Habitat influence on activity patterns of brush-tailed rock-wallabies in Queensland
Kiarra-Lea Botma A B , Felicity Shapland C D , Julia M. Hoy E , Tanya Pritchard C and Peter J. Murray
F G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Wildlife Science Unit, School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton Campus, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Forestry Corporation of New South Wales, PO Box 535, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
C Queensland Trust for Nature, Level 11, 116 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
D Present address: WFF, Level 4B, 340 Adelaide Street, Brisbane, Qld 4000, Australia.
E Hidden Vale Wildlife Centre, The University of Queensland, Grandchester, Qld 4340, Australia.
F School of Sciences, The University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Qld 4350, Australia.
G Corresponding author. Email: peter.murray2@usq.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 68(3) 136-144 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO20090
Submitted: 13 November 2020 Accepted: 26 July 2021 Published: 12 August 2021
Journal Compilation © CSIRO 2020 Open Access CC BY
Abstract
The brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) is a nocturnal refuge dependent herbivore that can be found from south-east Queensland to East Gippsland in Victoria. Brush-tailed rock-wallaby colonies are situated in many different habitat types, and refuge within this habitat is important for their survival. Dingoes coexist with P. penicillata and are perceived to be a threat. This study aimed to determine the link between habitat and P. penicillata behaviour and their interaction with predators. Three P. penicillata colonies were studied within the Little Liverpool Range, Queensland. Images of P. penicillata and dingoes from camera traps were analysed for daily activity patterns and activity overlap between species. Dingo scats were collected and analysed to determine predation. The results indicated that different habitat types change the perceived predation risk and corresponding activity patterns of P. penicillata. Predation risk impacted foraging behaviour, with rock-wallabies in exposed habitat types exhibiting greater predator avoidance behaviours than those in more protected habitat types. The results indicate that brush-tailed rock-wallabies modified their activity patterns according to different habitat types to reduce their risk of predation.
Keywords: foraging, dingo, predator avoidance, brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, scat analysis, camera trapping, predation risk, fox, Vulpes vulpes, Canis lupus.
References
Allen, B. L., Goullet, M., Allen, L. R., Lisle, A., and Leung, L. K. P. (2013). Dingoes at the doorstep: preliminary data on the ecology of dingoes in urban areas. Landscape and Urban Planning 119, 131–135.| Dingoes at the doorstep: preliminary data on the ecology of dingoes in urban areas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Allen, B., Engeman, R., and Leung, L. (2014). The short-term effects of a routine poisoning campaign on the movements and detectability of a social top-predator. Environmental Science and Pollution Research International 21, 2178–2190.
| The short-term effects of a routine poisoning campaign on the movements and detectability of a social top-predator.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24043505PubMed |
Carter, K., and Goldizen, A. W. (2003). Habitat choice and vigilance behaviour of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) within their nocturnal foraging ranges. Wildlife Research 30, 355–364.
| Habitat choice and vigilance behaviour of brush-tailed rock-wallabies (Petrogale penicillata) within their nocturnal foraging ranges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Corp, N., Gorman, M. L., and Speakman, J. R. (1997). Ranging behaviour and time budgets of male wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus in different habitats and seasons. Oecologia 109, 242–250.
| Ranging behaviour and time budgets of male wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus in different habitats and seasons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 28307175PubMed |
De Oliveira, S. G., Lynch Alfaro, J. W., and Veiga, L. M. (2014). Activity budget, diet, and habitat use in the critically endangered Ka’apor capuchin monkey (Cebus kaapori) in Pará State, Brazil: a preliminary comparison to other capuchin monkeys. American Journal of Primatology 76, 919–931.
| Activity budget, diet, and habitat use in the critically endangered Ka’apor capuchin monkey (Cebus kaapori) in Pará State, Brazil: a preliminary comparison to other capuchin monkeys.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24677294PubMed |
Department of Agriculture and Fisheries, The State of Queensland (2017). ‘Wild dog Canis familaris.’ Available at: https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/74487/IPA-Dingo-Wild-Dog-Control-PA10.pdf [accessed 20 October 2017].
