Kymberly J. Robinson, D. Limpus, Brad Crosbie, Colin J. Limpus, L. Fabbro
The echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is documented as a new native predator of freshwater turtle eggs, particularly those of the vulnerable Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops), and the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula). This depredation has been identified in the Fitzroy, Burnett and Mary Catchments with echidnas recorded at traditional turtle nesting banks using direct observation of depredation of eggs, remote camera footage and identification of tracks. Echidnas were observed at traditional nesting banks for E. albagula and R. leukops nesting across eight months of the year. The presence of echidnas was more frequent during the R. leukops nesting season in spring. R. leukops is endemic to the Fitzroy Catchment and the depredation rate of eggs was significantly higher than for other species and catchments. The mean top egg depth of R. leukops nests was found to be the same depth as the echidna’s beak length. There was a significant increase in depredation during the five-year study period, with 47.4% of R. leukops clutches depredated by echidna in the 2022 season. This substantial loss of eggs and recruitment of hatchling turtles poses a significant threat to the populations of this threatened species.
{"title":"Depredation of eggs of threatened freshwater turtles by the short-beaked echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus (Shaw, 1792))","authors":"Kymberly J. Robinson, D. Limpus, Brad Crosbie, Colin J. Limpus, L. Fabbro","doi":"10.1071/zo23029","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo23029","url":null,"abstract":"The echidna (Tachyglossus aculeatus) is documented as a new native predator of freshwater turtle eggs, particularly those of the vulnerable Fitzroy River turtle (Rheodytes leukops), and the critically endangered white-throated snapping turtle (Elseya albagula). This depredation has been identified in the Fitzroy, Burnett and Mary Catchments with echidnas recorded at traditional turtle nesting banks using direct observation of depredation of eggs, remote camera footage and identification of tracks. Echidnas were observed at traditional nesting banks for E. albagula and R. leukops nesting across eight months of the year. The presence of echidnas was more frequent during the R. leukops nesting season in spring. R. leukops is endemic to the Fitzroy Catchment and the depredation rate of eggs was significantly higher than for other species and catchments. The mean top egg depth of R. leukops nests was found to be the same depth as the echidna’s beak length. There was a significant increase in depredation during the five-year study period, with 47.4% of R. leukops clutches depredated by echidna in the 2022 season. This substantial loss of eggs and recruitment of hatchling turtles poses a significant threat to the populations of this threatened species.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140250887","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}
Murraya R. Lane, Kara N. Youngentob, Robert G Clark, Karen J Marsh
Most forests and woodlands of south-eastern Australia are fire prone. These landscapes are typically dominated by tree species of the genus Eucalyptus, and many of these are proficient epicormic resprouters after fire. Several marsupial folivores rely on Eucalyptus foliage, including the koala. Little is known about the nutritional composition of epicormic leaves and whether folivores can utilise them. Following the 2019–20 megafires, we offered koalas epicormic leaves from eight eucalypt species that occur in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands and measured concentrations of foliar chemical constituents known to influence koala feeding (total and available nitrogen, formylated phloroglucinol compounds (FPCs), and unsubstituted B-ring flavanones (UBFs)). Captive koalas ate epicormic leaves from the four eucalypt species belonging to the subgenus Symphyomyrtus but ate relatively little from the species of the subgenus Eucalyptus. Available nitrogen was significantly higher in symphyomyrtle epicormic regrowth than in monocalypts and differed between species. Concentrations of FPCs and UBFs also differed between eucalypt species. Our results suggest that post-fire epicormic regrowth from symphyomyrtle species may be more readily browsed than that of monocalypts by koalas in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Therefore, some burnt areas are likely to be better quality habitat for koalas than others.
