Demography and home range of the eastern barred bandicoot (Perameles gunnii) in south-eastern Tasmania

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen A. Mallick ◽  
Michael M. Driessen ◽  
Gregory J. Hocking
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Small Width ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Two Populations

We used live-trapping to study the demography and movement of two populations of the eastern barred bandicoot, Perameles gunnii, in south-eastern Tasmania from 1992 to 1996. Densities were 0.35–2.35 animals ha–1. Sex ratios were male-dominated on Grid I and female-dominated on Grid II. The average body weight for sexual maturity was 700g for males and 680g for females, while the lowest recorded weight for a breeding female was 570g. Perameles gunnii was sexually dimorphic, with males having a greater body weight and pes length than females. Recruitment was 25.4–32.1%, residence 46.7–100.0%, and emigration 16.5–25.5% of the population. Three juveniles were recruited to the Grid I population, 55 to Grid II, with a steady decline in the number of juveniles recruited to Grid II over the four years of the study. Breeding occurred year-round. Mean litter size was 2.53, with 78.2% of all litters having either 2 or 3 young. Mean longevity for male and female P. gunnii was 7.91 and 10.54 months, respectively. Home ranges of males (4.29 ha) were significantly larger than those of females (2.34 ha), although this may represent a significant underestimate due to the small width of our grids (200m) relative to the home-range area. There was only moderate overlap (19.3%) between home ranges of males and females. The overlap between male/male home ranges (4.4%) was significantly less than the overlap between female/female home ranges (15.8%). Perameles gunnii carried both ticks and fleas, with flea infestation being significantly higher on Grid I than on Grid II. Both populations underwent a significant decline over the study period, apparently the result of the unusually dry conditions over the first 3 years of the study. A deterioration in conditions was associated with a steady loss of resident adults, declining recruitment of juveniles and an increase in the male/female sex ratio. The sex ratio of P. gunnii populations may provide a convenient index of habitat quality, with poor or deteriorating conditions apparently associated with a high or increasing numbers of males to females.

Biology of The Southern Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon Obesulus) In South-Eastern Tasmania. II. Demography.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 339
Author(s):  
S.A. Mallick ◽  
M.M. Driessen ◽  
G.J. Hocking
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Significant Decline ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Dry Conditions ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Two Populations

We used live-trapping to study the demography of two populations of the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, in south-eastern Tasmania from March 1992 to March 1995. The bulk of I. obesulus captures were in woodland/forest or within 3 m of its verge, with <10% of captures in 'open' pasture. Densities ranged from 0-0.35 animals/hectare. Both populations underwent a significant decline over the study period. This decline is thought to be the result of the exceptionally dry conditions over the three years of the study. Adult sex ratios (male/female) ranged from 0.6- 1.17. The sex ratio of pouch young was female-biased on both grids (range of 0.53-0.73). Isoodon obesulus were sexually dimorphic, with males being both heavier and larger than females. Only two juveniles were recruited to the populations over the entire three years of the study. Breeding among female I. obesulus was greatest in the December, low in the March, moderate in the September, and absent in the June trapping sessions. Mean litter size was 3.05 ± 0.26, with a range of 1-5 pouch young. For males and females, mean longevity for resident animals was 10.0 ± 3.7 and 13.5 ± 3.3 months, respectively. The mean home range area for the two resident males and the five resident females with ≥8 captures was 6.95 ± 1.95 and 3.28 ± 1.02 hectares, respectively. There was minimal overlap between the home ranges of individual I. obesulus.

scholarly journals A radio tracking study of home range and movements of the marsupial Micoureus demerarae (Thomas) (Mammalia, Didelphidae) in the Atlantic forest of south-eastern Brazil

2005 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 85-91 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edsel Amorim Moraes Junior ◽  
Adriano Garcia Chiarello
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Convex Polygon ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Live Trapping ◽  
Eastern Brazil ◽  
Data Points ◽  
Biological Reserve

From August 2001 to July 2002 the home range and movements of seven Micoureus demerarae (Thomas, 1905) (three males and four females) were investigated using radio tracking in the União Biological Reserve, state of Rio de Janeiro, south-eastern Brazil. A total of 436 locations was obtained and home range estimated with fixed Kernel (95% of data points), and minimum convex polygon (MCP) methods, with 100 and 95% of data points. Male home ranges estimated by MCP (100%) ranged from 5.4-24.2 ha and females from 0.3-10.7 ha. Corresponding figures calculated with Kernel (95%) were 4-10.9 ha for males and 1.3-5.9 ha for females. Animals travelled on average 423 m/night, with males travelling significantly further (582.8 m/night) than females (335.1 m/night) (t test, t = 3.609, p = 0.001). We concluded that radio tracking produced much larger home ranges than those estimated with traditional live-trapping techniques, suggesting that the latter might underestimate ranging when the area covered with traps is relatively small (ca. 1 ha or less). Radio tracking also indicated that M. demerarae, although predominantly arboreal and weighting only ca. 130 g., has movements similar in magnitude to larger-sized terrestrial didelphimorph marsupials, such as Didelphis Linnaeus, 1758, Philander Linnaeus, 1758 and Metachirus (Desmarest, 1817).

