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Journal articles on the topic 'Macropods'
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1
Osawa, R., and PF Woodall. "A Comparative-Study of Macroscopic and Microscopic Dimensions of the Intestine in 5 Macropods (Marsupialia, Macropodidae) .2. Relationship With Feeding-Habits and Fiber Content of the Diet." Australian Journal of Zoology 40, no. 1 (1992): 99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo9920099.
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A comparative study of macroscopic and microscopic dimensions of the intestines in five macropod species indicated that the grazing macropods (the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus, and the eastern grey kangaroo, Macropus giganteus) had significantly longer caeca and large intestines than those of the browsing macropods (the swamp wallaby, Wallabia bicolor, and the red-necked pademelon, Thylogale thetis). This trend was not observed in the small intestine. The arid-adapted M. rufus also had a significantly longer large intestine than M. giganteus, which may be a water-conservation feature. Intestinal villi were tall in T. thetis, which consumed a less fibrous diet, whereas the agile wallaby, Macropus agilis, on a highly fibrous diet, had short villi; other macropods, on diets of medium fibre content, had villi of intermediate height. Thus, the size of the hindgut (i.e. caecum and large intestine) may provide an index of the specific feeding habit of a species (browsing or grazing), whilst parameters of the villi of the small intestine may reflect the quality of the animals' current diet.
2
Jarman, PJ, CN Johnson, CJ Southwell, and R. Stuartdick. "Macropod Studies at Wallaby Creek .1. The Area and Animals." Wildlife Research 14, no. 1 (1987): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9870001.
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This paper introduces a series of papers on the ecology, social organisation and behaviour of populations of sympatric macropods (Macropodoidea : Marsupialia) in north-eastern New South Wales. The study site, in the valley of Wallaby Creek, covers partly tree-cleared cattle-grazed pastures and also wet and dry forest communities; 10 species of macropods live there. The valley has a moderately high rainfall (1023 mm per annum), falling predominately in summer, and an equable climate of cool winters and warm summers. Soils derived from sedimentary and basaltic rocks and alluvium support naturally diverse plant associations further diversified by clearing and establishment of pasture and weed species. Macropods favouring open country occupy the pastures, which can also be used by cover-dependent species where pasture abuts forest or remnant patches of cover. Composition of the macropod community has changed since development of the pasture zone. Dingoes, major predators of some of the macropods, are abundant, and all exotic mammals other than cattle are rare. Populations of two of the macropod species are habituated to approach by observers, and close observation, on foot, of undisturbed animals has become our common study technique. A 1-ha grid has been established over 3.7 km2 of the study site to facilitate exact location of animals and observations. The suitability of the macropod populations for this kind of study results from the attitudes of the landholders.
3
Alacs, Erika, Deryn Alpers, Paul J. de Tores, Mick Dillon, and Peter B. S. Spencer. "Identifying the presence of quokkas (Setonix brachyurus) and other macropods using cytochrome b analyses from faeces." Wildlife Research 30, no. 1 (2003): 41. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr01109.
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Non-invasive methods have the potential to circumvent problems associated with using more traditional techniques when surveying for rare and elusive species. In this study, non-invasive molecular-based methods have been used to analyse the scats of several species of marsupials. DNA was successfully extracted from scats of the quokka, Setonix brachyurus, and three other macropods (Macropus fuliginosus, M. irma and M. eugenii) sympatric with the quokka and with similar-appearing scats. Partial sequence from the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene from these four species and seven other macropods was used to measure genetic differentiation among them to determine whether the quokka could be unambiguously identified from the scats alone. The results confirm that molecular approaches can be used for macropod species identification using scats as the source material. The approach will have potential survey and management applications, and, more specifically, may lead to more accurate assessment of the quokka's geographic range, leading to implementation of more appropriate management strategies for its conservation.
4
Rendle, Jessica, Bethany Jackson, Stephen Vander Hoorn, Lian Yeap, Kristin Warren, Rebecca Donaldson, Samantha J. Ward, et al. "A Retrospective Study of Macropod Progressive Periodontal Disease (“Lumpy Jaw”) in Captive Macropods across Australia and Europe: Using Data from the Past to Inform Future Macropod Management." Animals 10, no. 11 (October 23, 2020): 1954. http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ani10111954.
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Macropod Progressive Periodontal Disease (MPPD) is a well-recognised disease that causes high morbidity and mortality in captive macropods worldwide. Epidemiological data on MMPD are limited, although multiple risk factors associated with a captive environment appear to contribute to the development of clinical disease. The identification of risk factors associated with MPPD would assist with the development of preventive management strategies, potentially reducing mortality. Veterinary and husbandry records from eight institutions across Australia and Europe were analysed in a retrospective cohort study (1995 to 2016), examining risk factors for the development of MPPD. A review of records for 2759 macropods found incidence rates (IR) and risk of infection differed between geographic regions and individual institutions. The risk of developing MPPD increased with age, particularly for macropods >10 years (Australia Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) 7.63, p < 0.001; Europe IRR 7.38, p < 0.001). Prognosis was typically poor, with 62.5% mortality reported for Australian and European regions combined. Practical recommendations to reduce disease risk have been developed, which will assist zoos in providing optimal long-term health management for captive macropods and, subsequently, have a positive impact on both the welfare and conservation of macropods housed in zoos globally.
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Pahl, Lester. "Macropods, feral goats, sheep and cattle: 1. Equivalency in how much they eat." Rangeland Journal 41, no. 6 (2019): 497. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj19044.
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The extent to which goats and cattle eat equivalent amounts of forage as sheep has been based on their maintenance energy requirements (MERs) relative to a 50kg wether or dry ewe, known as a dry sheep equivalent (DSE). As such, a 50kg goat was considered 1 DSE and a 450kg steer as 7–8 DSE. In comparison, the DSE of macropods has been based on their basal metabolic rate (BMR) or energy expenditure of grazing (EEg) relative to those of sheep, with a 50kg macropod thought to be 0.7 and 0.45 DSE respectively. Based on published energy requirements of goats, macropods and cattle relative to sheep, their DSE values are estimated to be 1.2, 1.0 and 7.6 respectively. However, relative energy requirements may not be the same as relative dry matter intakes (DMIs), due to differences in forage quality, the structure of digestive tracts and selective foraging capabilities. Allometric equations that predict DMI were developed from published liveweights and intakes of sheep, goats, macropods and cattle. Given DMIs when fed high-quality forage, a 50kg goat was 1 DSE, a 50kg macropod was 0.7 DSE and a 450kg steer was 7.6 DSE. Their DMIs were depressed by 35–50% when fed low-quality forage, but a goat remained as 1 DSE, macropods increased to 1.0 DSE and cattle increased to 8.3 DSE. The capacity of macropods to maintain relatively higher DMIs of low-quality forage than sheep is probably due of their faster digesta passage rates and more expandable stomachs. These DMIs of animals provided ad-libitum quantities of similar forages in small pens are likely to differ from their DMIs when selectively grazing heterogeneous rangeland pastures. Under these conditions, sheep select higher-quality diets than cattle, and kangaroos select higher-quality diets than sheep, which increase the relative DMIs of the smaller herbivores. For this reason, a 50kg macropod is likely to be 1 DSE and consume twice as much forage than previously assumed.