{"title":"The nutritional quality of post-fire eucalypt regrowth and its consumption by koalas in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands","authors":"Murraya R. Lane, Kara N. Youngentob, Robert G Clark, Karen J Marsh","doi":"10.1071/zo23024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/zo23024","url":null,"abstract":"Most forests and woodlands of south-eastern Australia are fire prone. These landscapes are typically dominated by tree species of the genus Eucalyptus, and many of these are proficient epicormic resprouters after fire. Several marsupial folivores rely on Eucalyptus foliage, including the koala. Little is known about the nutritional composition of epicormic leaves and whether folivores can utilise them. Following the 2019–20 megafires, we offered koalas epicormic leaves from eight eucalypt species that occur in the New South Wales Southern Tablelands and measured concentrations of foliar chemical constituents known to influence koala feeding (total and available nitrogen, formylated phloroglucinol compounds (FPCs), and unsubstituted B-ring flavanones (UBFs)). Captive koalas ate epicormic leaves from the four eucalypt species belonging to the subgenus Symphyomyrtus but ate relatively little from the species of the subgenus Eucalyptus. Available nitrogen was significantly higher in symphyomyrtle epicormic regrowth than in monocalypts and differed between species. Concentrations of FPCs and UBFs also differed between eucalypt species. Our results suggest that post-fire epicormic regrowth from symphyomyrtle species may be more readily browsed than that of monocalypts by koalas in the NSW Southern Tablelands. Therefore, some burnt areas are likely to be better quality habitat for koalas than others.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2024-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140080180","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 Raine Island, the world’s largest green turtle nesting location, has low nest hatching success. The main causes of this low hatching success are thought to be nest destruction by subsequent nesting females, and inundation of nests during high tides and storm surges. But even nests that are protected from nest destruction and inundation appear to have relatively low hatching success, with most of the embryo mortality occurring early in incubation. Here, I compare hatching success and developmental phase of embryo death of protected ‘dry’ nests from Raine Island (RI) with similar nests from Heron Island (HI), a nesting location previously reported as having high hatching success. Nests at both sites were sampled close to the peak time of nesting (December). Twenty-eight nests were sampled at RI and 14 nests at HI. Nest temperatures were cooler during the first week of incubation at HI (median 26.9°C) than at RI (median 30.1°C), but three-days-in-a-row maximum nest temperatures were higher at HI (median 36.0°C) than at RI (median 33.5°C). I found the hatching success of sampled nests at both locations was similar, ~70%, but most embryo death occurred early in incubation at RI (median 16.5%) compared to HI (median 3.8%), but late in incubation at HI (median 4.9%) compared to RI (median 0.2%).
{"title":"Green turtle (Chelonia mydas) hatching success at Raine and Heron Islands","authors":"D. Booth","doi":"10.1071/ZO23013","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23013","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Raine Island, the world’s largest green turtle nesting location, has low nest hatching success. The main causes of this low hatching success are thought to be nest destruction by subsequent nesting females, and inundation of nests during high tides and storm surges. But even nests that are protected from nest destruction and inundation appear to have relatively low hatching success, with most of the embryo mortality occurring early in incubation. Here, I compare hatching success and developmental phase of embryo death of protected ‘dry’ nests from Raine Island (RI) with similar nests from Heron Island (HI), a nesting location previously reported as having high hatching success. Nests at both sites were sampled close to the peak time of nesting (December). Twenty-eight nests were sampled at RI and 14 nests at HI. Nest temperatures were cooler during the first week of incubation at HI (median 26.9°C) than at RI (median 30.1°C), but three-days-in-a-row maximum nest temperatures were higher at HI (median 36.0°C) than at RI (median 33.5°C). I found the hatching success of sampled nests at both locations was similar, ~70%, but most embryo death occurred early in incubation at RI (median 16.5%) compared to HI (median 3.8%), but late in incubation at HI (median 4.9%) compared to RI (median 0.2%).","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"73689657","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 An increasing number of species are establishing populations outside of their native ranges, often with negative ecological and economic impacts. The detection and surveillance of invasive species presents a huge logistical challenge, given the large spatial regions in which new populations can appear. However, data collected through citizen science projects are increasingly recognised as a valuable source for detection and monitoring of invasive species. We use data from a national citizen science project, FrogID, to quantify the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) outside its historical native range in Australia. Of 48 012 records of L. fallax in the FrogID database, 485 were located far outside the historical native range of the species. L. fallax has established geographically large populations hundreds of kilometres away from its native range, and these appear to be spreading in extent over time. These populations have resulted in novel species co-occurrences, with L. fallax now co-occurring with at least two frog species not present in their native range. Although the impacts of the invasive populations of L. fallax remain unknown, our work highlights the value in leveraging citizen science projects to detect and monitor native species that can become invasive far outside their historical range.
