Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Environmental factors associated to breeding areas of the South American locust Schistocerca cancellata on a regional scale","authors":"M. Celeste Scattolini,&nbsp;Cyril Piou,&nbsp;Héctor Medina,&nbsp;Rosario Iglesias,&nbsp;Alina Cerquetti,&nbsp;María M. Cigliano","doi":"10.1111/aec.13568","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13568","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Locusts are globally recognized as major pest threats. In the first half of the 20th century, the South American locust caused great economic losses. After the implementation of preventive management, large-scale upsurges ceased. In 2015, resurgence of <i>S. cancellata</i> led to swarms affecting northern Argentina, Paraguay, and Bolivia, prompting control agencies to address an almost forgotten problem. After six decades without a major locust outbreak, there were limited and outdated studies on this species. This study aims to identify key environmental factors associated with the spatial distribution of <i>S. cancellata</i> oviposition sites. We focus on explanatory variables that represent physical and chemical properties of soil and vegetation cover. To understand the relationships between each potential explanatory variable and the presence-absence of <i>S. cancellata</i> oviposition sites, we first performed regression analyses applying a linear and quadratic structure for each explanatory variable. Then, we performed comparisons of logistic regression models in a multi-model inference framework, where CAIC and weights of evidence were analysed. Our results show that the South American locusts chose to lay their eggs in areas with a low proportion of natural forest and flooded grasslands and a high proportion of non-vegetated areas, where the soils are flat, with neutral pH, and low salinity. We also determined that an increase in the proportion of cultivated areas is associated with an increase in the probability of breeding presence of this species. The locust's habitat falls within the Dry Chaco, a global deforestation hotspot, evidencing a rapid replacing of forests for plantations. Since both the diminish of forest and the increase in cultivated areas are associated with an increase in oviposition sites, we consider that breeding areas will likely increase. The results found herein can be used to map the potential breeding habitats to help preventive management against the South American locust.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-08-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141948214","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Disentangling drivers of vertebrate roadkill in a protected area in the Amazon rainforest","authors":"Andréa Coeli Gomes de Lucena Costa,&nbsp;Samuel Campos Gomides","doi":"10.1111/aec.13571","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13571","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Vertebrates' roadkill impacts many species in natural areas. However, data on this topic in the Amazon domain are still scarce, especially within protected areas. In this study, we analysed data from 2 years of monitoring amphibians, reptiles, mammals and birds' roadkill on five types of terrestrial transport infrastructure in a protected area in the Brazilian Amazon. We tested which vertebrate classes and feeding guilds were most recorded, the influence of seasonality and the spatial pattern of roadkill. In the studied area, 2795 roadkills were recorded, with amphibians suffering the most casualties. Most of the roadkills occurred during the rainy season (57%). Correcting the roadkill data using observer efficiency and carcass persistence time data, we concluded that mortality rates might be underestimated by up to 40 times when compared to raw data. There was no significant difference between feeding guilds concerning the number of fatalities, and rainfall and temperature significantly affected the roadkill pattern of all vertebrate classes. The spatial pattern of roadkill varied between traffic routes and vertebrate class types. The results indicate that amphibians are the most common victims of roadkill, although they are neglected in many roadkill monitoring. Consequently, mitigation strategies should prioritize periods with the highest mortality rates, as rainfall and temperature influence the frequency of these accidents. In addition, different classes of vertebrates have different patterns of impact concentration along traffic routes, which makes mitigation planning more complex. Therefore, planning to reduce vertebrate deaths from roadkill must consider each taxon's particularity and seasonality.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141869409","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Multi-year responses of reptiles to prescribed burning in a eucalypt forest ecosystem","authors":"Tim S. Doherty,&nbsp;Brent Johnson,&nbsp;Gordon R. Friend,&nbsp;Adrian F. Wayne","doi":"10.1111/aec.13572","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13572","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Prescribed burning is the primary method used to reduce wildfire risk in a range of ecosystems globally. Knowledge of how animal populations respond to prescribed burns is essential for designing fuel management plans that are sensitive to ecological values. We conducted a before–after, control-impact experiment in the temperate jarrah forest ecosystem of south-western Australia to examine how reptiles respond to season of burning (spring or autumn) and time since burning (0–5 years). Through pitfall trapping at 10 survey grids over 7 years, we captured 1808 reptiles from 22 species. Bayesian mixed effects models revealed that six of the eight species analysed showed either a decrease or increase in capture rate at burnt compared to unburnt sites, and most of these effects only occurred within the first 2 years post fire. Species richness showed a weak negative response to one autumn burn and no relationship with time since fire. Fire effects were more common in autumn compared to spring burns, which is likely a reflection of differing fire severities. These results suggest that prescribed burning can temporarily reduce habitat suitability and abundance for some species, particularly those that rely on leaf litter for shelter and foraging. Our findings emphasise the dynamic nature of reptile responses to prescribed burns and underscore the importance of considering both fire seasonality and recency of burning in wildlife management plans.