Shedding light on a cryptic macropodid: home ranges and habitat preferences of translocated western brush wallabies (Notamacropus irma)
Leticia F. Povh A E , Roberta Bencini A , Brian K. Chambers A , Tracey L. Kreplins B , Nicole Willers C , Peter J. Adams B , Joanne Wann D , Halina T. Kobryn B and Patricia A. Fleming B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Agriculture and Environment, The University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
B School of Veterinary and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia.
C Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Hackett Drive, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia.
D Jandakot Airport Holdings (Pty) Ltd, Eagle Drive, Jandakot, WA 6164, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: letipovh@gmail.com
Australian Mammalogy 41(1) 82-91 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM17041
Submitted: 26 July 2017 Accepted: 4 March 2018 Published: 14 June 2018
Abstract
A salvage translocation of western brush wallabies (Notamacropus irma (Jourdan, 1837)) was a condition of approval to build a new runway at Jandakot Airport, Western Australia. Since little is known about this endemic Western Australian species, the translocation presented a valuable opportunity to gain information on the species after release into Harry Waring Marsupial Reserve, a 260-ha reserve where these animals had been recorded previously. We aimed to gain information on the biology and ecology of the species and follow the movement of individuals tracked with Global Positioning System (GPS) collars over six months to determine their short-term survival, home-range establishment, overlap in home range between individuals, and habitat utilisation in the reserve. Weekly mean home-range estimates did not differ between males (10.0 ± 9.7 (s.d.) ha, 95% KDE, n = 6) and females (12.1 ± 6.1 (s.d.) ha, 95% KDE, n = 5) (P = 0.473). Some males had 67–70% overlap in home ranges with some females, but substantial distances maintained between individuals (from 123 ± 110 m to 292 ± 303 m) confirmed the solitary nature of the species. Western brush wallabies preferred Banksia spp. woodlands, possibly due to the availability of canopy cover, and some specific understorey associations, such as Hibbertia hypericoides, that form part of their diet. Our study highlighted the importance of understanding the home-range establishment and vegetation preferences of translocated animals that will inform the planning of future translocations.
Additional keywords: black-gloved wallaby, GPS, home-range overlap, salvage translocation, sexual monomorphism, urban wildlife.
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