{"title":"Tracking the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) in Australia using citizen science","authors":"J. Rowley, C. Callaghan","doi":"10.1071/ZO23012","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23012","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT An increasing number of species are establishing populations outside of their native ranges, often with negative ecological and economic impacts. The detection and surveillance of invasive species presents a huge logistical challenge, given the large spatial regions in which new populations can appear. However, data collected through citizen science projects are increasingly recognised as a valuable source for detection and monitoring of invasive species. We use data from a national citizen science project, FrogID, to quantify the spread of the eastern dwarf tree frog (Litoria fallax) outside its historical native range in Australia. Of 48 012 records of L. fallax in the FrogID database, 485 were located far outside the historical native range of the species. L. fallax has established geographically large populations hundreds of kilometres away from its native range, and these appear to be spreading in extent over time. These populations have resulted in novel species co-occurrences, with L. fallax now co-occurring with at least two frog species not present in their native range. Although the impacts of the invasive populations of L. fallax remain unknown, our work highlights the value in leveraging citizen science projects to detect and monitor native species that can become invasive far outside their historical range.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-06-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"90371816","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}
D. G. Chapple, Stephanie N. J. Chapple, S. A. Smith, G. Shea, Ian G. Brennan, R. Sadlier
ABSTRACT Skinks (Family Scincidae) are the most diverse family of lizards (~1745 described species worldwide), and the Australasian region (Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand) is a recognised global hotspot (>600 species) for skinks. Here we focus on determining the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography within the tribe Eugongylini, one of three lineages in the region. We used mtDNA (ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1, c-mos) DNA sequences and phylogenetic analyses to reveal the presence of three well-supported lineages of Australian Eugongylini. We found a sister relationship between the monotypic genera Eroticoscincus and Harrisoniascincus, and that the monotypic Anepischetosia has close affinities with Carinascincus coventryi and Pseudemoia. C. coventryi represents a separate lineage from the main Carinascincus radiation. Emoia was not found to be monophyletic, with Emoia s.s. part of an Australian lineage, and the remainder of the genus representing an older divergence within the tribe. The widespread and speciose Cryptoblepharus represented a well-supported lineage within an Australian lineage. Our analyses confirm previous suggestions that four Sphenomorphus species (louisiadensis, minutus, bignelli, and aignanus) are misplaced, and are part of the Eugongylini. Our phylogenetic analyses support the hypothesis that the origin of the tribe lies in Asia, with dispersal events to Africa, Australasia, and Oceania.
{"title":"Phylogenetic relationships in the Eugongylini (Squamata: Scincidae): generic limits and biogeography","authors":"D. G. Chapple, Stephanie N. J. Chapple, S. A. Smith, G. Shea, Ian G. Brennan, R. Sadlier","doi":"10.1071/ZO23007","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23007","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Skinks (Family Scincidae) are the most diverse family of lizards (~1745 described species worldwide), and the Australasian region (Australia, New Caledonia, New Zealand) is a recognised global hotspot (>600 species) for skinks. Here we focus on determining the phylogenetic relationships and biogeography within the tribe Eugongylini, one of three lineages in the region. We used mtDNA (ND2) and nuclear (RAG-1, c-mos) DNA sequences and phylogenetic analyses to reveal the presence of three well-supported lineages of Australian Eugongylini. We found a sister relationship between the monotypic genera Eroticoscincus and Harrisoniascincus, and that the monotypic Anepischetosia has close affinities with Carinascincus coventryi and Pseudemoia. C. coventryi represents a separate lineage from the main Carinascincus radiation. Emoia was not found to be monophyletic, with Emoia s.s. part of an Australian lineage, and the remainder of the genus representing an older divergence within the tribe. The widespread and speciose Cryptoblepharus represented a well-supported lineage within an Australian lineage. Our analyses confirm previous suggestions that four Sphenomorphus species (louisiadensis, minutus, bignelli, and aignanus) are misplaced, and are part of the Eugongylini. Our phylogenetic analyses support the hypothesis that the origin of the tribe lies in Asia, with dispersal events to Africa, Australasia, and Oceania.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-05-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"83400208","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}
Bridgette L. Barnden, A. Slender, R. Sharrad, M. Gardner
ABSTRACT Anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and diminishing habitats cause widespread disturbances in species distributions for a variety of taxa. Range shifts and hybridisation following secondary contact become of particular importance when it comes to parasites such as ticks, as they are dependent on their host distributions and can carry numerous harmful pathogens. We aimed to determine if two parapatric reptile tick species, Amblyomma albolimbatum and A. limbatum, hybridise at their parapatric boundary by comparing morphological and genomic variation using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our results show that both tick species were genomically distinct, but hybridisation has occurred. We found a hybrid and an A. limbatum outside of their previously known range, suggesting there could have been a shift in tick distribution. What were thought to be hybrids due to intermediate morphological traits were not hybrids but morphological variants of the parental species. This information suggests more distinctive morphological features are needed for identifying these tick species and that novel environmental conditions and a broadening of tick niche due to hybridisation could increase host exposure to different pathogens.