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784334","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-salinity water use of euryhaline catfish Genidens genidens revealed by otolith microchemistry","authors":"Thaís Rodrigues Maciel,&nbsp;Enzo Moreno,&nbsp;Barbara Maichak de Carvalho,&nbsp;Nathan Miller,&nbsp;Marcelo Vianna,&nbsp;Esteban Avigliano","doi":"10.1111/aec.13573","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13573","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Migratory patterns of the catfish <i>Genidens genidens</i> in four estuaries along the Brazilian Atlantic coast are reconstructed from otolith Sr/Ca, a salinity proxy, to test estuarine-dependency. To facilitate interpretation of this proxy in otolith core-to-edge profiles, a Sr/Ca Reference Value for High Salinity (RVHS_Sr/Ca) of 4.88 mmol/mol was established experimentally, from fish specimens reared in water with a salinity level (33 psu) between estuarine and high salinity (marine) water. All wild specimens exhibited otolith Sr/Ca values higher than RVHS_Sr/Ca, suggesting that <i>G. genidens</i> utilizes environments with marine salinity. Our results reveal highly variable environmental histories, with at least five major habitat usage patterns. Most distinctive among these, we find that (a) fish from Paranaguá Estuarine Complex (PEC) exhibit high intraindividual heterogeneity; (b) most fish (57%) from Guanabara Bay (GB) exhibit prolonged exposure to very high salinities, often exceeding 36.5 psu levels found in some shelf sectors; and (c) some fish from Paraiba do Sul River, GB and PEC exhibit Sr/Ca values below RVHS_Sr/Ca consistent with estuarine residence. These results suggest that <i>G. genidens</i> is not strictly estuarine-dependent.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141786034","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Movement patterns of two northern quolls after a large wildfire","authors":"M. A. Cowan,&nbsp;Nyamal Rangers,&nbsp;J. A. Dunlop,&nbsp;H. A. Moore,&nbsp;D. G. Nimmo","doi":"10.1111/aec.13569","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13569","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Understanding how animals respond to fire is crucial for conservation efforts in fire-prone regions across the world. How fire affects animal movement is of particular interest, as it determines access to resources, exposure to risks, and connectivity of populations. We report on observations of the movement patterns and habitat selection of two northern quolls (<i>Dasyurus hallucatus</i>, an endangered marsupial predator), one male and one female, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. We employed GPS tracking and integrated step selection functions to analyse habitat preferences in relation to fire, and used accelerometry data to assess the energetic costs of using burnt areas. The male northern quoll avoided recently burnt areas, likely due to increased energetic demands and predation risks during the breeding season. In contrast, the female northern quoll neither avoided nor preferred burnt areas, but showed a preference for rocky areas. The female appeared to move through burnt areas to access suitable breeding habitat. The movement patterns observed in the two individuals might reflect a broader pattern of sex-specific responses to fire, but further research is required to confirm how general the pattern is. Our observations indicate that fire can influence northern quoll movement, with female dependence on rocky areas increasing use of suboptimal habitats, and male avoidance of burnt areas raising potential implications for breeding dispersal and population dynamics. Given the expected increases in fire size and frequency, further research on northern quoll responses to fire in the Pilbara is needed to determine if the pattern we observed is consistent across the broader population.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.13569","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784332","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Use of eDNA and conventional sampling methods to survey rock pool (gnamma) biodiversity on granite inselbergs","authors":"Damian R. Michael,&nbsp;Allan Murray,&nbsp;Phil Murray,&nbsp;Beau Murray,&nbsp;Sam Hagen,&nbsp;Richard Mcternan,&nbsp;Deborah J. Furst,&nbsp;Dale G. Nimmo","doi":"10.1111/aec.13562","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13562","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Sampling of environmental DNA (eDNA) and high-throughput sequencing is emerging as an effective biodiversity assessment method in aquatic systems and may have utility for biodiversity inventory in terrestrial environments. Rock pools (gnammas) on granite inselbergs support a rich community of aquatic organisms and are culturally important to Indigenous peoples worldwide. However, the application of eDNA to survey rock pool biodiversity are undocumented. In a collaborative study with traditional owners, we explore the application of eDNA metabarcoding and traditional sampling methods to document and compare species richness and composition of eukaryotes from 15 rock pools (pits and pans) on granite inselbergs in southeastern Australia. We detected 116 taxonomic units, 81 