The diet of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) from the monsoonal tropics of the Northern Territory, Australia
Ronald S. C. Firth A , Elizabeth Jefferys B , John C. Z. Woinarski C and Richard A. Noske DA School of Science and Primary Industries, Charles Darwin University, and CRC for Tropical Savannas Management, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia. Email: ronald.firth@cdu.edu.au
B School of Biological Science, University of New South Wales, Kensington, NSW 2052, Australia, and Entomology Department, Australian Museum, Sydney, NSW 2010, Australia.
C Biodiversity Unit, Department of Infrastructure, Planning and Environment, PO Box 496, Palmerston, NT 0831, Australia.
D School of Science and Primary Industries, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia.
Wildlife Research 32(6) 517-523 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR04127
Submitted: 20 December 2004 Accepted: 2 June 2005 Published: 18 October 2005
Abstract
The diet of the brush-tailed rabbit-rat (Conilurus penicillatus) was assessed by microscopic analysis of faecal samples from 35 individuals collected from three different sites in the Northern Territory (Garig Gunak Barlu National Park (Cobourg Peninsula), Kakadu National Park and Melville Island) at various times of the year during 2000–02. Seed was the most abundant item in the overall diet of C. penicillatus, making up 68% of identifiable particles, with smaller proportions contributed by leaves (21%), plant stems (8%) and insects (2%). ANOSIM tests revealed no difference in diet between the sexes and seasons, but there was a significant difference in the diet between the sites, with seed material present in 74% of the samples from Cobourg and in 62% and 58% of samples from Kakadu and Melville respectively. Leaf matter was present in 19% of samples from Cobourg and in 26% and 24% of samples from Kakadu and Melville respectively. Stem material was present in only 6% of samples from Cobourg and in 8% and 13% of samples from Kakadu and Melville respectively. Insect matter was present in small quantities across all three sites. The high proportion of seed in the diet suggests that C. penicillatus is primarily granivorous.
Acknowledgments
We thank the Board of Management and Rangers of Garig Gunak Barlu National Park; the Board of Management of Kakadu National Park; and the Tiwi Land Council for allowing the work to be carried out in lands under their control; James Smith for preparing the map; Jenni Risler who helped with much of the plant identification in the field; the many volunteers who have helped with fieldwork; and Australian Geographic for sponsorship. We also thank the two anonymous referees for helpful comments on the manuscript.
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