Teresa Cochrane, G. Krebs, Scott McManus, Scott Castle, P. Spooner
{"title":"Effect of soil treatment on the growth and foliage chemistry of three Eucalyptus species grown in a plantation as a food source for koalas","authors":"Teresa Cochrane, G. Krebs, Scott McManus, Scott Castle, P. Spooner","doi":"10.1071/zo22046","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo22046","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"20 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"72639579","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Bruno A. Buzatto, Huon L. Clark, Mark S. Harvey, Erich S. Volschenk
Two new species of urodacid scorpion are described from the Pilbara region in Western Australia, where they are both patchily distributed along creek lines in the north-east of the region. Urodacus uncinus sp. nov. and Urodacus lunatus sp. nov. are indistinguishable based on external morphology: adults are medium-sized, yellow burrowing scorpions with remarkable sexual dimorphism in the telson, in which males have a uniquely swollen vesicle and an aculeus that is more strongly curved than other known species of Urodacus. The species are superficially similar to Urodacus similis L.E. Koch, 1977 and Urodacus yaschenkoi Birula, 1903 in the morphology of the first four metasomal segments, which are extremely short and not much longer than high. The two new species can only be discerned from each other based on the morphology of their hemispermatophores, which highlights the extremely conserved morphology of species in the genus and suggests that many new species await description with careful examination of their genitalia.
在西澳大利亚的皮尔巴拉地区发现了两种新的毒蝎，它们都零星地分布在该地区东北部的小溪边。十一月乌达库斯和十一月乌达库斯的外部形态是难以区分的:成年乌达库斯是中等大小的黄色穴居蝎子，在尾部具有显著的性别二态性，其中雄性有一个独特的肿胀的囊泡和一个比其他已知的乌达库斯物种更弯曲的针孔。该种在表面上与Urodacus similis L.E. Koch(1977)和Urodacus yaschenkoi Birula(1903)的前4个跖节形态相似，极短，比高不长。这两个新物种只能根据它们的半湿囊的形态来区分，这突出了该属物种的极端保守形态，并表明许多新物种等待对其生殖器的仔细检查来描述。
{"title":"Two new species of burrowing scorpions (Urodacidae: Urodacus) from the Pilbara region of Western Australia with identical external morphology†","authors":"Bruno A. Buzatto, Huon L. Clark, Mark S. Harvey, Erich S. Volschenk","doi":"10.1071/zo23018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo23018","url":null,"abstract":"Two new species of urodacid scorpion are described from the Pilbara region in Western Australia, where they are both patchily distributed along creek lines in the north-east of the region. Urodacus uncinus sp. nov. and Urodacus lunatus sp. nov. are indistinguishable based on external morphology: adults are medium-sized, yellow burrowing scorpions with remarkable sexual dimorphism in the telson, in which males have a uniquely swollen vesicle and an aculeus that is more strongly curved than other known species of Urodacus. The species are superficially similar to Urodacus similis L.E. Koch, 1977 and Urodacus yaschenkoi Birula, 1903 in the morphology of the first four metasomal segments, which are extremely short and not much longer than high. The two new species can only be discerned from each other based on the morphology of their hemispermatophores, which highlights the extremely conserved morphology of species in the genus and suggests that many new species await description with careful examination of their genitalia.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"162 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"134890189","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"A large, newly discovered ghost bat colony in Queensland","authors":"J. Augusteyn, Karl Goetze, R. Coles","doi":"10.1071/zo22045","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo22045","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79810851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Helen P. Waudby, Eren Turak, Kate Callister, Singarayer Florentine, Martin Westbrooke, Grant Palmer, Ray Dayman
Determining species’ distributions is challenging for cryptic species that are difficult to detect using standard techniques. The mallee worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974) is a cryptic reptile in the family Pygopodidae, listed as Endangered in New South Wales. We modelled the species’ potential distribution (Maxent) to improve understanding of the species’ distribution and surveyed potential habitat in the Scotia Mallee region (an area with suitable habitat) from 2018 to 2022, with pitfall traps and artificial refuges (terracotta roof tiles). We completed 11 587 pitfall trap-nights and 3200 tile checks over eight monitoring sessions. Over this period, we detected six vertebrate species (all lizards) using roof tiles and 40 species with pitfall traps, but no mallee worm-lizards. Evaluation of existing records of the mallee worm-lizard from NSW suggested that the state constitutes the north-eastern edge of its continental range, with the species apparently present in low numbers across a wide swathe of south-western NSW. Most records were located within or near to spinifex or porcupine grass (Triodia spp.) communities, on private land. Species distribution modelling provided outputs that are useful for spatial prioritisation of conservation efforts for the species, with region-wide maps showing that much of the Scotia Mallee study area contains potentially suitable habitat for the mallee worm-lizard. However, habitat suitability scores for individual cells in this area were low, in some instances, because of high maximum summer temperatures and soil available water capacity. We anticipate that increasing temperatures associated with climate change may further reduce the suitability of habitat in this area in the future.
