during successful breeding seasons than during years of reproductive failure. Clearcuts and forest roads are considered high-quality covers, and both were more prevalent in smaller home ranges. Several factors operating at a regional and landscape scale were also important. Previous studies have reported that southern grouse use relatively large home ranges, and we observed a continuous decline in home-range size with increasing latitude across the 710-km range spanned by our study sites. Home-range size of males, particularly juvenile males, was positively related to an index of population density. Given the species' “dispersed lekking” mating system, we interpret this as evidence of competition for preferred display sites. As has been reported for other game birds, all sex and age classes of grouse used smaller home ranges following closure of sites to hunting. Grouse inhabiting oak-hickory forests used larger home ranges than conspecifics in mixed mesophytic forests, and other factors interacted with forest type. In oak-hickory forests, female home-range size was inversely related to use of mesic bottomlands, which support important forage plants, and home ranges of adult grouse increased 2.5× following poor hard-mast crops. By contrast, home ranges of grouse inhabiting mixed mesophytic forests were unrelated to use of bottomlands, and the influence of hard mast was reduced. This is in line with the view that in Appalachian oak-hickory forests, grouse are under strong nutritional constraint. However, this constraint is reduced in mixed mesophytic forests, likely because of the presence of high-quality alternative foods (e.g., cherry [Prunus spp.] and birch [Betula spp.]). Facteurs associés à une variation de la taille du domaine vital de Bonasa umbellus dans les Appalaches


Koedoe ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L Penzhorn

The mean home range size of Cape mountain zebra breeding herds was 9,4 km2 (range 3,1 @ 16,0 km2). In two herds which split up, the home ranges of the resultant herds included the original home ranges, but were larger.


2018 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Marek Kouba ◽  
Václav Tomášek

Abstract Animal home ranges are typically characterized by their size, shape and a given time interval and can be affected by many different biotic and abiotic factors. Understanding of animal movements and assessing the size of their home ranges are essential topics in ecology and necessary for effective species protection, especially concerning birds of prey. Using radio-telemetry (VHF; 2.1 g tail-mounted tags) we studied the movements of two Tengmalm’s owl (Aegolius funereus) males during the breeding season 2008 in a mountain area of Central Europe (the Czech Republic, the Jizera Mountains: 50˚ 50’ N, 15˚ 16’ E). We determined their average nocturnal hunting and diurnal roosting home range sizes. The mean hunting home range size calculated according to the 90% fixed kernel density estimator was 251.1 ± 43.2 ha (± SD). The mean roosting home range size calculated according to the 100% minimum convex polygon method was 57.9 ± 15.8 ha (± SD). The sizes of hunting home ranges during breeding in this study coincide with those previously reported by other studies focusing on Tengmalm’s owl males. However, we found the roosting home ranges were smaller in size compared to those previously reported. This result was most probably connected with different habitat structure in our study area, which was severally damaged by air-pollution in the past, thus probably offering fewer suitable hiding-places, for instance from predators. We found the roosting locations were concentrated in the oldest and densest Norway spruce forest patches. We emphasize that these parts of forest stands require the highest possible protection in our study area.


1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (3) ◽  
pp. 299 ◽  
Author(s):  
V Mirmovitch

Feral cats were studied for 10 months in a residential area in Jerusalem and their spatial distribution compared during two 1-month periods, the first in the autumn prior to the mating season and the second during the mating season (winter). Cat locations were recorded by direct observations, and home-range sizes were calculated with the minimum convex polygon method. No significant change in home-range size of adult males or females was found between the 2 periods. Young males expanded their home ranges considerably during their first mating season. Home ranges of males were significantly larger than those of females in both periods (0.56 and 0.30 ha, respectively, in autumn; 0.75 and 0.27 ha in winter). The home ranges of both sexes overlapped considerably with individuals of the same sex. Overlap among home ranges of females indicated a group pattern. High overlap (80%) was found among females that fed from the same set of garbage bins with similar frequency. Lower overlap (20%) was found between individual females that shared only a subset of their food resources and used it with different frequency. It is suggested that the distribution of food patches (garbage bins), the amount of food available and the rate of food renewal determined the cats' spatial organisation.