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Taggart, Patrick L., Bronwyn A. Fancourt, David Peacock, Charles G. B. Caraguel, and Milton M. McAllister. "Variation in Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence: effects of site, sex, species and behaviour between insular and mainland macropods." Wildlife Research 47, no. 8 (2020): 540. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19041.
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Context Feral cats threaten wildlife conservation through a range of direct and indirect effects. However, most studies that have evaluated the impacts of feral cats on species of conservation significance have focussed on direct impacts such as predation; few studies have considered the indirect impacts of cat-borne disease. Toxoplasma gondii, a cat-borne parasite, causes both acute and latent disease in a range of wildlife species, and macropods are particularly susceptible. Kangaroo Island is Australia’s third largest island and supports a high density of feral cats and high seroprevalence of T. gondii in multiple species, relative to the mainland. This suggests that Kangaroo Island has a high environmental contamination with the parasite and a high risk of infection for other species. Aims We aimed to describe T. gondii seroprevalence in culled and road-killed macropods, so as to assess the effects of island versus mainland location, sex, species and behaviour. Methods Macropod sera were tested for T. gondii IgG antibodies using a commercially available modified agglutination test. Key results The seroprevalence of T. gondii in culled western grey kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus) was significantly higher on the island (20%, 11/54 positive) than on the mainland (0%, 0/61 positive). There was no difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed (21%, 21/102 positive) kangaroos from the island. The seroprevalence of T. gondii was significantly higher in female (32%, 12/38 positive) than in male (13%, 8/60 positive) kangaroos, but we observed no sex effect in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii), and no effect of species. Conclusions The higher T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods supports previous reports of higher T. gondii exposure in other Kangaroo Island fauna. The lack of difference in T. gondii seroprevalence between culled and road-killed kangaroos suggests that T. gondii-positive animals are not more vulnerable to road mortality, in contrast to that suggested previously. Implications Our findings suggest greater potential adverse conservation impacts owing to toxoplasmosis on the island than on the mainland. In light of a recent study demonstrating higher cat abundance on the island than on the mainland, the higher observed T. gondii seroprevalence in insular macropods is likely to be a consequence of higher cat density.
7
Hoolihan, D. W., and A. W. Goldizen. "The grouping dynamics of the black-striped wallaby." Wildlife Research 25, no. 5 (1998): 467. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr97122.
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The grouping dynamics of the black-striped wallaby (Macropus dorsalis) were investigated using mark–resight techniques at Taunton National Park, in Central Queensland. Individually marked black-striped wallabies were observed in groups of varying size and composition. Marked wallabies were never observed together twice, despite some individuals being seen up to 15 times. Black-striped wallabies on Taunton National Park appeared to form the open-membership grouping structure common to most gregarious macropods. However, black-striped wallabies in the present study were found to be less gregarious than social macropods in previous studies.
8
While, Geoffrey M., and Clare McArthur. "Distance from cover affects artificial food-patch depletion by macropod herbivores." Wildlife Research 33, no. 7 (2006): 565. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05063.
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Artificial food patches were used to examine whether red bellied-pademelons (Thylogale billiardierii) and Bennett’s wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus) altered their foraging behaviour in an open habitat (a young plantation) in response to distance from cover, used as a surrogate for predation risk. Analyses using the full dataset showed no significant relationship between the amount of food eaten at a station and any of the cover variables. In contrast, regression analyses of the upper bounds dataset indicated that both increased distance from windrow (2.5-m-high stacks of burnt wood) and from nearest cover (windrow or forest at plantation edge) significantly reduced the amount of food consumed at a station. This indicates that distance from cover acts as a constraint on the amount of food eaten. When the feeding-station data were overlayed onto a map of scat densities across the study site, the amount of food eaten was positively related to the density of scats of both red-bellied pademelons and Bennett’s wallabies. Our results demonstrate that these macropods trade-off increased foraging benefits in order to forage closer to protective cover. Furthermore, they represent the first time that artificial food patches, with progressively decreasing reward per search effort, have been used to assess foraging behaviour in macropods. This opens up a wide range of research opportunities aimed at examining macropod foraging, with both ecological and practical applications.
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Leng, R. A. "Unravelling methanogenesis in ruminants, horses and kangaroos: the links between gut anatomy, microbial biofilms and host immunity." Animal Production Science 58, no. 7 (2018): 1175. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/an15710.
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The present essay aims to resolve the question as to why macropod marsupials (e.g. kangaroos and wallabies, hereinafter termed ‘macropods) and horses produce much less methane (CH4) than do ruminants when digesting the same feed. In herbivores, gases produced during fermentation of fibrous feeds do not pose a major problem in regions of the gut that have mechanisms to eliminate them (e.g. eructation in the rumen and flatus in the lower bowel). In contrast, gas pressure build-up in the tubiform forestomach of macropods or in the enlarged tubiform caecum of equids would be potentially damaging. It is hypothesised that, to prevent this problem, evolution has favoured development of controls over gut microbiota that enable enteric gas production (H2 and CH4) to be differently regulated in the forestomach of macropods and the caecum of all three species, from the forestomach of ruminants. The hypothesised regulation depends on interactions between their gut anatomy and host-tissue immune responses that have evolved to modify the species composition of their gut microbiota which, importantly, are mainly in biofilms. Obligatory H2 production during forage fermentation is, thus, captured in CH4 in the ruminant where ruminal gases are readily released by eructation, or in acetate in the macropod forestomach and equid caecum–colon where a build-up in gas pressure could potentially damage these organs. So as to maintain appropriate gut microbiota in different species, it is hypothesised that blind sacs at the cranial end of the haustral anatomy of the macropod forestomach and the equid caecum are sites of release of protobiofilm particles that develop in close association with the mucosal lymphoid tissues. These tissues release immune secretions such as antimicrobial peptides, immunoglobulins, innate lymphoid cells and mucin that eliminate or suppress methanogenic Archaea and support the growth of acetogenic microbiota. The present review draws on microbiological studies of the mammalian gut as well as other microbial environments. Hypotheses are advanced to account for published findings relating to the gut anatomy of herbivores and humans, the kinetics of digesta in ruminants, macropods and equids, and also the composition of biofilm microbiota in the human gut as well as aquatic and other environments where the microbiota exist in biofilms.
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Bond, Amy R. F., and Darryl N. Jones. "Roads and macropods: interactions and implications." Australian Mammalogy 36, no. 1 (2014): 1. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am13005.
