The Distribution and Abundance of Kangaroos in relation to Environment in Western Australia

Short, Jeff; Caughley, Graeme; Grice, David; Brown, Barbara J.

doi:10.1071/wr9830435

Cited by 23 publications

(25 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…A partial explanation for this relationship may be the tendency in Australia for grazing properties to be located in more productive areas and conservation reserves in less productive areas (Pressey 1995). Short et al (1983) similarly found that red kangaroos were most abundant on sheep-grazing properties, and less abundant on vacant crown land in Western Australia. In Queensland, high abundances of antilopine wallaroos occurred in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion, which supports relatively intense cattle grazing, and provides a large number of artificial watering points.…”

Section: Niche Variation In Marsupial Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 87%

Large-Herbivore Distribution and Abundance: Intra- And Interspecific Niche Variation in the Tropics

Ritchie

Martin

Krockenberger

et al. 2008

Ecological Monographs

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Abstract. Determining the biological and environmental factors that limit the distribution and abundance of organisms is central to our understanding of the niche concept and crucial for predicting how species may respond to large-scale environmental change, such as global warming. However, detailed ecological information for the majority of species has been collected only at a local scale, and insufficient consideration has been given to geographical variation in intraspecific niche requirements. To evaluate the influence of environmental and biological factors on patterns of species distribution and abundance, we conducted a detailed, broadscale study across the tropical savannas of northern Australia on the ecology of three large, sympatric marsupial herbivores (family Macropodidae): the antilopine wallaroo (Macropus antilopinus), common wallaroo (M. robustus), and eastern grey kangaroo (M. giganteus). Using information on species abundance, climate, fire history, habitat, and resource availability, we constructed species' habitat models varying from the level of the complete distribution to smaller regional areas. Multiple factors affected macropod abundance, and the importance of these factors was dependent on the spatial scale of analyses. Fire regimes, water availability, geology, and soil type and climate were most important at the large scale, whereas aspects of habitat structure and interspecific species abundance were important at smaller scales. The distribution and abundance of eastern grey kangaroos and common wallaroos were strongly influenced by climate. Our results suggest that interspecific competition between antilopine wallaroos and eastern grey kangaroos may occur. The antilopine wallaroo and eastern grey kangaroo (grazers) preferred more nutrientrich soils than the common wallaroo (grazer/browser), which we relate to differences in feeding modes. The abundance of antilopine wallaroos was higher on sites that were burned, whereas the abundance of common wallaroos was higher on unburned sites. Future climate change predicted for Australia has the capacity to seriously affect the abundance and conservation of macropod species in tropical savannas. The results of our models suggest that, in particular, the effects of changing climatic conditions on fire regimes, habitat structure, and water availability may lead to species declines and marked changes in macropod communities.

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Section: Niche Variation In Marsupial Herbivoresmentioning

confidence: 87%

Large-Herbivore Distribution and Abundance: Intra- And Interspecific Niche Variation in the Tropics

Ritchie

Martin

Krockenberger

et al. 2008

Ecological Monographs

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“…This proportion increases under dry conditions (Oliver 1986; Croft 1991). Mobile animals have been found to make short‐range (25–30 km) and long‐range (> 100 km) movements (Bailey 1971; Newsome 1975; Denny 1982; Short et al 1983; Croft 1991).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Molecular population genetics of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus): mtDNA variation

1998

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The genetic population structure of a large, wide-ranging marsupial, the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus) was assessed using sequence and haplotype frequency data of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) from locations across the species range in Australia. Results from sequence data revealed extensive haplotype diversity within the red kangaroo (32/34 sequences were unique). Sequence diversity was distributed within rather than between geographical regions across the species range. Genetic connectivity across the range of the species has therefore been maintained over the long term. On a smaller within-region scale, significant genetic structuring was evident from heterogeneity of haplotype frequencies amongst sampling sites. The geographical scale of panmictic populations differed across the continent with more restricted genetic populations occurring in areas with greater topographic and habitat complexity. We propose that these differences in area of genetic populations are the result of population responses to limiting ecological factors during drought.

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“…In particular, the largest members of this assemblage, species of red and gray kangaroos, are scattered across the Australian landscape from the east to west coasts (Short et al 1983). Gray kangaroos are classified into western and eastern forms, Macropus fuliginosus and eastern M. giganteus, respectively, with a zone of sympatry between the two species located in portions of the states of Victoria, New South Wales, and Queensland (Caughley et al 1984;Neaves et al 2010).…”

Section: Marsupial Divergence-with-gene-flow: Interspecific Mating Inmentioning

confidence: 99%

Divergence-with-Gene-Flow—What Humans and Other Mammals Got up to

Arnold¹,

Hamlin²,

Taylor³

et al. 2015

Interdisciplinary Evolution Research

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In this review, we posit the hypothesis that divergence-with-gene-flow or, using the terminology that has historical precedence, evolution-with-hybridization is not the exception as argued by the neo-Darwinian architects, but rather the rule. In particular, we will discuss briefly how the definition of species and the process of speciation that emerged from the Modern Synthesis limited greatly how evolutionary diversification was perceived to occur. This, in turn, resulted in only certain hypotheses and research directions being deemed legitimate for evolutionary biologists. Yet, we will also argue that in general, the assumptions that resulted in the definitions and concepts surrounding speciation were made much stronger by a dearth, rather than a wealth, of the data needed to test hypotheses. Specifically, these alternative hypotheses were divergence in allopatry versus divergence with at least some genetic exchange. We will point to the observation made by Anderson-the architect of studies of introgressive hybridization-that to test for contemporaneous or ancient gene flow between diverging/divergent lineages requires discrete markers. Thus, not until the advent of methods for analyzing the genetic constitution of individual organisms was it possible to test rigorously the alternate modes of divergence. To illustrate our hypotheses and conclusions, we will focus on mammalian lineages, including our own species. This focus reflects our desire to emphasize that not only prokaryotes and plants, but animals as well, reflect the process of reticulate evolution.

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The Distribution and Abundance of Kangaroos in relation to Environment in Western Australia

Cited by 23 publications

References 10 publications

Large-Herbivore Distribution and Abundance: Intra- And Interspecific Niche Variation in the Tropics

Large-Herbivore Distribution and Abundance: Intra- And Interspecific Niche Variation in the Tropics

Molecular population genetics of the red kangaroo (Macropus rufus): mtDNA variation

Divergence-with-Gene-Flow—What Humans and Other Mammals Got up to

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