The Biology of the Yellow-Footed Antechinus, Antechinus flavipes (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae), in a Swamp Forest on Kinaba Island, Cooloola Quensland

Abstract

In a mark-recapture study of small mammals, 92 female and 59 male AntechinusfIavipes were caught on Kinaba I. during 13 803 trap-nights and 8887 trap-days. A.flavipes mated almost synchronously in late August-early September each year. Young born in early October were carried in the pouch for approximately 36 days, cared for in the nest for a further 2-3 months and weaned through January. All males died within approximately 1 month of mating. Other causes of mortality included winter mortality, post-reproductive mortality amongst breeding females, and juvenile mortality after weaning; these types of population mortality were not severe. In one breeding season (1977-78), a proportion of females failed to give birth; with pouch mortality, significantly fewer young were weaned per female from this season than from others (1976-77, 1978-79). This was compensated for by greater post-weaning survival of young, so that demographic fluctuations and size of the trapped population did not differ appreciably between years. Young A.flavipes remained near to their place of birth for approximately 5 months after weaning. After this males dispersed further than did females. The timing of breeding for A.flavipes at Kinaba I. is discussed in relation to that of other Antechinus populations in eastern Australia. Timing of breeding is believed to be principally related to climatic factors.