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Understanding the impacts of roads on wildlife and the natural environment is of increasing importance. Macropods (mostly kangaroos and wallabies) are a diverse and widespread taxon in Australia that has been significantly affected by the presence of roads in various ways. We reviewed the available literature on macropods and roads, assessing 60 scientific journal articles, reports and theses. Studies on road mortalities were the most prevalent (n = 29, with 12 on macropods only), revealing both spatial and temporal patterns in occurrence. Behavioural studies in relation to the road environment are limited (n = 2) yet could help our understanding of patterns of road-kill and other impacts. Some macropod populations are critically affected by the presence of roads (e.g. brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata) due to either proportionately high road mortalities and/or population fragmentation, and may face continued decline unless effective road-mitigation measures are implemented. Investigations of various types of road mitigation focussed on wildlife-exclusion fencing and road crossing structures as the most effective option, although the high cost of these measures appears to limit their implementation. Further research into several areas was identified, particularly on species where severe road impacts are likely to result in population declines.
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Green-Barber, Jai M., Hayley J. Stannard, and Julie M. Old. "A suspected case of myopathy in a free-ranging eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus)." Australian Mammalogy 40, no. 1 (2018): 122. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am16054.
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Macropods are susceptible to capture myopathy. A post mortem examination, and haematological and blood chemistry analysis was conducted on a male eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) believed to have capture myopathy. Changes in blood chemistry and necrosis of muscle tissue are the most prevalent sign of myopathy in eastern grey kangaroos.
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Nagy, KA, GD Sanson, and NK Jacobsen. "Comparative Field Energetics of Two Macropod Marsupials and a Ruminant." Wildlife Research 17, no. 6 (1990): 591. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9900591.
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Field metabolic rates (FMRs) and water influx rates were measured via the doubly labelled water method in wild Tasmanian pademelons and grey kangaroos living in the Jock Marshall Reserve at Clayton, Victoria, and in wild black-tailed deer free-ranging within a nature reserve at Davis, California. Deer expended more than 3 times more energy per day than similar sized grey kangaroos. Feeding rates required to achieve energy balance were estimated from FMRs along with an estimate of metabolizable energy content of the food. The estimated feeding rates for pademelons and kangaroos were combined with similar values for 5 other species of macropods to calculate an allometric (scaling) relationship for food requirements of macropod marsupials. Feeding rate had the following relationship to body mass: g food (DM) consumed per day = 0.20 g body mass0.79 (r2 = 0.94). The findings reported herein should be useful for predicting the approximate food requirements of free-ranging macropods and deer for purposes of ecological modelling, conservation efforts and management programmes.
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Robertshaw, JD, and RH Harden. "The Ecology of the Dingo in North-Eastern New South Wales. 3. Analysis of Macropod Bone Fragments Found in Dingo Scats." Wildlife Research 12, no. 2 (1985): 163. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9850163.
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From a study in New South Wales, Australia, of fragments of macropod bone in 951 samples of the faeces of dingoes, it was concluded that field estimates of dingo predation on macropods from carcass remains were heavily biased towards older and larger wallabies. Young wallabies separated from the mother or ejected from the pouch of a hunted female tended to be eaten whole or to leave remains too small to be noticed in the field.
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Lentle, R. G., I. D. Hume, K. J. Stafford, M. Kennedy, B. P. Springett, and S. Haslett. "Observations on fresh forage intake, ingesta particle size and nutrient digestibility in four species of macropod." Australian Journal of Zoology 51, no. 6 (2003): 627. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo02032.
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The particle-size distributions of the ingesta of the sacciform forestomach in free-ranging animals of a grazing macropod species [Macropus eugenii (tammar wallaby)], a grazer/browser [Macropus parma (parma wallaby)], a browser/grazer [Petrogale penicillata (brush-tailed rock-wallaby)] and a browser [Wallabia bicolor (swamp wallaby)] from Kawau Island, New Zealand, were compared with those of captive animals maintained on a standing ryegrass (Lolium perenne) sward. Nutrient digestibility was also measured in tammar and parma wallabies fed ryegrass or browse, i.e. fresh mahoe (Melicytus ramiflora) and this was related to particle-size distributions of the ingesta.There were significant differences in the particle size distributions of digesta from tammar and parma wallabies in the wild but not in captivity. In free-ranging animals the ingesta from both browsing species, the brush-tailed rock-wallaby and the parma wallaby, contained consistently greater proportions of coarse particles and smaller proportions of fine particles than did those of the tammar wallaby. These differences may be correlated with reported differences in their tooth morphologies. However, the presence of significant differences in particle-size distributions of the digesta between brush-tailed rock-wallabies and parma wallabies when constrained to grass, despite reported similarities in their tooth morphology, suggests that factors other than tooth morphology contribute to differences in the oral processing of food by browsing and grazing macropods. There were greater proportions of grass fragments in the coarse than in the finer fractions of ingesta from free-ranging brush-tailed rock-wallabies, indicating that this species is less effective at chewing grass.There were no overall differences between tammar and parma wallabies in the digestibilities of organic matter, neutral-detergent fibre (NDF) or acid-detergent fibre (ADF) but the NDF and ADF digestibilites of both species increased significantly with increase in the proportion of fine ingesta particles and with increase in mass of fermentative digesta.These findings indicate the importance of oral processing to digestive efficiency in macropods and the relationship between oral processing and tooth morphology.
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Stedman, N. L., J. S. Munday, R. Esbeck, and G. S. Visvesvara. "Gastric Amebiasis Due to Entamoeba histolytica in a Dama Wallaby (Macropus eugenii)." Veterinary Pathology 40, no. 3 (May 2003): 340–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.1354/vp.40-3-340.
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A 1.5-year-old captive female Dama wallaby ( Macropus eugenii) died after a 3-month period of progressive weight loss, anorexia, bloat, and diarrhea. Histopathologic examination revealed numerous Entamoeba histolytica trophozoites within the gastric mucosa and, less frequently, gastric submucosa and submucosal vessels. Immunofluorescent antibody testing confirmed the identity of the trophozoites as E. histolytica. The trophozoites were associated with mild glandular epithelial necrosis, mucosal erosions, and lymphoplasmacytic inflammation. E. histolytica most commonly causes necrotizing and ulcerative colitis in humans and captive nonhuman primates, and it causes necrotizing and ulcerative gastritis in nonhuman primates with sacculated stomachs adapted for leaf fermentation. Rare cases of gastric amebiasis also have been been reported in captive macropods, which also have complex sacculated stomachs. To our knowledge, this is the first report confirming E. histolytica as the cause of gastric amebiasis in a wallaby. The zoonotic potential of this infection in macropods is uncertain.
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Lentle, Roger G., Murray A. Potter, Brian P. Springett, and Kevin J. Stafford. "A Trapping and Immobilisation Technique for Small Macropods." Wildlife Research 24, no. 3 (1997): 373. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr95052.