{"title":"Spatial prioritisation of survey and management efforts for a threatened pygopodid in south-western New South Wales","authors":"Helen P. Waudby, Eren Turak, Kate Callister, Singarayer Florentine, Martin Westbrooke, Grant Palmer, Ray Dayman","doi":"10.1071/zo23016","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo23016","url":null,"abstract":"Determining species’ distributions is challenging for cryptic species that are difficult to detect using standard techniques. The mallee worm-lizard (Aprasia inaurita Kluge, 1974) is a cryptic reptile in the family Pygopodidae, listed as Endangered in New South Wales. We modelled the species’ potential distribution (Maxent) to improve understanding of the species’ distribution and surveyed potential habitat in the Scotia Mallee region (an area with suitable habitat) from 2018 to 2022, with pitfall traps and artificial refuges (terracotta roof tiles). We completed 11 587 pitfall trap-nights and 3200 tile checks over eight monitoring sessions. Over this period, we detected six vertebrate species (all lizards) using roof tiles and 40 species with pitfall traps, but no mallee worm-lizards. Evaluation of existing records of the mallee worm-lizard from NSW suggested that the state constitutes the north-eastern edge of its continental range, with the species apparently present in low numbers across a wide swathe of south-western NSW. Most records were located within or near to spinifex or porcupine grass (Triodia spp.) communities, on private land. Species distribution modelling provided outputs that are useful for spatial prioritisation of conservation efforts for the species, with region-wide maps showing that much of the Scotia Mallee study area contains potentially suitable habitat for the mallee worm-lizard. However, habitat suitability scores for individual cells in this area were low, in some instances, because of high maximum summer temperatures and soil available water capacity. We anticipate that increasing temperatures associated with climate change may further reduce the suitability of habitat in this area in the future.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"15 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135261198","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Roads are present globally across all habitats and their negative impacts on the landscape are being increasingly reported. Yet often more is known about the identity of roadkill than how avian assemblages are impacted by roads. This study used 100 paired point counts by the road and 400m into the forest interior to assess if the assemblages were different and determine what species may be impacted by the road. The study was undertaken along a highway cut through one of the world’s tallest forests – old-growth karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forest of south-western Australia. There was no overall significant difference in species richness and abundance between road and forest interior sites, although a small number of species (4.3%) did demonstrate preferences. Overall, we suggest that the limited significant differences resulted from: (1) the narrowness of the road with the forest canopy frequently extended fully across and (2) the natural variation found in eucalypt forests, which has aided the birds as a pre-adaptation to the presence of this road – because eucalypt forests are a heterogeneous array of streams and forest heterogeneity.