Department of the Environment (2018). Petrogale penicillata. In ‘Species Profile and Threats Database’. (Department of the Environment: Canberra.)
Egerton, L., and Lochman, J. (2009). ‘Wildlife of Australia.’ (Jacana Books: Crows Nest, NSW)
Eldridge, M., and Close, R. (2008). Brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 382–384. (Reed New Holland Publishers: Sydney.)
Ellwanger, N., and Gould, L. (2011). Variations in behavioural patterns between Lemur catta groups living in different forest types: implications for conservation. Endangered Species Research 14, 259–270.
| Variations in behavioural patterns between Lemur catta groups living in different forest types: implications for conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Gowen, C., and Vernes, K. (2014). Population estimates of an endangered rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) using time-lapse photography from camera traps. In ‘Camera Trapping: Wildlife Management and Research’. (Eds P. Meek, and P. Flemming.) pp. 61–68. (CSIRO: Collingwood, Vic.)
Gutman, R., and Dayan, T. (2005). Temporal partitioning: an experiment with two species of spiny mice. Ecology 86, 164–173.
| Temporal partitioning: an experiment with two species of spiny mice.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hammerschlag, N. (2009). Nocturnal fish distribution, feeding and predation risk in relation to a mangrove–seagrass ecotone. (Ed. J. E. Serafy.) (ProQuest Dissertations Publishing.)
Harden, R. H. (1985). The ecology of the dingo in north-eastern New South Wales. I. Movements and home range. Wildlife Research 12, 25–37.
| The ecology of the dingo in north-eastern New South Wales. I. Movements and home range.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, S. M., Groves, C. P., Fleming, P. J. S., Aplin, K. P., Eldridge, M. D. B., Gonzalez, A., and Helgen, K. M. (2017). The wayward dog: is the Australian native dog or dingo a distinct species? Zootaxa 4317, 201–224.
| The wayward dog: is the Australian native dog or dingo a distinct species?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jaman, M., and Huffman, M. (2013). The effect of urban and rural habitats and resource type on activity budgets of commensal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Bangladesh. Primates 54, 49–59.
| The effect of urban and rural habitats and resource type on activity budgets of commensal rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta) in Bangladesh.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22987063PubMed |
Jeffers, B. (2016). Assessment for advanced offset values for the Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) on the ‘Aroona’ Property, Mount Mort, Queensland. Ausecology report.
Keiter, D. A., Cunningham, F. L., Rhodes, O. E., Irwin, B. J., and Beasley, J. C. (2016). Optimization of scat detection methods for a social ungulate, the wild pig, and experimental evaluation of factors affecting detection of scat. PLoS One 11, e0155615.
| Optimization of scat detection methods for a social ungulate, the wild pig, and experimental evaluation of factors affecting detection of scat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 27224453PubMed |
Letnic, M., Ritchie, E. G., and Dickman, C. R. (2012). Top predators as biodiversity regulators: the dingo Canis lupus dingo as a case study. Biological Reviews 87, 390–413.
| Top predators as biodiversity regulators: the dingo Canis lupus dingo as a case study.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22051057PubMed |
Lobert, B. (1988). The brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) in the Grampians National Park and the Black Range, Victoria. Part 1 – Survey. National Parks and Wildlife Division, Department of Conservation, Forests and Lands, Victoria. Arthur Rylah Institute For Environmental Research report.
Lunney, D., Law, B., and Rummery, C. (1996). Contrast between the visible abundance of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, and its rarity in fox and dog scats in the gorges east of Armidale, New South Wales. Wildlife Research 23, 373–379.
| Contrast between the visible abundance of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, and its rarity in fox and dog scats in the gorges east of Armidale, New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Menkhorst, P., and Hynes, E. (2011). National recovery plan for the brush-tailed rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata. Victorian Government Department of Sustainability and Environment.