{"title":"Changes in parasite species distributions could be driven by host range expansions: the case of hybridisation between two Australian reptile ticks","authors":"Bridgette L. Barnden, A. Slender, R. Sharrad, M. Gardner","doi":"10.1071/ZO23010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23010","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Anthropogenic stressors such as climate change and diminishing habitats cause widespread disturbances in species distributions for a variety of taxa. Range shifts and hybridisation following secondary contact become of particular importance when it comes to parasites such as ticks, as they are dependent on their host distributions and can carry numerous harmful pathogens. We aimed to determine if two parapatric reptile tick species, Amblyomma albolimbatum and A. limbatum, hybridise at their parapatric boundary by comparing morphological and genomic variation using single nucleotide polymorphisms. Our results show that both tick species were genomically distinct, but hybridisation has occurred. We found a hybrid and an A. limbatum outside of their previously known range, suggesting there could have been a shift in tick distribution. What were thought to be hybrids due to intermediate morphological traits were not hybrids but morphological variants of the parental species. This information suggests more distinctive morphological features are needed for identifying these tick species and that novel environmental conditions and a broadening of tick niche due to hybridisation could increase host exposure to different pathogens.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"91102131","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 Olfaction is a widespread mode of communication in mammals. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in biological samples such as scat and urine give them either a repellent property to warn prey or an attractant property to communicate reproductive, social, and territorial status to conspecifics. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are VOC differences in the scat of a dingo compared to that of a domestic German Shepherd Dog (GSD). We standardised the diet for 10 days and then collected scat from 14 dingoes and 11 GSDs. Using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we characterised VOCs present in the dingo scat and compared the composition with those of GSDs. We identified 58 significant VOCs out of a total of 154 VOCs identified in both dingoes and GSDs. Of these, 12 were significantly higher in the scat of dingoes and 46 elevated in the GSD. Of the 12 elevated in the dingo, three were unique and present in high concentration (>10 ng/g), four were elevated and present in high concentration and five were present at low concentrations (<10 ng/g). We suggest that the detected differences show potential to be incorporated into dingo management strategies.
