Food availability for the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) on Boullanger and Whitlock Islands, Western Australia

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (6) ◽  
pp. 649 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Miller ◽  
Roberta Bencini ◽  
Harriet Mills ◽  
Dorian Moro
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Scat Analysis ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Pellet Analysis ◽  
Average Size

The aim of this study was to assess food availability for the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) on Boullanger and Whitlock Islands in different habitats and seasons. This was assessed by capturing ground-dwelling invertebrates in pitfall traps in winter, spring and autumn. A quantitative faecal-pellet analysis was conducted to determine the composition of the diet. There were no significant differences in the number of invertebrates captured in the different seasons, or in the different habitat types on the islands. The proportion of plant versus animal matter in the faecal pellets did not change significantly between the seasons. The diet consisted of ~20% plant material. The scat analysis showed that dibblers consumed at least 10 orders of invertebrates ranging in length from 0.1 mm to 25 mm with an average size of 4.5 ± 0.4 mm. The dibblers did not select for a particular size or taxon of prey, but fed on any invertebrates that were readily available to them. This suggests that dibblers are essentially insectivorous dietary generalists and opportunists. The information gathered in this study could be applied when considering available food resources at future translocation sites for dibblers.

scholarly journals Faecal particle size and tooth wear of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 90 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Ellis ◽  
Rachael Attard ◽  
Stephen Johnston ◽  
Peter Theileman ◽  
Allan McKinnon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Particle Sizes ◽  
Leaf Fragment ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Population Analyses ◽  
Large Particles ◽  
Computer Aided ◽  
Pellet Analysis

We used computer-aided image analysis of leaf fragment particles found in faecal pellets of 45 koalas, representing the range of tooth wear in this species, to investigate how tooth wear in the koala influences faecal particle sizes. Although the range of sizes of particles produced did not vary between koalas across different tooth wear classes, with all koalas producing small, medium and large particles, koalas with advanced tooth wear produced a greater proportion of larger particles. This observation may prove useful for demographic population analyses based on scat surveys since the broad age class of individual koalas can be estimated from faecal pellet analysis. Older koalas produced faecal pellets containing a higher proportion of the largest-sized particle sizes (those greater than 0.59 mm2) than either young or mature koalas but there was no difference detected between mature and young koalas.

The spatial and temporal distribution of koala faecal pellets

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 663 ◽  
Author(s):  
W. A. H. Ellis ◽  
B. J. Sullivan ◽  
A. T. Lisle ◽  
F. N. Carrick
Keyword(s):  
Significant Relationship ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Temporal Distribution ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Time Of Day ◽  
Spatial And Temporal Distribution ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Pellet Production ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Free Ranging

Faecal pellets were collected under trees used by free-ranging koalas in south-western, central and south-eastern Queensland to determine the spatial and temporal distribution of pellets with respect to the activity of koalas. Deposition of faecal pellets by koalas was analysed according to the time of day at which the tree was occupied. For free-ranging koalas, 47% of daily faecal pellet output was recovered using a collection mat of 8 × 8 m placed under a day-roost tree. The best predictor of pellet production was the presence of a koala in a tree between 1800 hours and midnight. For other periods, there was no relationship between period of tree occupancy and faecal pellet recovery. There was a significant relationship between the average length of tree occupancy and the time of day that a koala entered a tree.

scholarly journals Faecal Pellets in Deep Marine Soft Clay Crusts: Implications for Hot-Oil Pipeline Design

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew Y-H. Kuo ◽  
Malcolm D. Bolton
Keyword(s):  
Soft Clay ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Major Constituent ◽  
Biological Origin ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Oil Pipeline ◽  
Average Grain Size ◽  
Time Required ◽  
Pipeline Design

In recent years, the presence of crusts within near surface sediments found in deep water locations off the west coast of Angola has been of interest to hot-oil pipeline designers. The origin for these crusts is considered to be of biological origin, based on the observation of thousands of faecal pellets in natural crust core samples. This paper presents the results of laboratory tests undertaken on natural and faecal pellet-only samples. These tests investigate the role faecal pellets play in modifying the gemechanical behaviour of clayey sediments. It is found that faecal pellets are able to significantly alter both the strength and the average grain-size of natural sediments, and therefore, influence the permeability and stiffness. Hot-oil pipelines self-embed into and subsequent shear on crusts containing faecal pellets. Being able to predict the time required for installed pipelines to consolidate the underlying sediment and thus, how soon after pipe-laying, the interface strength will develop is of great interest to pipeline designers. It is concluded from wet-sieving samples before and after oedometer tests, that the process of pipe laying is unlikely to destroy pellets. They will therefore, be a major constituent of the sediment subject to soil-pipeline shearing behaviour during axial pipe-walking and lateral buckling. Based on the presented results, a discussion highlighting the key implications for pipeline design is therefore provided.

