Net-avoidance behaviour in platypuses
Josh Griffiths A C , Tom Kelly A and Andrew Weeks A B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A cesar, 293 Royal Parade, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
B Genetics Department, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: jgriffiths@cesaraustralia.com
Australian Mammalogy 35(2) 245-247 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12051
Submitted: 11 December 2012 Accepted: 8 February 2013 Published: 17 May 2013
Abstract
It has been suggested that platypuses (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) may avoid nets following capture, compromising abundance estimates using mark–recapture models. Here, we present the first direct evidence of net avoidance behaviour by the platypus. Using acoustic telemetry, we record a platypus bypassing several nets following capture. Understanding variation in capture probabilities will lead to better estimation of platypus abundance, which is currently lacking.
Additional keywords: acoustic telemetry, conservation, mark–recapture, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, population size.
References
Caughley, G. (1977). ‘Analysis of Vertebrate Populations.’ (John Wiley and Sons: London.)Chao, A. (1989). Estimating population size for sparse data in capture–recapture experiments. Biometrics 45, 427–438.
| Estimating population size for sparse data in capture–recapture experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Connolly, J. H., and Obendorf, D. L. (1998). Distribution, capture and physical characteristics of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in Tasmania. Australian Mammalogy 20, 231–237.
Fish, F., Frappell, P., Baudinette, R., and MacFarlane, P. (2001). Energetics of terrestrial locomotion of the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus. The Journal of Experimental Biology 204, 797–803.
| 1:STN:280:DC%2BD3M3ksFeqsA%3D%3D&md5=f490085e64255fff4ef64e42f86a9709CAS | 11171362PubMed |
Grant, T. R. (1992a). Captures, movements and dispersal of platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, in the Shoalhaven river, New South Wales, with evaluation of capture and marking techniques. In ‘Platypus and Echidnas’. (Ed. M. L. Augee.) pp. 255–262. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Grant, T. R. (1992b). Historical and current distribution of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, in Australia. In ‘Platypus and Echidnas’. (Ed. M. L. Augee.) pp. 232–254. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Sydney.)
Grant, T. R. (1998). Current and historical occurrence of platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, around Sydney. Australian Mammalogy 20, 257–266.
Grant, T. R. (2004). Captures, capture mortality, age and sex ratios of platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, during studies over 30 years in the Upper Shoalhaven River in New South Wales. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 125, 217–226.
Grant, T. R. (2007). ‘Platypus.’ Fourth edition edn. (CSIRO publishing: Australian natural history series) 157.
Grant, T. (2012). Environmental impact assessment: monitoring from a platypus perspective. In ‘Science under siege: zoology under threat.’ (Eds P Banks, D Lunney and C Dickman) pp. 107–113. (Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales: Mosman, NSW)
Grant, T. R., and Temple-Smith, P. D. (1998). Field biology of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus): historical and current perspectives. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 353, 1081–1091.
| Field biology of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus): historical and current perspectives.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaK1czos1Gktw%3D%3D&md5=c9c6d0ab6ab2761333a618c8e55b39abCAS | 9720106PubMed |
Grant, T. R., and Temple-Smith, P. D. (2003). Conservation of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus: threats and challenges. Aquatic Ecosystem Health & Management 6, 5–18.
| Conservation of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus: threats and challenges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Huggins, R. M. (1989). On the statistical analysis of capture experiments. Biometrika 76, 133–140.
| On the statistical analysis of capture experiments.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Lintermans, M. (1998). The status and distribution of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the Australian Capital Territory with notes on some localised declines. Australian Mammalogy 20, 306.
Lunney, D., Grant, T., Matthews, A., Esson, C., Moon, C., and Ellis, M. (1998). Determining the distribution of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) in the Eden region of south-eastern New South Wales through community-based surveys. Australian Mammalogy 20, 239–250.
Lunney, D., Grant, T., and Matthews, A. (2004). Distribution of the platypus in the Bellinger catchment from community knowledge and field survey and its relationship to river disturbance. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 125, 243–258.
Lunney, D., Dickman, C., Copley, P., Grant, T., Munks, S., Carrick, F., Serena, M., and Ellis, M. (2008). Ornithorhynchus anatinus. In ‘IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2010.4. Vol. 2011’. (Ed. IUCN 2010.) Available at: www.iucnredlist.org
Lunney, D., Crowther, M. S., Shannon, I., and Bryant, J. V. (2009). Combining a map-based public survey with an estimation of site occupancy to determine the recent and changing distribution of the koala in New South Wales. Wildlife Research 36, 262–273.
| Combining a map-based public survey with an estimation of site occupancy to determine the recent and changing distribution of the koala in New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mooney, N., and Spencer, C. (1999). Why did the platypus cross the road? Australian Mammalogy 21, 262.
Pollock, K. E., Nichols, J. D., Brownie, C., and Hines, J. E. (1990). Statistical inference for capture–recapture experiments. Wildlife Monographs 107, 1–97.
Robinson, K. W. (1954). Heat tolerances of Australian monotremes and marsupials. Australian Journal of Biological Sciences 7, 348–360.
| 1:STN:280:DyaG2M%2FjtVOntQ%3D%3D&md5=3cb95a58753e837dce4d7ae42031e17eCAS | 13219041PubMed |
Rohweder, D. A., and Baverstock, P. R. (1999). Distribution of the platypus Ornithorhynchus anatinus in the Richmond River catchment, northern New South Wales. Australian Zoologist 31, 30–37.
Serena, M. (1994). Use of time and space by platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus: Monotremata) along a Victorian stream. Journal of Zoology 232, 117–131.
| Use of time and space by platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus: Monotremata) along a Victorian stream.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Stewart, N. J. (2001). The epidemiology of ulcerative mycosis of the platypus (Ornithorynchus anatinus). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tasmania, Hobart.
Temple-Smith, P. D. (1973). Seasonal breeding biology of the platypus, Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw 1799), with special reference to the male. Ph.D. Thesis, Australian National University, Canberra.
Williams, G. A., Serena, M., and Grant, T. R. (2013). Age-related change in spurs and spur sheaths of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus). Australian Mammalogy 35, 107–114.
| Age-related change in spurs and spur sheaths of the platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