{"title":"Characterisation of volatile organic compounds in dingo scat and a comparison with those of the domestic dog","authors":"Tyler J. Lepan, T. Truong, Sonu Yadav, J. Ballard","doi":"10.1071/ZO23001","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO23001","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Olfaction is a widespread mode of communication in mammals. The volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in biological samples such as scat and urine give them either a repellent property to warn prey or an attractant property to communicate reproductive, social, and territorial status to conspecifics. The aim of this study was to determine whether there are VOC differences in the scat of a dingo compared to that of a domestic German Shepherd Dog (GSD). We standardised the diet for 10 days and then collected scat from 14 dingoes and 11 GSDs. Using headspace solid phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS), we characterised VOCs present in the dingo scat and compared the composition with those of GSDs. We identified 58 significant VOCs out of a total of 154 VOCs identified in both dingoes and GSDs. Of these, 12 were significantly higher in the scat of dingoes and 46 elevated in the GSD. Of the 12 elevated in the dingo, three were unique and present in high concentration (>10 ng/g), four were elevated and present in high concentration and five were present at low concentrations (<10 ng/g). We suggest that the detected differences show potential to be incorporated into dingo management strategies.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-05-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"79654433","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}
B. P. Gill, A. M. Edwards, M. Parrott, Emily L. Scicluna, K. Robert
ABSTRACT Obtaining a suitable mate is an integral part of reproduction, with sexual selection processes such as female mate choice resulting in both direct and/or indirect benefits. Here, we investigated whether olfactory driven female mate choice influenced reproductive success in captive fat-tailed dunnarts (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Although females spent 67% more time with a preferred male’s scent, reproductive success was not influenced by assigned mate choice. Of the 10 (of 12) litters that survived to weaning, average litter size was higher for non-preferred pairings (3 ± 0.83) compared with preferred pairings (1.6 ± 0.60), with weaning success equal for both pairings. Analyses suggested that offspring sex ratios were influenced by mate choice, with females paired with their preferred mate having more daughters (81%) in comparison to non-preferred pairings (44%) and by paternal body condition, whereby females paired with males in better body condition produced more sons. In this species, altering offspring sex ratios in favour of daughters may be achieved by pairing with preferred males, and towards sons by pairing with males in better body condition. With the increasing need for captive breeding programs, these techniques may provide opportunities to correct sex ratio biases and incorporate natural mating systems into conservation programs.
{"title":"Female mate choice in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) influences offspring sex ratio, but not fecundity","authors":"B. P. Gill, A. M. Edwards, M. Parrott, Emily L. Scicluna, K. Robert","doi":"10.1071/ZO22028","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22028","url":null,"abstract":"ABSTRACT Obtaining a suitable mate is an integral part of reproduction, with sexual selection processes such as female mate choice resulting in both direct and/or indirect benefits. Here, we investigated whether olfactory driven female mate choice influenced reproductive success in captive fat-tailed dunnarts (Sminthopsis crassicaudata). Although females spent 67% more time with a preferred male’s scent, reproductive success was not influenced by assigned mate choice. Of the 10 (of 12) litters that survived to weaning, average litter size was higher for non-preferred pairings (3 ± 0.83) compared with preferred pairings (1.6 ± 0.60), with weaning success equal for both pairings. Analyses suggested that offspring sex ratios were influenced by mate choice, with females paired with their preferred mate having more daughters (81%) in comparison to non-preferred pairings (44%) and by paternal body condition, whereby females paired with males in better body condition produced more sons. In this species, altering offspring sex ratios in favour of daughters may be achieved by pairing with preferred males, and towards sons by pairing with males in better body condition. With the increasing need for captive breeding programs, these techniques may provide opportunities to correct sex ratio biases and incorporate natural mating systems into conservation programs.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78843582","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}
S. Petit, Peter A. Hammond, B. Heterick, John J. Weyland
Abstract. Many animal species ‘play dead’ or feign death (in some cases called tonic immobility) as a defence strategy against predators, including some ants, although triggers and durations are poorly understood. We repeatedly observed such death-feigning behaviour in Polyrhachis femorata ants that occupied pygmy-possum nest boxes deployed on Kangaroo Island following the 2019–2020 bushfires that burnt half of the island. Most of the 759 bat and pygmy-possum boxes (901 cavities) were on burnt ground. In 3312 box cavity checks on 13 diverse properties during monitoring visits, 28 of 40 P. femorata records (first for South Australia) occurred in unburnt Critically Endangered Narrow-Leaf Mallee Woodland community, seven in adjacent mallee community containing narrow-leaf mallee, three in cup gum unburnt habitat, and two in one box on burnt ground. Fire may have affected the abundance and re-establishment of the species. Polyrhachis femorata engages in a surprising defensive immobility strategy in boxes, since it is not only undertaken by individuals facing a potential predator, but also by entire colonies. The death-feigning behaviours were complemented by plugging box entrances. Nest boxes may be used to study this mysterious behaviour in this poorly known species, although frequent observation could lead to nest abandonment by the ant.