The ecology of immature phases of Trichostrongyle nematodes: II. The effect of climatic factors on the availability of the infective larvae of Trichostrongylus retortaeformis to the host

Parasitology ◽  
1948 ◽  
Vol 39 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 26-38 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. D. Crofton
Keyword(s):  
Climatic Factors ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
Cold Weather ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Infective Stage ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Infective Larvae ◽  
High Death ◽  
Maximum Temperatures ◽  
Rate Of Evaporation

1. Eggs and larvae of Trichostrongylus retortaeformis were used.2. The rate of hatching of eggs was shown to be mainly related to temperature. From November to March, when maximum temperatures were below 50° F., there was no hatching. When maximum temperatures of 50–55° F. occurred eggs hatched on or before the fifteenth day, but never during the first 8 days. Eggs hatched in 8 days or less when maximum temperatures of 60–80° F. occurred.3. When the rate of evaporation in the air was high, eggs still hatched and reached the infective stage, the grass blades reducing the rate of loss of moisture from the faecal pellet. Laboratory experiments show that eggs may not develop to the infective stage if the faecal pellets are on a grassless portion of the pasture. This is most likely to occur when the rate of evaporation is high and the temperature low.4. Hatching may be delayed by cold conditions, but some eggs remain viable for long periods and they hatch when the temperature rises. Eggs passed by the host in the autumn can survive a cold winter and hatch in the spring, but eggs passed during the coldest period die.5. During periods when the maximum temperature never exceeded 55° F., little or no migration of larvae occurred. When temperatures rose above 55° F. the number of larvae migrating increased; but rise of temperature was associated with increase in the rate of evaporation. High rates of evaporation reduced the number of larvae migrating on the grass blades.6. Some infective larvae died soon after exposure on grass plots, but a small number survived long periods. In cold weather some larvae were still alive after 20 weeks. A high death-rate occurred in warm weather. A large proportion of the larvae died during periods in which the rate of evaporation was high; in one of these periods 95% of the larvae were dead at the end of 4 weeks' exposure.7. The number of larvae on grass blades of a pasture was shown to be dependent, at any time, upon the climate at that time, and upon past conditions which had influenced hatching and survival:

Subsampling Reduces Sorting Effort for Waterfowl Foods in Salt-Marsh Core Samples

2014 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 380-386 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark C. Livolsi ◽  
Kevin M. Ringelman ◽  
Christopher K. Williams
Keyword(s):  
Salt Marsh ◽  
Food Availability ◽  
Carrying Capacity ◽  
Processing Time ◽  
Soil Core ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Core Samples ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Time Savings

Abstract Waterfowl researchers often use soil core samples to estimate food availability in foraging habitats, and these estimates are needed for bioenergetic models of carrying capacity. However, core sampling is frequently a time- and resource-intensive process, and some researchers have suggested that subsampling may be a valuable way to reduce processing time. We evaluated whether 10% and 25% by mass subsampling are appropriate techniques for reducing core-sorting effort while maintaining precision for samples taken in six separate habitat types along the Delaware bayshore. We found no significant difference between biomass found in 100% sorted cores and estimated biomass obtained by 10% and 25% subsampling. We found that 10% subsampling offered the greatest time savings, reducing mean sorting times by 77% (from 13.7 hours to 3.3 hours) from 100% sorted cores. We recommend that researchers consider subsampling to reduce core-sorting effort and cost, particularly when processing large numbers of cores.

scholarly journals The role of phytophysiognomies and seasonality on the structure of ground-dwelling anuran (Amphibia) in the Pampa biome, southern Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 85 (3) ◽  
pp. 1105-1116 ◽  
Author(s):  
FRANCIELE P. MARAGNO ◽  
TIAGO G. SANTOS ◽  
SONIA Z. CECHIN
Keyword(s):  
Paired Comparison ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Cold Season ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Southern Brazil ◽  
Environmental Features ◽  
Pampa Biome ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Pseudis Minuta

ABSTRACT Considering that habitat use by amphibians is related both with climate and environmental features, we tested the hypothesis that anuran assemblages found in different phytophysiognomies and in different seasons vary in structure. Additionally, we searched for species which can be indicators of habitat and seasons. The study was conducted in the Pampa biome, southern Brazil. Sampling was done through pitfall traps placed in three phytophysiognomies: grassland, ecotone grassland/forest; and forest. The seasonality factor was created by grouping months in warn and cold seasons. Sixteen species were found and the assemblages were influenced both by phytophysiognomies and climatic seasonality. In a paired comparison, the three phytophysiognomies differed in structure of assemblage from each other. Physalaemus henselii, P. riograndensis, Pseudopaludicola falcipes and Pseudis minuta were indicators of ecotone. Leptodactylus gracilis and Physalaemus biligonigerus were indicators of grassland. None species was indicator of forest. Most of the species were indicators of warm season: Elachistocleis bicolor, Leptodactylus fuscus, L. gracilis, L. latinasus, L. latrans, L. mystacinus, Physalaemus biligonigerus, P. cuvieri and Pseudis minuta. None species was indicator of cold season. We found that even for species of open areas, as Pampa, heterogeneous phytophysiognomies are important for maintaining abundance and constancy of populations of anuran.

