The Biology of the Ground Parrot, Pezoporus wallicus, in Queensland. I. Microhabitat Use, Activity Cycle and Diet

1991 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
DC McFarland
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Activity Cycle ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Microhabitat Use ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Late Afternoon ◽  
Seed Availability ◽  
Dicotyledonous Plants

The microhabitat use, activity cycle and diet of the ground parrot in Cooloola National Park was examined by flushing birds, plotting call locations, radio-tracking 12 individuals, and sampling crop contents of trapped birds. Within a heathland, parrots appeared to use all parts of the dry and wet microhabitats but few of them used sedgelands and shrub- or tree-dominated areas. Birds visited dry microhabitats between late autumn and early summer, but used wet microhabitats mostly in summer. The shifts between dry and wet corresponded to changes in seed availability and accessibility, and may also be linked to climate. Radio-tracked birds were active throughout the day, with peaks just after sunrise, at mid-morning and in late afternoon. Voluntary flights were recorded only in the dawn and dusk calling periods. Home range area averaged 9.2 ha during all tracking periods, the smallest ranges being recorded in spring. Mean adult range (5.6 ha) was smaller than that of subadults (13.9 ha). There was considerable overlap in home ranges among individuals but little overlap in foraging areas. Ground parrots in Cooloola fed on seeds from at least 40 different species of monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plants. Selection appeared to be based on whatever seeds were available, accessible and of a size that could be handled.

Home-range studies in a reintroduced brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) population in the Grampians National Park, Victoria

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 128 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jenny Molyneux ◽  
David A. Taggart ◽  
Anthony Corrigan ◽  
Sean Frey
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Local Extinction ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Western Victoria ◽  
Species Ecology

In 2008, after 9 years of presumed local extinction, brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) were reintroduced at Moora Moora Creek in the Grampians National Park, western Victoria. Since little is known about this species in Victoria, the reintroduction presented an important opportunity to gain information on the species’ ecology. Radio-tracking was undertaken and home range determined for three individuals released 11 months before this study and a further five individuals that were released at the commencement of the study in October 2009. Home-range size showed little variation amongst individuals, with a mean overall home range of 26 ha (±1.69, s.e.) and a mean core home range of 2.5 ha (±0.24, s.e.). Newly reintroduced individuals showed higher levels of association with wallabies from the same release and greater site fidelity when known conspecifics were close. Within 5 months of release, newly reintroduced animals showed home ranges similar in both size and distribution to those of animals released 11 months prior.

scholarly journals Home range and activity of African goshawks Accipiter tachiro in relation to their predation on bats

Koedoe ◽  
1990 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
I.L. Rautenbach ◽  
M.B. Fenton ◽  
A.C. Kemp ◽  
S.J. Van Jaarsveld
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Adult Female ◽  
Sex Ratios ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
High Fecundity ◽  
Previous Summer

Winter radio-tracking of three African goshawks Accipiter tachiro showed that they each occupied well-wooded home ranges of at least 28 hectares. They perched and roosted mainly within densely foliaged trees and an adult female changed perches on average 4,7 times per hour. No crepuscular predation of bats was recorded, in contrast to regular summer predation on colonies of little free-tailed bats, Tadarida pumila, but winter emergence rates of these bats at dusk had dropped to < 5 of the previous summer. We predict that many accipiters will be regular predators of bats and that skewed sex ratios and high fecundity may be two means by which bats counter this predation.

The ecology of sympatric scincid lizards (Ctenotus) in arid South Australia

1998 ◽  
Vol 46 (6) ◽  
pp. 617 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Read
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Environmental Conditions ◽  
Plant Material ◽  
Reproductive Effort ◽  
Arid Zone ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Local Species ◽  
Olympic Dam