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A technique for trapping and immobilising small macropods is described and tested on forest-dwelling Tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii Desmarest). The trapping method uses wire fencing and a monofilament nylon drop-net. The animals were immobilised with ketamine hydrochloride and xylazine. Tammar wallabies are reputedly hard to catch, but our technique produced higher trapping rates, lower trap-avoidance rates and lower death rates than other methods. In all, 46 Tammars were captured in 29 trap-nights. No deaths occurred during, or in the four weeks following, trapping.
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Vernes, K. "A drive fence for capturing small forest-dwelling macropods." Wildlife Research 20, no. 2 (1993): 189. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9930189.
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A technique using a combination of wire cage traps and a drive fence for capturing small forest-dwelling macropods is described. The fence is positioned inside a forest/pasture boundary, and the traps are set along the fence. Grazing macropods are chased off the pasture, along the fence and into the traps. This technique is recommended for small forest-dwelling macropods that are difficult to catch by conventional methods.
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Heathcote, CF. "Grouping of Eastern Grey Kangaroos in Open Habitat." Wildlife Research 14, no. 4 (1987): 343. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9870343.
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Grouping of Macropus giganteus in an extremely open habitat was investigated in this study by measuring group size and group cohesion. In comparison with populations at similar densities in more forested habitats, the study population of M. giganteus formed larger groups. This finding supports a prediction that macropods will form larger groups in open habitats, and this is interpreted as being an adaptive response to increased exposure to predation.
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Brookins, Milagros D., Sreekumari Rajeev, Timothy D. Thornhill, Kurt Kreinheder, and Debra L. Miller. "Mandibular and Maxillary Osteomyelitis and Myositis in a Captive Herd of Red Kangaroos (Macropus Rufus)." Journal of Veterinary Diagnostic Investigation 20, no. 6 (November 2008): 846–49. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/104063870802000627.
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Jaw infections in macropods are common and will result in mortality if not promptly diagnosed and aggressively treated. They have most often been reported in wallabies; however, in the current case, the gross and histopathologic findings, microbial culture, and management of jaw infections in a population of red kangaroos ( Macropus rufus) housed in a zoological park are described. Three red kangaroos, among a group of 23, were submitted for necropsy after death after progressively invasive and nonresolving jaw infections. Extensive bone and soft-tissue inflammation and necrosis were observed in all animals. A mixed population of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was cultured; however, Pseudomonas spp. was consistently isolated from the sites of infection in all animals. Parental administration of gentamicin and penicillin, along with daily oral flushing of the wounds with Betadine, removal of all rough forage, and hand feeding soft-pelleted feed, was effective in controlling the progression of disease in 1 affected animal. This case documents an important disease in an additional macropod species and identifies predisposing factors, possible etiologies, and treatment and/or management options.
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Ramp, Daniel, and David B. Croft. "Do wildlife warning reflectors elicit aversion in captive macropods?" Wildlife Research 33, no. 7 (2006): 583. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr05115.
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A goal to reduce the frequency of animal–vehicle collisions is motivating extensive research on this topic world-wide. Over the last 30 years, one popular mechanism to warn wildlife of approaching vehicles has been the wildlife warning reflector, manufactured and distributed under the brands Swareflex (Austria) and Strieter-Lite (USA). These reflectors were designed to scare deer and other ungulates from roadways at night by reflecting light from the headlights of approaching vehicles into the eyes of animals on the road verge. Robust documentation of their effectiveness has been lacking, yet there has been a push in Australia to examine their efficacy with regard to medium to large macropodids. Field trials of the reflectors are problematic and difficult to design rigorously, so we chose to examine the behavioural response of two captive macropodid species (Macropus rufus and M. rufogriseus) to the reflectors on a simulated road in order to derive some indication as to their efficacy. The behavioural response to the reflectors was negligible for both species and not consistent with an aversive effect to deter road use or crossing. We conclude that they would be of little value in our efforts to reduce the frequency of collisions of kangaroos or wallabies with vehicles in Australia.
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Southwell, CJ, KE Weaver, SC Cairns, AR Pople, AN Gordon, NW Sheppard, and R. Broers. "Abundane of macropods in north-eastern New South Wales, and the logistics of broad-scale ground surveys." Wildlife Research 22, no. 6 (1995): 757. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9950757.
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A broad-scale ground survey of macropod abundance in north-eastern New South Wales was undertaken in 1989-90. The survey area was stratified into an eastern and western region, and within regions by habitat on the basis of vegetation and topographic criteria. Macropod density in each stratum was estimated from walked line transect counts for five species: Macropus giganteus, Macropus robustus, Macropus parryi, Macropus rufogriseus and Wallabia bicolor. Within sampled strata, macropod density was substantially higher in the western region than in the eastern region. Macropus parryi occurred in only trace numbers in the eastern region, with the number of sightings too small for reliable density estimation. No M. parryi were sighted in the western region. Macropus giganteus and M. rufogriseus were the dominant species in sampled strata in the eastern region, while M. giganteus and M. robustus were dominant in the west. Overall, pre-survey activities of habitat digitising and liaison with landholders required approximately the same effort as actual survey work. Liaison with landholders required relatively more time in the eastern region, where human population was higher, than in the western region. Incomplete coverage of planned transect routes, due mainly to impenetrable vegetation, lead to a positive bias of no more than 10-20% in population estimation for M. giganteus and M. robustus, and an unknown bias for the other species. The use of broad vegetation information on 1 : 100 000 map sheets for habitat stratification limited the scale at which analysis of sightability could be undertaken. Macropus giganteus and M. robustus are commercially harvested in the western region. Annual commercial harvest rates in the three years prior to the survey were conservatively estimated to be less than 0.9% for M. robustus and less than 5.4% for M. giganteus.
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Southwell, C. J., and P. J. Jarman. "Macropod studies at Wallaby Creek. 3. The effect of fire on pasture utilization by macropodids and cattle." Wildlife Research 14, no. 2 (1987): 117. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9870117.
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Utilisation of pasture in relation to time since burning occurred was assessed on a monthly basis for 16 months, for three species of macropodids and cattle. Utilisation by the eastern grey kangaroo, red-necked wallaby and cattle increased after burning, but the magnitude and particularly the timing of the responses differed between species. Burning did not affect utilisation by the whiptail wallaby. Differential preferences for and utilisation of regrowth pasture, and interference interactions between cattle and macropods, are suggested as possible reasons for the differing responses.
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Balland, Jeff, Catherine A. Herbert, Justin A. Welbergen, and John M. Martin. "Habitat selection in a peri-urban area by a large mammal indicates a low potential for human–wildlife conflict." Wildlife Research 47, no. 5 (2020): 381. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr19234.
