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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(6)

The influence of snow cover on home range and activity of the bush-rat (Rattus fuscipes) and the dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii)

Glenn M. Sanecki A E , Ken Green B , Helen Wood C , David Lindenmayer A and Karen L. Sanecki D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

B Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service, Snowy Mountains Region, PO Box 2228, Jindabyne, NSW 2627, Australia.

C School of Science and Technology, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, NSW 2650, Australia.

D Centre for Educational Development and Academic Methods, The Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 0200, Australia.

E Corresponding author. Email: gsanecki@cres.anu.edu.au

Wildlife Research 33(6) 489-496 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05012
Submitted: 31 January 2005  Accepted: 18 July 2006   Published: 4 October 2006

Abstract

Radio-telemetry was used to investigate changes in home-range sizes and activity patterns of Rattus fuscipes and Antechinus swainsonii in a subalpine heathland at Perisher Creek, Kosciuszko National Park, southern New South Wales, in response to the accumulation of snow during the winter. We estimated home-range area for each animal during the autumn and winter using two methods, minimum convex polygon and 95% and 50% utilisation contours using the kernel method. With both methods, the home ranges of R. fuscipes and A. swainsonii were significantly smaller (P < 0.001) during the winter than in the autumn. In winter, both species were restricted to areas of dense wet heath close to the main drainage line. R. fuscipes showed signs of social interaction during both seasons, as indicated by location fixes and gnawing damage to radio-collars, in contrast to A. swainsonii, which appeared to remain solitary. In winter, R. fuscipes apparently nested at a single location, whereas during autumn it appeared to use several nest sites. There was no significant change in daily activity patterns between autumn and winter in either species. R. fuscipes remained primarily nocturnal during both prenival and nival periods whereas A. swainsonii continued to be active throughout the diel cycle, although there was a slight shift in its peak activity time from around sunset in autumn to early morning in winter.


Acknowledgments

This research was funded by the Department of Environment and Conservation (formerly New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service), which also allowed us to undertake this work within Kosciuszko National Park. Authority to conduct this research was provided by New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service (Scientific Investigation Licence No. B1963). Ethics approval was granted by The Australian National University Animal Ethics Committee. The Centre for Resource and Environmental Studies, The Australian National University, provided support and resources that permitted this work to be completed. Thanks go to Allan Longstaff and Brian Reeves for field assistance.


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