Ctenotus skinks are the most diverse and abundant diurnal reptile genus at Olympic Dam, in the South Australian arid zone. The home range, demography, reproduction and diet of five syntopic Ctenotus species was studied over a 6-year period in chenopod shrubland. Longevity frequently exceeded three years in C. regius, four years in C. schomburgkii and five years in C. leonhardii, with a 7-year-old specimen of C. leonhardii being recorded. Females of most species tended to be larger and lived longer than males. Two eggs were typically laid by each species in early summer. Annual reproductive effort, particularly in C. leonhardii, varied considerably depending upon the prevailing environmental conditions. All local species apparently occupied home ranges, with maximum recapture radii in different species of 40–60 m. Ctenotus appear to be unspecialised insectivores, although plant material and lizards are sometimes eaten by the larger species.

scholarly journals Home range sizes for burchell's zebra equus burchelli antiquorum from the Kruger National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1975 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
G.L. Smuts
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Kruger National Park ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Equus Burchelli ◽  
Kruger Park ◽  
Mean Size ◽  
Large Home Range ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Specific Tolerance

Annual home range sizes were determined for 49 marked zebra family groups in the Kruger National Park. Sizes varied from 49 to 566 sq. km, the mean for the Park being 164 square kilometre. Mean home range sizes for different zebra sub-populations and biotic areas were found to differ considerably. Present herbivore densities have not influenced intra- and inter-specific tolerance levels to the extent that home range sizes have increased. Local habitat conditions, and particularly seasonal vegetational changes, were found to have the most profound influence on the shape and mean size of home ranges. The large home range sizes obtained in the Kruger Park, when compared to an area such as the Ngorongoro Crater, can be ascribed to a lower carrying capacity with respect to zebra, large portions of the habitat being sub-optimal, either seasonally or annually.

scholarly journals Importance of canopy connectivity for home range and movements of the rainforest arboreal ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides)

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (3) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
Robyn F. Wilson ◽  
Helene Marsh ◽  
John Winter
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Ground Level ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
The Road ◽  
North East ◽  
Wide Road ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Roads and powerline corridors destroy canopy connectivity in the rainforest of north-east Australia. We tested the hypotheses that linear barriers affect (a) the alignment of home ranges, (b) use of habitat either side of linear barriers, and (c) the crossing of them by the strictly arboreal lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), which is known to be vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Radio-tracking and a translocation experiment were conducted at a narrow 7-m-wide road and an 80-m-wide powerline. Homes ranges of lemuroid ringtails ranged from 0.15 to 1.67 ha (minimum convex polygon) and were aligned with the road but not powerline corridors. When lemuroid ringtails were experimentally translocated, wider canopy clearings over roads reduced their capacity to return to their original home range, and the powerline corridor was a nearly insurmountable barrier. No possums were observed crossing roads or the powerline corridor at ground level or residing in the intervening matrix, indicating that loss of canopy connectivity has a negative impact on their movements.

Movements and Home Ranges of Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales

The movements of a subalpine population of feral pigs were examined at Kosciusko National Park in southeastern New South Wales. Sufficient data were collected to estimate the home-range area of 20 pigs on the basis of 782 telemetry and trap locations. Mean (+/- s.d.) home-range size (minimum convex polygon method) for males (35.0 t 22.2 km*2) was significantly greater than that for females (1 1.1 +/- 5.2 km*2). Use of capture-recapture distances to estimate home-range size was considered inappropriate. A test for nomadism suggests that, although home ranges of pigs in this environment were larger than those reported for other pigs in Australia, the pigs were essentially sedentary. Management implications for this population are discussed.

Home ranges and movement schedules of sympatric bridled nailtail and black-striped wallabies

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 547 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Evans
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Wet Season ◽  
Seasonal Differences ◽  
Dry Seasons ◽  
Species Movement ◽  
Wet And Dry Seasons

Home ranges and movement schedules of sympatric bridled nailtail wallabies, Onychogalea fraenata, and black-striped wallabies, Macropus dorsalis, were studied during wet and dry seasons by radio-tracking. Home ranges of black-striped wallabies (91 ha) were much larger than those of bridled nailtail wallabies (40 ha). Home-range size differed between sexes for bridled nailtail wallabies (males, 59 ha; females, 26 ha), but not for black-striped wallabies. Intraspecific seasonal differences in home-range size were not significant. All home ranges included diurnal shelter habitat, although the preferred type of shelter habitat was different for each species. Movement schedules differed significantly between wet and dry seasons for black-striped wallabies (which made a higher frequency of longer-distance movements during the dry season than during the wet season), but not for bridled nailtail wallabies.