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Abstract ContextIn Australia, various species of macropods (family Macropodidae) are known to occur within peri-urban areas, where they can be a source of human–wildlife conflict. Some species, such as the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), have received considerable research attention over the past few years following demands from land managers for evidence-based management guidelines; however, the ecology of other macropod species found in peri-urban areas, such as the eastern wallaroo (Osphranter robustus robustus), remains poorly understood. AimsThe aims were to determine the home range of male and female eastern wallaroos and assess habitat selection in order to define whether wallaroos in a peri-urban environment should be viewed as thriving (‘matrix-occupying’), persisting (‘matrix-sensitive’) or struggling (‘urban-sensitive’). MethodsHome range and habitat use of six adult male, five adult female and one subadult male eastern wallaroo were investigated using GPS telemetry between October 2017 and May 2018 in the south-west of Sydney. Key resultsHome ranges (mean±s.e.) of males (63.1±10.2ha) were significantly larger than those of females (31.1±3.3ha). Every adult wallaroo had highly overlapping monthly home ranges, indicating strong site fidelity in all individuals. Eastern wallaroos selected habitats based on vegetation composition during the night and canopy cover during the day. Grassland and open native woodlands were preferred during foraging activities at night. By contrast, human-modified habitats, including hard surfaces and lawns, were avoided at all times by all individuals. ConclusionThe results indicate that eastern wallaroos avoid human-modified features in the landscape, so they could be viewed as persisting (‘matrix-sensitive’) in peri-urban areas. ImplicationsCompared with matrix-occupying macropods, such as the eastern grey kangaroo, the eastern wallaroo is less likely to cause human–wildlife conflicts – a result of its avoidance of human-modified habitat. Land-use planning, involving green corridors linking remnant vegetation, should be implemented as part of urban planning to enable the persistence of diverse mammal populations in urban areas, particularly matrix-sensitive species.
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Press, A. J. "The distribution and status of macropods (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory." Australian Mammalogy 11, no. 2 (June 1, 1988): 103–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am88013.
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This study was undertaken to establish the status and distribution of macropods in Kakadu National Park. The study utilised the knowledge of the traditional Aboriginal owners of the park and collected information from field surveys, literature and personal communications. Distribution maps are given and species status is assessed . Macropus agilis, M. antilopinus and M. bernardus are common in Kakadu, although M. bernardus has a restricted distribution. M. robustus is not as common as the other species of Macropus and has a restricted distribution. Petrogale brachyotis is locally abundant while Peradorcas concinna is scarce; both species have restricted distributions. Onychogalea unguifera has been recorded infrequently, and there is only one record of Lagorchestes conspicillatus from Kakadu.
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Coulson, Graeme. "Male Bias in Road-kills of Macropods." Wildlife Research 24, no. 1 (1997): 21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr96004.
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I determined the sex of a total of 251 road-kills of six macropod species in southern Australia over a 13-year period. There was a significant bias towards males in five species, ranging from 65 to 92% males, but there was no difference from parity in the red kangaroo, Macropus rufus. Male eastern grey kangaroos, M. giganteus, and male western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, probably behave in ways that expose them to vehicles more than females. Male-biased road-kills of swamp wallabies, Wallabia bicolor, may reflect skewed population sex ratios. There are insufficient data on the behaviour and population structure of the red-necked wallaby, M. rufogriseus, and rufous-bellied pademelon, Thylogale billardierii, to determine which explanation is responsible for male-biased road mortality in these species.
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Sailler, Anaïs, Morgane Prieto, and Frédéric Goulle. "Successful bilateral phacoemulsification and vitrectomy in a Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)." Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association 260, no. 4 (February 15, 2022): 450–54. http://dx.doi.org/10.2460/javma.21.03.0165.
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Abstract CASE DESCRIPTION A 7-month-old hand-reared female Bennett’s wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) was evaluated for bilateral ocular opacity of 3 months’ duration. CLINICAL FINDINGS On physical examination, the wallaby was in good overall condition. An ophthalmic examination revealed mature cataracts in both eyes (OU). The cataracts were suspected to have a nutritional origin as it has been described in hand-reared macropods. Results of tonometry were normal OU. Results of CBC and serum biochemistry were unremarkable. The wallaby was premedicated with medetomidine and ketamine hydrochloride. Ocular ultrasonography performed while the wallaby was anesthetized revealed a thickened and opaque lens, mildly heterogeneous vitreous humor, and no sign of retinal detachment OU. An electroretinogram confirmed functional retinae OU. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Surgery was considered necessary for welfare reasons. Phacoemulsification and vitrectomy were performed without intraoperative complication. The wallaby recovered uneventfully, and systemic NSAID, topical corticosteroid, and systemic and topical antimicrobial therapy were prescribed. One year later, the animal had vision OU. Physical examination did not show any vision-threatening postoperative complications. CLINICAL RELEVANCE The etiology of nutritional cataracts is not fully understood in macropods, but this condition is rather common in these species. To our knowledge, this is the first detailed report of a successful bilateral phacoemulsification and vitrectomy in a Bennett’s wallaby.
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Short, J., and B. Turner. "Distribution and abundance of spectacled hare-wallabies and euros on Barrow Island, Western Australia." Wildlife Research 18, no. 4 (1991): 421. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9910421.
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Spectacled hare-wallabies (Lagorchestes conspicillatus) and euros (Macropus robustus isabellinus) occur on Barrow I. at densities of 42 and 8 km-2, respectively, which result in estimates of total population sizes of c. 10000 and 1800, respectively. Spectacled hare-wallabies occur throughout the island in all habitat types; euros tend to be concentrated in the deeply dissected country in the central-west of the island. Limited areas of floodout flats are important feeding areas for euros, being the only major habitat on the island dominated by grasses other than Triodia. There was no significant difference between density of either species on the two halves of the island (one half is dominated by a commercial oilfield; the other is relatively undisturbed). Barrow I. is the smallest island off the Australian coast to have successfully supported a population of large macropods for the 8000-10000 years since separation from the mainland by rising sea-level. Hence, the population estimate of euros on Barrow I. provides an empirical measure of the viable population size necessary for the long-term survival of large macropods. This estimate is nearly two orders of magnitude less than that estimated from a theoretical model of minimum viable population size (Belovsky 1987).
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Wadley, Jessica J., Jeremy J. Austin, and Damien A. Fordham. "Rapid species identification of eight sympatric northern Australian macropods from faecal-pellet DNA." Wildlife Research 40, no. 3 (2013): 241. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr13005.
