Burrowing behaviour of the delicate mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus) and the management implications for a threatened sympatric rodent (Notomys aquilo)
Rebecca L. Diete A E , Susan M. Adamczyk A , Paul D. Meek B C , Christopher R. Dickman D and Luke K.-P. Leung AA School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Invasive Species Strategy and Planning, Biosecurity NSW, NSW Department of Primary Industries, PO Box 530, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
C Invasive Animals CRC, PO Box 530, Coffs Harbour, NSW 2450, Australia.
D School of Biological Sciences, The University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: r.diete@uq.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 37(2) 260-263 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM14028
Submitted: 26 September 2014 Accepted: 26 March 2015 Published: 1 May 2015
Abstract
The correct identification of animal signs is imperative when signs are used as evidence of a species’ abundance or distribution. On Groote Eylandt, burrow spoil heaps have been used in surveys for the threatened northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) as this indicator of presence was assumed to be unique to this species in this area. Using camera traps, positive identification from footage, and burrow excavation and mapping, we determined that spoil heaps made by the common delicate mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus) could not be differentiated from those of N. aquilo. The results demonstrate that more-reliable survey techniques for N. aquilo are required to aid management decisions for this species.
Additional keywords: Rodent, spoil heap, spoil mound, hopping mouse.
References
Bureau of Meteorology (2014). Climate data online. Available at: www.bom.gov.au [accessed 10 August 2014].Cockburn, A. (1981). Diet and habitat preference of the silky desert mouse, Pseudomys apodemoides (Rodentia). Australian Wildlife Research 8, 475–497.
| Diet and habitat preference of the silky desert mouse, Pseudomys apodemoides (Rodentia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Coffey Environments (2010). Eastern leases pre-clearance survey. Report prepared for the Groote Eylandt Mining Company by Coffey Environments Pty Ltd.
Diete, R. L., Meek, P. D., Dickman, C. R., and Leung, L. K.-P. (2014). Burrowing behaviour of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo): field observations. Australian Mammalogy 36, 242–246.
Dixon, J., and Huxley, L. (1985). ‘Donald Thomson’s Mammals and Fishes of Northern Australia.’ (Thomas Nelson Australia: Melbourne.)
Fichet-Calvet, E., Jomaa, I., Giraudoux, P., and Ashford, R. W. (1999). Estimation of fat sand rat Psammomys obesus abundance by using surface indices. Acta Theriologica 44, 353–362.
| Estimation of fat sand rat Psammomys obesus abundance by using surface indices.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Firth, R. (2008). Surveys for the threatened northern hopping-mouse, northern quoll and brush-tailed rabbit-rat on GEMCO Eastern Exploration Leases. Report prepared for Coffey Natural Systems and GEMCO by EWL Sciences Pty Ltd.
Ford, F. (2008). Delicate mouse, Pseudomys delicatulus. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. 3rd edn. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 623–624. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)
Johnson, D. H. (1964). Mammals of the Arnhem Land expedition. In ‘Records of the American–Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. Vol. 4’. (Ed. C. P. Mountford.) pp. 427–515. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne.)
Smith, J. (2009). Surveys for the northern hopping-mouse, northern quoll and brush-tailed rabbit-rat across Groote Eylandt. Report prepared for Coffey Natural Systems and GEMCO by EWL Sciences Pty Ltd.
Van Horne, B., Schooley, R. L., Knick, S. T., Olson, G. S., and Burnham, K. P. (1997). Use of burrow entrances to indicate densities of Townsend’s ground squirrels. Journal of Wildlife Management 61, 92–101.
| Use of burrow entrances to indicate densities of Townsend’s ground squirrels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ward, S. (2009). Survey protocol for the northern hopping-mouse Notomys aquilo. Biodiversity North, Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, NT.
Ward, S. J. (2014). Structure of a burrow of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo, and its surface signs on Groote Eylandt. Australian Mammalogy 36, 55–59.
| Structure of a burrow of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo, and its surface signs on Groote Eylandt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Woinarski, J. C. Z., Gambold, N., Wurst, D., Flannery, T. F., Smith, A. P., Chatto, R., and Fisher, A. (1999). Distribution and habitat of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo. Wildlife Research 26, 495–511.
| Distribution and habitat of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Young, R. P., Volahy, A. T., Bourou, R., Lewis, R., Durbin, J., Wright, T. J., Hounsome, T. D., and Fa, J. E. (2008). A baseline estimate of population size for monitoring the endangered Madagascar giant jumping rat Hypogeomys antimena. Oryx 42, 584–591.
| A baseline estimate of population size for monitoring the endangered Madagascar giant jumping rat Hypogeomys antimena.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
