The diet of the common blossom bat (Syconycteris australis) in upland tropical rainforest and the importance of riparian areas

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (6) ◽  
pp. 619 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bradley S. Law
Keyword(s):  
Tropical Rainforest ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Musa Sp ◽  
Food Species ◽  
Unidentified Species ◽  
The Common ◽  
Capture Rates ◽  
Feeding Observations

The diet of the common blossom bat (Syconycteris australis) was investigated in upland rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands. Faeces or fur pollen samples from 62 S. australis and feeding observations on 5 captive and 10 radio-tagged bats were collected. Syconycteris australis fed on blossoms from at least 18 plant species found in rainforests (plus unidentified species of Loranthaceae), 2 species from non-rainforest communities and from flowers of the cultivated banana (Musa sp.) grown on farms. Rainforest plants included 13 species of trees, 1 shrub and 4 climbers. Myrtaceae was the most important family contributing to the diet of S. australis, particularly the genus Syzygium. The chiropterophilus flower syndrome was only partly useful as a predictor of the diet of S. australis in these forests. Fruit was also eaten, being most common in the diet from late summer to autumn (wet season). Twelve months of mist-netting in riparian and non-riparian rainforest found higher capture rates in riparian rainforest in spring and summer, but not during autumn or winter. It is suggested that the availability of food species (both blossom and fruit) is high in riparian rainforest during spring and summer when S. australis is most frequently caught in this habitat. Efforts to rehabilitate rainforest along degraded creeks should offer a significant conservation benefit to this small pollinator.

scholarly journals Seasonal population dynamics of Octopus vulgaris in the eastern Mediterranean

2006 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
pp. 151-160 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stelios Katsanevakis ◽  
George Verriopoulos
Keyword(s):  
Eastern Mediterranean ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Main Peak ◽  
Octopus Vulgaris ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Visual Census ◽  
The Common ◽  
Specific Growth Rates ◽  
Seasonal Population ◽  
Seasonal Population Dynamics

Abstract The population density of Octopus vulgaris was measured by visual census with scuba diving in coastal areas in Greece (eastern Mediterranean). A time-variant, stage-classified, matrix population model was developed to interpret the seasonal variation of octopus stage densities and to estimate several life cycle parameters. An annual and a semi-annual periodic cycle were found in the stage densities. A main peak of benthic settlement was observed during summer and a secondary, irregular one during late autumn. Two spawning peaks were estimated, a main one during late winter–spring and a secondary one during late summer–early autumn. More than 50% of the just-settled individuals will eventually die after 3 months. Mortality rate declines, as individuals grow larger, reaches a minimum approximately 6 months after settlement, and then grows again probably because of terminal spawning. The life expectancy of recently settled individuals (<50 g) during their summer peak is approximately 5 months. The lifespan of the common octopus is estimated to be between 12 and 15 months. The octopuses' mean specific growth rates (±s.d.) in their natural environment were 1.61 ± 0.30 d−1 for 50–200 g individuals and 1.19 ± 0.31 d−1 for 200–500 g individuals.

Population abundance of the common hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius in the Haut Niger National Park, Republic of Guinea / Abondance de la population d'hippopotame commun Hippopotamus amphibius dans le Parc National du Haut Niger, République de Guinée

Mammalia ◽  
2006 ◽  
Vol 70 (1-2) ◽  
Author(s):  
David Brugière ◽  
Bakary Magassouba ◽  
Amidou Sylla ◽  
Halimou Diallo ◽  
Mamadou Sow
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
Buffer Zone ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Republic Of Guinea ◽  
Hippopotamus Amphibius ◽  
The Status ◽  
Grazing Area ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Republic

AbstractThe Republic of Guinea is thought to contain the largest population of common hippopotamus in West Africa. However, no systematic field survey has been carried out recently and the information available is limited to informal observations. To clarify the status of the common hippopotamus in Guinea, we carried out a biannual population survey along the section of the Niger River (the largest river in Guinea) within the Haut Niger National Park. We counted 93 hippopotamuses in 28 groups in the dry season and 77 hippopotamuses in 23 groups in the wet season. Mean group size and number of neonates did not change between the seasons. Hippopotomuses were more numerous along the river sections bordering uncultivated floodplains. This underlines the significance of this habitat (which is used as a grazing area) for conservation of this species. Haut Niger National Park is the most important protected area in Guinea for conservation of the common hippopotamus. Hippopotamus-human and -cattle conflicts in terms of floodplain use in the park's buffer zone should be closely monitored. Floodplain conversion to rice fields represents one of the most important threats to the long-term conservation of hippopotamus populations in Guinea.