scholarly journals Shelter selection and home range of echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, in the highlands of south-east Queensland

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (3) ◽  
pp. 219 ◽  
Author(s):  
Darren A. Wilkinson ◽  
Gordon C. Grigg ◽  
Lyn A. Beard
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sheep Grazing ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Shelter Selection ◽  
Physical Attributes ◽  
Thermal Buffering ◽  
Living Area ◽  
Tachyglossus Aculeatus

We recorded physical attributes of sites used for daily shelter or as hibernacula by nine echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, living on a sheep-grazing property in south-eastern Queensland. Home ranges were also determined. For daily shelter sites, echidnas most often used hollow logs and depressions under the roots of fallen trees. Daily shelters were found more often on north-facing slopes and usually provided >90% cover. Hibernation sites always provided 100% cover but, in contrast to daily sites, were distributed randomly in relation to the slope of the terrain. Rabbit burrows, which offer much better thermal buffering than hollow logs, were used most commonly as hibernacula. There were differences between individuals in the type of shelter they used and, moreover, echidnas did not use shelter sites in proportion to what was available, indicating that choice was being exercised. Re-use of sites occurred non-randomly, implying that echidnas can recognise previously used shelters and probably have a learned familiarity with their living area. Home ranges varied between 20.6 ha and 93.3 ha (mean = 49.8, s.d. = 25.4), overlapped with those of other echidnas and correlated positively with body weight.

Terrestrial activity and summer home range of the mole salamander (Ambystoma talpoideum)

1981 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 315-322 ◽  
Author(s):  
Raymond D. Semlitsch
Keyword(s):  
South Carolina ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Breeding Sites ◽  
Carolina Bays ◽  
Mole Salamander ◽  
Ambystoma Talpoideum ◽  
Terrestrial Habitats ◽  
Activity Center ◽  
Two Populations

The terrestrial activity and summer home range of Ambystoma talpoideum is described in two populations in South Carolina. Emigration of adults from breeding sites occurred from March through May during 1979 and 1980. Adults spent 237–354 days in terrestrial habitats before returning to breeding sites during autumn and early winter. Females spent significantly more time in terrestrial habitats than males. Movement of A. talpoideum into and out of the breeding sites around the perimeter of the Carolina bays was nonrandom. Salamanders used corridors of dense vegetation more frequently than open, grassy shoreline areas. Emigration of individual adults to summer home ranges occurred within several nights and summer home ranges were established 81–261 m from the edge of the bays. Juveniles emigrated significantly shorter distances (12–67 m) than adults. Summer home ranges comprised several focal points of activity or "activity centers." The area of each activity center was relatively constant among individuals (0.02–0.21 m2) when compared with the area of a "minimum polygon" home range (0.11–23.3 m2). Ambystoma talpoideum inhabited burrow systems within each activity center. Burrows ran parallel to the surface of the forest floor and averaged 1.7 cm in diameter and 4.7 cm below the surface.

Space use and the social system of muskrats

1993 ◽  
Vol 71 (5) ◽  
pp. 869-875 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lui Marinelli ◽  
François Messier
Keyword(s):  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Social System ◽  
Space Use ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Social Unit ◽  
Canadian Prairies ◽  
Use Patterns ◽  
Adult Sex Ratio ◽  
Range Overlap

We investigated the space-use patterns of adult muskrats in a small (77 ha) marsh on the Canadian Prairies during two breeding seasons. During the study, population size was relatively low and the adult sex ratio was biased towards females. Adult muskrats were territorial with little intrasexual home-range overlap. The exclusivity of home ranges was maintained throughout the breeding season, and appeared to decrease at the end of the season. Male movements often extended over the territory of more than one female, but the overlap was more extensive with primary than with secondary females. Lactation appeared to reduce the space use and mobility of female muskrats. Male muskrats tended to range over smaller areas when weaned young were present within their home range. The results suggest that the sexual pair is the basic social unit of muskrats but that polygyny was common. A female-biased sex ratio appeared to be responsible for the tendency of males to mate polygynously during this study, thus illustrating the plasticity of this social system.

Home ranges of free-ranging cats (Felis catus) in Brooklyn, New York

1989 ◽  
Vol 67 (1) ◽  
pp. 178-181 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carol Haspel ◽  
Robert E. Calhoon
Keyword(s):  
New York ◽  
Body Weight ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Felis Catus ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Utilization Distribution ◽  
Male And Female ◽  
Free Ranging

Home range size is stable among free-ranging cats in Brooklyn, New York. Marked male and female cats had mean home ranges of 2.6 (95% CI, 2.38–2.87) and 1.7 ha (95% CI, 1.57–1.98), respectively, as estimated by the population utilization distribution. Males had significantly larger home ranges, used the perimeter of their ranges more, and had greater variability in home range size than females. Gender differences in body weight accounted for observed differences in home range size; the seeking of estrous females by males could not account for differences in male and female home ranges. The availability of garbage or abandoned buildings, neighborhood, season, or experimental supplementary feeding did not influence home range size.

