Some Aspects of the Ecology of the Mammal Fauna of the Jabiluka Area. Northern Territory

Kerle, JA; Burgman, MA

doi:10.1071/wr9840207

Cited by 32 publications

(18 citation statements)

References 0 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…If these frequent and extensive destructive fire regimes continue in the monsoonal tropics, the most probable outcome is a loss of biodiversity (Begg et al 1981;Kerle and Burgman 1984;Friend 1987;Woinarski and Fisher 1995;Kerle 1998;Russell-Smith et al 2003) or a shift in species composition from fire-intolerant to fire-tolerant species (Woinarski et al 2004). Other studies have recognised that the development of a patchy, less frequent fire regime may be optimal for the maintenance of faunal biodiversity (Woinarski 1990;Trainor and Woinarski 1994;Dostine et al 2001;Woinarski et al 2004).…”

Section: Management and Conservationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

Firth

Noske

2006

Wildl. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Radio-telemetry was used to investigate the home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) from three sites in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia. Radio-tracking was conducted in a series of discontinuous 4-17-day sessions, over a 2-year period. The home ranges of 61 C. penicillatus were estimated using the minimum convex polygon (MCP) and fixed kernel (K95% and K50%) methods. There were no significant differences in home-range size among the three sites or between wet and dry seasons, which suggests that vegetation structure, floristics and season play relatively little role in movements of C. penicillatus. The mean home-range size was 0.79 ± 0.09 ha (MCP estimate) to 0.97 ± 0.12 ha (K95% estimate). The home ranges of males were larger than those of females (mean MCP estimates of 1.07 ± 0.15 and 0.45 ± 0.06 ha respectively). C. penicillatus denned primarily in fallen logs and in hollows of eucalypts and bloodwoods (Corymbia spp.). Rough-barked trees appeared to be preferred. The diameter at breast height (DBH) of den trees varied significantly between the three sites, being greatest at site C1 (34.5 ± 2.4 cm) and least at site C2 (26.1 ± 1.0 cm). Den trees had larger DBH than randomly selected trees at each site. The diameter at the midpoint (DMP) of both den and randomly selected logs were not significantly different between sites. Many individuals used more than one den site per tracking session. The small home ranges of C. penicillatus and its reliance on hollows in trees and logs suggest that this species is very vulnerable to local extinction following longterm annual and destructive fire regimes and land clearing, even in comparatively small patches. Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

show abstract

Section: Management and Conservationmentioning

confidence: 95%

Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

Firth

Noske

2006

Wildl. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…1-5 m) and the abundance of small trees, and to a lesser extent leaf litter, in relationships involving structural factors highlights the importance of structurally diverse forests to these small mammals (Kerle 1984;Kerle & Burgman 1984). In the region studied however, the more common type of open-forest formation is charactedzed by an overstorey of E. miniata or E. tetrodonta with an understorey of annual grasses (e.g.…”

Section: Implications For Park Managementmentioning

confidence: 96%

“…Studies of such relationships using pattern analysis (e.g., Gullan & Nords 1981;Fox & Fox 1981;Kerle & Burgman 1984) have classified sites on the basis of fiodstic and/or structural attdbutes, then matched data on abundances of mammals to these groups. Such an approach does not allow for the possibility that the animals perceive fiodstic and structural groupings in a different or more subtle way than do humans, or than defined by measurement of habitat attdbutes (see Fox 1984;Taylor era/.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Habitat preferences of small mammals in tropical open‐forest of the Northern Territory

