scholarly journals The diet of powerful owls (Ninox strenua) and prey availability in a continuum of habitats from disturbed urban fringe to protected forest environments in south-eastern Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Cooke ◽  
R. Wallis ◽  
F. Hogan ◽  
J. White ◽  
A. Webster
Keyword(s):  
Prey Availability ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
Urban Fringe ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Marsupial Species ◽  
Ringtail Possum

This study investigates the diet of six breeding pairs of powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor in Victoria, Australia, and compares prey consumption with prey availability. The six sites represent a continuum of habitats, ranging from urban Melbourne, through the urban fringe interface to a more forested landscape. We found that powerful owls in the Yarra Valley Corridor are reliant almost exclusively on arboreal marsupial prey as their preferred diet, with 99% of their overall diet comprising four arboreal marsupial species. These four species (the common ringtail possum, common brushtail possum, sugar glider and greater glider) were also the most abundant species observed while spotlighting; however, their abundance varied along the continuum. There was a strong positive relationship with the presence of these species in the diet and their site-specific availability, indicating that the powerful owl is a generalist hunter, preying on the most available prey at a given site and in a given season. This study suggests that food resources are high in these disturbed urban fringe sites and it is unlikely that food availability in urban environments will limit the potential survival of urban powerful owls.

Ecology of the Feral Cat, Felis catus (L. ), in South-Eastern Australia I. Diet

1981 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
E Jones ◽  
BJ Coman
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
European Rabbit ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Feral Cat ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Eastern Highlands ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Diets were determined for feral cats from the Victorian Mallee, Kinchega National Park in western New South Wales, and the Victorian eastern highlands. The percentages by weight of introduced mammals eaten (mainly European rabbit and house mouse) were 85, 64 and 45 for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats, respectively, of which rabbit contributed 74, 56 and 43% respectively to the total diets. The weights of native mammals eaten were 2% and 4% for Mallee and Kinchega cats; the species found were common brushtail possum, planigales and bats. For eastern highland cats the weight of native mammals eaten was 40% and at least 11 species were represented: the most important being southern bush rat (16%), common ringtail possum (8%), common brushtail and/or mountain brushtail possums (5%), brown antechinus (470) and sugar glider (4%). The weights of birds eaten were 9, 18 and 13% for Mallee, Kinchega and eastern highland cats. Less important foods were reptiles, amphibians, fish, arthropods and annelids; some food, both carrion and human food scraps, was scavenged. Seasonal changes in composition of the diet were evident in Mallee cats.

Will arboreal mammals use rope-bridges across a highway in eastern Australia?

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David Rohweder ◽  
Brendan D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Camera Traps ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Road Crossing ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Artificial structures designed to promote road-crossing by arboreal mammals are increasingly being installed in Australia but there is a limited understanding of their usefulness. We studied five 50–70-m-long rope-bridges (encompassing three designs) erected across the Pacific Highway, a major freeway in eastern Australia. Native arboreal mammals showed a willingness to explore these structures, being detected by camera traps on four rope-bridges. The vulnerable squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) crossed on one rope-bridge at least once every 4.5 weeks over a 32-week period. The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) were detected on one of two rope-bridges that extended under the freeway at creek crossings. The feathertail glider was detected on all three rope-bridge designs. Our results suggest that rope-bridges have the potential to restore habitat connectivity disrupted by roads for some arboreal mammals. Further research is needed to refine the design and placement of rope-bridges as well as to determine whether these structures promote gene flow.

The use of nest boxes by arboreal marsupials in the forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
C. I. MacGregor ◽  
R. B. Cunningham ◽  
R. D. Incoll ◽  
M. Crane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Mountain Ash ◽  
The Common ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
Leadbeater's Possum ◽  
Ringtail Possum

The results are reported of a nest-box study conducted in two locations in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria (south-eastern Australia) to compare usage of different nest-box designs located at different heights in trees. A total of 96 nest boxes was established using a rigorous experimental design – two regions (Powelltown and Toolangi State Forests), two forest age classes (20-year post-logging regrowth and 60-year fire- and salvage-logging regrowth), two nest-box designs (large boxes with large entrance holes and small boxes with small entrance holes), and two heights at which nest boxes were attached to trees (3 m and 8 m above the ground). The study entailed setting out four nest boxes at each of 24 sites to meet the design criteria. Evidence of occupancy by vertebrates was recorded in a total of 19 of 96 boxes on 11 of 24 sites site during regular inspections over more than three years. Thirteen boxes were used by Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), six by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus cunninghami) and seven by the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). The common ringtail possum and mountain brushtail possum were seen only in high–large boxes but Leadbeater's possum used all but the low–large boxes. There was evidence of spatial dependence in usage patterns, with all four boxes at a given site showing signs of eventually being occupied. Only two nest boxes located in mountain ash forest regenerating after the 1939 wildfires were occupied. Relatively limited use of nest boxes supports concerns about the use of a nest box over large scales and long timeframes as an effective recovery tool for species threatened by the loss and subsequent shortage in the numbers of naturally occurring hollows.

