Wildlife Research最新文献

{"title":"Activity of dingoes (Canis familiaris) and their use of anthropogenic resources in the Strzelecki Desert, South Australia","authors":"Paul D. Meek, Guy A. Ballard, James Abell, Heath Milne, Deane Smith, Peter J. S. Fleming","doi":"10.1071/wr23083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23083","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Managing human–wildlife conflict where anthropogenic resources are provided is difficult. Providing food, water and shelter can result in over-abundant dingo populations, especially in Australian desert mine sites where managing dingoes, wildlife and humans around waste-management facilities and camps is problematic.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>To measure and characterise the spatial activities of a population of arid-zone dingoes in relation to resources provided by a Cooper Basin (Strzelecki Desert, South Australia mining operation). The results were used to facilitate effective dingo management.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>Free-roaming dingoes were captured, their morphometrics and ectoparasite presence recorded, and they were fitted with Iridium (GPS) radio collars. These were used to collect high-fidelity data about individual dingo activity and movements in relation to mine-site infrastructure and the Cooper Basin ecosystem.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>A high density of dingoes (181 trapped in 2 km<sup>2</sup> per 4 years) was associated with the mining operation. Home range/activity area sizes and usage of the anthropogenic landscape showed the following three categories of dingo: desert, peripatetic and tip dingoes. Dingoes reliant on food provisioning at the waste-management facility (WMF) displayed activity areas with a strong focus on the WMF (tip dingoes). Temporal activity patterns of another group of dingoes (peripatetic dingoes) were associated with regular waste-dumping times and normal nocturnal activity away from the WMF. Of the 27 dingoes collared, 30% (i.e. desert dingoes) were not dependent on the WMF, spending more time and a greater area of use in the desert dune system than in the mine-site area.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>On the basis of the capture of 181 dingoes over 4 years and home-range analysis, it is likely that anthropogenic resource provisioning has caused an overabundance of dingoes in the Cooper Basin mine site. However, some of the dingo population remains reliant on native wildlife and resources in the surrounding desert. Managing food waste and excluding dingoes from food, water and shelter will result in a change in the prevalence of dingoes in the mine site, and subsequent reduction in the risk of disease transmission, native wildlife impacts, human conflicts and social pressures on dingoes, influencing them to revert to domestic-dog behaviours.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Waste-management facilities where food is dumped provide resources that lead to a change in wild-dingo behaviour, on the basis of their acceptance of human-provided resources, and high abundance. Managing access to anthropogenic resources will reduce the population as well as unwanted or aggressive encounters with humans. Dingoes reliant on food scraps will be encouraged to adjust their activity areas to desert habitat, thereby providing natural hunting opportunities and reduced conta","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-04-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140577832","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Habitat loss and degradation reduce the abundance of the glossy grass skink, Pseudemoia rawlinsoni","authors":"Jules E. Farquhar, Lucy Wotherspoon, Hilary Porter, David G. Chapple","doi":"10.1071/wr23102","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23102","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Habitat loss and degradation are major drivers of biodiversity loss worldwide. In particular, wetland environments are being removed and degraded faster than any other terrestrial habitat on earth. The loss and degradation of wetlands has been particularly pronounced in south-eastern Australia.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>Here we investigated the impact of habitat loss and degradation on the Data Deficient glossy grass skink (<i>Pseudemoia rawlinsoni</i>), a species that predominantly favours wetland vegetation in south-eastern Australia.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We established artificial cover-object (roofing tiles) survey grids in paired remnant and disturbed sites at six locations across Victoria, Australia, and surveyed for skinks between November 2021 and April 2022.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Sites at which glossy grass skinks occur are characterised by tall dense vegetation, with a high cover of matted biomass. Thermal profiles within these complex vegetation structures remain much cooler during hot days, and warmer during cold nights, than external temperatures. Nearby disturbed sites (i.e. grazed or mowed areas within dispersal distance of remnant sites) are generally devoid of skinks, have very low and structurally simple (open) vegetation, and have thermal regimes that offer lizards no respite from high summer temperatures. We found that roofing tiles are an effective way to survey for glossy grass skinks; even on cool cloudy days, the temperature of tiles, and the lizards sheltering beneath them, are often much higher than ambient temperatures.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>These findings implicate habitat loss and degradation as having a substantial negative impact on glossy grass skink presence and abundance; skinks largely avoid disturbed areas, even at sites immediately adjacent to remnant habitat. This may be driven not simply by the removal of tall and dense vegetation structures, but the consequent loss of the optimal thermal buffer afforded by such structures.