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

IF 2.3 2区 生物学 Q2 ECOLOGY
Joseph Crane, Gilad Bino, Neil R. Jordan, Tahneal Hawke, Justine K. O'Brien
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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.

Abstract Image

从河岸到洞穴:雪河鸭嘴兽的栖息地偏好和筑巢行为。
鸭嘴兽是一种独特的淡水哺乳动物,原产于澳大利亚东部。它们是半水生动物,主要在夜间活动,在水体的岸边挖洞筑巢。由于该物种的隐蔽性,量化筑巢洞穴特征具有挑战性。我们在雪河上的11只雌性鸭嘴兽的繁殖季节(9月至11月)对它们进行了无线电标记,通过无线电跟踪确定了它们休息和筑巢的洞穴,并评估了血浆甘油三酯浓度作为产卵的生物标志物。我们量化和测试了休息和筑巢洞的高度和离水距离的差异,以及休息和筑巢洞附近的冠层和地被覆盖与该地区背景对照点的差异。雌性鸭嘴兽对树木和灌木有很强的选择能力,它们把休息和筑巢的洞穴都放在距离这些特征5米的地方。与静息雌鸟相比,雌鸟选择在河流上方挖洞(筑巢1.98 m±0.27 SE比静息1.15 m±0.10 SE),且离水更远(9.10 m±1.08 SE比4.77 m±0.53 SE)。摄像机捕捉到老鼠(小家鼠)和黑鼠(Rattus Rattus)多次进入两个已确认的筑巢隧道。在两个鸭嘴兽开始筑巢行为后的前3周内,大鼠共进入筑巢隧道8次和31次。这是否是入侵物种以前未考虑过的掠食者仍有待评估。综合:河岸植被是鸭嘴兽栖息地的重要组成部分,为洞穴提供稳定性,保护免受捕食者的侵害,保留必要的高岸以避免洞穴淹没,并为筑巢材料和丰富的大型无脊椎动物群落提供有机物质。鉴于其分布范围内的数量持续下降和栖息地退化,必须保护和恢复河岸栖息地,以促进繁殖和种群持久性。
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来源期刊
CiteScore
4.40
自引率
3.80%
发文量
1027
审稿时长
3-6 weeks
期刊介绍: Ecology and Evolution is the peer reviewed journal for rapid dissemination of research in all areas of ecology, evolution and conservation science. The journal gives priority to quality research reports, theoretical or empirical, that develop our understanding of organisms and their diversity, interactions between them, and the natural environment. Ecology and Evolution gives prompt and equal consideration to papers reporting theoretical, experimental, applied and descriptive work in terrestrial and aquatic environments. The journal will consider submissions across taxa in areas including but not limited to micro and macro ecological and evolutionary processes, characteristics of and interactions between individuals, populations, communities and the environment, physiological responses to environmental change, population genetics and phylogenetics, relatedness and kin selection, life histories, systematics and taxonomy, conservation genetics, extinction, speciation, adaption, behaviour, biodiversity, species abundance, macroecology, population and ecosystem dynamics, and conservation policy.
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