Ecology of Small Mammals in Coastal Heathland at Anglesea, Victoria

Abstract

Aspects of ecology and reproduction of small mammals in a heathland community near Anglesea were investigated in the field by means of mark-recapture trapping. Population size, animal movements and reproductive state were estimated. The floristic and structural habitat preferences were also determined. The most common species were Antechinus stuartii, A. minimus maritimus, Sminthopsis leucopus, Rattus fuscipes assimilis and R. lutreolus. For Antechinus the populations were maximal throughout February-June (A. stuartii) and December-June (A. minimus) inclusive. A marked decline in numbers of Antechinus during late winter and early spring was associated with the total loss of males from the population. The maximal numbers of animals (per hectare) were 21 (A. stuartii), 14 (A. m. maritimus), 14 (R. f. assimilis) 7 (R. lutreolus), and 8 (S. leucopus). Young were born to A. m. maritimus during August, and 1 month later to A. stuartii. R. f. assimilis bred during late winter and spring, and S. leucopus from September to November. None of the species showed an overall preference for any floristic or structural vegetation type. This study confirms male 'die-off' in A. m. maritimus. The data also indicate that the difference in breeding times of A. m. maritimus between Anglesea and Dartmoor, Vic., is due to climatic or habitat differences rather than to sympatry with A. stuartii.