Geoffrey C. Smith

The Biology of the Yellow-Footed Antechinus, Antechinus flavipes (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae), in a Swamp Forest on Kinaba Island, Cooloola Quensland

In a mark-recapture study of small mammals, 92 female and 59 male AntechinusfIavipes were caught on Kinaba I. during 13 803 trap-nights and 8887 trap-days. A.flavipes mated almost synchronously in late August-early September each year. Young born in early October were carried in the pouch for approximately 36 days, cared for in the nest for a further 2-3 months and weaned through January. All males died within approximately 1 month of mating. Other causes of mortality included winter mortality, post-reproductive mortality amongst breeding females, and juvenile mortality after weaning; these types of population mortality were not severe. In one breeding season (1977-78), a proportion of females failed to give birth; with pouch mortality, significantly fewer young were weaned per female from this season than from others (1976-77, 1978-79). This was compensated for by greater post-weaning survival of young, so that demographic fluctuations and size of the trapped population did not differ appreciably between years. Young A.flavipes remained near to their place of birth for approximately 5 months after weaning. After this males dispersed further than did females. The timing of breeding for A.flavipes at Kinaba I. is discussed in relation to that of other Antechinus populations in eastern Australia. Timing of breeding is believed to be principally related to climatic factors.

Home range and habitat use of a low-density population of greater gliders, Petauroides volans (Pseudocheiridae: Marsupialia), in a hollow-limiting environment

Greater gliders, Petauroides volans, were radio-tracked within a large tract of forest in the dry inland of southern Queensland. This forest has been commercially logged for timber for more than 100 years. Home-range estimates ranged from 1.4 ha (female) to 19.3 ha (male). Minimum convex polygon (MCP) estimates were larger for males (average, 11.5 ha) than females (average, 3.3 ha) and combined (6.8 ha, sexes pooled) were larger than estimates from other Australian populations. Gliders were located foraging in myrtaceous tree species only, using mostly Eucalyptus moluccana, E. fibrosa and Corymbia citriodora. E. moluccana was used for foraging more frequently than would be expected on the basis of its availability in the forest. E. fibrosa and C. citriodora were used in proportion to their availability in the forest. Gliders were not seen foraging in non-myrtaceous species or myrtaceous trees 50 cm) and old living trees (in deteriorating and senescent condition: ‘late mature’ and ‘over-mature’ categories) were primarily used as den trees. Individual gliders utilised 4–20 den trees. Females utilised more den trees per unit area of home range (3.8 den trees ha–1, maximum) than males (0.9 den trees ha–1, maximum). Fewer den trees were used per unit area of home range than by gliders at a coastal location with approximately the same latitude. The density of live stems containing hollows suitable as dens is currently lower than 1 tree ha–1 in some parts of the study forest. Gliders were two and half times less likely to be observed during standardised spotlighting surveys in the study area than elsewhere in southern Queensland. It is likely that low availability of den trees is contributing to large home ranges and the apparent low population density observed in this study.

Dating spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora) tree rings in south-eastern Queensland using 14C measurements of cellulose

Summary Application of a radioisotope dating technique to a spotted gum (Corymbia citriodora) tree in south-east Queensland showed that the observed growth rings were annual. The dating technique is based on a comparison between the concentration of C measured in tree ring cellulose and historical measurements of C in the atmosphere. This information improves our understanding of forest processes and growth over time, and undoubtedly will contribute to more efficient measures of forest growth.

Current limitations in the use of bat detectors to assess the impact of logging — a pilot study in south-east Queensland

A pilot study, using remotely deployed ultrasonic bat detectors, was undertaken in the Conondale Ranges as part of a research programme to assess the impacts of wet sclerophyll logging on native wildlife. The remote system was of the voice activated type and tested because of its costs relative to other systems. The remote detection technique was inefficient as a means for identifying ail potential species that occur in the area, because of slow response by the equipment to switch on in response to bat calls, problems with high noise to signal ratio and the behaviour of some species relative to the remote equipment. Only eight species were recorded out of a potential eighteen species that occur in the Conondale Ranges. The highest diversity and activity measures were recorded in the intermediate site, last logged in 1961, and the lowest in the regrowth site. These preliminary results are not conclusive because of small sample size and difficulties with the methodology.

Fauna of the grassland-forest landscape mosaics of the Bunya Mountains, eastern Australia

Fauna assemblages were assessed within four primary vegetation types and three edge types between grassland and wooded habitats within the Bunya Mountains of eastern Australia. Wet rainforests diff...