Biology of The Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) In South-Eastern Tasmania. I. Diet.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 331
Author(s):  
S.A. Mallick ◽  
M.M. Driessen ◽  
G.J. Hocking
Keyword(s):  
Plant Material ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Hypogeous Fungi ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Faecal Analysis ◽  
Lepidopteran Larvae ◽  
Faecal Samples

The diet of the southern brown bandicoot, lsoodon obesulus, was investigated in south-eastern Tasmania using faecal analysis. Isoodon obesulus consumed a range of invertebrate taxa, including Lumbricid earthworms, isopods, lepidopteran larvae, coleopteran adults and larvae, crickets (Gryllidae) and spiders. Plant material (including monocotyledon, dicotyledon and fern) regularly appeared in faecal samples. Seeds were important during the summer months, while spores from hypogeous fungi featured in the diet year-round. We assessed the opportunism of I. obesulus by comparing diet items in the faeces with items recorded in pitfall traps. Isoodon obesulus utilised crickets and seeds in summer when these items became more abundant. However. there was no evidence of any other items being consumed in proportion to their availability.

Comparison of feeding mechanisms in two intertidal gammarideans, Hyale rupicola (Haswell) and Paracalliope australis (Haswell) (Crustacea : Amphipoda)

1983 ◽  
Vol 34 (5) ◽  
pp. 717 ◽  
Author(s):  
MA McGrouther
Keyword(s):  
Intertidal Zone ◽  
Rocky Shore ◽  
Faecal Pellet ◽  
The Body ◽  
Rock Pools ◽  
Filter Feeding ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Lower Intertidal Zone ◽  
Macro Algae

The feeding mechanisms of two rocky shore, intertidal, gammaridean amphipods are described. H. rupicola inhabits the lower intertidal zone and grazes primarily on macro-algae. P. australis inhabits rock pools of the littoral fringe. These pools are flushed with seawater only during rough seas and during periods of calm have a layer of amphipod faecal pellets covering the bottom. No macro-algae grow in these pools. P. australis is microphagous, grazing micro-algae from the rocks and from the faecal pellet layer. In addition to grazing, both species exhibit setal transfer feeding on the material cleaned from the body. P. australis also appears capable of filter feeding by an action involving only the mouthparts.

scholarly journals Diet of bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis in the Karoo

Koedoe ◽  
1992 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
V. Kuntzsch ◽  
J.A.J. Nel
Keyword(s):  
Food Availability ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
National Park ◽  
Natural Habitat ◽  
Wild Fruit ◽  
Sheep Farm ◽  
Farming Area

The diet of bat-eared foxes Otocyon megalotis was studied from March 1988 to September 1989 at two sites near Beaufort West in the central Karoo. In a near-natural habitat (Karoo National Park), insects and wild fruit contributed almost equally to the diet, while more insects than plant material were consumed on a sheep farm (Saucyskuil). Adult and larval Coleoptera (KNP) and Orthoptera (Saucyskuil) were predominantly preyed upon in an opportunistic manner, influenced by food availability. A higher volume of Isoptera was consumed at Saucyskuil, suggesting higher availability in the farming area.

Invertebrate predation of postdispersal seeds and juvenile seedlings of black spruce (Picea mariana) in the boreal forest of eastern Canada

2005 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 674-681 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mathieu Côté ◽  
Jean Ferron ◽  
Réjean Gagnon
Keyword(s):  
Picea Mariana ◽  
Black Spruce ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Invertebrate Predation ◽  
Habitat Types ◽  
Eastern Canada ◽  
Exclosure Experiment ◽  
Seedling Predation ◽  
Lichen Woodland ◽  
Abundance And Diversity

We used an extensive vertebrate exclosure experiment to evaluate black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.) postdispersal seed and seedling predation by invertebrates in three boreal habitats of Eastern Canada: recent burn, spruce–moss, and lichen woodland. Between 9% and 19% of seeds were eaten by invertebrates. Seed predation was higher in recent burns than in spruce–moss and lichen woodlands. Abundance and diversity of potential invertebrate seed consumers sampled in pitfall traps also varied among habitat types. Among the invertebrate seed consumers sampled, Myrmica spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pterostichus adstrictus (Eschscholtz, 1823) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were the most numerous; Formica spp. (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and Pterostichus punctatissimus (Randall, 1838) (Coleoptera: Carabidae) were also present. Between 2% and 12% of juvenile black spruce seedlings were eaten by invertebrates. The most important seedling consumers were slugs (molluscs). Invertebrate predation of seeds and seedlings was highest (19% and 12%) in recent burns, indicating that invertebrate predation may significantly influence black spruce regeneration in these sites.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document