Improving trapping success for rare species by targeting habitat types using remotely sensed data: a case study of the heath mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei) in Western Australia

Abstract

The rare heath mouse (Pseudomys shortridgei) is the only rodent lacking a conservation program in Western Australia. Little is known about the habitat requirements of P. shortridgei in Western Australia, and there is a lack of trapping focus that could target specific habitat components that this species may use. The purpose of this study was to (1) relate the occurrence of this species to measurable components of its habitat; (2) incorporate habitat information into a GIS modelling system to identify other areas of potentially suitable habitat; and (3) test for the presence of P. shortridgei in predicted areas. In Lake Magenta Nature Reserve, 93% of P. shortridgei captures (14�of 15 mice) were associated with characteristics of a mixed laterite heath community representing 57 plant species and a dense structural layer up to 1.2 m. Aerial photography and satellite imagery were used to identify the occurrence of mixed laterite heath elsewhere within the reserve. Ground-truthing using pre-defined habitat criteria found that the best predictive model to define habitat was aerial photography. Trapping was undertaken in two areas of the reserve predicted by the modelling and resulted in the successful capture of the target species. This study demonstrates that aerial photography maps can provide a basis for focusing future trapping effort within reserves where P. shortrigei is likely to occur. The use of this GIS method provides a low-cost and simple method for improving the chances of locating additional populations of P. shortridgei in other nature reserves.

Untangling the influences of fire, habitat and introduced predators on the endangered heath mouse

“…Heath‐mouse relative abundance was not directly correlated with post‐fire age class. Previous studies have revealed contrasting associations between heath mice and age class, with results reflecting variable responses of heath mice to age class in the eastern population, and a preference for older age classes in the western population (Cockburn, 1978; Cooper et al ., 2003; Quinlan et al ., 2004; Salinas et al ., 2009; Di Stefano et al ., 2011). The spatially and temporally variable relationship between heath mice and fire is consistent with findings for other species (Nimmo et al ., 2014), likely reflecting interactions between fire and other processes (Hale et al ., 2016), and the fact that fire history variables only partially reflect changes in important resources (Swan et al ., 2020).…”

“…However, subsequent studies of the eastern population have revealed variable fire responses, including no response to fire and interactions between fire and drought (Cooper et al ., 2003; Salinas et al ., 2009; Di Stefano et al ., 2011; Hale et al ., 2016). In contrast, the western population has shown a preference for older successional vegetation (Quinlan, Moro & Lund, 2004). Despite an absence of a successional preference in the eastern population, heath mice responded to aspects of vegetation structure, indicating that fire history may be a poor proxy for their abundance (Di Stefano et al ., 2011).…”

The Discovery and History of the Heath MousePseudomys Shortridgei(Thomas, 1907) in South Australia

“…Early studies (Cockburn 1978;Cockburn et al 1981) showed that floristic diversity and early stages of habitat succession following fire were important features for determining the presence and abundance of P. shortridgei. More recently, the species has been found in habitats that have not been burned for many years, thus throwing some doubt on earlier predictions that fire history is an important predictor of distribution (Cooper et al 2003; Department of Sustainability and Environment (DSE) 2003; Quinlan et al 2004).…”

“…The rediscovery of P. shortridgei in Western Australia is an interesting story of coincidence, including re-identification of museum specimens labelled as the Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes), bones in fresh owl pellets and trapping live P. shortridgei, all within a month of each other! Recent records of P. shortridgei are known from limited locations in western Victoria (Menkhorst 1995) and Western Australia (Cooper et al 2003;Quinlan et al 2004), in woodland with an understorey of heathy shrub species, low forest, and dry and wet heath. Soil types include sands, loams and gravels derived from laterite, calcarenite, limestone and sandstone.…”