Meredith, M., and Ridout, R. (2017). Overview of the overlap package. Available at: https://cran.r-project.org/web/packages/overlap/vignettes/overlap.pdf [accessed 24 November 2018].
Murray, J. V., Low Choy, S., McAlpine, C. A., Possingham, H. P., and Goldizen, A. W. (2008). The importance of ecological scale for wildlife conservation in naturally fragmented environments: a case study of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata). Biological Conservation 141, 7–22.
| The importance of ecological scale for wildlife conservation in naturally fragmented environments: a case study of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Office of Environment & Heritage (2013). Brush-tailed rock-wallaby – profile. Available from http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/threatenedspeciesapp/profile.aspx?id=10605 [accessed 3 August 2017].
Piggott, M. P., Hansen, B., Soderquist, T., Eldridge, M. D. B., and Taylor, A. C. (2018). Population monitoring of small and declining brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) colonies at the extreme of their range using faecal DNA sampling. Australian Mammalogy 40, 58–66.
| Population monitoring of small and declining brush-tailed rock wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) colonies at the extreme of their range using faecal DNA sampling.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Queensland Government (2014). Species profile – Petrogale penicillata (Macropodidae). Available at: https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/pdf/inforce/2000-09-15/act-1999-090 [accessed 20 October 2017].
Ridout, M., and Linkie, M. (2009). Estimating overlap of daily activity patterns from camera trap data. Journal of Agricultural Biological & Environmental Statistics 14, 322–337.
| Estimating overlap of daily activity patterns from camera trap data.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Robertshaw, J., and Harden, R. (1985). The ecology of the dingo in north-eastern New South Wales. 2. Diet. Wildlife Research 12, 39–50.
| The ecology of the dingo in north-eastern New South Wales. 2. Diet.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Rowcliffe, J. M., Field, J., Turvey, S. T., and Carbone, C. (2008). Estimating animal density using camera traps without the need for individual recognition. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 1228–1236.
| Estimating animal density using camera traps without the need for individual recognition.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ryan, T. S. (ed.) (2012). Technical descriptions of regional ecosystems of southeast Queensland (May 2012). Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane.
Ryan, T. S. (ed.) (2020). Technical descriptions of regional ecosystems of southeast Queensland, Draft RE12.8.9 (May 2020). Queensland Herbarium, Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts, Brisbane.
Short, J. (1982). Habitat requirements of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, in New South Wales. Wildlife Research 9, 239–246.
| Habitat requirements of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Petrogale penicillata, in New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taggart, D. A., Schultz, D. J., Corrigan, T. C., Schults, T. J., Stevens, M., Panther, D., and White, C. R. (2015). Reintroduction methods and a review of mortality in the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Grampians National Park, Australia. Australian Journal of Zoology 63, 383–397.
| Reintroduction methods and a review of mortality in the brush-tailed rock-wallaby, Grampians National Park, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
The R Foundation (2018). The R Project for statistical computing. Available at: https://www.r-project.org/ [accessed 24 November 2018].
Thompson, S. K. (1991). Adaptive cluster sampling: designs with primary and secondary units. Biometrics 47, 1103–1115.
| Adaptive cluster sampling: designs with primary and secondary units.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Triggs, B. (2004). ‘Tracks, Scats and Other Traces: a Field Guide to Australian Mammals.’ Rev. edn. (Oxford University Press: South Melbourne, Vic.)
Tuft, K., Crowther, M. S., Connell, K., Muller, S., and McArthur, C. (2011). Predation risk and competitive interactions affect foraging of an endangered refuge-dependent herbivore. Animal Conservation 14, 447–457.
| Predation risk and competitive interactions affect foraging of an endangered refuge-dependent herbivore.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Weitzman, M. (1970). Measure of the overlap of income distribution of white and negro families in the United States. (U.S. Department of Commerce and of the Census: Washington, DC.)
Wong, V., and Soderquist, T. (2003). Warrumbungle Brush-tailed Rock-wallaby Endangered Population Recovery Plan. NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service, Hurstville, NSW.