Diet of the tiger quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) in south-eastern Australia

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (2) ◽  
pp. 117 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. A. Belcher ◽  
J. L. Nelson ◽  
J. P. Darrant
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Important Prey ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Moist Forest ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Analysis of 338 tiger quoll scats from tableland moist forest in south-eastern New South Wales found that the greater glider was the major prey species occurring in 54.1% of scats and contributing an estimated 51.01% of the biomass consumed by tiger quolls. Medium-sized (0.5–5 kg) mammals were the most important prey group by occurrence (53.9%), frequency (66.0%) and estimated biomass contribution to diet (62.93%). Other medium-sized prey taken by tiger quolls included: long-nosed bandicoot, rabbit, brushtail possum and ringtail possum. Macropods and wombats were also present in the scats and had been presumably taken as carrion. There was no significant difference in the diets of male and female tiger quolls. Tiger quolls were recorded hunting greater gliders in their tree hollows during the day, hunting rabbits in their burrows both during the day and at night and were observed eating road-killed macropods and wombats around dawn and dusk.

Dietary composition and prey preference of a new carnivorous marsupial species, the buff-footed antechinus (Antechinus mysticus), at the northern and southern limits of its range

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (3) ◽  
pp. 148 ◽  
Author(s):  
Coral Pearce ◽  
Chris J. Burwell ◽  
Andrew M. Baker
Keyword(s):  
Diet Composition ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Prey Preference ◽  
Breeding Period ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Percentage Volume ◽  
Marsupial Species ◽  
Second Year ◽  
Carnivorous Marsupial ◽  
The Relationship

The buff-footed antechinus (Antechinus mysticus) is a newly described carnivorous marsupial from eastern Australia. We examined the diet composition and prey preference of this little known dasyurid in the southernmost (Brisbane) and northernmost (Eungella) populations. Animals were captured over three months (July–September) during 2014 encompassing the breeding period (late July and August) of the species. Seasonal sampling carried over into a second year which followed the succeeding cohort of juveniles as they dispersed from their maternal nest (summer), through their maturation (autumn), to the beginning of breeding (winter), sampling across one complete generation. The diet of A. mysticus consisted predominantly of invertebrates, with 16 prey orders identified (11 Insecta, two Arachnida, two Myriapoda, one Crustacea). Vertebrate (Family Scincidae) consumption was recorded in low abundance at both sites. The diet of A. mysticus was dominated by Araneae (spiders), Blattodea (cockroaches) and Coleoptera (beetles). Comparison of identified prey consumption in scats with prey availability in pitfall traps showed A. mysticus to be a dietary generalist, opportunistically consuming mostly invertebrate prey with supplementary predation on small vertebrates. Juvenile A. mysticus preyed predominantly on Blattodea (33.4% mean percentage volume) and Coleoptera (31.6% mean percentage volume), potentially suggesting a preference for larger, easier to catch, prey items. Further exploration into the relationship between prey and body size is required to determine this.

Positive edge effects for arboreal marsupials: an assessment of potential mechanisms

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine K. Harding ◽  
Shirin Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effects ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Positive Edge ◽  
Relative Index ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Pellet Counts ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Foliage Density ◽  
Ringtail Possum

In this study we examined the potential for positive edge effects on folivorous arboreal marsupials inhabiting upland rainforest in the Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland, Australia. We predicted that the folivores should have increased densities at edges relative to interior forest 90 m from the edge owing to the following causal factors, either separately or in combination: (a) increased foliar biomass, measured as vertical foliage density; and/or (b) increased abundance of preferred food trees. To test these hypotheses, we conducted surveys of the lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), the green ringtail possum (Pseudochirops archeri), the Herbert River ringtail possum (Pseudochirulus herbertensis) and the coppery brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii) at two remnant rainforest sites with ‘hard’ edges such as roads or pasture. Because arboreal species are often difficult to survey accurately within forests, we utilised pellet counts as an index of the population and compared this to the common survey technique of night spotlighting. Our results indicated that pellet counts, combined over all species, were positively and strongly correlated with spotlighting results. Using pellet counts as a relative index of arboreal folivore populations, we found that edge transects contained a higher abundance of all species combined than did interior transects. Further, total foliage density in the 10–30-m vertical transect was found to be significantly correlated with total pellet counts at edge transects. Total preferred tree species was not significantly different between edge and interior transects. From these results we propose that foliage density, as a surrogate for biomass, is a possible mechanism explaining the higher abundance of arboreal marsupials at the edges of these two highland rainforest sites in north Queensland.

scholarly journals Male and female bats differ in their use of a large urban park