{"title":"Polyrhachis femorata (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) habitat and colony defensive immobility strategy","authors":"S. Petit, Peter A. Hammond, B. Heterick, John J. Weyland","doi":"10.1071/ZO22042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22042","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Many animal species ‘play dead’ or feign death (in some cases called tonic immobility) as a defence strategy against predators, including some ants, although triggers and durations are poorly understood. We repeatedly observed such death-feigning behaviour in Polyrhachis femorata ants that occupied pygmy-possum nest boxes deployed on Kangaroo Island following the 2019–2020 bushfires that burnt half of the island. Most of the 759 bat and pygmy-possum boxes (901 cavities) were on burnt ground. In 3312 box cavity checks on 13 diverse properties during monitoring visits, 28 of 40 P. femorata records (first for South Australia) occurred in unburnt Critically Endangered Narrow-Leaf Mallee Woodland community, seven in adjacent mallee community containing narrow-leaf mallee, three in cup gum unburnt habitat, and two in one box on burnt ground. Fire may have affected the abundance and re-establishment of the species. Polyrhachis femorata engages in a surprising defensive immobility strategy in boxes, since it is not only undertaken by individuals facing a potential predator, but also by entire colonies. The death-feigning behaviours were complemented by plugging box entrances. Nest boxes may be used to study this mysterious behaviour in this poorly known species, although frequent observation could lead to nest abandonment by the ant.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86176794","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. Myrmecochory is a widespread mutualism between angiosperm plants and ants, where seed dispersal is facilitated by a nutrient-rich appendage known as the elaiosome. Some species of phasmids (Phasmatodea) have convergently evolved an appendage, the egg capitulum, that is analogous to the elaiosome. Research into ant-mediated dispersal of phasmid eggs is limited. It is unknown whether there are species-specific interactions between ants and phasmid eggs, nor if this variation in ant species behaviour towards eggs parallels behaviour towards seeds. We observed the behaviour of five Australian ant species towards Extatosoma tiaratum eggs and Acacia longifolia seeds. We found that ant species show significant variation in the likelihood of dispersing phasmid eggs and plant seeds. Iridomyrmex purpureus removed the largest quantities of eggs and seeds. Rhytidoponera metallica also removed large amounts of seeds but less eggs. Three species did not remove any eggs but removed small amounts of seeds. We found a species-specific component to dispersal of phasmid eggs and seeds by ants, indicating that this mutualism may depend on partner identity and abundance. Although seeds and eggs have convergently evolved to exploit ant behaviours, they elicit different behaviours in certain ant species, highlighting the complex nature of this interaction.
{"title":"Ant mediated dispersal of spiny stick insect (Extatosoma tiaratum) eggs and Acacia longifolia seeds is ant-species dependent","authors":"Hannah R. Smart, N. Andrew, J. C. O’Hanlon","doi":"10.1071/ZO22036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO22036","url":null,"abstract":"Abstract. Myrmecochory is a widespread mutualism between angiosperm plants and ants, where seed dispersal is facilitated by a nutrient-rich appendage known as the elaiosome. Some species of phasmids (Phasmatodea) have convergently evolved an appendage, the egg capitulum, that is analogous to the elaiosome. Research into ant-mediated dispersal of phasmid eggs is limited. It is unknown whether there are species-specific interactions between ants and phasmid eggs, nor if this variation in ant species behaviour towards eggs parallels behaviour towards seeds. We observed the behaviour of five Australian ant species towards Extatosoma tiaratum eggs and Acacia longifolia seeds. We found that ant species show significant variation in the likelihood of dispersing phasmid eggs and plant seeds. Iridomyrmex purpureus removed the largest quantities of eggs and seeds. Rhytidoponera metallica also removed large amounts of seeds but less eggs. Three species did not remove any eggs but removed small amounts of seeds. We found a species-specific component to dispersal of phasmid eggs and seeds by ants, indicating that this mutualism may depend on partner identity and abundance. Although seeds and eggs have convergently evolved to exploit ant behaviours, they elicit different behaviours in certain ant species, highlighting the complex nature of this interaction.","PeriodicalId":55420,"journal":{"name":"Australian Journal of Zoology","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":0.8,"publicationDate":"2023-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"86449953","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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