Free Standard AU & NZ Shipping For All Book Orders Over $80!
Register      Login
Wildlife Research Wildlife Research Society
Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
Shopping Cart: ( empty )
You are here: Home > Journals > WR > WR06123
RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 34(5)

Use of Xanthorrhoea semiplana (grass-trees) for refuge by Rattus fuscipes (southern bush rat)

Deborah S. Frazer A and Sophie Petit A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA 5095, Australia.

B Corresponding author. Email: sophie.petit@unisa.edu.au

Wildlife Research 34(5) 379-386 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR06123
Submitted: 12 September 2006  Accepted: 3 July 2007   Published: 6 September 2007

Abstract

This study investigated the use of the grass-tree, Xanthorrhoea semiplana F.Muell. (family Xanthorrhoeaceae), for shelter by Rattus fuscipes (southern bush rat) in South Australia. Eight bush rats were radio-tracked for 4–8 days each. To identify the understorey shelters available to each animal, surveys were conducted using point-intercept sampling at 2-m intervals along transect lines. Grass-tree density was calculated in each area used by the radio-tracked animals, and canopy thickness of grass-trees selected for refuge was assigned a score; the availability of other potential shelters was also calculated. The results indicated that (1) R. fuscipes preferentially selected grass-trees over other understorey shelter; (2) the grass-trees chosen had thick canopy covers; (3) areas with high grass-tree densities were preferred for cover over areas with fewer grass-trees; and (4) grass-trees provided dense cover and, therefore, concealed burrows and nest sites.


Acknowledgements

We thank our sponsors, the Nature Foundation of South Australia, for a grant to S. Petit and one to D. Frazer, ROBIN (Rotary Grant) for a grant to D. Frazer, and the Nature Conservation Society of South Australia for a grant to D. Frazer. We also thank Barbara Wilson, Robert Sharrad, Fleur Tiver, Joan Gibbs and three anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript. Our fabulous radio-trackers, supporters, and/or vegetation experts were: Susan and Gary Frazer, Todd Erickson, Annette Scanlon, Helen Waudby, Matt Gill, Serina Lattanzio, Alison Hughes, Barb Cook, Michael Jervois, Natalie Bull, Chris Havelberg, Kathy Penny, Margot Wallis, Ashley Walker, Andrew Frazer, Hayden Walton, Angela Pestell, Chris Raymond, Tom Hands, Terry Reardon, and Joan Gibbs. We are also grateful to Allan Salisbury, our dear friend of Transceiver Services, Greg Johnson of the Adelaide Zoo for loan of a receiver, Janine Slocombe and Robert Aebi for assistance with equipment, Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH) staff Peter Canty, Kirstin Long, Erik Dahl, Michael Trebilcock, and Steve Taylor. This research was conducted under DEH permit G24919 and ethics permit number 74/04. This paper was part of D. Frazer’s B.Sc.(Honours) thesis in the program of Biodiversity, Environmental and Park Management at the University of South Australia.


References

Aebischer, N. J. , Robertson, P. A. , and Kenward, R. E. (1993). Compositional analysis of habitat use from animal radio-tracking data. Ecology 74, 1313–1325.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Armstrong D. M., Croft S. J., and Foulkes J. N. (2003). biological survey of the Southern Mount Lofty Ranges 2000–2001. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Arthur, S. M. , Manly, B. F. J. , McDonald, L. L. , and Garner, G. W. (1996). Assessing habitat selection when availability changes. Ecology 77, 215–227.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Borsboom A. (2005). Xanthorrhoea: A review of current knowledge with a focus on X. johnsonii and X. latifolia, two Queensland protected plants in trade. Environmental Sciences Division, EPA, Brisbane.

Bos, D. G. , and Carthew, S. M. (2001). Some observations on foraging behaviour in the southern ningaui, Ningaui yvonneae. Australian Mammalogy 23, 59–61.
Brander B. B., and Cockran W. W. (1971). Radio location telemetry. In ‘Wildlife Management Techniques’. (Ed. H. R. Giles.) pp. 95–103. (The Wildlife Society: Washington.)

Brown, J. S. , Kotler, B. P. , and Mitchell, W. A. (1994). Foraging theory, patch use, and the structure of a Negev Desert granivore community. Ecology 75, 2286–2300.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Dashorst G. R. M., and Jessop J. P. (1998). ‘Plants of the Adelaide Plains and Hills.’ (The Botanic Gardens of Adelaide and State Herbarium: Adelaide.)