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Context Conservation of vulnerable and endangered species requires a comprehensive understanding of their distribution and habitat requirements, so as to implement effective management strategies. Visual scat surveys are a common non-invasive method for monitoring populations. However, morphological similarity of scats among sympatric species presents a problem for accurate identification. Visual misidentifications of scats can have major impacts on the accuracy of abundance and distribution surveys of target species, wasting resources and misdirecting management and conservation actions. DNA identification of scats can overcome this issue, while simultaneously providing a rich source of genetic information for population and dietary studies. Aims We developed a simple and reliable method to identify morphologically similar macropod scats from eight sympatric species in north-eastern Australia, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) of a portion of the mtDNA ND2 gene. Methods We identified a short (275-bp) polymorphic region of ND2, which is easily amplifiable from degraded DNA, developed a primer set, and identified a set of three restriction endonucleases (AluI, BstNI and HphI) which, in combination, can discriminate among the eight target species. So as to test the effectiveness of this protocol, we collected 914 macropod scats from 53 sites in the north-eastern Australia. Key results In total, 406 of these scats were extracted, with 398 (98%) containing amplifiable macropod DNA. All 398 scats were subsequently identified to species by using our RFLP protocol. Sequencing of a subset of these samples confirmed the accuracy of the test. Species identification of scats by using DNA identified eight species of macropods, five of which were outside their documented distributions, one of which was ~400 km. Conclusions Our PCR–RFLP method is a simple and efficient means to identify macropod scats to species, eliminating the need for sequencing, which is costly, time-consuming and requires additional laboratory equipment. Implications The method allows for rapid and non-invasive assessment of macropod species and is particularly useful for surveying populations across multiple sites.
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Hermosilla, Carlos, Nikola Pantchev, Nicole Gies, and Anja Taubert. "Presumptive Acute Neural Toxoplasmosis in a Captive Red-Necked Wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus)." Veterinary Medicine International 2010 (2010): 1–2. http://dx.doi.org/10.4061/2010/561212.
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A red-necked male wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) from a German zoo was presented for acute onset of severe neurological signs, including head tremor, lethargy, unresponsiveness, and weakness. Serum biochemical abnormalities included increased LDH- and AST-levels, hyperproteinaemia, and reduced ALT-, ALP-, and creatinine-levels. The wallaby was found serologically positive forToxoplasma gondiiby the indirect haemagglutination test. After initiation of therapy by subcutaneous injections of trimethoprim/sulfadoxin, amelioration of neurological signs was noted and after 10 days the affected wallaby recovered.T. gondiican be confirmed rapidly by serology, and immediate therapy may reduce clinical illness and fatality of the disease within captive macropods.
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Kitchener, A. L., L. M. Edds, F. C. Molinia, and D. J. Kay. "Porcine zonae pellucidae immunisation of tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii): fertility and immune responses." Reproduction, Fertility and Development 14, no. 4 (2002): 215. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rd01121.
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This study looked at the feasibility of targeting the zona pellucida for a contraceptive vaccine as a possible alternative method of control for overabundant macropods. Tammar wallabies, as a model for other macropods, were immunized with porcine zonae pellucidae (PZP) and were found to achieve significant concentrations of antibody to PZP in sera and reproductive tract fluids. Wallabies immunized with PZP exhibited lower ovarian weight with reduced numbers of antral follicles when compared with control animals. Wallabies were placed in a natural mating trial followed by an artificial insemination trial. None of the PZP-immunized wallabies produced offspring in the natural mating trial compared with 67% of control animals. To further assess fertility, a sub-sample of the wallabies were superovulated and artificially inseminated. This resulted in all control wallabies producing fertilized ova and all PZP-immunized wallabies failing to ovulate. These results suggest that immunocontraception based on targeting antigens of the zona pellucida may be an effective strategy for fertility reduction in macropods.
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Baudinette, R. V., G. K. Snyder, and P. B. Frappell. "Energetic cost of locomotion in the tammar wallaby." American Journal of Physiology-Regulatory, Integrative and Comparative Physiology 262, no. 5 (May 1, 1992): R771—R778. http://dx.doi.org/10.1152/ajpregu.1992.262.5.r771.
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Rates of oxygen consumption and blood lactate levels were measured in tammar wallabies (Macropus eugenii) trained to hop on a treadmill. In addition, the work required to overcome wind resistance during forward locomotion was measured in a wind tunnel. Up to approximately 2.0 m/s, rates of oxygen consumption increased linearly with speed and were not significantly different from rates of oxygen consumption for a quadruped of similar body mass. Between 2.0 and 9.4 m/s, rates of oxygen consumption were independent of hopping speed, and between 3.9 and 7.9 m/s, the range over which samples were obtained, blood lactate levels were low (0.83 +/- 0.13 mmol.min-1.kg-1) and did not increase with hopping speed. The work necessary to overcome drag increased exponentially with speed but increased the energy cost of locomotion by only 10% at the average speed attained by our fast hoppers. Thus, during hopping, the energy cost of locomotion is effectively independent of speed. At rates of travel observed in the field, the estimated energy cost of transport in large macropods is less than one-third the cost for a quadruped of equivalent body mass. The energetic savings associated with this unique form of locomotion may have been an important physiological adaptation, enabling large macropods to efficiently cover the distances necessary to forage in the semiarid landscapes of Australia.
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Irlbeck, NA, and ID Hume. "The role of Acacia in the diets of Australian marsupials ? A review." Australian Mammalogy 25, no. 2 (2003): 121. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am03121.
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Many of the 600 species of Acacia found in Australia form part of the diet of several groups of marsupials. Acacia foliage is generally high in tannins but is consumed by several folivorous possums and by some macropods (kangaroos and wallabies), but the macropods eat it mainly as dry leaf litter during times of food shortage (in dry seasons and drought). Acacia gum is an important diet component of two omnivorous possums (Petaurus breviceps, Gymnobelidius leadbeateri) and, to a lesser extent, two rat-kangaroos (Bettongia sp.). Acacia seeds are consumed by marsupials to a limited extent, but are an important seasonal component of the diet of the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus cunninghami), and possibly the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii) on Kangaroo Island. Likewise, Acacia arils (lipid-rich appendages to the seeds of some species) are an important seasonal component of the diet of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis). Acacia pollen and nectar are consumed by several omnivorous possums (e.g., Petaurus norfolcensis) as well as by at least one species of rock-wallaby (Petrogale sp.), but the quantitative contributions made by these floral products to the protein and energy budgets of the consumers have been difficult to determine. Thus several parts of the Acacia plant are food resources for one or more groups of marsupials, but the contribution of the genus to marsupial nutrition is often overlooked.
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Barker, R. D., and G. Caughley. "Distribution and abundance of kangaroos (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) at the time of European contact: Victoria." Australian Mammalogy 15, no. 1 (1992): 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am92011.
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The dominant species of large macropods in Victoria are the Eastern Grey Kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) and the Southern (= Western) Grey Kangaroo (M. fuliginosus). On the limited historic data available there is no indication that their ranges have changed since European settlement. The Red Kangaroo (M. rufus) was restricted to the northwest corner of the state, then as now. Moderate densities of Grey Kangaroos at settlement increased under forest clearing, probably peaking about the mid-nineteenth century. With intensification of farming and associated heavy hunting they declined again to establish by about the turn of the century the distribution of modera te density that we see today.
