Burrowing behaviour of the northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo): field observations
Rebecca L. Diete A E , Paul D. Meek B C , Christopher R. Dickman D and Luke K.-P. Leung AA School of Agriculture and Food Sciences, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Qld 4343, Australia.
B Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, 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, NSW 2006, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: r.diete@uq.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 36(2) 242-246 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM13039
Submitted: 9 November 2013 Accepted: 1 April 2014 Published: 28 May 2014
Abstract
We describe burrowing behaviour of the elusive northern hopping-mouse (Notomys aquilo) recorded by camera traps. New burrows were observed at the beginning and end of the wet season on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. Initial burrow entrances were open for approximately five days before being back-filled, leaving only a spoil heap with pop holes (burrow entrances) up to 5.3 m away. These results will improve survey techniques for this cryptic, threatened species.
Additional keywords: Dasyurus hallucatus, Muridae, predation, rodent.
References
Breed, B., and Ford, F. (2007). ‘Native Mice and Rats.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)Bureau of Meteorology (2013). Climate data online. Available at www.bom.gov.au [verified 26 September 2013].
Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (2011). Survey guidelines for Australia’s threatened mammals: guidelines for detecting mammals listed as threatened under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999. Australian Government, Canberra.
Dickman, C. R. (1999). Rodent–ecosystem relationships: a review. In ‘Ecologically-based Management of Rodent Pests’. (Eds G. R. Singleton, L. A. Hinds, H. Leirs and Z. Zhang.) pp. 113–133. (Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research: Canberra.)
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 |
Dixon, J., and Huxley, L. (1985). ‘Donald Thomson’s Mammals and Fishes of Northern Australia.’ (Thomas Nelson Australia: Melbourne.)
Johnson, D. H. (1964). Mammals of the Arnhem Land expedition. In ‘Records of the American–Australian Scientific Expedition to Arnhem Land. Volume 4. Zoology’. (Ed. R. L. Specht.) pp. 427–515. (Melbourne University Press: Melbourne.)
Lee, A. K., Fleming, M. R., and Happold, M. (1984). Microclimate, water economy and energetics of a desert rodent, Notomys alexis. In ‘Arid Australia’. (Eds H. G. Cogger and E. E. Cameron.) pp. 315–326. (Australian Museum: Sydney.)
Meek, P. D., Ballard, G., and Fleming, P. (2012) ‘An Introduction to Camera Trapping for Wildlife Surveys in Australia.’ (Invasive Animals Cooperative Research Centre: Canberra.)
Reichman, O. J., and Smith, S. C. (1990). Burrows and burrowing behavior by mammals. In ‘Current Mammalogy’. (Ed. H. H. Genoways.) pp. 197–244. (Plenum Press: New York and London.)
Smith, J. (2009). Seasonal detectability of northern hopping mouse spoil heaps on Groote Eylandt. Report prepared for GEMCO, Darwin, Australia. EWL Sciences Pty Ltd.
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=29d421b4f09d5f022e76b00ae0063385CAS | 5168510PubMed |
Thompson, G. G., and Thompson, S. A. (2007). Are backfilled burrows a predator protection strategy for the spinifex hopping mouse? Journal of the Royal Society of Western Australia 90, 111–113.
Van Dyck, S., and Strahan, R. (Eds) (2008). ‘The Mammals of Australia.’ 3rd edn. (Reed New Holland: Sydney.)
Van Dyck, S., Janetzki, H., and Sheridan, J. (2010). Structure of a burrow of the fawn hopping-mouse Notomys cervinus (Rodentia: Muridae). Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 55, 98–100.
Ward, S. J. (2009). Survey protocol for the northern hopping-mouse Notomys aquilo. Biodiversity North, Department of Natural Resources, Environment, the Arts and Sport, Northern Territory.
Ward, S. J. (2013). Structure of a burrow of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo, and its surface signs on Groote Eylandt. Australian Mammalogy , .
| Structure of a burrow of the northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo, and its surface signs on Groote Eylandt.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Watts, C. H. S., and Aslin, H. J. (1981). ‘The Rodents of Australia.’ (Angus and Robertson Publishers: Sydney.)
Woinarski, J. C. Z., and Flannery, T. F. (2008). Northern hopping-mouse, Notomys aquilo. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. 3rd edn. (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 |