{"title":"Birds pre-adapted to a road in a heterogeneous and contiguous old-growth forest: a point transect study","authors":"Graham R. Fulton, Jutta Beher, Hugh P. Possingham","doi":"10.1071/zo22018","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo22018","url":null,"abstract":"Roads are present globally across all habitats and their negative impacts on the landscape are being increasingly reported. Yet often more is known about the identity of roadkill than how avian assemblages are impacted by roads. This study used 100 paired point counts by the road and 400m into the forest interior to assess if the assemblages were different and determine what species may be impacted by the road. The study was undertaken along a highway cut through one of the world’s tallest forests – old-growth karri (Eucalyptus diversicolor) forest of south-western Australia. There was no overall significant difference in species richness and abundance between road and forest interior sites, although a small number of species (4.3%) did demonstrate preferences. Overall, we suggest that the limited significant differences resulted from: (1) the narrowness of the road with the forest canopy frequently extended fully across and (2) the natural variation found in eucalypt forests, which has aided the birds as a pre-adaptation to the presence of this road – because eucalypt forests are a heterogeneous array of streams and forest heterogeneity.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"18 1","pages":"0"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2023-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"135560182","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Louise M. Streeting, D. Bower, M. Dillon, Phil Spark, M. Gough, A. Skidmore, P. Mcdonald, Hannah Delaney, A. Burns, Sandy Watson, D. Dissanayake, A. Georges, D. T. McKnight
Abstract. Artificial incubation of eggs and the release of hatchlings into the wild is a common conservation intervention designed to augment threatened turtle populations. We investigate a range of incubation temperatures to establish an optimal temperature for maximum hatching success of western saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) eggs. We report on the influence of incubation temperature on incubation duration and hatching success and describe two experimental incubation methods which, for the same incubation temperature (27°C), resulted in 77% and 97% hatching success, respectively. Eggs were incubated at constant temperatures (27°C, 28°C and 29°C) to determine the influence of temperature on incubation period, hatchling morphology and external residual yolk. Incubation duration was negatively correlated with incubation temperature. We report on the morphology of eggs and hatchlings and show that their dimensions are positively correlated with maternal adult size and mass. A constant incubation temperature of 27°C produced the highest hatching success and smallest external residual yolk on hatching and is therefore recommended for incubation of eggs for population reinforcement programs. Our study is the first to optimise artificial incubation procedures for M. bellii and will be a valuable resource for M. bellii and other threatened freshwater turtle conservation initiatives.
{"title":"Optimising the hatching success of artificially incubated eggs for use in a conservation program for the western saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii)","authors":"Louise M. Streeting, D. Bower, M. Dillon, Phil Spark, M. Gough, A. Skidmore, P. Mcdonald, Hannah Delaney, A. Burns, Sandy Watson, D. Dissanayake, A. Georges, D. T. McKnight","doi":"10.1071/ZO22014","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22014","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Artificial incubation of eggs and the release of hatchlings into the wild is a common conservation intervention designed to augment threatened turtle populations. We investigate a range of incubation temperatures to establish an optimal temperature for maximum hatching success of western saw-shelled turtle (Myuchelys bellii) eggs. We report on the influence of incubation temperature on incubation duration and hatching success and describe two experimental incubation methods which, for the same incubation temperature (27°C), resulted in 77% and 97% hatching success, respectively. Eggs were incubated at constant temperatures (27°C, 28°C and 29°C) to determine the influence of temperature on incubation period, hatchling morphology and external residual yolk. Incubation duration was negatively correlated with incubation temperature. We report on the morphology of eggs and hatchlings and show that their dimensions are positively correlated with maternal adult size and mass. A constant incubation temperature of 27°C produced the highest hatching success and smallest external residual yolk on hatching and is therefore recommended for incubation of eggs for population reinforcement programs. Our study is the first to optimise artificial incubation procedures for M. bellii and will be a valuable resource for M. bellii and other threatened freshwater turtle conservation initiatives.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"101 1","pages":"74 - 82"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85329552","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
J. Augusteyn, M. Rich, Christen Mitchell, E. Mulder, B. Nolan, L. Lim, R. Melzer
Abstract. Livestock contributes to the decline of many species in Australia. However, they may have less impact in arid environments, where annual plant species dominate. Kowaris (Dasyuroides byrnei), a small carnivorous marsupial, living on Diamantina National Park were monitored to assess the success of ecosystem recovery following a reduction in cattle. Kowaris were found at 10 locations within the study area: five where they had been recorded prior to the area becoming a national park and five ‘new’ locations. No kowaris were found at one of the historical sites. The density was estimated to range from 1 to 2.5 kowaris per square kilometre from 2007 to 2009. The results suggest that the population likely increased following a reduction in grazing pressure. However, a boom in rodents and predators occurred during the study with a corresponding decline in kowari detections. Kowaris have not been detected at any of the study sites since 2012. These results suggest that management of top-down factors as well as bottom-up factors are required to conserve kowaris. The work further highlights the need for replicated, long-term studies if the interactions between complex ecological processes, at a landscape scale, are to be understood so that threatened species, like the kowari, can be managed effectively.