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Johnson, A. M., H. Roberts, P. Statham, and B. L. Munday. "Serodiagnosis of acute toxoplasmosis in macropods." Veterinary Parasitology 34, no. 1-2 (November 1989): 25–33. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0304-4017(89)90160-x.
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Brook, L. A., and A. S. Kutt. "The diet of the dingo (Canis lupus dingo) in north-eastern Australia with comments on its conservation implications." Rangeland Journal 33, no. 1 (2011): 79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rj10052.
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The dingo (Canis lupus dingo and hybrids) is the top mammalian predator on the Australian mainland and is thought to control and suppress populations of native herbivores and smaller mesopredators, including the introduced feral cat (Felis catus). Dingoes have been persecuted as a threat to domestic livestock, and local population decreases have been linked to increasing mesopredator populations, which in turn may cause the decline of small native mammals. There is little data on the dingo’s dietary composition in northern Australia. We examined the diet of dingoes in north-eastern Queensland via scat collection and analysis. A total of 178 scats were examined between 1994 and 2000, comprised of 185 prey items and representing 21 discrete prey types. Native mammal prey was the most frequent dietary component (69.7%), with large- to medium-sized macropods (Macropus spp. and Wallabia bicolor) present in the majority of samples (51.1%). Critical Weight Range species were found in 18.0% of the records. Introduced species such as the European hare/rabbit (Lepus capensis/Oryctolagus cuniculus) and cattle (Bos taurus) were found in smaller amounts (14.6 and 10.1%, respectively). These results suggest that dingoes prey considerably on large- to medium-sized macropods in our study area (north-eastern Australia). Dingo diet tends to differ regionally where dingoes prey on native species that are locally common or abundant. Finally, the diets of the dingo and feral cat do not appear to considerably overlap in our study area, which may have implications for mesopredator suppression.
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Lundie-Jenkins, G. "Observations on the behaviour of the Rufous Hare-wallaby, Lagorchestes hirsutus Gould (Macropodidae: Marsupialia) in captivity." Australian Mammalogy 16, no. 1 (1993): 29. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am93005.
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Observations on the behaviour of the Rufous Hare-wallaby Lagorchestes hirsutus were obtained from a captive colony maintained in Alice Springs. This information was used to interpret observations of animals made during field studies in the Tanami Desert. Aspects of the species' behavioural repertoire which were recorded included activity patterns, postures, gaits, interactions, nesting habits and vocalisations. Lagorchestes hirsutus is predominantly nocturnal and its activity patterns and body postures resemble those recorded for other species of small macropods. It appears to be a relatively solitary animal but there was some evidence of social organisation within animals maintained in captivity. Aspects of the sexual and aggressive behaviour of L. hirsutus appear to resemble more closely those of the potoroids than of larger macropodids.
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Boulton, Katie Alyce, Linda Jean Vogelnest, and Larry Vogelnest. "DERMATOPHYTOSIS IN ZOO MACROPODS: A QUESTIONNAIRE STUDY." Journal of Zoo and Wildlife Medicine 44, no. 3 (September 2013): 555–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1638/2011-0273r2.1.
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RICHARDSON, K. C., and L. K. CULLEN. "Physical and chemical restraint of small macropods." International Zoo Yearbook 23, no. 1 (December 18, 2007): 215–18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-1090.1984.tb03037.x.
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PASS, MA, and AS BROWN. "Liver function in normal koalas and macropods." Australian Veterinary Journal 67, no. 4 (April 1990): 151–52. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1990.tb07739.x.
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Yang, Rongchang, Stan Fenwick, Abbey Potter, Aileen Elliot, Michelle Power, Ian Beveridge, and Una Ryan. "Molecular characterization of Eimeria species in macropods." Experimental Parasitology 132, no. 2 (October 2012): 216–21. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.exppara.2012.07.003.
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Tuft, Katherine D., Mathew S. Crowther, and Clare McArthur. "Fire and grazing influence food resources of an endangered rock-wallaby." Wildlife Research 39, no. 5 (2012): 436. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr11208.
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Context Fire and grazing have complex and interacting impacts on food resources available to endangered herbivores and can potentially be manipulated as part of conservation strategies. Aims We examined the interacting impacts of fire and grazing on the food resources available to a colony of endangered brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) to test fire as a potential management tool. Methods We conducted two manipulative experiments using a repeated-measures split-block design. We measured the effects of grazing and strategic burning on total vegetation biomass and on particular plants selected by rock-wallabies. In the first experiment we measured the impact of rock-wallaby grazing alone. In the second experiment we measured grazing impacts by both rock-wallabies and potentially competitive sympatric macropods. Grazing was manipulated with three treatments: grazed (open), ungrazed (fenced) and procedural control (half fence). Key results In both experiments, burning resulted in greater above-ground biomass of plants selected by rock-wallabies. The response of different plant functional groups to fire was staggered, with forb biomass peaking early and browse biomass increasing above unburnt levels a year after burning. Conclusions Despite the limited grazing pressure exerted by the small colony of rock-wallabies in Experiment 1 we detected a negative grazing effect on forbs growing after fire in burnt plots. In Experiment 2, grazing pressure was much more marked due to the high densities of sympatric macropods. In this case, while burning resulted in greater biomass of plants selected by rock-wallabies, grazing (predominantly by sympatric macropods) negated this effect. Implications Small patchwork burning can be a useful tool to improve food resources for brush-tailed rock-wallabies, with effects sustained over more than two years. However, when rock-wallabies are sympatric with possible competitor species, the grazing impacts of sympatric macropods may cancel out any benefits to rock-wallabies.
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le Mar, K., C. Southwell, and C. McArthur. "Evaluation of line-transect sampling to estimate nocturnal densities of macropods in open and closed habitats." Wildlife Research 28, no. 1 (2001): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr99088.
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Walked line transects were evaluated for estimating nocturnal densities of red-necked wallaby (Macropus rufogriseus) and the red-bellied pademelon (Thylogale billardierii) in a range of open and closed habitats. The use of cleared transect lines in densely vegetated habitats reduced noise produced by travelling, while permanent grid markers facilitated collection of perpendicular distance data at night. Results from sighting histograms indicated that animals did not display evasive movement in response to the observer before detection. The probabilities of detecting the macropod species varied significantly between habitats. Significant differences in probabilities of detection were also recorded within species between habitats. Consequently, line-transect sampling is recommended over strip-transect sampling for estimating species abundance when more than one species and/or habitat are of interest. Recommendations are made, however, for forest managers wanting to monitor macropod populations on newly established plantations, when line-transect sampling is not feasible and strip-transect sampling is the only alternative.
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Matthews, Robert W. "Patterns and composition of medium and large vertebrate roadkill, based on six annual surveys along two adjoining highways in south-eastern Queensland, Australia." Australian Mammalogy 42, no. 2 (2020): 171. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am19044.
