Ecology and conservation of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo)
Rebecca L. Diete A E , Paul D. Meek B C , Christopher R. Dickman D and Luke K.-P. Leung A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A 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, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: r.diete@uq.edu.au
Australian Journal of Zoology 64(1) 21-32 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO15082
Submitted: 17 December 2015 Accepted: 12 April 2016 Published: 3 May 2016
Abstract
The northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) is a cryptic and enigmatic rodent endemic to Australia’s monsoonal tropics. Focusing on the insular population on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, we present the first study to successfully use live traps, camera traps and radio-tracking to document the ecology of N. aquilo. Searches for signs of the species, camera trapping, pitfall trapping and spotlighting were conducted across the island during 2012–15. These methods detected the species in three of the 32 locations surveyed. Pitfall traps captured 39 individuals over 7917 trap-nights. Females were significantly longer and heavier, and had better body condition, than males. Breeding occurred throughout the year; however, the greatest influx of juveniles into the population occurred early in the dry season in June and July. Nine individuals radio-tracked in woodland habitat utilised discrete home ranges of 0.39–23.95 ha. All individuals used open microhabitat proportionally more than was available, and there was a strong preference for eucalypt woodland on sandy substrate rather than for adjacent sandstone woodland or acacia shrubland. Camera trapping was more effective than live trapping at estimating abundance and, with the lower effort required to employ this technique, it is recommended for future sampling of the species. Groote Eylandt possibly contains the last populations of N. aquilo, but even there its abundance and distribution have decreased dramatically in surveys over the last several decades. Therefore, we recommend that the species’ conservation status under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 be changed from ‘vulnerable’ to ‘endangered’.
References
Bondrup-Nielsen, S., and Ims, R. (1990). Reversed sexual size dimorphism in microtines: are females larger than males or are males smaller than females? Evolutionary Ecology 4, 261–272.| Reversed sexual size dimorphism in microtines: are females larger than males or are males smaller than females?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Breed, W. G. (1983). Sexual dimorphism in the Australian hopping mouse, Notomys alexis. Journal of Mammalogy 64, 536–539.
| Sexual dimorphism in the Australian hopping mouse, Notomys alexis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Bureau of Meteorology (2015). Climate data online. Available at: www.bom.gov.au [accessed 26 June 2015].
Crase, B., and Hempel, C. (2005). Object based land cover mapping for Groote Eylandt: a tool for reconnaissance and land-based surveys. In ‘Proceedings of NARGIS 05, the North Australian Remote Sensing and GIS Conference, Darwin, July 4–7’.
Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport. (undated). Sites of conservation significance: Groote Eylandt group. Northern Territory Government. Available at: www.lrm.nt.gov.au [accessed 24 June 2015].
Dickman, C. R., Predavec, M., and Downey, F. J. (1995). Longe-range movements of small mammals in arid Australia: implications for land management. Journal of Arid Environments 31, 441–452.
| Longe-range movements of small mammals in arid Australia: implications for land management.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dickman, C. R., Greenville, A. C., Beh, C.-L., Tamayo, B., and Wardle, G. M. (2010). Social organization and movements of desert rodents during population “booms” and “busts” in central Australia. Journal of Mammalogy 91, 798–810.
| Social organization and movements of desert rodents during population “booms” and “busts” in central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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.
| Burrowing behaviour of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo): field observations.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diete, R. L., Adamczyk, S. M., Meek, P. D., Dickman, C. R., and Leung, L. K.-P. (2015a). Burrowing behaviour of the delicate mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus) and the management implications for a threatened sympatric rodent (Notomys aquilo). Australian Mammalogy 37, 260–263.
| Burrowing behaviour of the delicate mouse (Pseudomys delicatulus) and the management implications for a threatened sympatric rodent (Notomys aquilo).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diete, R. L., Meek, P. D., Dixon, K. M., Dickman, C. R., and Leung, L. K.-P. (2015b). Best bait for your buck: bait preference for camera trapping north Australian mammals. Australian Journal of Zoology 63, 376–382.