{"title":"Does reducing grazing pressure or predation conserve kowaris? A case study at Diamantina National Park","authors":"J. Augusteyn, M. Rich, Christen Mitchell, E. Mulder, B. Nolan, L. Lim, R. Melzer","doi":"10.1071/ZO22027","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22027","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Livestock contributes to the decline of many species in Australia. However, they may have less impact in arid environments, where annual plant species dominate. Kowaris (Dasyuroides byrnei), a small carnivorous marsupial, living on Diamantina National Park were monitored to assess the success of ecosystem recovery following a reduction in cattle. Kowaris were found at 10 locations within the study area: five where they had been recorded prior to the area becoming a national park and five ‘new’ locations. No kowaris were found at one of the historical sites. The density was estimated to range from 1 to 2.5 kowaris per square kilometre from 2007 to 2009. The results suggest that the population likely increased following a reduction in grazing pressure. However, a boom in rodents and predators occurred during the study with a corresponding decline in kowari detections. Kowaris have not been detected at any of the study sites since 2012. These results suggest that management of top-down factors as well as bottom-up factors are required to conserve kowaris. The work further highlights the need for replicated, long-term studies if the interactions between complex ecological processes, at a landscape scale, are to be understood so that threatened species, like the kowari, can be managed effectively.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"44 1","pages":"56 - 73"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"77104006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Abstract. Successful breeding of short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion) occurred at Perth Zoo on eight occasions between 2007 and 2012. Here we report the methods used for monitoring and managing breeding females and their young from hatching through to weaning. Growth and development of the young during burrow-life was quantified through regular weighing and maternal care was monitored using video camera surveillance. All young hatched between early August and mid-September and were deposited in nursery burrows in October–November at 58–63 days of age at an average mass of 295 ± 64.3 g. Mothers suckled their young, on average, every 3.3 ± 1.1 days. Young first emerged from their nursery burrow from mid-January into February at an average 169 ± 21 days of age and weighing 1674 ± 511 g, and reached 3 kg in mass at 348 ± 97 days of age. Sexual maturity of two female offspring was attained at 4 years of age. Our observations of maternal care and development of the captive-bred young are consistent with published observations made on wild echidnas. We suggest that important factors for the successful rearing of captive-bred echidnas are enclosure set-up, daily monitoring, combined with a suitably designed and managed nursery burrow that provides a suitable substrate and microenvironment.
{"title":"Maternal care and juvenile development of captive-bred short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion) at Perth Zoo, Western Australia","authors":"A. Ferguson, B. Laming","doi":"10.1071/ZO22013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22013","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Successful breeding of short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus acanthion) occurred at Perth Zoo on eight occasions between 2007 and 2012. Here we report the methods used for monitoring and managing breeding females and their young from hatching through to weaning. Growth and development of the young during burrow-life was quantified through regular weighing and maternal care was monitored using video camera surveillance. All young hatched between early August and mid-September and were deposited in nursery burrows in October–November at 58–63 days of age at an average mass of 295 ± 64.3 g. Mothers suckled their young, on average, every 3.3 ± 1.1 days. Young first emerged from their nursery burrow from mid-January into February at an average 169 ± 21 days of age and weighing 1674 ± 511 g, and reached 3 kg in mass at 348 ± 97 days of age. Sexual maturity of two female offspring was attained at 4 years of age. Our observations of maternal care and development of the captive-bred young are consistent with published observations made on wild echidnas. We suggest that important factors for the successful rearing of captive-bred echidnas are enclosure set-up, daily monitoring, combined with a suitably designed and managed nursery burrow that provides a suitable substrate and microenvironment.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"156 1","pages":"43 - 55"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"76811228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Western Australia’s tropical bat fauna comprises two communities; both are strict ensembles. One involves up to 19 species and occupies mangrove forest; the other, its landward counterpart, involves up to 22 species. Each includes habitat-generalist, productivity-dependent and cave-dependent species, so they achieve their full diversity in mangrove or riparian ecosystems associated with cavernous landscapes. Periods of significantly reduced rainfall are recognised in the climate record of the last ∼20 000 years, during which mangrove and upland riparian forests were the only highly productive ecosystems remaining in tropical Western Australia. During glacial cycles, these two refugia for mesic-adapted bats become geographically separated by the exposed continental shelf, a flat coastal plain more than 100 km wide. We review mangrove forests as evolutionary refuges during the Pleistocene, and use information on geographic range, endemism and habitat specificity to investigate the role of climatic and sea-level fluctuations in generating bat community structure. We conclude that mangrove forests provided a glacial refuge for all ensemble components; that the separation drove the evolution of two different ensembles. Northern Territory populations of Western Australia’s landward and mangrove specialists occupy landward as well as mangrove ecosystems, implying that mangrove refugia were not accessible during glacials.