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Our study emphasises the threat that habitat loss and degradation pose to wetland species in Australia, and throughout the world.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"98 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-03-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140156615","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Seasonal nest use of sympatric North American flying squirrels","authors":"Rosemary Minns, Rebekah Persad, Laurelie Menelon, Sasha L. Newar, Paul P. O’Brien, Samantha M. Stead, Jeff Bowman","doi":"10.1071/wr23041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23041","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Nest or roost sites are important for social thermoregulators – not only because the locations provide shelter from harsh climates, but also because they provide sites for social aggregations. Nest use can therefore be informative about selection pressures facing social thermoregulators.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>The aim of this study was to assess seasonal changes in nest use of sympatric northern (<i>Glaucomys sabrinus</i>) and southern (<i>Glaucomys volans</i>) flying squirrels. Local sympatry at our study site allowed us to evaluate nest use by individuals of both species subject to similar nest availability. We hypothesised that southern flying squirrels should be more selective than northern flying squirrels, especially in winter due to lower cold tolerance by the southern species.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We used radio telemetry to track 57 squirrels during 2019–2022 at a site in central Ontario, Canada. Each squirrel was tracked during the day to their nest site, and tree characteristics – including diameter at breast height, tree species, nest type and decay class – were recorded.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Northern flying squirrels used both coniferous and deciduous trees, as well as a mix of cavities, dreys and subterranean nests. Southern flying squirrels nested most often in deciduous tree cavities and used dreys less frequently than northern flying squirrels. The only significant effects in regression models, however, were effects of tree diameter. Both species used large-diameter trees in the winter and summer, and these effects were larger in the winter months. In both seasons, southern flying squirrels used larger trees than northern flying squirrels.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Our study results were consistent with the hypothesis that nest selection is associated with temperature and squirrel aggregation size. Both northern and southern flying squirrels used large trees during summer and winter months, as would be an expected requirement for aggregation; however, this effect was amplified in southern flying squirrels and in the winter.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Cold ambient temperature is an underlying factor in winter months, creating the need for social thermoregulation and increased squirrel aggregation sizes, especially in the small-bodied southern flying squirrel. This in turn leads to a need for large-diameter cavity trees for nest groups to occupy during winter.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139764091","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ten years of camera trapping for a cryptic and threatened arboreal mammal – a review of applications and limitations","authors":"Dan Harley, Arabella Eyre","doi":"10.1071/wr23054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23054","url":null,"abstract":"<p>For many cryptic mammal species, limited distributional data restrict the scope or effectiveness of conservation actions, particularly in relation to habitat protection and/or management. The critically endangered Leadbeater’s possum illustrates this, with wet forests throughout its range impacted by logging and bushfire. The possum’s habitat has been subject to major disturbance and degradation over recent decades; however, the cryptic behaviour of the species has meant population trajectories have been difficult to monitor. Since 2012, surveys for the possum have been greatly expanded, predominantly based around camera trapping. This paper examines outcomes following a decade of targeted camera trapping for this high-profile threatened species. There have been 1143 camera trapping detections of Leadbeater’s possum since 2012, representing 57% of all detections over this period. For comparison, there were just 274 detections of the species over a comparable period during the preceding decade using all other survey techniques. The substantial increase in records reflects greater survey effort, but also the effectiveness of baited camera traps at detecting this cryptic mammal. As a consequence, we have greatly improved understanding of the species’ distribution within its core range following major bushfire in 2009. These detection data have informed some aspects of forest management, including the establishment of small logging exclusion areas. Other applications of camera traps have included directing them at dens, providing a non-invasive means of monitoring translocated individuals and reproductive success. Several important caveats regarding camera trapping surveys are discussed, particularly that detection/non-detection data may be insensitive at detecting population declines for communally-denning species such as Leadbeater’s possum, where abundance may change more readily than occupancy. A risk accompanying the proliferation of camera trapping is over-reliance on rapid, one-off camera surveys that fail to provide the in-depth insights on demography and population dynamics required to inform effective management of threatened species. This case study highlights the importance of robust survey and monitoring data to inform species conservation planning and management. The results also demonstrate that camera trapping can be as effective and efficient in determining occupancy for some arboreal mammals as it is for terrestrial species, where it is more commonly applied.