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Six annual single-pass roadkill surveys along two adjoining rural Queensland highways near Carnarvon Gorge National Park revealed 612 medium-size to large vertebrates, representing more than 18 taxa. Most were mammals (92%), particularly macropods. Losses averaged 0.26 animals km–1 year–1 (range = 0.17–0.33), with variation possibly reflecting road repair/reconstruction and record seasonal rainfalls. Annual roadkill totals for the 390-km highway were projected to be over 5000 vertebrates, with more than half being large macropods. A consistent hotspot or ecological trap was noted along a 17-km high-traffic-volume stretch north of Roma. Because the sparsely populated outback is habitat for much Australian wildlife, multiyear baseline data are vital to identify the magnitude of the problem and inform future research.
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Lentle, R. G., I. D. Hume, K. J. Stafford, M. Kennedy, S. Haslett, and B. P. Springett. "Molar progression and tooth wear in tammar (Macropus eugenii) and parma (Macropus parma) wallabies." Australian Journal of Zoology 51, no. 2 (2003): 137. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo02008.
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We investigated the functional significance of molar progression and the influence of diet on the usefulness of molar progression as an index of age in two macropodid marsupials, the tammar wallaby (Macropus eugenii), a grazing species, and the parma wallaby (Macropus parma), a browser/grazer, by exploring the relationships between the index of molar progression and several skull and tooth parameters. We also tested allometric models that related molar progression and aspects of tooth morphology to body mass. Results support the notion that molar progression in these closely related macropods results from 'mesial shift'(forward movement resulting from growth of the bones of the skull bearing the dentary, the anterior viscerocranium) rather than from 'mesial drift' (forward movement of molars relative to the anterior viscerocranium).There were no significant differences between the two species in the rate of molar progression despite differences in diet. Instead, the greater reliance of tammar wallabies on grasses was reflected in differences in their tooth morphology from that of parma wallabies. The sum of the breadths of erupted molariform teeth of tammars increased significantly faster with body mass and with length of the anterior viscerocranium than in parma wallabies and approximated a theoretical model for compensation with metabolic body mass more closely than models based on other morphological parameters.The total mesiodistal length of dentition, the mesiodistal lengths of the component teeth of the proximal molar row, and the distance between the mesial and distal lophs were all significantly lower in tammar wallabies than in parma wallabies. These differences result in tammar wallabies having greater numbers of transverse cutting edges per unit of molar tooth length, which maximises the efficiency of comminution of long grass fibres.
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Wiggins, Natasha L., and David M. J. S. Bowman. "Macropod habitat use and response to management interventions in an agricultural - forest mosaic in north-eastern Tasmania as inferred by scat surveys." Wildlife Research 38, no. 2 (2011): 103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10116.
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Context Native pest herbivores often require population numbers to be controlled in landscape settings where agricultural, plantation forests and native forests are juxtaposed. The Tasmanian pademelon Thylogale billardierii and the red-necked wallaby Macropus rufogriseus rufogriseus are among the most abundant native pest herbivore species in Tasmania. Aims We aimed to determine the habitat use of pademelons and wallabies in response to (i) environmental and seasonal variation, and (ii) two different wildlife management interventions (shooting and fencing) in an agricultural–forest mosaic in north-eastern Tasmania. Methods Macropod abundance before and after shooting and fencing management interventions were estimated by changes in the rate of deposition of faecal pellets (scats per unit area per time interval) on an array of permanent transects that were stratified across three habitat types (agricultural land, plantation forest, and native forest). An experiment was also conducted to determine the endurance of fresh scats in the three habitats. Key results More than 90% of scats remained undecomposed for over five months, and more than 50% of scats remained undecomposed for over 11 months across the study site. Decomposition rates were significantly influenced by habitat type, specifically, highest in agricultural land and lowest in native forest for both species. Scat deposition rates showed that species abundance was influenced by habitat type and season. Macropod abundance was highest in agricultural land and lowest in native forest. Compared with summer and early autumn, pademelon scat abundance significantly decreased in late autumn and spring on agricultural land but showed no change for plantation forest or native forest. Wallaby scats showed similar seasonal trends for all three habitats, lower in late autumn and spring compared with summer and early autumn. Following each of the management interventions, macropod scat deposition rates decreased predominantly on agricultural land. This effect decreased with increasing distance from intervention loci. Conclusions We demonstrate that scat monitoring provides a useful survey technique for the assessment of macropod habitat use, and show that macropods select for agricultural habitats. Shooting and fencing interventions reduced the use of agricultural habitats, but this effect was localised. Implications A whole-landscape perspective is required when assessing the impacts of management interventions on pest populations. Results highlight the formidable challenges in controlling native herbivores in habitat mosaics, given the localised effects of management interventions and the importance of environmental and seasonal factors as drivers of habitat use.
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Woolnough, AP. "Comparison of two techniques to survey macropod abundance in an ecologically sensitive habitat." Australian Mammalogy 27, no. 1 (2005): 69. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am05069.
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THERE are many techniques available to measure the abundance of animal populations (e.g., Caughley 1977; Caughley and Grigg 1981; Southwell 1989; McCallum 2000; Buckland et al. 2001). A key point emphasised by each of these authors is that when choosing the most appropriate method(s) for measuring the abundance of animal populations, the manager or researcher must consider the ecological question(s) being asked. This in turn will determine what technique(s) will be most appropriate, what data are likely to be collected for analysis, and how these data will address the ecological question being asked. For the larger macropods, particularly Macropus spp., many of the techniques used to measure the abundance, and associated issues, have been reviewed (see Southwell 1989). Despite this, the applicability of these techniques has rarely been compared, particularly with respect to the observed variability in temporal counts.
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Read, John L., George R. Wilson, Graeme Coulson, and James Q. Radford. "Introduction to the special edition on overabundant macropods." Ecological Management & Restoration 22, S1 (November 2021): 5–8. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/emr.12494.
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Fisher, D. O., S. P. Blomberg, and I. P. F. Owens. "CONVERGENT MATERNAL CARE STRATEGIES IN UNGULATES AND MACROPODS." Evolution 56, no. 1 (2002): 167. http://dx.doi.org/10.1554/0014-3820(2002)056[0167:cmcsiu]2.0.co;2.
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JOHNSON, AM, H. ROBERTS, and BL MUNDAY. "Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii antibody in wild macropods." Australian Veterinary Journal 65, no. 7 (July 1988): 199–201. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1751-0813.1988.tb14456.x.
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Fisher, D. O., S. P. Blomberg, and I. P. F. Owens. "CONVERGENT MATERNAL CARE STRATEGIES IN UNGULATES AND MACROPODS." Evolution 56, no. 1 (January 2002): 167–76. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.0014-3820.2002.tb00858.x.
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