Problem crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, at Nhulunbuy, Northern Territory: an assessment of relocation as a mangaement strategy

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 127 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Walsh ◽  
PJ Whitehead
Keyword(s):  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Effective Strategy ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Rates Of Return ◽  
Saltwater Crocodile ◽  
Crocodylus Porosus ◽  
Remote Sites ◽  
Total Capture ◽  
Capture Rates

Since 1986 the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory has operated a programme to remove 'problem' saltwater crocodiles from waters in and adjoining the township of Nhulunbuy. Over a period of five years, 52 different saltwater crocodiles (44 male) were captured. Most (48) were released at remote sites designated by the traditional Aboriginal owners of the surrounding lands. Release distances from the township varied from 17 to 282 km (by coastline). Many crocodiles (47.9%), including those released at the most distant sites, returned to, and were subsequently recaptured at, the township. Total capture rates (initial captures and recaptures pooled) varied seasonally, with fewer crocodiles being caught in the cooler dry season. During the wet season capture rates remained high, but relatively fewer 'new' crocodiles were caught. Probability of recapture could not be related to distance and direction of release from the township, nor size and sex of the released crocodile. Frequency of capture of individual crocodiles (1-8 times) was also unrelated to these variables. The high rates of return indicate that relocation is unlikely to be an effective strategy for managing humancrocodile interactions, at least in areas where potential release sites already support saltwater crocodile populations near carrying capacity.

Seasonal, Grazing Site and Fish Size Effects on Patterns of Algal Consumption by the Herbivorous Fish, Siganus rivulatus, at Mikhmoret (Mediterranean, Israel)

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (7-8) ◽  
pp. 413-419 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. Lundberg ◽  
Y. Lipkin
Keyword(s):  
Late Summer ◽  
Food Composition ◽  
Mediterranean Coast ◽  
Medium Size ◽  
Limited Area ◽  
Small Fish ◽  
Large Fish ◽  
Food Species ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Siganus Rivulatus

Siqanus rivulatus, a successful herbivorous immigrant fish from the Red Sea, consumes along the Israeli east Mediterranean coast a wide variety of algae. Only four of them composed about a half of the bulk of its food, and only twelve, about 80% of it. Seasonal changes in quantitative representation of different algae in the food followed several patterns. Most algae were taken throughout the year. Proportions in the food of some algae fluctuated only slightly during the year, proportions of others were very great during short periods and much smaller during the rest of the year. Polvsiphonia is an example for the former, Ulva and Spatoglossum, for the latter. Among the latter, Ulva dominates the food contents during the end of winter and spring; Spatoglossum, during the late summer. As shown previously, s. rivulatus prefers certain algae as food. Nevertheless, food composition in fish captured at inshore sites differed from that of fish captured offshore. This reflects, to a certain extent, the difference in vegetation between these sites, and the fact that the fish tend to graze in a rather limited area at a time. Small and large fish take different algal food species. Unexpectedly, small fish clearly preferred some large and robust algae, consuming them in much greater proportions than bigger fish. Also unexpectedly, medium size fish showed preferences and avoidances of their own in regard to the consumption of certain algae, and not merely occupied an intermediate position between small and large fish.

scholarly journals Return migration patterns of porbeagle shark (Lamna nasus) in the Northeast Atlantic: implications for stock range and structure

2017 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 1268-1276 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gérard Biais ◽  
Yann Coupeau ◽  
Bernard Séret ◽  
Beatriz Calmettes ◽  
Rémy Lopez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
General Pattern ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
The Arctic ◽  
Bay Of Biscay ◽  
Migration Patterns ◽  
Northeast Atlantic ◽  
Archival Tags ◽  
Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Mean