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"16 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139763945","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Diet of fallow deer suggests potential for invasion of novel habitats in Tasmania","authors":"Thomas R. Guy, Jamie B. Kirkpatrick, Calum X. Cunningham, Tina E. Berry, Kathryn L. Dawkins, Michael M. Driessen, Chris N. Johnson","doi":"10.1071/wr23124","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23124","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Understanding the diet of invasive species can inform the potential for their distribution into novel habitats. Fallow deer are well established in the grassy woodlands of central Tasmania, Australia, in environments generally considered to be their optimum habitat. They are also increasing their range. The potential range of fallow deer in Tasmania will depend on their ability to vary their diet to exploit new habitats. Diet flexibility will also determine the ecological impacts that fallow deer might have in novel habitats.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>We compared the diets of fallow deer in a lowland grassy woodland, where deer have been established for over 150 years, with diets of deer in highland woodlands and forest with less grass cover and higher rainfall, where deer have been established for a shorter time (&lt;50 years). We expected that fallow deer in grassy woodlands would mainly eat grass and forbs, and we wanted to know to what extent the diet of deer differed between habitats.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>A metagenomic analysis was performed on fallow deer faecal pellets collected at one lowland and three highland study areas. The method was chosen to maximise information on taxonomic composition of diet and identify plant species that might be affected by deer herbivory to the lowest possible taxonomic level.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Fallow deer ate a wide variety of plant taxa. Diets varied among study areas. In the lowland study area, deer predominantly ate forbs and grasses. In the highland study area deer were more likely to browse on eucalypts and a variety of shrubs.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Fallow deer in Tasmania have a broad dietary niche. Availability of specific plant taxa is unlikely to limit fallow deer expansion into most new habitats.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Without stronger management strategies, deer are likely to further increase their range in Tasmania, including into areas with high conservation values. The potential impacts on these areas may be high.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"115 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-02-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139764042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Environmental DNA detection of spot-tailed quoll from soil is unlikely to be useful for routine monitoring","authors":"Lauren C. White, Jenny L. Nelson, Maria Cardoso, Carlo Pacioni","doi":"10.1071/wr23095","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23095","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Accurate monitoring data on species presence and distribution are crucial for effective conservation management. Environmental DNA (eDNA)-based techniques, in which species are detected from trace amounts of DNA found throughout the environment, are promising tools that may complement traditional monitoring methods and improve detection. However, imperfect detection is a feature of all survey methods that should be properly assessed so that the probability of detecting a target species’ DNA at a site where it is present (i.e. the sensitivity of the method) can be determined. The spot-tailed quoll (<i>Dasyurus maculatus</i>), a carnivorous marsupial found in eastern Australia, is a difficult species to detect as it is rare and has large home ranges, often in remote and difficult to access habitat.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>In this study, we aimed to evaluate the feasibility of using eDNA soil analysis as a viable alternative or complement to traditional monitoring techniques for detecting spot-tailed quoll.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We developed a species-specific assay and validated it using synthetic oligos, tissue samples and soil collected from a captive quoll enclosure. We then assessed the assay on natural environment soil samples taken from the Snowy River region from communal quoll defecation sites (latrines) and from broader quoll habitat. We used amplification success data to model the concentration of quoll DNA in soil from different site types and calculate the sensitivity of our assay.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Sensitivity was highest at latrine sites, but decreased sharply when sampling just 1 m away. In non-latrine habitat, the positive amplification rate was too low to allow for meaningful statistical analyses, suggesting that a prohibitively large number of samples would need to be analysed for detection probabilities to be adequate for routine monitoring programs.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Overall, we found that low sensitivity was driven by the low concentration of spot-tailed quoll DNA at many of the surveyed sites.