Dettmann, M. E. , Jarzen, D. M. , and Jarzen, S. A. (1995). Feeding habits of the mahogany glider: palynological evidence. Palynology 19, 137–142.
Fasham M., and Mustoe S. (2005). General principles and methods for species. In ‘Handbook of Biodiversity Methods – Survey, Evaluation and Monitoring’. (Eds D. Hill, M. Fasham, G. Tucker, M. Shewry and P. Shaw.) pp. 255–270. (Cambridge University Press: Cambridge.)

Fox, B. J. , and McKay, G. M. (1981). Small mammal responses to pyric successional changes in eucalypt forest. Australian Journal of Ecology 6, 29–41.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Frazer D. S. (2005). The role of Xanthorrhoea semiplana (grass-trees) as refuges for small native vertebrates: habitat value, microclimate, and use by animals in the Mount Lofty Ranges of South Australia. B.Sc.(Honours) Thesis, University of South Australia.

Gates J. (2001). The distribution and ecology of the Kangaroo Island dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni. Department of Environment and Heritage, Adelaide.

Giannoni, S. M. , Dacar, M. , Taraborelli, P. , and Borghi, C. E. (2001). Seed hoarding by rodents of the Monte Desert, Argentina. Austral Ecology 26, 259–263.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | National Parks and Wildlife South Australia (NPWSA) (1999). Scott Creek Conservation Park Management Plan, Mount Lofty Ranges. Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, Adelaide.

Neagle N. (2004). Management of the yacca harvesting industry on Kangaroo Island, South Australia. Yacca Industry Management Association [YIMA], SA.

Paull, D. (1995). The distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) in South Australia. Wildlife Research 22, 585–600.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Paull D. (1999). Survey of the distribution and abundance of the southern brown bandicoot in the south east of South Australia. Working paper 1999/1, School of Geography and Oceanography, University College, Australian Defense Force Academy, Canberra.

Robinson, A. C. (1987). The ecology of the bush rat, Rattus fuscipes (Rodentia: Muridae) in Sherbrooke Forest, Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 11, 35–49.
Schram K. D. (1986). ‘The History and Natural Resources of Scott Creek, South Australia.’ (South Australian College of Advanced Education: Salisbury.)

Schulte-Hostedde, A. I. , and Brooks, R. J. (1997). An experimental test of habitat selection by rodents of Algonquin Park. Canadian Journal of Zoology 75, 1989–1993.
South Australian Government (2004). Part 2 of the Native Vegetation Regulations 2003 of the Native Vegetation Act 1991 (SA).

Spencer, R. J. , Cavanough, V. C. , Baxter, G. S. , and Kennedy, M. S. (2005). Adult free zones in small mammal populations: response of Australian native rodents to reduced cover. Austral Ecology 30, 868–876.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | Stratham H. L., and Harden R. H. (1982). Habitat utilisation of Antechinus stuartii (Marsupialia) at Petroi, northern New South Wales. In ‘Carnivorous Marsupials. Vol. 1’. (Ed. M. Archer.) pp. 165–185. (Royal Zoological Society of NSW: Sydney.)

Strahan R. (1995). ‘The Mammals of Australia.’ (New Holland: Sydney.)

Taraborelli, P. A. , Dacar, M. , and Giannoi, S. M. (2003). Effect of plant cover on seed removal by rodents in the Monte Desert (Mendoza, Argentina). Austral Ecology 28, 651–657.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Tew, T. E. , Todd, I. A. , and Macdonald, D. W. (2000). Arable habitat use by wood mice (Apodemus sylvaticus). Journal of Zoology 250, 305–311.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Vernes, K. , and Pope, L. C. (2001). Stability of nest range, home range and movement of the northern bettong (Bettongia tropica) following moderate-intensity fire in a tropical woodland, north-eastern Queensland. Wildlife Research 28, 141–150.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Whelan, R. J. , Ward, S. , Hogbin, P. , and Wasley, J. (1996). Responses of heathland Antechinus stuartii to the Royal National Park wildfire in 1994. Proceedings of the Linnean Society NSW 116, 97–108.


White, R. M. , Kennaway, D. J. , and Seamark, R. F. (1996). Reproductive seasonality of the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes greyii) in South Australia. Wildlife Research 23, 317–336.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilkinson, D. A. , Gordon, C. G. , and Beard, L. A. (1998). Shelter selection and home range of echidnas, Tachyglossus aculeatus, in the highlands of south-east Queensland. Wildlife Research 25, 219–232.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wilson, B. A. , Aberton, J. G. , and Reichl, T. (2001). Effects of fragmented habitat and fire on the distribution and ecology of the swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus maritimus) in the eastern Otways, Victoria. Wildlife Research 28, 527–536.
| Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |