The Use of Shelter Sites by Yellow-Footed Rock-wallabies, Petrogale xanthopus, In Central-Western Queensland.

Abstract

Across its range, the suitability of colony sites for Petrogale xanthopus has been linked to topographic complexity which has been postulated to provide refuges from temperature extremes and/or predators. This study examined the use of shelter sites by a colony of P. xanthopus in central-western Queensland. Log-linear analysis of seasonal observational data suggests that adult P. xanthopus do not make extensive use of higher quality shade sites (e.g., caves and crevasses). P. xanthopus were found to utilise tree shade to a greater extent than any other shade category in all seasons, though adult females were found to utilise higher quality shade sites more than males. Analysis of P. xanthopus faecal pellet sizes reveals that pellets found within caves was significantly smaller (P<0.05) than those found in rockpiles and adjacent and exposed areas. This re-iterates the avoidance of caves by adult P. xanthopus. In Queensland, adult P. xanthopus may not make extensive use of caves and crevasses as shelter sites because of lower thermo-regulatory demands and/or due to increased threat of predation if cornered within a cave. The correlation between P. xanthopus and topographic complexity may be linked to the need for “nursery sites” for juvenile wallabies.