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Patterns and causes of marsupial paths in subalpine Tasmania
Citation
Nichols, EC and Kirkpatrick, JB, Patterns and causes of marsupial paths in subalpine Tasmania, Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania, 153 pp. 53-60. ISSN 0080-4703 (2019) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2019 The Royal Society of Tasmania
Official URL: https://rst.org.au/papers-and-proceedings/publishe...
Abstract
Animal paths can improve connectivity of species, alter vegetation growth, reduce fuel loads and further our knowledge of the behavioural ecology of mammals. Path patterning and the motivations for path creation are not well understood. The present study tested the hypotheses that animals form paths: (i) to efficiently move between palatable patches; (ii) for access to water; (iii) for access to shelter and (iv) to avoid predators. We used high-definition aerial online imagery to map paths in five treeless subalpine environments in Tasmania. Surveys of vegetation and scat counts were conducted at each site. We found that locality influenced wallaby scat density and that macropods and wombats created direct paths to move between areas of palatable vegetation, shelter and water. There was some weak indication of predator avoidance in some of the patterning. However, shelter from cold, strong southwesterly winds is a feasible alternative motivation for the patterns. Key Words: landscape
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | landscape of fear, macropod, path, shelter, wombat, animal paths, alpine |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Palaeoecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Assessment and management of terrestrial ecosystems |
UTAS Author: | Nichols, EC (Ms Emma Nichols) |
UTAS Author: | Kirkpatrick, JB (Professor James Kirkpatrick) |
ID Code: | 138920 |
Year Published: | 2019 |
Deposited By: | Geography and Spatial Science |
Deposited On: | 2020-05-11 |
Last Modified: | 2020-08-17 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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