2019 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Krista J Patriquin ◽  
Cylita Guy ◽  
Joshua Hinds ◽  
John M Ratcliffe
Keyword(s):  
Urban Areas ◽  
Green Space ◽  
Prey Availability ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Demographic Data ◽  
Urban Environments ◽  
City Centre ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Urban Green ◽  
Urban Green Spaces

Abstract Understanding how wildlife respond to ever-encroaching urbanization is of great concern. Bats are the second-most speciose mammalian order and while many appear to be urban adapted, we currently have a limited understanding of their demography and habitat use within urban environments. Using a combination of captures to obtain demographic data, radio-telemetry to examine foraging and roosting behaviour, and data on diet and prey availability, we examined how big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus), a synurbic species, use an urban green space (High Park) in Canada’s largest city centre, Toronto. We found that adult males outnumbered adult females more than two to one and that males were found throughout the park, while females were concentrated in an area with greater access to water, but lower prey availability. We also found that bats of both sexes were in poorer body condition than reported for other non-urban areas, including a site within southern Ontario. Our data suggest that High Park may not provide adequate resources for reproductive females as they were never found roosting in the park and beetles, their preferred prey, were limited. Although previous studies suggest urban green spaces may offer refuge to bats, most have not considered sex-specific responses to urbanization as they have largely been based on acoustic surveys. Our study therefore highlights the importance of considering demographic differences in response to urbanization to better inform urban management plans and green space development.

Geographic dimorphism in the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus): the case for a new species

2002 ◽  
Vol 50 (4) ◽  
pp. 369 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
J. Dubach ◽  
K. L. Viggers
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Genetic Distances ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Genetic Characteristics ◽  
Simple Index ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia

The morphological and genetic characteristics of the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) are described for animals from a range of locations throughout its known geographic distribution in eastern Australia. Although there is considerable variation among populations, unequivocal morphological and genetic differences exist between northern and southern populations of the species. Specimens from southern populations (from Victoria) have a significantly (P < 0.001) larger ear conch, a significantly (P < 0.001) longer pes, and a significantly (P < 0.001) shorter tail than do specimens from northern populations (from New South Wales and Queensland). Animals can be clearly distinguished using a simple index based on these three morphological measures, which are gathered from live animals. North–south dimorphism is strongly supported by patterns in genetic data that show genetic distances of 2.7–3.0% between the southern and northern populations. The combined outcomes of morphological and genetic analyses suggest the existence of two distinct species. We recommend that the northern form, distributed from central New South Wales north to central Queensland, retain the name Trichosurus caninus; the southern form from Victoria is described here as Trichosurus cunninghami, sp. nov. The common names of these new species should be the 'short-eared possum' and the 'mountain brushtail possum', respectively.

Adaptation of Species of Centrosema to Water Stress

1983 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. 119 ◽  
Author(s):  
MM Ludlow ◽  
ACP Chu ◽  
RJ Clements ◽  
RG Kerslake
Keyword(s):  
Water Stress ◽  
Water Potential ◽  
Leaf Water Potential ◽  
Stomatal Closure ◽  
Leaf Water ◽  
Water Stress Tolerance ◽  
Strong Positive Relationship ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Macroptilium Atropurpureum

The responses to water stress of five accessions representing four species of the legume Centrosema from contrasting moisture environments were compared under controlled conditions with those of Macroptilium atropurpureum cv. Siratro, a species which avoids dehydration. Species of Centrosema were able to tolerate leaf water potentials as low as -8 to -12 MPa, and all showed osmotic and stomatal adjustment. However, they differed in the tolerance of their leaves to water stress and in the leaf water potential at which stomata were effectively closed. There was a strong positive relationship between water stress tolerance of leaves and the leaf water potential for effective stomatal closure, among the Centrosema accessions and Siratro. The results are consistent with the natural ecological distribution of the species and their behaviour in different moisture environments in northern and north-eastern Australia.

Owl survey of the Peel–Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia

2017 ◽  
Vol 65 (2) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
Graham R. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Oryctolagus Cuniculus ◽  
Rattus Rattus ◽  
Late Winter ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Black Rat ◽  
South West ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Ringtail Possum ◽  
Flying Fox

Little is known of owls in south-western Australia compared with the owls of southern and eastern Australia. Surveys of forest owls in the south-west are almost completely lacking. This study sought to determine the abundance and detectability of owls immediately around the Peel–Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia. The southern boobook (Ninox boobook) and the masked owl (Tyto novaehollandiae) were the only owls detected (n = 23 and n = 1 respectively), although the nocturnal tawny frogmouth (Podargus strigoides) was detected from unelicited calls on three occasions. Southern boobooks were found to be common in this area though they are reported to be in decline in south-eastern and inland Australia. Their detectability was significantly greater in August (late winter) than at other times through unelicited calls; otherwise, there were no detections in winter. A variety of small mammals were detected during the surveys, including: a little red flying-fox (Pteropus scapulatus), a western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis), 19 southern brown bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus), 4 common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), 21 rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), a black rat (Rattus rattus), 2 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and 22 microbats.

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