Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis. IV. Habitat ecology
Hideyuki Tokushima A B C and Peter J. Jarman A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Ecosystem Management, University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.
B Present address: 3-1-41-705 Hino, Kounan-ku, Yokohama, Kanagawa 234-0051, Japan.
C Corresponding author. Email: hidey.tokushima@gmail.com
Australian Journal of Zoology 63(1) 28-37 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO14057
Submitted: 31 July 2014 Accepted: 19 December 2014 Published: 21 January 2015
Abstract
We determined preferences of the Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis, for habitat attributes (ground and vegetation cover) through phases of a population irruption, and characterised refuge sites used when environmental conditions were unfavourable. In general, P. pilligaensis preferred areas with substrate dominated by sand and shrubs rather than rock or litter. However, its habitat selection changed with phases of the irruption. In the Increase phase, it showed no strong habitat preferences, perhaps because the abundance of food (seeds) overrode preferences for more stable habitat values. Its sensitivity to habitat variables increased in the Peak phase. In the Low phase, mice preferred ground cover with higher proportions of sand and shrubs, and lower proportions of rock and litter. Regression analyses suggested that sandy substrate is the most important factor for the refuge habitat of P. pilligaensis, perhaps because a sandy surface can support more understorey shrubs which provide seeds and protection from predators, and provides sites for burrows. Judging from areas where P. pilligaensis was caught during the Low phase, water run-on areas could also characterise refuge habitats. However, further studies are needed to define the species’ refuge habitats fully.
References
Brandle, R., and Moseby, K. E. (1999). Comparative ecology of two populations of Pseudomys australis in northern South Australia. Wildlife Research 26, 541–564.| Comparative ecology of two populations of Pseudomys australis in northern South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Brandle, R., Adams, M., and Moseby, K. E. (1999). The distribution, habitat requirements and conservation status of the plains rat, Pseudomys australis (Rodentia: Muridae). Wildlife Research 26, 463–477.
| The distribution, habitat requirements and conservation status of the plains rat, Pseudomys australis (Rodentia: Muridae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Breed, B., and Ford, F. (2007). ‘Native Mice and Rats.’ (CSIRO Publishing: Melbourne.)
Briese, L. A., and Smith, M. H. (1973). Competition between Mus musculus and Peromyscus polionotus. Journal of Mammalogy 54, 968–969.
| Competition between Mus musculus and Peromyscus polionotus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DyaE2c%2FltVemug%3D%3D&md5=258feaadc25b79d454f3e08ff3d01f3fCAS | 4761373PubMed |
Clarke, K. R., and Gorley, R. N. (2001). ‘PRIMER v5: User Manual/Tutorial.’ (Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Plymouth, UK.)
Clarke, K. R., and Warwick, R. M. (1994). ‘Change in Marine Communities: an Approach to Statistical Analysis and Interpretation.’ (Plymouth Marine Laboratory: Plymouth, UK.)
Cockburn, A. (1981). Diet and habitat preference of the silky desert mouse, Pseudomys apodemoides (Rodentia). Australian Wildlife Research 8, 475–497.
| Diet and habitat preference of the silky desert mouse, Pseudomys apodemoides (Rodentia).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
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 |
Dickman, C. R., Greenville, A. C., Tamayo, B., and Wardle, G. M. (2011). Spatial dynamics of small mammals in central Australian desert habitats: the role of drought refugia. Journal of Mammalogy 92, 1193–1209.
| Spatial dynamics of small mammals in central Australian desert habitats: the role of drought refugia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Diester, M.-D., and Heinz, E. (1974). ‘Aims and Methods of Vegetation Ecology.’ (John Wiley & Sons, Inc.: New York.)
Fox, B. J. (1995). Pilliga Mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis Fox and Briscoe, 1980. In ‘The Mammals of Australia’. (Ed. R Strahan.) pp. 616–617. (Reed Books: Sydney.)
Fox, B. J., and Briscoe, D. A. (1980). Pseudomys pilligaensis, a new species of murid rodent from the Pilliga Scrub, northern New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 3, 109–126.
Fox, B. J., and Fox, M. D. (1978). Recolonization of coastal heath by Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Muridae) following sand mining. Australian Journal of Ecology 3, 447–465.
| Recolonization of coastal heath by Pseudomys novaehollandiae (Muridae) following sand mining.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fox, B. J., and Fox, M. D. (1984). Small-mammal recolonization of open-forest following sand mining. Australian Journal of Ecology 9, 241–252.
| Small-mammal recolonization of open-forest following sand mining.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Fretwell, S. (Ed.) (1972). ‘Populations in a Seasonal Environment.’ (Princeton University Press: Princeton, NJ.)
