New records of Hastings River mouse Pseudomys oralis from State Forest of New South Wales pre-logging surveys.

Abstract

THE Hastings River mouse Pseudomys oralis is one of the rarest of the pseudomyines and is patchily distributed across New South Wales (NSW) and Queensland, although it is believed to have been more common in the past (Watts and Aslin 1981). It is currently listed as ‘endangered’ at both State (NSW) and Commonwealth levels and there have only been three ecological studies of the species (Townley 2000; Keating 2000; Meek 2002a). One interesting aspect of Pseudomys ecology is their patchy distribution across the landscape (Watts and Aslin 1981), even where habitat appears unaltered and undisturbed. Historically, P. oralis was believed to be widely dispersed, preferring creek and gully habitats dominated by Cyperaceae and Juncaceae species (Read 1993a; Pyke and Read 2002). New evidence indicates that water courses are not as important as previously believed with animals being trapped across a range of topography and habitat types (Townley 2000; Meek 2002a).

Use of habitat by mammals in eastern Australian forests: are common species important in forest management?

“…The indexing role of common species often cannot be played by threatened species, despite the attention that such taxa receive from researchers and managers. In part, this is because the habitat and resource requirements of threatened species are usually poorly-known or contentious (Pyke and Read 2002;Meek et al 2003). Different threatened species also do not select the same habitats even when their requirements are known and, because most are scarce throughout their ranges, the discovery of one or a few individuals at any site may be due as much to chance as to the necessary suite of resources being present.…”

A biological review of Pseudomys oralis: a response to Pyke and Read.

“…Habitat at known P. oralis sites indicate that shelter is an important factor in population size, however emphasising the value of rock shelter as an indicator of capture success (Keating 2000) ignores the value of head and butt residue and fallen timber for the species. In all of the trapping sites described in Meek et al (2003), none contained large amounts of large or small rock. However, occurrence of the species and trap success does correspond with the amount of hollows in fallen timber and residues from previous logging events and is further supported by tracking observations (Meek 2002(Meek , 2003.…”

“…Pyke and Read (2002) also maintain the historical belief that P. oralis is mostly found in open habitat associated with riparian features (gullies and watercourses). Based on the studies of Townley (2000), Keating (2000) and new data collected by Meek (2002) and Meek et al (2003), there is evidence that P. oralis is not dependent on riparian habitat. The species has been captured at many ridge and mid-slope sites where sedges and/or grasses are not found in high abundance.…”

“…The species has been captured at many ridge and mid-slope sites where sedges and/or grasses are not found in high abundance. High numbers of P. oralis trapped and monitored at Marengo State Forest since 2000 have been found living on a ridge top in an open forest habitat dominated by fern (Meek 2002;Meek et al 2003). Radio tracking and spool-and-line tracking from this forest showed that P. oralis did not favour a microhabitat of grasses or sedges and when riparian habitat was available the tagged animals rarely used it.…”

“…Moreover, the belief that P. oralis is difficult to trap or the suggestion that testing bait type is necessary is difficult to sustain. Distribution, metapopulation size and capture success of P. oralis over the last few years has increased notably (Townley 2000;Meek et al 2003;SFNSW unpubl. data) with an improved understanding of the preferred habitat and with increased survey effort.…”