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Influence of habitat on home-range size in the short-beaked echidna
Citation
Sprent, J and Nicol, SC, Influence of habitat on home-range size in the short-beaked echidna, Australian Journal of Zoology, 60, (1) pp. 46-53. ISSN 0004-959X (2012) [Refereed Article]
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Copyright Statement
Copyright 2012 CSIRO
DOI: doi:10.1071/ZO11098
Abstract
The size of an animal’s home range is strongly influenced by the resources available within it. In productive,
resource-rich habitats sufficient resources are obtainable within a smaller area, and for many species, home ranges are smaller
in resource-rich habitats than in habitats with lower resource abundance. Location data on 14 male and 27 female echidnas
(Tachyglossus aculeatus) fitted with tracking transmitters, in the southern midlands of Tasmania, were used to test the
influence of habitat type on home-range size. We hypothesised that as woodland should offer more shelter, food resources and
refuges than pasture, echidnas living in woodland would have smaller home ranges than those living in pasture areas. We
found significant differences between the sexes. Male echidnas had a significantly larger mean home range than females and a
quite different relationship between home-range size and habitat type from females. There was no relationship between the
proportion of woodland within male home ranges and home-range size whereas female echidnas had a highly significant
negative relationship. This suggests that home-range size of female echidnas is highly influenced by the amount of woodland
within it, but the home-range size of male echidnas is controlled by factors other than habitat. This pattern is consistent with
the spatial ecology of many other solitary species with a promiscuous mating system. The home ranges of females are scaled
to encompass all necessary resources for successfully raising their young within a minimal area, whilst the large home ranges
of males are scaled to maximise access to females.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
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Keywords: | habitat quality, home range, radio tracking, echidna, monotreme |
Research Division: | Biological Sciences |
Research Group: | Ecology |
Research Field: | Terrestrial ecology |
Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
Objective Field: | Terrestrial biodiversity |
UTAS Author: | Sprent, J (Dr Jennifer Sprent) |
UTAS Author: | Nicol, SC (Associate Professor Stewart Nicol) |
ID Code: | 78880 |
Year Published: | 2012 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 8 |
Deposited By: | Zoology |
Deposited On: | 2012-07-31 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-31 |
Downloads: | 2 View Download Statistics |
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