{"title":"Glacial origin of bat ensembles in tropical Western Australia","authors":"N. McKenzie, K. Wyrwoll, R. Bullen","doi":"10.1071/ZO21035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO21035","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Western Australia’s tropical bat fauna comprises two communities; both are strict ensembles. One involves up to 19 species and occupies mangrove forest; the other, its landward counterpart, involves up to 22 species. Each includes habitat-generalist, productivity-dependent and cave-dependent species, so they achieve their full diversity in mangrove or riparian ecosystems associated with cavernous landscapes. Periods of significantly reduced rainfall are recognised in the climate record of the last ∼20 000 years, during which mangrove and upland riparian forests were the only highly productive ecosystems remaining in tropical Western Australia. During glacial cycles, these two refugia for mesic-adapted bats become geographically separated by the exposed continental shelf, a flat coastal plain more than 100 km wide. We review mangrove forests as evolutionary refuges during the Pleistocene, and use information on geographic range, endemism and habitat specificity to investigate the role of climatic and sea-level fluctuations in generating bat community structure. We conclude that mangrove forests provided a glacial refuge for all ensemble components; that the separation drove the evolution of two different ensembles. Northern Territory populations of Western Australia’s landward and mangrove specialists occupy landward as well as mangrove ecosystems, implying that mangrove refugia were not accessible during glacials.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"44 1","pages":"1 - 21"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-11-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84331338","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
ABSTRACT Parasite load can vary with seasonality, but this is rarely quantified. The garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) is host to multiple species of endoparasite. To measure seasonal effects of parasite transmission we established three captive groups of wild-caught individuals in which 2 of 16 individuals (12.5%) were initially infected with nematodes. We collected three faecal samples from each lizard, a sample at the beginning and at the end of the non-activity season and at the end of the following activity season. We measured parasite load (ascarid group) by counting parasite eggs per gram of faeces using a microscope. We found that parasite load was significantly higher in the activity season than in the non-activity season. The prevalence of parasites increased from 15.9% in the non-activity season to 72.5% in the activity season. The activity season is characterised by greater host activity and warmer ambient temperatures, which promote parasite egg survival in the environment as well as egg development. Taken together, this facilitates parasite transmission and could ultimately explain the higher parasite load during the activity season.
{"title":"Seasonal differences in parasite load in a short-lived lizard","authors":"Ko‐Huan Lee, M. Whiting, S. Leu","doi":"10.1071/ZO22039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22039","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Parasite load can vary with seasonality, but this is rarely quantified. The garden skink (Lampropholis guichenoti) is host to multiple species of endoparasite. To measure seasonal effects of parasite transmission we established three captive groups of wild-caught individuals in which 2 of 16 individuals (12.5%) were initially infected with nematodes. We collected three faecal samples from each lizard, a sample at the beginning and at the end of the non-activity season and at the end of the following activity season. We measured parasite load (ascarid group) by counting parasite eggs per gram of faeces using a microscope. We found that parasite load was significantly higher in the activity season than in the non-activity season. The prevalence of parasites increased from 15.9% in the non-activity season to 72.5% in the activity season. The activity season is characterised by greater host activity and warmer ambient temperatures, which promote parasite egg survival in the environment as well as egg development. Taken together, this facilitates parasite transmission and could ultimately explain the higher parasite load during the activity season.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":"10 1","pages":"36 - 41"},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2022-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"74533665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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