During two surveys in 2011 and 2013, we deployed pop-up satellite archival tags (PSATs) on subadult or adult porbeagles at the Bay of Biscay shelf break. We collected data that enabled the reconstruction of nine migrations (eight females, one male) that uncover the large spatial extent of these sharks in the Northeast Atlantic. The mean duration of each deployment was 292 d, with four reaching 365 d. The reconstructions show that, after migrations that extended up to 2000 km away from the point of release, the tagged porbeagles returned to their location of tagging. All the reconstructed migrations followed the same general pattern of a migration away from the Bay of Biscay in late summer, and a return in spring the following year. The total distance of the migrations was estimated at 5000–13 000 km for PSATs deployed for a full year (n = 4), with examples of migration to the Arctic Circle, southward to Madeira and westward to the mid-Atlantic Ridge. The observed site fidelity to the Bay of Biscay and the common migration pattern of all females provide evidence of complex spatial structure and dynamics that encompasses both the open ocean and heavily fished coastal areas, and highlights the challenge of assessing and managing the porbeagle stock in this area.

Concentration of bat activity in riparian habitats over an elevational gradient

1999 ◽  
Vol 77 (6) ◽  
pp. 972-977 ◽  
Author(s):  
S D Grindal ◽  
J L Morissette ◽  
R M Brigham
Keyword(s):  
Elevational Gradient ◽  
Relative Activity ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Riparian Areas ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Bat Activity ◽  
Prey Resources ◽  
Riparian Habitats ◽  
Mist Net ◽  
Capture Rates

Riparian areas are generally assumed to represent important foraging areas for insectivorous bats, but this contention has rarely been formally quantified. To test this assumption, we used bat detectors to compare the relative activity levels of a community of temperate-zone bat species between riparian (lake) and upland (cutblock) habitats at three different elevations (ranging from 540 to 1800 m) in a forested area of southern British Columbia. In addition, we also investigated the sex and age class distributions of bats (based on mist-net captures) between riparian and upland habitats among the elevational zones. Bat activity levels were significantly greater in riparian than upland areas (10 and 40 times greater for foraging and commuting activity, respectively). Capture rates were greater in riparian areas and biased towards females, suggesting that female bats may preferentially select riparian areas, probably because of the abundant prey resources typically associated with this habitat. Captures of females also predominated at lower elevations, whereas males were captured more often in higher elevation zones. Our data support the assumption that riparian habitats represent important foraging and probably drinking areas for bats. The sex bias and differences in capture rates and activity levels need to be considered when designing bat surveys in different habitat types or over elevational gradients.

Association of common brown froglets, Crinia signifera, with clearcut forest edges in Tasmania, Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 29 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sue Baker ◽  
Bonnie Lauck
Keyword(s):  
Forest Edge ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Forest Edges ◽  
Current Management ◽  
Silvicultural Practices ◽  
Frog Species ◽  
Logged Forest ◽  
The Common ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
Capture Rates

We examined the response of the common brown froglet, Crinia signifera, to recently clearcut forest edges in Tasmanian wet Eucalyptus obliqua forest. We established transects of pitfall traps crossing coupe edges, within coupes, and within mature forest interiors (riparian and non-riparian) at three study sites. Pitfall captures of C. signifera were greatest at the immediate logged forest edge (which corresponded with a firebreak constructed as part of standard clearfell, burn and sow silvicultural practices in Tasmania). Capture rates were lower in both the coupe interior and the immediate unlogged forest edge and declined to negligible numbers in the unlogged forest interior. Edge penetration was estimated to be generally 50–100 m. We suggest that Tasmania’s current management of wet forest may provide additional habitat for C. signifera by changing the age structure of the forest and providing additional forest edge/firebreak habitat. However, C. signifera is common and disturbance tolerant, and thus these findings should not be extrapolated to other Australian frog species that may be disadvantaged by current logging practices.