Home ranges of sympatric red-necked wallabies, red-bellied pademelons and common brushtail possums in a temperate eucalypt forestry environment.

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mar K le ◽  
C McArthur ◽  
M Statham
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Convex Polygon ◽  
Sexual Difference ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Sexually Dimorphic ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
North West ◽  
Fixed Kernel ◽  
Core Areas

We investigated home ranges of sympatric red-necked (or Bennett?s) wallabies Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus, red-bellied pademelons Thylogale billardierii and common brushtail possums Trichosurus vulpecula fuliginosus within a forestry environment in north-west Tasmania. Six indiviuals of each species were radio-tracked between 7 and 11 months. Nocturnal and diurnal data were used to estimate Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP) home range, 95% fixed-Kernel (KE) home range and 50% KE core area. Home ranges (mean � s.e.) were as follows: M. r. rufogriseus MCP = 61 � 12 ha, KE = 41 � 3 ha; T. billardierii MCP = 22 � 5 ha, KE = 16 � 3 ha; and Tr. v. fuliginosus MCP = 39 � 8 ha, KE = 17 � 3 ha. M. r. rufogriseus had larger MCP home ranges than T. billardierii (P < 0.05), and larger KE home ranges and core areas than both T. billardierii and Tr. v. fuliginosus (P < 0.05), which reflected their larger body mass. Inter-sexual comparisons within the sexually dimorphic macropods showed that M. r. rufogriseus males had significantly larger MCP and KE home ranges and core areas than females (P < 0.05), and T. billardierii males tended to have a larger KE home ranges than females (P = 0.08). No inter-sexual difference in home range size was detected for Tr. v. fuliginosus.

Home range of male lace monitors, Varanus varius (Reptilia : Varanidae), in south-eastern Australia

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (3) ◽  
pp. 303 ◽  
Author(s):  
BW Weavers
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Sample Size ◽  
Convex Polygon ◽  
Small Sample Size ◽  
Small Sample ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Realistic Description ◽  
South Eastern Australia

Travelling paths and overnight roosts of the lace monitor, Varanus varius, were recorded by radiotracking during periods of up to 19 months in lowland open forest of south-eastern Australia. Home ranges were calculated by four methods: convex polygon (without correction for small sample size), convex polygon (with correction for small sample size), and two 95% probability ellipses. From field observations, I conclude that the convex polygon method without correction for sample size provides the most realistic description of the space used by V. varius. By this method, I calculated a mean (+/- s.d.) home range of 65 +/- 34 ha for 13 male V. varius (mean mass 5.1kg) that were radio-tracked for 2-19 months.

Sex Ratio, Population Density and Home Range of the Desert Monitor (Varanus griseus) in the Southern Coastal Plain of Israel

1987 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 153-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Stanner ◽  
Heinrich Mendelssohn
Keyword(s):  
Population Density ◽  
Sex Ratio ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Coastal Plain ◽  
Sand Dune ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Tel Aviv ◽  
Radio Transmitters ◽  
One Year ◽  
Dune Area

AbstractDuring a two-year study of the desert monitor (Varanus griseus) in a sand dune area south of the greater Tel Aviv area 21 adult monitors (8 males and 13 females) were captured and marked. Nine of the above monitors were equipped with radio transmitters, and were followed telemetrically for one year. The telemetered monitors maintained definite home ranges: 0.984 ± 0.165 km2, n = 4 for males and 0.319 ± 0.18 km2, n = 5 for females. The home range areas increased with the number of locations, reaching maxima after 30-70 locations. A considerable overlap of home ranges, between and within sexes, indicated that the species is not territorial. Varanus griseus forages over distances of 2 km or more. These forays often take the lizard through several habitats: unstabilized dunes, dense vegetation, construction areas, ruderal areas and a municipal garbage dump. A sex ratio of 1:1.6 (males:females) differs from that found in many previous Varanus studies.

Obsevations on the Tasmanian Devil, Sarcophilus harrisii (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) I. Numbers, home, range, movements and food in two populations

1970 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
ER Guiler
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Population Cycles ◽  
Differential Mortality ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Tasmanian Devil ◽  
Abundant Food ◽  
Sclerophyll Forest ◽  
Two Populations ◽  
Sarcophilus Harrisii

Two geographically separate populations of S. harrisii were studied. There is evidence that long-term population cycles exist in this species. Devils are non-territorial and have a home range which may be shared by several animals. Sclerophyll forest and coastal scrub are their favoured habitats. Individuals in the two populations showed different movements, probably related to food availability; those in areas of abundant food moved about 2 miles and had small home ranges whereas those in areas with less food moved over at least 10 miles per night. The density of population was high in one area, reaching over 30 per square mile, but this is abnormal. Devils have a wide food spectrum and use introduced species as well as native, but in each area their food was based upon one to three species. Man is the principal predator on adult devils. Females were more numerous in all populations but a heavier mortality of this sex occurs in late life. This differential mortality took place at immaturity in one population. Juvenile recruitment was greater in areas with less food than in areas of abundant food, due to the absence of overcrowding.

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