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Given that quoll latrines can usually be identified from the accumulation of scats, and scats themselves can be sampled for DNA, we suggest that eDNA analysis of soil is unlikely to offer improvements over current spot-tailed quoll monitoring methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"7 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139517104","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Immobilisation efficacy of conducted electrical weapons on captive white-tailed deer","authors":"Patrick J. Grunwald, M. Ruder, David A. Osborn, Lisa I. Muller, Kaitlin O. Goode, G. D’Angelo","doi":"10.1071/wr23058","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23058","url":null,"abstract":"Context Wildlife emergencies (e.g. injured animals) often require capture or humane dispatch of animals to resolve the situation. Conducted electrical weapons (CEWs) have the potential to immobilise white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for a short duration to avoid potential risks of extended immobilisation (e.g. chemical immobilisation) and increase safety for managers and the public during humane killing by gunshot. Aims To test rapid immobilisation with minimal long-term physiological consequences of CEW immobilisation of white-tailed deer. Methods We arranged five treatment groups of captive deer, including (1) chemical immobilisation with 5-s CEW exposure (n = 5), (2) chemical immobilisation with 15-s CEW exposure (n = 5), (3) 5-s CEW exposure with no chemical immobilisation (n = 10), (4) 15-s CEW exposure with no chemical immobilisation (n = 10) and (5) a control group with no chemical immobilisation or CEW exposure (n = 10). We conducted treatments 1 and 2 to determine short-term physiological effects of CEWs on deer, related to overall welfare. In treatment groups 1 and 2, we sedated deer to collect blood immediately before CEW exposure, and 2 days and 5 days post-exposure for serum biochemical analysis (to measure physiological markers of organ and tissue damage). We observed deer before, during and after treatments to evaluate potential behavioural changes. Key results All deer showed signs of muscle paralysis immediately after exposure to CEW and regained muscle control immediately after the exposure ended. Serum biochemistry results for treatment group 1 and 2 revealed significant increases in creatine kinase (CK) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST) 2 days post-treatment, before returning to pre-exposure concentrations by day 5-post-exposure, suggesting temporary myopathy. By 15-days post-exposure, deer that were only exposed to the CEW had 27 of 39 (69%) remotely fired probes still attached. No long-term behavioural or physiological changes were observed post-treatment. Conclusions Our findings suggest that for immobilisation of white-tailed deer, short-term exposure to a CEW to is a potential alternative to typical capture techniques and can provide sufficient immobilisation to approach and humanely kill deer by gunshot if necessary in wildlife emergencies. Implications As with all capture techniques, trainings and protocols should be developed to ensure the safety of personnel and animals during CEW exposures.","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"2 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139438529","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Prevalence of pathogens important to human and companion animal health in an urban unowned cat population","authors":"Tamar Michaelian, Lana Harriott, Matthew Gentle, Tatiana Proboste, Ian Kei Ho, Rowland Cobbold","doi":"10.1071/wr22112","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr22112","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>The deleterious impacts of cat predation on wildlife have been well documented. Additionally, unowned cats may act as reservoirs of disease important to public and companion animal health and their proclivity for roaming and fighting enables effective disease transmission. Urban environments support the highest human populations and companion animal densities, increasing the potential for disease transmission from unowned cats to people and pets. However, there is little data on the prevalence of pathogens in unowned cat populations.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>This aim of this research was to establish baseline prevalence data for priority pathogens in an urban population of unowned cats.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>One hundred unowned cat cadavers were collected from the Brisbane City Council region, Queensland, Australia. Blood and additional organ or tissue samples were collected post-mortem. Diagnostic methods for pathogen detection included use of real-time polymerase-chain reaction, commercially available rapid enzyme-linked-immunosorbent assay, lavage and faecal flotation.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Pathogen carriage was found in 79% (95% CI 71, 87%) of sampled cats. In total, 62% (95% CI 52, 72%) of cats showed evidence of co-carriage of two or more pathogenic organisms. The overall prevalence found for pathogens and parasites investigated were: <i>Toxoplasma gondii</i>, 7% (95% CI 2, 12%); <i>Coxiella burnetii</i>, 0.0% (95% CI 0, 0%); feline immunodeficiency virus, 12% (95% CI 6, 18%); feline leukaemia virus, 0.0% (95% CI 0, 0%); and gastrointestinal parasites, 76.8% (95% CI 68, 85%).</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>This study reports contemporary prevalence data for these pathogens that have not previously been available for unowned cats of south-east Queensland. High rates of gastrointestinal parasitism observed throughout the study population prompt concerns of a general increase in pathogenic prevalence, especially in comparison with that of owned domestic cats, as per previously published literature. The presence of signs of fighting is an important risk factor for increased likelihood of infection.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Data produced from this study contribute to informing cat management efforts throughout urban regions. Continued and expanded investigations, considering prevalence and risk factors of pathogens important to human and companion animal health, are recommended for the south-east Queensland area and beyond.