The effect of supplementary food on home range of the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae)

Wiley - Tập 16 Số 1 - Trang 71-78 - 1991
S. K. Broughton1, Chris R. Dickman1
1Department of Zoology, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, W.A. 6009, Australia

Tóm tắt

Abstract

The study investigated the relationship between home range and food abundance in a population of the southern brown bandicoot. Isoodon obesulus, in Western Australia. Home range areas were estimated seven times between 1986 and 1988 by live‐trapping, spool‐and‐line devices and fluorescent pigment tracking. The abundance of invertebrate food was measured simultaneously by placing pitfall traps within the home ranges of individual animals, and by sampling invertebrates in topsoil and litter. Home range areas tended to be negatively correlated with food abundance, especially in the autumn and winter of 1986 and 1987.

The influence of food on home range was investigated further in September 1988 by providing eight individual I. obesulus with a supplementary food mixture. Contrary to expectation, the added food caused an increase in home range area, home range overlap and displacement, as well as an influx of new individuals to food stations. In contrast, home range parameters in control (non‐fed) individuals changed little during the experiment.

The shuffling of home ranges due to feeding suggests that the home range system of I. obesulus is relatively flexible, with individuals monitoring and exploiting resources in an opportunistic manner. In contrast to previous studies, we found no evidence that I. obesulus was territorial. We speculate that individuals may be territorial at low population density if resources are defendable and intruder pressure is low, but occupy overlapping ranges if population density is high.

Từ khóa


Tài liệu tham khảo

10.2307/1374834

Copley P. B., 1990, Bandicoots

10.1071/WR9850001

CravenL. N.(1981)Ecology of a population of quendas Isoodon obesulus (Gray).MSc thesis University of Western Australia Perth .

10.2307/1381651

10.1111/j.1442-9993.1989.tb01449.x

10.2307/1381753

10.2307/1934964

10.1515/mamm.1974.38.3.405

10.2307/2632

HeelM. HugoD.&WattsR.(1985)Predation by the bandicoot Isoodon obesulus on the frog Heleioporus eyrei: do acoustic cues aid in the location of prey?BSc Hons thesis University of Western Australia Perth .

Heinsohn G. E., 1966, Ecology and reproduction of the Tasmanian bandicoots (Perameles gunnii and Isoodon obesulus), Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool, 80, 1

10.1071/WR9880001

10.1086/283577

10.1016/0022-5193(69)90002-2

Jewell P. A., 1966, The concept of home range in mammals, Symp. Zool. Soc. Lond, 18, 85

Kaufmann J. H., 1962, Ecology and social behavior of the coati, Nasua narica, on Barro Colorado Island, Panama, Univ. Calif. Publ. Zool, 60, 95

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1982.tb03492.x

10.2307/1380966

10.1007/BF00348110

10.1038/301379a0

10.1007/BF00345029

McKenzieN. L.(1967)Some ecological aspects of the behaviour of the short‐nosed bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus).BSc Hons thesis Monash University Melbourne .

10.1111/j.1469-7998.1981.tb03469.x

Myers J. P., 1979, Territory size in wintering sanderlings: the effects of prey abundance and intruder density, Auk, 96, 551

Plowman K. P., 1981, Comparison of invertebrate ground fauna of three habitats at Cooloola, Queensland, Proc. Ken. Soc. Qld, 92, 43

Quin D. G., 1988, Observations on the diet of the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus (Marsupialia: Peramelidae), in southern Tasmania, Aust. Mammal, 11, 15, 10.1071/AM88002

10.1111/j.1365-2907.1984.tb00343.x

Russell E. M., 1985, Social Odours in Mammals, 45

SampsonJ. C.(1971)The biology of Bettongia penicillata Gray.PhD thesis.University of Western Australia Perth .

10.2307/1936311

10.1071/WR9880561

10.2307/4107

Suckling G. C., 1984, Population ecology of the sugar glider, Petaurus breviceps, in a system of fragmented habitats, Aust. Wildl. Res, 11, 49, 10.1071/WR9840049

10.2307/4451

10.2307/4035

TaylorP.(1965)Home range in Australian mammals.BSc Hons thesis Monash University Melbourne .

ThomasL. N.(1987)The effects of stress on some aspects of the demography and physiology of Isoodon obesulus (Shaw and Nodder).MSc thesis University of Western Australia Perth .

Vaughan T. A., 1972, Mammalogy

WrightA. E.(1975)Some aspects of the ecology of the shortnosed bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) and the brushtailed possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) with special reference to the effect of enclosure.BSc Hons thesis.University of Western Australia Perth .

Thông tin
Thông tin xuất bản

Wiley

Tập 16 Số 1

71-78

Thông tin tác giả