Ecology of the Honey possum, Tarsipes rostratus, in Scott National Park, Western Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 25 ◽  
Author(s):  
S.D. Bradshaw ◽  
R.D. Phillips ◽  
S. Tomlinson ◽  
R. J. Holley ◽  
S. Jennings ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Western Australia ◽  
National Park ◽  
Environmental Changes ◽  
Phytophthora Cinnamomi ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Food Sources ◽  
Burnt Areas ◽  
Honey Possum ◽  
Capture Rates

The Honey possum, Tarsipes rostratus, is an obligate nectarivore, known to feed on plant species from only three Families in south-western Western Australia: Myrtaceae, Proteaceae and Epacridaceae. These plants can be adversely affected by fire, decreased rainfall or groundwater levels and the pathogen Phytophthora cinnamomi. We investigated the ecology of T. rostratus in terms of: (i) how the population fluctuated in response to rainfall and fire over a 20-year period and (ii) changes in diet and movements during a period of decreased food availability in late summer. Mean capture rates were significantly positively correlated with mean flowering rates of Banksia ilicifolia over a 20-year period. Winter capture rates were also significantly positively correlated with both annual and winter rainfall two years prior to trapping in recently burnt areas, but not in long unburnt� areas. Capture rates were significantly higher in unburnt Banksia woodland during winter but densities there have declined since 1996, associated with the death of many Banksia ilicifolia trees from persistent Phytophthora infection. Notwithstanding this decline, winter capture rates in the unburnt areas were still approximately double those in the burnt areas 6 years after the last fire. Short-term capture rates were negatively correlated with barometric pressure, showing that movement and foraging is stimulated by the passage of low pressure frontal weather systems. Despite the paucity of known food sources flowering in late summer and autumn, there was no evidence of T. rostratus using plant species from other than the three above-noted Families. Utilisation areas in summer were also no larger than those previously recorded across all seasons in Scott National Park. Some individuals, however, moved extensive distances to locate spatially restricted food sources. The conservatism of their diet and the sensitivity of the population to changes in rainfall and fire history indicate that T. rostratus populations are particularly vulnerable to some of the environmental changes now occurring in south-western Australia.

scholarly journals Grazing Effects on Species Composition in Rangelands of Upper Mustang, Nepal

Our Nature ◽  
1970 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 69-76
Author(s):  
A. Pokharel
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Species Composition ◽  
Clear Understanding ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Importance Value Index ◽  
Importance Value ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Unidentified Species ◽  
Palatable Species ◽  
Experimental Plots

Conservation and management of rangelands require clear understanding of species composition. The objective of this paper is to show the differences in species composition, abundance, mean cover and height between the grazed and ungrazed plots in a specific pasture of Lo Manthang VDC in Upper Mustang. Two seasons' data were collected during July (wet season) and November (dry season) 2005. Species richness, Importance Value Index (IVI), cover and height of the species compared between grazed and ungrazed plots. Twenty species (17 belonging to 14 families: high-7, medium- 2, low – 6 and non palatable – 2 and 3 unidentified species) were recorded in the experimental plots. Species richness didn’t show any significant difference in between the ungrazed and grazed plots in both the seasons. On the basis of IVI value, Kobresia spp. a highly palatable species is dominant in the ungrazed plots in both the seasons. A significant difference (Chi2, p < 0.05, d.f. = 7) in cover during July indicates that the pasture has some impact of grazing.Key words: Conservation, Grazed and ungrazed plots, Management, Rangeland, Species compositiondoi:10.3126/on.v3i1.337Our Nature (2005) 3: 69-76

scholarly journals Sex-biased seasonal capture rates in Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta)

2018 ◽  
Vol 132 (1) ◽  
pp. 20-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrick D. Moldowan ◽  
Ronald J. Brooks ◽  
Jacqueline D. Litzgus
Keyword(s):  
Transition Period ◽  
Specific Activity ◽  
Activity Patterns ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Sampling Period ◽  
Chrysemys Picta ◽  
Painted Turtle ◽  
Biased Sex Ratio ◽  
Provincial Park ◽  
Capture Rates

We examined captures of Painted Turtle (Chrysemys picta) in Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, during the understudied summer–autumn transition period (August–September). The proportion of captured male turtles increased relative to the proportion of females during the late summer and early autumn sampling period, leading to male-biased capture rates in a population with a strongly female-biased sex ratio. We consider explanations for the capture bias in relation to sex-specific activity patterns and briefly discuss the implications of sampling period on the outcome of population structure studies.

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