Diet and foraging behaviour of brush-tailed phascogales (Phascogale tapoatafa) in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 511 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Scarff ◽  
S. G. Rhind ◽  
J. S. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Food Source ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Direct Observations ◽  
Nocturnal Foraging ◽  
Active Pursuit ◽  
Prey Items

The diet and foraging behaviour of an arboreal marsupial, the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa tapoatafa), was examined in the jarrah forest of south-western Australia. Radio-tracking was used to confirm the species’ nocturnal foraging habit and to make direct observations of foraging behaviour. Eleven stomachs, and a collection of 45 scats obtained during summer and autumn, were microscopically examined for content. The availability of major prey items (invertebrates found on or under the bark of tree trunks) was quantified. Phascogales proved to be foraging generalists, and their diet predominantly consisted of invertebrates. Some invertebrate taxa appeared to be preferred but few taxa were avoided. Active pursuit of vertebrates was negligible. However, the species appears opportunistic, and scavenging of vertebrates may contribute to the diet. Nectar was also taken, appearing to be a particularly prized but rare and patchy food source. It is suggested that the current and former distributions of this species have been constrained by both the seasonal reliability of rainfall and the diversity of food resources.

scholarly journals Successional changes in feeding activity by threatened cockatoos in revegetated mine sites

2016 ◽  
Vol 43 (2) ◽  
pp. 93 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tim S. Doherty ◽  
Briana N. Wingfield ◽  
Vicki L. Stokes ◽  
Michael D. Craig ◽  
Jessica G. H. Lee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Feeding Activity ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Food Plants ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Ecological Requirements ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Mine Sites ◽  
Floristic Variation

Context Provision of key habitat resources is essential for effectively managing species that have specific ecological requirements and occur in production landscapes. Threatened black cockatoos in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest of Western Australia have a wide range, so their conservation requires support from all land tenures, not just reserves. Mining in the jarrah forest temporarily removes cockatoo feeding habitat, so it is important to understand how cockatoos exploit revegetated areas for food resources. Aims We aimed to determine whether there were successional patterns in cockatoo feeding activity in revegetation aged from 4 to 23 years at three mine sites in the jarrah forest in south-western Australia. Methods We surveyed 232 plots in revegetation to document (1) structural and floristic variation in vegetation across mine sites and revegetation ages, (2) differences in cockatoo feeding activity across mine sites and revegetation ages on the basis of feeding residues and (3) any edge effect reflecting preferential use of vegetation at the interior or exterior of mine pits. We also documented the frequency of occurrence of cockatoo food plants and feeding residues in 480 plots in unmined forest to compare with revegetated areas. Key results Marri (Corymbia calophylla) and jarrah were commonly consumed in unmined forest and Banksia and Hakea species were also fed on to a lesser extent. Revegetated mine pits provided food within 4 years and continued to do so up until the oldest plots studied (23 years). The relative importance of food plants shifted from proteaceous species in young revegetation to myrtaceous species in intermediate to older revegetation. However, extent of feeding on myrtaceous species in older revegetation did not equate to feeding rates in unmined forest, with lower frequencies recorded in revegetation. Conclusions Black cockatoos fed in revegetation at all three mine sites, despite variations in vegetation age, structure and floristics. Feeding on proteaceous and myrtaceous food plants occurred within 4 and 7 years of revegetation being established, respectively, indicating that some food resources are restored quickly after mining disturbance of the jarrah forest. Implications Our results emphasise the importance of monitoring fauna recolonisation over appropriate time scales, to understand how successional processes in revegetation influence fauna population persistence in production landscapes.

Invertebrate prey of the bark-foraging insectivore Phascogale tapoatafa: distribution of biomass amongst alternative foraging substrates within south-western Australian woodlands

2006 ◽  
Vol 54 (5) ◽  
pp. 335 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. R. Scarff ◽  
J. S. Bradley
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Water Availability ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Litter Layer ◽  
Invertebrate Prey ◽  
Prey Biomass ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Prey Items ◽  
Invertebrate Biomass

The bark of trees is an important foraging substrate for a range of vertebrate insectivores. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of food resources available to the bark-foraging insectivore Phascogale tapoatafa, and to compare prey biomass on bark versus the litter layer. We conducted nocturnal sampling for arthropods on tree trunks and litter in a forest in south-western Australia. The bark fauna biomass was dominated by spiders, with cockroaches, beetles and ants also well represented. In contrast, the litter was dominated by orthopterans. Invertebrate biomass was much greater in the litter layer than on tree trunks. Prey items in bark were more plentiful in Melaleuca swamps than in the surrounding dry sclerophyll woodland. Within swamps, trees with the highest invertebrate densities had thin trunks or loose bark, whilst in woodland it was trees with thick bark. Water availability may increase the prey resource used by bark-foraging insectivores.

Tree Species Preferences of Foraging Birds in Jarrah Forest in Western Australia.

1985 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 461 ◽  
Author(s):  
I Abbott ◽  
PV Heurck
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Tree Species ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Selective Logging ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Silvicultural Treatments ◽  
Species Preferences

A study of foraging by 10 bird species suggests that selective logging of large Eucalyptus marginata will only have affected Melithreptus lunatus, but that proposed silvicultural treatments, including removal of Banksia grandis, may affect several other bird species.

