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Activity patterns and sharing of time and space of platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, in a subalpine Tasmanian lake
Citation
Bethge, P and Munks, SA and Otley, H and Nicol, SC, Activity patterns and sharing of time and space of platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, in a subalpine Tasmanian lake, Journal of Mammalogy, 90, (6) pp. 1350-1356. ISSN 0022-2372 (2009) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2009 The American Society of Mammalogists
Official URL: http://www.mammalsociety.org/journal-mammalogy
DOI: doi:10.1644/08-MAMM-A-355R.1
Abstract
We investigated the activity patterns of platypuses, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, at Lake Lea, a subalpine lake in
Tasmania. Platypuses were equipped with activity loggers or time–depth recorders, which allowed constant
recordings for up to 48 days. The recordings revealed an unexpectedly high variety of foraging behaviors.
Although nocturnal activity, as reported from other habitats, was still predominant, diurnal activity as well as
highly fragmented activity patterns were common. Mean foraging duration was 12.4 h/day, with some animals
foraging continuously for up to 29.8 h. Daily emergence and return times as well as durations of daily foraging
trips varied considerably. At least 2 animals showed a distinct shift in activity pattern related to the lunar cycle.
Season and water temperature affected platypus behavior. Foraging durations were longer and activity levels
were higher in winter. In contrast to observations in river systems, temporal separation likely served as a
mechanism to avoid intraspecific competition, and was particularly important for adult males during the
breeding season. Dominant males were preferentially nocturnal, whereas lower-ranked males adopted more
variable or fragmented activity patterns.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Keywords: | activity patterns, data-logger, foraging, lake system, Ornithorhynchus anatinus, platypus, Tasmania, temporal separation |
| Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
| Research Group: | Ecology |
| Research Field: | Behavioural Ecology |
| Objective Division: | Environment |
| Objective Group: | Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| Objective Field: | Forest and Woodlands Flora, Fauna and Biodiversity |
| UTAS Author: | Bethge, P (Mr Phillip Bethge) |
| UTAS Author: | Munks, SA (Dr Sarah Munks) |
| UTAS Author: | Otley, H (Ms Helen Otley) |
| UTAS Author: | Nicol, SC (Associate Professor Stewart Nicol) |
| ID Code: | 62213 |
| Year Published: | 2009 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 10 |
| Deposited By: | Zoology |
| Deposited On: | 2010-03-10 |
| Last Modified: | 2011-04-14 |
| Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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