From banks to burrows: Habitat preferences and nesting behaviours of platypuses in the Snowy River

Abstract

Platypuses are a unique freshwater mammal native to eastern Australia. They are semi-aquatic, predominantly nocturnal, and nest in burrows dug into the banks of waterbodies. Quantifying nesting burrow characteristics is challenging due to the species' cryptic nature. We radio-tagged 11 female platypuses during their breeding season (September to November) on the Snowy River, located their resting and nesting burrows by radiotracking, and assessed plasma triglyceride concentration as a biomarker of egg production. We quantified and tested for differences in height and distance from water of resting and nesting burrows, as well as for differences in both canopy and ground cover in the vicinity of resting and nesting burrows in comparison with background control sites in the area. Female platypuses displayed a strong selection for trees and shrubs, placing both their resting and nesting burrows within 5 m of these features. Compared with resting females, nesting females selected to dig nesting burrows higher above the river (nesting 1.98 m ± 0.27 SE vs. resting 1.15 m ± 0.10 SE) that were also further away from water (9.10 m ± 1.08 SE vs. 4.77 m ± 0.53 SE). Camera trap footage captured mice (Mus musculus) and black rats (Rattus rattus) entering two confirmed nesting tunnels on numerous occasions. During the first 3 weeks following the onset of nesting behaviour in two platypuses, rats entered the nesting tunnel a total of eight times and 31 times. Whether this is a previously unconsidered predator by invasive species remains to be evaluated. Synthesis: Riparian vegetation is a critical component of platypus habitat, providing stability for burrows, protection from predators, retaining high bank necessary to avoid inundation of burrows, and providing organic matter for nesting material and for abundant macroinvertebrate communities. Given ongoing declines and habitat degradation across their range, riparian habitat must be conserved and restored to promote breeding and population persistence.