1999 ◽  
Vol 59 (1) ◽  
pp. 125-130 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. F. D. ROCHA

The home range of the Tropidurid lizard Liolaemus lutzae, an endemic species of the costal sand dune habitats of Rio de Janeiro State, was studied in the beach habitat of Barra de Maricá restinga, Maricá County. Home ranges were studied using a mark-recapture technique in a delimited area at the beach habitat. I considered for estimates and analysis the home ranges of those lizards with a minimum of four positions. The size of L. lutzae home ranges varied according to the segment of the population. The mean home range size of adult males (x = 59.8 ± 33.7 m²) was significantly larger than that of adult females (x = 22.3 ± 16.1 m²). Juvenile mean home range size was significantly smaller than that of adult males, but did not differ from that of adult females (t = 1.058; p = 0.149). The overlap between male home ranges was usually low (3.6%), being in general only peripheral. Conversely, there was a considerable overlap between home ranges of adult females with those of adult males, the home range areas of two or three females being enclosed in the home range of one adult male. The small overlap between home ranges of adult males suggested mutual exclusion. The observed between-sex differences in the size of L. lutzae home range may be explained by the sexual dimorphism in body size in this species, and by the need of adult males to establish larger areas so as to include many females in their areas, during the reproductive season. The differences in home range along ontogeny probably result from differences in body size of the different segments of the population, due to trophic differences (carnivory and herbivory levels), and the dispersal of young after birth. Because L. lutzae is omnivorous, but primarily herbivorous when adult, and due to its sit-and-wait foraging behavior (mainly on arthropods), it does not need to move around over large areas to find food, which in turn reduces the area necessary for it to live.


2005 ◽  
Vol 32 (1) ◽  
pp. 7 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Claridge ◽  
David Paull ◽  
James Dawson ◽  
Greg Mifsud ◽  
Andy J. Murray ◽  
...  

The home ranges, movement patterns and spatial organisation of spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) were studied in rainshadow woodland in southern New South Wales, Australia. Fourteen individuals were radio-collared and simultaneously tracked. Home-range size estimates ranged from 621 ha to at least 2561 ha for males, and 88 ha to at least 653 ha for females. Mean home-range size was significantly greater for males (992 ± 276 ha) than females (244 ± 72 ha). The maximum straight-line distances between successive fixes for males over 24-h and 48-h periods were 2529 and 4430 m, respectively, while for females these distances were 1865 and 3085 m. Mean maximum straight-line distances between successive fixes for males over a 24-h period were not significantly different from mean maximum straight-line distances of females (1493 ± 918 v. 1034 ± 540 m). However, over 48 h, the mean maximum distances between successive fixes for males was greater than that of females (2911 ± 934 v. 1680 ± 918 m). The home ranges of males mostly overlapped with those of other individuals, regardless of sex. In contrast, home ranges of females tended not to overlap with those of other females, suggesting some form of spatial separation. Home-range estimates derived for spotted-tailed quolls in our rainshadow woodland study site are comparable to those obtained for the species in wetter vegetation types. From a conservation perspective, it seems that habitat structure and the availability of prey is more important than rainfall or vegetation type in determining spatial requirements of the species. Until more advanced telemetry systems are developed, caution should be applied when using current home-range data on the species to infer breeding systems and patterns of spatial organisation, particularly the issue of territoriality among female quolls.


Oryx ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 48 (3) ◽  
pp. 370-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
Achara Simcharoen ◽  
Tommaso Savini ◽  
George A. Gale ◽  
Saksit Simcharoen ◽  
Somphot Duangchantrasiri ◽  
...  