Greenville, A. C., Wardle, G. M., and Dickman, C. R. (2013). Extreme rainfall events predict irruptions of rat plagues in central Australia. Austral Ecology 38, 754–764.
| Extreme rainfall events predict irruptions of rat plagues in central Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Haering, R. O. N., and Fox, B. J. (1997). Habitat use by sympatric populations of Pseudomys novaehollandiae and Mus domesticus in coastal heathland. Australian Journal of Ecology 22, 69–80.
| Habitat use by sympatric populations of Pseudomys novaehollandiae and Mus domesticus in coastal heathland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Kemper, C. M. (1980). Description of Pseudomys novaehollandiae burrows located with radioisotopes. Australian Mammalogy 4, 141–143.
King, G. C. (1984). Habitat utilized by Pseudomys oralis Thomas (Rodentia: Muridae). Australian Mammalogy 7, 139–147.
Lim, L. (1992). Conservation and biology of the rare Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis, Fox and Briscoe 1980 (Muridae: Conilurini). Report to Zoological Parks Board of NSW.
Lock, M. L., and Wilson, B. A. (1999). The distribution of the New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) with respect to vegetation near Anglesea, Victoria. Wildlife Research 26, 565–577.
| The distribution of the New Holland mouse (Pseudomys novaehollandiae) with respect to vegetation near Anglesea, Victoria.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Milstead, W. B., Meserve, P. L., Campanella, A., Previtali, M. A., Kelt, D. A., and Gutiérrez, J. R. (2007). Spatial ecology of small mammals in north-central Chile: role of precipitation and refuges. Journal of Mammalogy 88, 1532–1538.
| Spatial ecology of small mammals in north-central Chile: role of precipitation and refuges.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Morton, S. R. (1990). The impact of European settlement on the vertebrate animals of arid Australia: a conceptual model. Proceedings of the Ecological Society of Australia 16, 201–213.
Newsome, A. E. (1969a). A population study of house-mice temporarily inhabiting a reed-bed in South Australia. Journal of Animal Ecology 38, 361–377.
| A population study of house-mice temporarily inhabiting a reed-bed in South Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Newsome, A. E. (1969b). A population study of house-mice temporarily inhabiting a South Australian wheatfield. Journal of Animal Ecology 38, 341–359.
| A population study of house-mice temporarily inhabiting a South Australian wheatfield.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paull, D. C. (2009). Habitat and post-fire selection of the Pilliga mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis in Pilliga East State Forest. Pacific Conservation Biology 15, 254–267.
Paull, D., Milledge, D., Spark, P., Townley, S., and Taylor, K. (2014). Identification of important habitat for the Pilliga mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis. Australian Zoologist 37, 15–22.
| Identification of important habitat for the Pilliga mouse Pseudomys pilligaensis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Pavey, C. R., Cole, J. R., McDonald, P. J., and Nano, C. E. M. (2014). Population dynamics and spatial ecology of a declining desert rodent, Pseudomys australis: the importance of refuges for persistence. Journal of Mammalogy 95, 615–625.
| Population dynamics and spatial ecology of a declining desert rodent, Pseudomys australis: the importance of refuges for persistence.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Posamentier, H., and Recher, H. F. (1974). The status of Pseudomys novaehollandiae (the New Holland mouse). Australian Zoologist 18, 66–71.
Rosenzweig, M. L. (1989). Habitat selection, community organization, and small mammal studies. In ‘Patterns in the Structure of Mammalian Communities’. (Eds Z. A. D. W. Morris, B. J. Fox, and M. R. Willig). pp. 5–21. (Texas Tech University Press: Lubbock, TX.)
Tokushima, H. (2002). Population, resource and habitat ecology of the Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). Ph.D. Thesis, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales.
Tokushima, H., and Jarman, P. J. (2008). Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). II. Demography, home range and dispersal. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 375–387.
| Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). II. Demography, home range and dispersal.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tokushima, H., and Jarman, P. J. (2010). Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis. III. Dietary ecology. Australian Journal of Zoology 58, 85–93.
| Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis. III. Dietary ecology.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tokushima, H., Green, S. W., and Jarman, P. J. (2008). Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). I. Population fluctuation and breeding season. Australian Journal of Zoology 56, 363–373.
| Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse (Pseudomys pilligaensis). I. Population fluctuation and breeding season.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Vincent, J. M., and Crofts, F. C. (1958). ‘Pasture Improvement in the Pilliga.’ (University of Sydney: Sydney.)