assignments from eDNA sequencing and 35 species (23 rotifers and 12 microcrustaceans) using microscopic analysis. eDNA detected a broad range of taxa not previously documented from rock pools in Australia, although significantly more zooplankton (rotifers and microcrustaceans) were detected under a microscope, including several rare species and two undescribed species of rotifer. <i>Brachionus calyciflorus</i> and <i>B. angularis</i> were the only rotifer species assigned to species level through eDNA sequencing and were detected using both methods. We found no significant difference in mean species richness between rock pool types; however, species composition differed significantly between pits and pans. This study highlights the value of using eDNA to document biodiversity of ephemeral aquatic habitats in terrestrial ecosystems but reveals the general lack of reference sequence data for microorganisms, underscoring the value of using traditional sampling and taxonomic assignment methods.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.13562","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Major knowledge shortfalls for Colombian Amazonian anurans: Implications for conservation","authors":"Claudia P. Camacho-Rozo,&nbsp;Nicolás Urbina-Cardona","doi":"10.1111/aec.13564","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13564","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;The Amazon boasts the highest anuran species diversity in the world. The Colombian Amazon has the highest rates of illegal deforestation, leading to accelerated species loss. The objective of this review was to identify knowledge shortfalls in anuran research to effectively address conservation efforts. We conducted a systematic literature search from different databases. To this end, we evaluated knowledge gaps in the published literature to pinpoint areas where information is lacking, aiming to address critical topics essential for advancing scientific understanding and informing effective conservation and management strategies. We read the Abstract, Methods, Study Area, Results and supplementary material for each document following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses) protocol. We found 161 documents, with the earliest publications dating back to the 1940s, and the highest productivity occurring since 2000. The diversity of research topics has increased over time. The most studied topics were systematics and taxonomy, natural history, geographic distributions, while the least studied topics (with less than six documents) were cell biology and microbiology, genetics, toxicology, ethnobiology, diet, infectious diseases, biogeography and macroecology. There remains a need for further research in these underrepresented areas. Only 10 species were represented in more than 17 papers and 165 species were represented in less than three publications. Only three species (&lt;i&gt;Allobates femoralis, Dendropsophus parviceps&lt;/i&gt; and &lt;i&gt;Phyllomedusa bicolor&lt;/i&gt;) were studied from more than 10 topics and, in general, the studies concentrated on adult life stages, maintaining a gap in the knowledge of larval stages (Haeckelian shortfall). We found 296 anuran species reported in the published documents; and the departments of Amazonas, Caquetá and Putumayo had the highest number of studies with great knowledge gaps in Meta, Vichada, Nariño and Cauca. There was an important increase in the collection of primary field data, and the use of biological collections for specimen studies, with 30.6% and 40% of total studies in these periods, respectively, relying on these data sources. However, in the entire 76-year span, there has been only one publication that conducted experiments on anurans, highlighting the considerable lack of eco-physiological studies. Our review did not find a population ecology paper with detailed demographic data or life tables (Prestonian shortfall), although we did uncover six papers reporting abundance data of seven species that could be applied to conservation efforts. We found two papers that reported on functional traits such as reproductive modes and morphological traits (Raunkiæran shortfall); but we did not find a paper on biotic interactions (Eltonian shortfall), species'abiotic tolerances (Hutchinsonian shortfall), or explicit evolutionary patterns (Darwinian shortfall). Only five anuran s","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.13564","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elucidating dietary secrets of the Blue-headed Macaw, Primolius couloni (Sclater, 1876), through citizen-sourced photographs","authors":"Lucilene Brito,&nbsp;Angela de Souza Cavalcante,&nbsp;Lucas Sobral Santos,&nbsp;Ana Laura Campioto,&nbsp;Paulo Antonio Silva","doi":"10.1111/aec.13570","DOIUrl":"10.1111/aec.13570","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Dietary data are vital for understanding species' resource requirements and ecological roles and supporting conservation efforts. The Blue-headed Macaw, <i>Primolius couloni</i>, is a vulnerable and endemic species in the Amazon. Due to their rarity, elusive nature, complex forest canopy habitat, and occurrence in remote areas, we minimally know their dietary habits. To address this gap, we analysed photographs of Blue-headed Macaws posted on wildlife-focused social media platforms, specifically targeting images that capture foraging behaviour on plants. Photographs depicting the same foraging were included only once, and those where the plants were not identified were discarded. By doing so, we identified 36 distinct foraging events (or photos), primarily taken between July and October, concentrated in specific locations in Peru and Brazil, a potential seasonality in foraging. We documented 27 food plant species and items such as nectar (<i>n</i> = 9 photos), pulp (8), seeds (7), buds, bark (5 each), aril, and leaves (<i>n</i> = 1 photo