Ecology and population biology of long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) at North Head, Sydney Harbour National Park

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 805 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. K. Scott ◽  
I. D. Hume ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Population Biology ◽  
National Park ◽  
Reproductive Activity ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
High Rate ◽  
Active Management ◽  
Motor Vehicles ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Sydney Harbour

The population biology, habitat utilisation and diet of a small, isolated population of long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) was studied over a 22-month period at North Head in Sydney Harbour National Park, New South Wales. Reproductive output in this urban environment was high, with a mean litter size of 2.3 and production of up to four litters per year. The peak of reproductive activity was in late spring and early summer, with a cessation of breeding in late autumn or early winter. The main causes of death were identified as road trauma (58% – probably an overestimate because of the ease of finding road deaths) and predation by cats and foxes (37% – probably an underestimate because of the difficulty of locating carcasses unless radio-collared). Bandicoots utilised all macrohabitats (open grassed areas, heath, forest, swamp and scrub), but extensively used open grassed areas for foraging. Males had larger home ranges (4.4 ± 0.8 ha) than females (1.7 ± 0.2 ha). The largest home ranges of males coincided with the peak of the breeding season (September–November). Throughout the year P. nasuta fed primarily on beetles, invertebrate larvae and ants, but also on other invertebrates and on plant and fungal material. Some vertebrate and human- derived material (birdseed, vegetable scraps, plastic, twine) was also eaten. Although remarkably adaptable in its reproductive and dietary strategies, this population of long-nosed bandicoots is likely to follow other urban bandicoot populations toward extinction unless there is active management to reduce the high rate of mortality from motor vehicles and introduced predators.

scholarly journals Home range sizes of Cape Mountain Zebras Equus Zebra Zebra in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Koedoe ◽  
1982 ◽  
Vol 25 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L Penzhorn
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
The Mean

The mean home range size of Cape mountain zebra breeding herds was 9,4 km2 (range 3,1 @ 16,0 km2). In two herds which split up, the home ranges of the resultant herds included the original home ranges, but were larger.

Home Range and Habitat Selection of Female Mountain Nyalas (Tragelaphus Buxtoni) in the Human-Dominated Landscape of the Ethiopian Highlands

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anagaw Atickem ◽  
Matthias Klapproth ◽  
Martha Fischer ◽  
Dietmar Zinner ◽  
Leif Egil Loe
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
Resource Selection ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Human Settlement ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Selection Of

Abstract Background: Human settlement and agricultural activities restrict increasingly the range of large mammals in many cases contributing to declining numbers of ungulates. Here, we studied home range size and habitat selection of female mountain nyalas in the northern end of the Bale Mountains National Park (BMNP) (31 km2) surrounded by human settlement. We collected data on space use of seven adult female mountain nyalas equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. Home range size was estimated using fixed kernel density and habitat selection was determined by resource selection functions.Results: We found that female mountain nyalas have much smaller (5.7 km2) home ranges than the 19 km2 home range size predicted for a 170 kg, group-living species living in mixed habitats. Home ranges were 30% larger in night time than daytime. We suggest that the night time extension beyond the park boundaries were caused by both push and pull effects. The presumably high livestock and other ungulates grazing pressure within the protected area may cause forage-driven excursions out of the park, in particular during agricultural crop seasons. In addition, mountain nyalas are probably attracted by humans as shields against hyena predation. Resource selection index indicates bush land and forest habitat are the most preferred habitat types while agriculture and human settlements are least preferred habitats.Conclusions: Given that mountain nyalas are found in high density (24 individuals/km2) and the size of the northern part of the Bale Mountain National Park, which is currently under protection by the park authorities for the mountain nyala conservation, is too small for the predicted home range size of large ungulates, we suggest protecting additional area may be needed for the long-term conservation of the endangered mountain nyala.

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