Spatial and dietary requirements of the chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) in a semiarid climatic zone
Kelly Rayner A B C , Brian Chambers A , Brent Johnson B , Keith D. Morris B and Harriet R. Mills A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 51 Wanneroo, WA 6946, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: kelly.rayner@dec.wa.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 34(1) 59-67 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM10045
Submitted: 24 November 2010 Accepted: 11 June 2011 Published: 24 October 2011
Abstract
Knowledge of the ecology of the chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii) is largely restricted to its distribution in mesic jarrah forests. There is a need for information regarding its ecology in semiarid zones where rainfall and consequently productivity are lower than mesic forests. Given that spatial requirements are strongly influenced by resource availability, it was expected that the chuditch in the semiarid zone would be present at lower densities and would have larger core home ranges (defined by daytime refuges) than those in the jarrah forests. The diet was also investigated by examining the contents of scats. Chuditch at Forrestania were trapped and six individuals were radio-tracked. The population density was one-third that of the lowest estimate reported from the jarrah forest and core home-range estimates were substantially larger, particularly for males. The diet included mammals, birds, reptiles, invertebrates, plants and rubbish, which was consistent with it being a generalist predator. Chuditch did have greater spatial requirements than in the jarrah forest, therefore different management regimes may be needed for populations occurring in the semiarid zone.
Additional keywords: dasyurid, marsupial.
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