| Best bait for your buck: bait preference for camera trapping north Australian mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diete, R. L., Dixon, K. M., and Barden, P. A. (2016). Predation of pitfall-trapped rodents by the ghost bat, Macroderma gigas. Australian Mammalogy , .
| Predation of pitfall-trapped rodents by the ghost bat, Macroderma gigas.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Dixon, J., and Huxley, L. (1985). ‘Donald Thomson’s Mammals and Fishes of Northern Australia.’ (Thomas Nelson Australia: Melbourne.)
Firth, R. (2008). Surveys for the threatened northern hopping-mouse, northern quoll and brush-tailed rabbit-rat on GEMCO Eastern Exploration Leases. EWL Sciences Pty Ltd. Report prepared for Coffey Natural Systems and GEMCO.
Google Earth (2013). Groote Eylandt. 13°59ʹ32.03ʹʹS, 136°42ʹ12.32ʹʹE. Available at: www.earth.google.com
Isaac, J. L. (2005). Potential causes and life-history consequences of sexual size dimorphism in mammals. Mammal Review 35, 101–115.
| Potential causes and life-history consequences of sexual size dimorphism in mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) (2008). Species range, Notomys aquilo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2015-3. Available at: http://maps.iucnredlist.org/map.html?id=14862 [accessed 7 March 2016]
Johnson, D. H. (1964). Mammals of the Arnhem Land expedition. In ‘Records of the American–Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land’. (Ed. C. P. Mountford.) pp. 427–515. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne.)
Kenward, R. E. (1985). Ranging behaviour and population dynamics in grey squirrels. In ‘Behavioural Ecology: Ecological Consequences of Adaptive Behaviour’. (Eds R. M. Sibly and R. H. Smith.) pp. 319–330. (Blackwell Scientific Publications: Oxford.)
Kenward, R. E. (2001) ‘A Manual for Wildlife Radio Tagging.’ (Academic Press: London.)
Kenward, R. E., Casey, N. M., Walls, S. S., and South, A. B. (2014). ‘Ranges 9: For the Analysis of Tracking and Location Data. Online manual.’ (Anatrack Ltd: Wareham, UK.)
Kotler, B. P., and Brown, J. S. (1988). Environmental heterogeneity and the coexistence of desert rodents. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 19, 281–307.
| Environmental heterogeneity and the coexistence of desert rodents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Labocha, M. K., Schutz, H., and Hayes, J. P. (2014). Which body condition index is best? Oikos 123, 111–119.
| Which body condition index is best?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Letnic, M. (2001). Long distance movements and the use of fire mosaics by small mammals in the Simpson Desert, central Australia. Australian Mammalogy 23, 125–134.
| Long distance movements and the use of fire mosaics by small mammals in the Simpson Desert, central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Letnic, M. (2003). The effects of experimental patch burning and rainfall on small mammals in the Simpson Desert, Queensland. Wildlife Research 30, 547–563.
| The effects of experimental patch burning and rainfall on small mammals in the Simpson Desert, Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Letnic, M., and Dickman, C. R. (2005). The responses of small mammals to patches regenerating after fire and rainfall in the Simpson Desert, central Australia. Austral Ecology 30, 24–39.
| The responses of small mammals to patches regenerating after fire and rainfall in the Simpson Desert, central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mahney, T., McKay, L., Liddle, D., Fisher, A., Westaway, J., Fegan, M., and Dally, G. (2009). Bickerton, Winchelsea and south east Groote Eylandt Wildlife Survey. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Art and Sports.
Mallett, K. (Ed.) (2005). ‘Flora of Australia. Volume 44B.’ (ABRS/CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Minitab Inc. (2015). ‘Minitab 17 Statistical Software.’ (Mintab Inc.: State College, PA.)
