Academic literature on the topic 'Yellow-footed antechinus Habitat South Australia Lofty'

Autecological data were collected on southern populations of the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), during a wider study on the persistence of this species in a highly fragmented landscape of the southern Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia. Data are presented to provide information on this species in the southern part of its range, to present a comparison with populations in other, more northern regions, and to provide an insight into the species' persistence in a fragmented system. Resulting recapture rates lend support to the presence of a male-biased dispersal strategy, which is the first published indication of such a strategy for the species. New information was also recorded for nest sites, with most sites occurring in tall Xanthorrhoea semiplana tateana, and only 33% found in tree cavities. Other results showed mostly comparable population densities and weights with other, more northern populations. However, differences were apparent with respect to juvenile dispersal behaviour and, to some extent, breeding times. Within-study populations also showed variation with regard to weights, density and breeding times. Forest animals were lighter, were largely of lower population densities, and were generally later breeders than animals that inhabited patches and strips of remnant vegetation. Such differences in weight and density may have been due to favourable 'edge effects' in patches and strips, while variations in breeding times may be due to local climatic or habitat factors. The life-history strategies and tolerance of habitat edges shown by A.�flavipes (presently and historically) provide some explanation for the species' persistence in this fragmented system.

THE yellow-footed Antechinus Antechinus flavipes is distributed from South Australia, through central Victoria, New South Wales and into Queensland as well as in south-western Australia (Van Dyck 1998). In south-eastern Australia, the conservation of A. flavipes is not assured because its range largely corresponds with the temperate woodlands that have undergone extensive clearing and degradation (Menkhorst 1995). Despite this, no studies on the effects of the loss and fragmentation of habitat on A. flavipes have been published in the scientific literature. In contrast, numerous ecological studies that investigate the consequences of anthropogenic disturbance have been undertaken on its congeners, the brown antechinus Antechinus stuartii and agile antechinus Antechinus agilis (e.g., Bennett 1987; Downes et al. 1997; Knight and Fox 2000). These studies indicate that the abundance of these species may be influenced by patch size (Bennett 1987; Dunstan and Fox 1996), distance to large forest blocks (Downes et al. 1997), habitat structure (Knight and Fox 2000) and degree of tolerance to modified habitats that surround the patch (Knight and Fox 2000). Can the response of A. stuartii and A. agilis be used to predict how the loss, fragmentation and degradation of habitat may affect A. flavipes? In this note, I provide preliminary information about a population of A. flavipes occupying linear fragments of woodland in an agricultural landscape in southeastern Australia.

Understanding the habitat requirements of a species is critical for effective conservation-based management. In this study, we investigated the influence of forest structure on the distribution of the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), a small dasyurid marsupial characteristic of dry forests on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range, Australia. Hair-sampling tubes were used to determine the occurrence of A. flavipes at 60 sites stratified across one of the largest remaining tracts of dry box–ironbark forest in south-eastern Australia. We considered the role of six potential explanatory variables: large trees, hollow-bearing trees, coppice hollows, logs, rock cover and litter. Logistic regression models were examined using an information-theoretic approach to determine the variables that best explained the presence or absence of the species. Hierarchical partitioning was employed to further explore relationships between occurrence of A. flavipes and explanatory variables. Forest structure accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in occurrence of A. flavipes between sites. The strongest influence on the presence of A. flavipes was the cover of litter at survey sites. The density of hollow-bearing trees and rock cover were also positive influences. The conservation of A. flavipes will be enhanced by retention of habitat components that ensure a structurally complex environment in box–ironbark forests. This will also benefit the conservation of several threatened species in this dry forest ecosystem.

"September 2002" Bibliography: leaves 77-85. Examines the persistence of the yellow-footed antechinus using live trapping in small, remnant patches and strips of forest, to document autecological sata and the investgate occurrence, breeding activity and inter-patch movements. Radio-tracking was conducted to compare home range properties of lactating females in restricted and unrestricted habitat.

Examines the persistence of the yellow-footed antechinus using live trapping in small, remnant patches and strips of forest, to document autecological sata and the investgate occurrence, breeding activity and inter-patch movements. Radio-tracking was conducted to compare home range properties of lactating females in restricted and unrestricted habitat.
Thesis (M.App.Sc.) -- University of Adelaide, Dept. of Animal Science, 2002