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"55 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139475560","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Influence of wildfire and feral horse use on mule deer summer range occupancy","authors":"Ryan C. Platte, Ryan E. Torland","doi":"10.1071/wr23035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23035","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>Mule deer (<i>Odocoileus hemionus</i>) are a species of social, economic and cultural importance that are experiencing a population decline throughout much of their range. Factors such as disease, landscape-level changes in nutritional output of forage species, winter habitat degradation, habitat fragmentation, competition for resources with both domestic and wild ungulates, and predation have all been implicated in the decline. Recently, summer habitat quality in Oregon has been identified as a potentially strong limiting factor for mule deer population performance. Competition and habitat degradation from feral horses (<i>Equus caballus</i>) have been proposed as factors potentially exacerbating existing habitat limitations for mule deer.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>The aim of this study was to investigate factors affecting mule deer summer range occupancy within a study area that experienced both wildfires and the presence of feral horses.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We deployed 72, 77 and 75 camera traps throughout the Murderers Creek and Northside wildlife management units located in north-eastern Oregon during summer 2019, 2020 and 2021 respectively. We used an occupancy modelling framework to build and evaluate models of mule deer summer range occupancy related to competition, vegetation and abiotic variables.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>Our final model set included four covariates: (1) an index of feral horse use; (2) whether the site was disturbed by wildfire; (3) distance to forest edge; and (4) eastness of the site. Model averaging indicated that mule deer probability of occupancy was negatively related with increased feral horse use and distance to forest edge, and positively related to eastern slopes and sites within a wildfire perimeter.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>Our results add to the growing body of literature indicating that wildfires in forested ecosystems benefit mule deer and add to the limited body of literature indicating that feral horse use of a site negatively impacts mule deer.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Managers should incorporate fire into forest restoration projects when possible to benefit mule deer. Where feral horses and mule deer overlap, increased management of feral horse herds could potentially benefit mule deer. Lastly, our research showcases the utility of camera traps coupled with occupancy modelling to answer research questions that, in the past, were mainly answered through radio collaring.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"56 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139409199","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High survivorship and rapid population growth of the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) reintroduced to a feral predator exclosure","authors":"Cassandra M. Arkinstall, Sean I. FitzGibbon, Kevin J. Bradley, Katherine E. Moseby, Peter J. Murray","doi":"10.1071/wr23076","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/wr23076","url":null,"abstract":"<strong> Context</strong><p>The distribution of the threatened greater bilby (<i>Macrotis lagotis</i>) has significantly contracted since the introduction of feral cats and foxes. To counteract these threats, bilbies have been reintroduced to multiple feral predator exclosures and offshore islands across Australia.</p><strong> Aims</strong><p>The aims of this study were to monitor the reintroduction of bilbies to the feral predator exclosure at Currawinya National Park and assess three hypotheses: (1) captive-born founders would establish stable home ranges and utilise habitats similar to those of wild-born bilbies in the exclosure; (2) founders would maintain adequate body condition and weight, enabling the survival of &gt;50% of founders at 12 months post-release; and (3) the population would rapidly increase in the absence of feral predators, due to the high reproductive potential of bilbies.</p><strong> Methods</strong><p>We used VHF/GPS telemetry to compare home range size and habitat use of 12 founders and 11 wild-born bilbies. Founders were monitored intensively to assess reproductive success, weight, body condition and survival. Pouch activity was monitored to examine reproductive output. Spatially explicit capture–recapture modelling was used to estimate population density/size.</p><strong> Key results</strong><p>The population rapidly increased to &gt;450 bilbies after 3 years, and founder survivorship was high (70% at 12 months post-release). Male founder home ranges (248.46 ha ± 97.22) were comparable in size to wild-born males (216.74 ha ± 54.19), but female founder home ranges (51.23 ha ± 12.22) were significantly larger than wild-born females (20.80 ha ± 2.94) (<i>P</i> = 0.04). The doubling of the population between 2021 and 2022 may have resulted in the contraction of female home ranges. Reproductive output decreased significantly in 2022, indicating that reproduction may be density-dependent at high densities. There was a significant relationship between track counts and population estimates, indicating that track counts are a reliable method for estimating population size inside the exclosure.</p><strong> Conclusions</strong><p>This reintroduction has been highly successful to date, demonstrating that bilbies are an adaptable species capable of rapid population growth in the absence of feral predators.</p><strong> Implications</strong><p>Bilbies are a model species for reintroductions to feral predator exclosures due to high survival rates, reproductive output, dietary flexibility and the ability to utilise a broad range of environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":23971,"journal":{"name":"Wildlife Research","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.9,"publicationDate":"2024-01-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"139409129","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}