The ranging, habitat selection, and foraging ecology of an endangered small desert mammal, the sandhill dunnartSminthopsis psammophila

Author:

Riley Joanna1ORCID,Heterick Brian2,Zeale Matt R K1,Turpin Jeff M3,Jayatilaka Brynne4,Jones Gareth1

Affiliation:

1. School of Biological Sciences, University of Bristol , Bristol BS8 1TQ , United Kingdom

2. Department of Terrestrial Zoology, Western Australian Museum , Welshpool, Western Australia 6106 , Australia

3. School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England , Armidale, New South Wales 2350 , Australia

4. APA Group , L1, 121 Wharf Street, Spring Hill, Queensland 4000 , Australia

Abstract

AbstractThe conservation of threatened species often requires an examination of home range, foraging preferences, and diet. We used radio tracking, global positioning system data loggers, and fecal pellet analyses to study the nocturnal ecology of an endangered desert mammal, the sandhill dunnart, Sminthopsis psammophila. Twenty-four individuals were tracked between 2015 and 2018. The mean home range area of S. psammophila was 70 ha (100% minimum convex polygon). Reproductive males had a mean home range of 148 ha, whereas the ranges of all other groups were comparatively smaller. Sminthopsis psammophila preferred dense, long unburned foraging habitats. There was no effect of weather (excluding extreme cold/rain) on nocturnal ranging behavior. Ants comprised a significant proportion of the diet of S. psammophila and S. hirtipes, whereas S. dolichura consumed a broader range of prey. By integrating foraging and dietary analyses, we provide new insights to improve the conservation management of one of Australia’s least studied but most threatened marsupials.

Funder

APA Group

Kingfisher Environmental Consulting

Publisher

Oxford University Press (OUP)

Subject

Nature and Landscape Conservation,Genetics,Animal Science and Zoology,Ecology,Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

Reference109 articles.

1. Ant;Abensperg-Traun;Australian Journal of Ecology,1997

2. Compositional analysis of habitat use from animal radio;Aebischer;Ecology,1993

3. Effects of soil texture on evaporative loss and available water in semi-arid climates.;Alizai;Soil Science,1970

4. Secret Lives of Carnivorous Marsupials

5. Fitting linear mixed-effects models using lme4.;Bates;Journal of Statistical Software,2015

同舟云学术

1.学者识别学者识别

2.学术分析学术分析

3.人才评估人才评估

"同舟云学术"是以全球学者为主线,采集、加工和组织学术论文而形成的新型学术文献查询和分析系统,可以对全球学者进行文献检索和人才价值评估。用户可以通过关注某些学科领域的顶尖人物而持续追踪该领域的学科进展和研究前沿。经过近期的数据扩容,当前同舟云学术共收录了国内外主流学术期刊6万余种,收集的期刊论文及会议论文总量共计约1.5亿篇,并以每天添加12000余篇中外论文的速度递增。我们也可以为用户提供个性化、定制化的学者数据。欢迎来电咨询!咨询电话:010-8811{复制后删除}0370

www.globalauthorid.com

TOP

Copyright © 2019-2024 北京同舟云网络信息技术有限公司
京公网安备11010802033243号  京ICP备18003416号-3