The influence of roost closure on the roosting and foraging behaviour of Eptesicus fuscus (Chiroptera: Vespertilionidae)

1986 ◽  
Vol 64 (5) ◽  
pp. 1128-1133 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Mark Brigham ◽  
M. Brock Fenton
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Success ◽  
Direct Observation ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Eptesicus Fuscus ◽  
Maximum Distance ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Big Brown Bats ◽  
Specific Factors ◽  
Foraging Flight

We used radio tracking and direct observation to determine the effect of roost closure on the roosting and foraging behaviour of big brown bats (Eptesicus fuscus) in maternity colonies near Ottawa. Individuals were site loyal, but after eviction they moved short distances to new roosts where they tended to produce fewer offspring. The time spent on the first foraging flight, the maximum distance travelled, and the use of feeding areas did not change with exclusion. The results suggest that bats roost to take advantage of site-specific factors that may increase reproductive success.

Field Observations on the Common Striped Possum (Dactylopsila Trivirgata) in North Queensland.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 755 ◽  
Author(s):  
KA Handasyde ◽  
RW Martin
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Home Range ◽  
Foraging Behaviour ◽  
Male Body ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Far North ◽  
Large Trees ◽  
The Common ◽  
Primary Habitat

Habitat utilisation and foraging behaviour by the common striped possum (Dactylopsila trivirgata) was investigated by means of spotlighting and radio-tracking at Shiptons Flat, far north Queensland. Vine forest was the primary habitat of D. trivirgata; however, animals were also observed in open eucalypt (Eucalyptus tereticornis) woodland. Information collected on foraging behaviour suggests that D. trivirgata are generalist insectivores consuming some fruit and other foodstuffs, such as honey. Radio-tracking data were used to calculate the home-range areas of two subadult males. The home range of the smaller male (body weight 290 g) was 5.2 ha (by the 95% harmonic mean (HM) method) or 6.5 ha (by the minimum convex polygon (MCP) method), and that of the larger male (body weight 415 g) was 21.2 ha (95% HM) or 21.3 ha (MCP). Large trees with hollows, which are utilized for denning, appear to be an important feature of the habitat for this species. D. trivirgata exhibits a pronounced degree of sociality and may breed seasonally. Observations suggest that amethystine pythons (Morelia amethistina) may be major predators of D. trivirgata at Shiptons Flat.

Pacific Salmon: Ecology and Management of Western Alaska’s Populations

2009 ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Source ◽  
Driving Forces ◽  
Pacific Salmon ◽  
Late Summer ◽  
Terrestrial Ecosystems ◽  
Food Resources ◽  
Growth And Survival ◽  
Terrestrial Invertebrates ◽  
Riverine Ecosystems ◽  
Aquatic Food

<em>Abstract.</em>—Much is known about the importance of the physical characteristics of salmonid habitat in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest, with far less known about the food sources and trophic processes within these habitats, and the role they play in regulating salmonid productivity. Freshwater food webs supporting salmonids in Alaska rely heavily on nutrient, detritus, and prey subsidies from both marine and terrestrial ecosystems. Adult salmon provide a massive input of marine biomass to riverine ecosystems each year when they spawn, die, and decompose, and are a critical food source for young salmon in late summer and fall; riparian forests provide terrestrial invertebrates to streams, which at times comprise over half of the food ingested by stream-resident salmonids; up-slope, fishless headwater streams are a year-round source of invertebrates and detritus for fish downstream. The quantity of these food resources vary widely depending on source, season, and spatial position within a watershed. Terrestrial invertebrate inputs from riparian habitats are generally the most abundant food source in summer. Juvenile salmonids in streams consume roughly equal amounts of freshwater and terrestrially-derived invertebrates during most of the growing season, but ingest substantial amounts of marine resources (salmon eggs and decomposing salmon tissue) when these food items are present. Quantity, quality, and timing of food resources all appear to be important driving forces in aquatic food web dynamics, community nutrition, and salmonid growth and survival in riverine ecosystems.

Comparative Studies in Selected Species of Eucalyptus Used in Rehabilitation of the Northern Jarrah Forest, Western Australia. I. Patterns of Xylem Pressure Potential and Diffusive Resistance of Leaves

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 367 ◽  
Author(s):  
IJ Colquhoun ◽  
RW Ridge ◽  
DT Bell ◽  
WA Loneragan ◽  
J Kuo
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Water Loss ◽  
Seasonal Patterns ◽  
Pressure Potential ◽  
Jarrah Forest ◽  
Eucalyptus Marginata ◽  
Xylem Pressure ◽  
Diffusive Resistance ◽  
Xylem Pressure Potential ◽  
The Impact

Land use which reduces tree canopy density and the impact of Phytophthora cinnamomi are believed to be altering the hydrological balance of parts of the northern jarrah forest, Western Australia. In the drier eastern zones of the forest, replacement plant communities must maintain the soil-salt-water balance to prevent significant increases in salinization of streams in water supply catchments. Daily and seasonal patterns of the diffusive resistance of leaves and xylem pressure potential were determined for the major natural dominant of the region, Eucalyptus marginata, and five other species of Eucalyptus used in rehabilitation. Three types of daily and seasonal patterns were observed. E. marginata and E. calophylla exhibited little stomatal control of water loss, and leaf resistances remained low throughout the study period (type 1). E. maculata, E. resinifera and E. saligna exhibited marked stomatal regulation during summer days when xylem pressure potentials fell below -2.O MPa (type 2). E. wandoo (type 3) also controlled water loss but developed xylem pressure potentials far lower than all other species tested (<-3.0 MPa). Although none of the species tested replicated the summer stomatal resistance and xylem pressure potential patterns of E. marginata, it is suggested that total annual water use should be examined before selecting the most appropriate species to rehabilitate disturbed sites in the eastern zones of the northern jarrah forest region.

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