Friend

Taylor

1985

Australian Journal of Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Pattern analysis was used to investigate the habitat preferences of five small mammal species in tropicalopen-forest ofthe Northern Territory. Eifty-one sites were classified byfaunal abundance arui the groups examined for significant differences in vegetation structural attributes arui plant species in both dry and wet seasons.The omnivore Isoodon macrourus showed strong association with fioristic and vegetation structural attributes only in the dry season, when areas with a dense understorey of small trees arui shrubs arui a high percentage of leaf litter cover were favoured. Of the two primarily carnivorous species, Antechinus bellus was related strongly with fioristic arui structural attributes in both seasons arui showed a consistent preference for areas with relatively dense low-level foliage (< 2m). By contrast, Dasyurus hallucatus was associated more with the structurally simple open-forest types. Of the two mainly herbivorous species Mesembdomys gouldii showed associations only withfioristics in both seasons, while the habitat relationships o/Tdchosurus amhemensis were very weak due to its low abundance in the study area.The number and strength of animal/habitat relationships were greatest in the dry season. Eorest types with dense mid-level foliage arui abundant hollow logs and leaf litter had the greatest mammal richness and abundance; these areas may be critical to the survival of local mammal populations.A comparison of site-groups, defined indeperuiently on the basis of fauna, fioristics or structure, showed that animal groups overlapped one to six ofthe habitat groups. The animal's perception of 'habitat' may thus differfiom that of humans, or that defined by measurement of habitat attributes.

show abstract

“…Previous studies of this species on the north Australian mainland have demonstrated a similar strong predilection for these habitats (Begg et al, 1983;Kerle & Burgman, 1984).…”

Section: (3)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Environmental relationships of the brush‐tailed rabbit‐rat, Conilurus penicillatus, and other small mammals on the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia

Firth

Woinarski²,

Brennan³

et al. 2006

Journal of Biogeography

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Aim To describe the habitat characteristics and status of the brush-tailed rabbitrat, Conilurus penicillatus Gould, 1842, on the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia, as part of a broader programme aimed at the conservation management of this species. In addition, comparable environmental modelling is undertaken for other co-occurring small native mammals, including the black-footed tree-rat, Mesembriomys gouldii Gray, 1843, a taxonomically and ecologically related species. These objectives relate to the significance for mammal conservation of islands generally in Australia, and the recent intensification of plantation forestry on these previously little-disturbed islands.Location Melville and Bathurst islands (Tiwi Islands), respectively, Australia's second and fifth largest islands.Methods A systematic survey was conducted for mammals across Bathurst (115 sampled quadrats) and Melville Island (236 quadrats). A broad range of environmental variables was recorded for every quadrat. All quadrats were classified by their woody plant species composition. The relative occurrence of individual mammal species across the resulting vegetation groups was examined using Kruskal-Wallis anova. The habitat relationships of C. penicillatus and the most commonly recorded mammal species were described by generalized linear modelling, with separate models for each island, for both islands combined, for all habitats and for only those sites dominated by eucalypts.Results Twelve small mammal species (excluding bats, macropods and feral animals) were recorded in this study. The most notable feature of this survey was the lack of records of M. gouldii from Bathurst Island. In contrast, the proportion of quadrats with C. penicillatus was not significantly different between the two islands. There was no significant tendency for these two species to co-occur in quadrats on Melville Island more or less commonly than by chance. Conilurus penicillatus was most abundant in eucalypt forest while M. gouldii showed a weak association with eucalypt forests and woodlands and shrub land. The five most commonly recorded species showed highly idiosyncratic relationships with environmental variables, with this relationship showing some variation between the two islands. None showed any significant association with floristic variation within the extensive eucalypt forests, but most showed significant associations with tree height, basal area (especially of large trees), landscape position (distance to watercourse) and fire history.Main conclusions Conilurus penicillatus was most likely to occur in tall eucalypt forest away from watercourses. This habitat is now being targeted for clearance for the development of plantations of the exotic Acacia mangium. Seven of the 12 mammal species examined in this study (C. penicillatus, M. gouldii, Rattus tunneyi

show abstract

Some Aspects of the Ecology of the Mammal Fauna of the Jabiluka Area. Northern Territory

Cited by 32 publications

References 0 publications

Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

Home range and den characteristics of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) in the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia

Habitat preferences of small mammals in tropical open‐forest of the Northern Territory

Environmental relationships of the brush‐tailed rabbit‐rat, Conilurus penicillatus, and other small mammals on the Tiwi Islands, northern Australia

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About