each). Notably, floral resources, including nectar, are a potentially important food in the driest months. Using Levin's Index (Ba), we identified a broad dietary niche, indicating a generalist feeding strategy with a wide variety of plant species (Ba = 0.69) and food items (Ba = 0.88). Additionally, the study revealed interactions such as florivory, seed predation, bark consumption, and potential mutualistic roles like pollination and seed dispersal. Our photo-centric approach here expanded the known dietary spectrum of the Blue-headed Macaw from four to 31 plant species, offering new insights for conservation strategies. We recommend the preservation of identified food plants and suggest using these data to inform habitat restoration efforts that support the macaws' dietary needs and ecological functions. Future research should focus on continuous monitoring of these food plants to deepen our understanding of seasonal foraging trends and ecological interactions and refine conservation approaches.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141784335","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Factors affecting microhabitat use in two agamid species from south-eastern Australia","authors":"Dylan M. Westaway,&nbsp;Chris J. Jolly,&nbsp;Damian R. Michael,&nbsp;Dale G. Nimmo","doi":"10.1111/aec.13567","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13567","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Despite being a central aspect of a species' ecology and having important conservation implications, the use of fine-scale habitat features (microhabitats), and how they vary over time, are poorly known for most species. In this study, we leveraged 522 relocations of radio-tracked mallee tree dragons (<i>Amphibolurus norrisi</i>) and painted dragons (<i>Ctenophorus pictus</i>) to investigate the effect of environmental and individual variables on microhabitat use. Mallee tree dragons were more likely to use trees on hot days and in the middle of the day (the hottest time of day), whereas shrub use was more likely on cool days and in the mornings. Painted dragons were more likely to use shrubs and grass trees on warmer days and during the middle of the day, whereas burrows were used during cooler days and in the mornings and afternoons. We expect these patterns represent animals moving from refuge resources, occupied during unsuitable thermal conditions, to microhabitats offering basking, foraging and social opportunities during periods of thermal optimum. Additionally, we found evidence of an ontogenetic shift, with larger mallee tree dragons favouring tree use and higher perches, suggesting a transition from shrub to tree use with age. Our findings underscore the need for diverse microhabitats to accommodate the thermoregulatory and ontogenetic requirements of lizards. These insights can inform conservation and habitat restoration efforts, ensuring the provision of essential microhabitats to support species persistence.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.13567","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141639454","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Investigating the effects of landscape productivity on the spatial ecology of a threatened marsupial inside feral predator exclosures","authors":"Cassandra M. Arkinstall,&nbsp;Sean I. FitzGibbon,&nbsp;Brianna Coulter,&nbsp;Katherine E. Moseby,&nbsp;Peter J. Murray","doi":"10.1111/aec.13566","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13566","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Landscape productivity and resource dispersion are key drivers of the movement patterns of many species. In less productive environments, home ranges are generally larger as individuals travel further to access resources. The greater bilby (<i>Macrotis lagotis</i>) has been reintroduced to several feral predator exclosures to reduce their extinction risk. Understanding how landscape productivity and resource dispersion influence bilby space use is critical to enable effective management of populations in exclosures. At two exclosures, we tested three hypotheses: 1. Bilbies would preferentially utilize habitats with sandy substrates (&lt;20% clay content), as they are suitable for digging burrows and foraging pits; 2. Home ranges would be larger at the arid site compared to the semi-arid site due to lower productivity and patchier distribution of preferred habitats; and 3. Bilbies would travel further each night at the arid site to access preferred habitats. Rainfall was used as an indicator of productivity, and dispersion of preferred habitats as an indicator of resource dispersion. The study was undertaken during average rainfall conditions and under similar bilby population densities at both sites. GPS loggers recorded home ranges and movements of 10 bilbies at the arid site, and 11 bilbies at the semi-arid site. Seventeen of the 21 bilbies preferentially utilized habitats with sandy substrates, which were less abundant at the arid site. There were no significant differences in home range size or nightly movements between the sites for either sex. We suggest the average rainfall conditions at both sites, and the dietary flexibility of bilbies, supported the maintenance of relatively small and stable home ranges (particularly for females). The effects of landscape productivity and resource dispersion on bilby space use are more likely to be evident during extended periods of below average rainfall. Bilby home range studies during low rainfall conditions (e.g. drought) are required for the effective, long-term management of exclosure populations.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"49 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2024-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.13566","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141639642","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}