AbstractTigers Panthera tigris are highly threatened and continue to decline across their entire range. Actions to restore and conserve populations need to be based on science but, in South-east Asia, information on ecology and behaviour of tigers is lacking. This study reports the relationship between the home range size of female tigers and prey abundance, using data from radio-collared tigers in Huai Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary, Thailand, and published data from other studies. A total of 11 tigers, four males and seven females, were fitted with global positioning system collars, to estimate home ranges using 95 and 100% minimum convex polygons (MCP). Prey abundance was estimated by faecal accumulation rates. The mean home range size of male tigers was 267 and 294 km2 based on 95 and 100% MCPs, respectively; the mean female home range size was 70 and 84 km2, respectively. Territories of male and female tigers had little overlap, which indicated both sexes were territorial. Mean densities of the prey species sambar Rusa unicolor, barking deer Muntiacus muntjac and large bovids were 7.5, 3.5 and 3.0 km−2, respectively. When female home range size and prey abundance were compared at six locations in Thailand, and at other sites in India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Russia, a significant negative correlation was found between prey abundance and home range size. Monitoring this relationship can provide managers with metrics for setting conservation goals.


1996 ◽  
Vol 19 (1) ◽  
pp. 1
Author(s):  
S. Laidlaw W ◽  
S. Hutchings ◽  
R. Newell G

Sminthopsis leucopus is a small dasyurid distributed in south-eastern Australia. Radiotelemetry in conjunction with live capture trapping was used to investigate home range size and habitat utilisation of S. leucopus. The average distance moved showed no significant differences between sexes or between seasons. The observed range length and home range area were similar for both sexes. The mean home range area (95% harmonic mean) for S. leucopus was 0.917 hectares. Home ranges of males and females revealed a high degree of overlap. Activity during the day was low and highest in the hours following dusk.


2021 ◽  
Vol 75 (8) ◽  
Author(s):  
Tomasz Borowik ◽  
Rafał Kowalczyk ◽  
Weronika Maślanko ◽  
Norbert Duda ◽  
Mirosław Ratkiewicz

Abstract The heterogeneity of resource availability shapes animal movements at different spatio-temporal scales. Given that movements at various scales are assumed to be linked, the space use of temperate ungulates within seasonal ranges (winter, summer) should be related to their movement patterns at the annual scale. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the level of stationarity of moose (Alces alces) within their seasonal ranges and to link annual movement patterns to within-season space use. We analysed the ranging behaviour of 32 moose fitted with GPS collars from two study areas in Eastern Poland, where at the annual scale a fraction of individuals migrate between summer and winter ranges (partial migration). Our results revealed that moose stationarity within seasonal home ranges expressed remarkable variation. The probability of moose stationarity within seasonal ranges was significantly higher (by 23%), and the mean home range size tended to be lower (9.7 km2) among individuals that seasonally migrated than among non-migratory moose (14.3 km2). In addition, we found that (i) in summer, moose were significantly more stationary (by 19%) and exhibited a smaller mean home range size than in winter (9.0 and 15.9 km2, respectively) and (ii) the mean seasonal home range size of males (19.6 km2) was remarkably greater than that of females (9.6 km2). Given the significant link between annual and seasonal scales of animal movements, any environmental change (e.g. climate warming) affecting an animal’s annual movement strategy could alter within-season animal space use and presumably individual fitness. Significance statement To maximize their fitness, animals adjust their movements to deal with variations in resource distribution in the landscape. The scale of spatio-temporal variation causes different types of migratory behaviours, ranging from year-round stationarity to migration, when individuals establish spatially separated seasonal ranges. Studies on ungulates suggest that the stability and the size of seasonal home ranges can be linked to annual movement behaviour. Using the locations of GPS-tracked moose, we demonstrate in this study that migratory individuals were more prone to establishing stable seasonal home ranges (especially in summer) than moose that occupied the same area throughout the year. Moreover, stable seasonal home ranges were remarkably smaller in summer than in winter, which may suggest a season-specific spatial distribution and a renewability of moose forage. Our results show a clear link between different temporal scales of animal movements.


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