Morris, T., Gordon, C. E., and Letnic, M. (2015). Divergent foraging behaviour of a desert rodent, Notomys fuscus, in covered and open microhabitats revealed using giving up densities and video analysis. Australian Mammalogy 37, 46–50.
| Divergent foraging behaviour of a desert rodent, Notomys fuscus, in covered and open microhabitats revealed using giving up densities and video analysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Moseby, K. E., Owens, H., Brandle, R., Bice, J. K., and Gates, J. (2006). Variation in population dynamics and movement patterns between two geographically isolated populations of the dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus). Wildlife Research 33, 223–232.
| Variation in population dynamics and movement patterns between two geographically isolated populations of the dusky hopping mouse (Notomys fuscus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Murray, B. R., and Dickman, C. R. (1994). Granivory and microhabitat use in Australian desert rodents – are seeds important? Oecologia 99, 216–225.
| Granivory and microhabitat use in Australian desert rodents – are seeds important?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pastro, L. A., Dickman, C. R., and Letnic, M. (2011). Burning for biodiversity or burning biodiversity? Prescribed burn vs. wildfire impacts on plants, lizards, and mammals. Ecological Applications 21, 3238–3253.
| Burning for biodiversity or burning biodiversity? Prescribed burn vs. wildfire impacts on plants, lizards, and mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Predavec, M. (1994). Population dynamics and environmental changes during natural irruptions of Australian desert rodents. Wildlife Research 21, 569–582.
| Population dynamics and environmental changes during natural irruptions of Australian desert rodents.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ralls, K. (1976). Mammals in which females are larger than males. The Quarterly Review of Biology 51, 245–276.
| Mammals in which females are larger than males.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE283ntVWrtw%3D%3D&md5=2d368a658ca0165fecad5e438a5e69a1CAS | 785524PubMed |
Read, J. L., Ward, M. J., and Moseby, K. E. (2015). Factors that influence trap success of sandhill dunnarts (Sminthopsis psammophila) and other small mammals in Triodia dunefields of South Australia. Australian Mammalogy 37, 212–218.
| Factors that influence trap success of sandhill dunnarts (Sminthopsis psammophila) and other small mammals in Triodia dunefields of South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Schulte-Hostedde, A. I. (2007). Sexual size dimorphism in rodents. In ‘Rodent Societies: an Ecological and Evolutionary Perspective’. (Eds J. O. Wolff and P. W. Sherman.) pp. 115–128. (The University of Chicago Press: Chicago.)
Smith, J. (2009). Surveys for the northern hopping-mouse, northern quoll and brush-tailed rabbit-rat across Groote Eylandt. EWL Sciences Pty Ltd. Report prepared for Coffey Natural Systems and GEMCO.
Spencer, E. E., Crowther, M. S., and Dickman, C. R. (2014). Risky business: do native rodents use habitat and odor cues to manage predation risk in Australian deserts? PLoS One 9, e90566.
| Risky business: do native rodents use habitat and odor cues to manage predation risk in Australian deserts?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24587396PubMed |
Stanley, M. (1971). An ethogram of the hopping mouse Notomys alexis. Zeitschrift für Tierpsychologie 29, 225–258.
| An ethogram of the hopping mouse Notomys alexis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE387hsVWitw%3D%3D&md5=9d134a92e5c349e8526511a96b157fabCAS | 5168510PubMed |
Ward, S. (2009). Survey protocol for the northern hopping-mouse Notomys aquilo. Biodiversity North. Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, Northern Territory.
Woinarski, J. 2008. Notomys aquilo. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2008: e.T14862A4465821. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org [accessed 17 September 2015].
Woinarski, J. C. Z., and Flannery, T. F. (2008). Northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Eds S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan.) pp. 599–600. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)
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 |
Woinarski, J. C. Z., Burbidge, A. A., and Harrison, P. L. (2014) ‘The Action Plan for Australian Mammals 2012.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
