https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Index en-au 5 https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:50889 Wed 16 Aug 2023 11:05:54 AEST ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:37326 Tue 13 Oct 2020 09:21:21 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40022 Tyto alba delicatula) and the threatened eastern grass owl (Tyto longimembris) are predators that may have occupancy patterns linked with prey abundance. It is important to identify the resources that cause increases in primary prey items to further understanding of the ecology of these species. Here I test the hypothesis that grass seeds cause increased abundances of wetland-dwelling house mice (Mus musculus) in austral summer, and identify a wetland monocot that provides a food recourse to achieve this effect, as well as report eastern grass owl and barn owl observations. A 2.6 ha wetland area (on Kooragang Island, New South Wales) was surveyed almost weekly to quantify abundance of prey items from September to April for three years (2016–2019). Typha sp. (a monocot) had flowering periods that coincided with increases in house mouse observations (n = 90 in flowering, n = 2 in non-flowering), where 22% were detected feeding on Typha flowers/seeds or fleeing from flower stalks. Eastern grass owls were only observed during a Typha flowering period (n = 3). These observations confirmed the original hypothesis and led to the formulation of another hypothesis: wetland occupancy by eastern grass owls is influenced by Typha flowering. Future studies should aim to test this hypothesis and identify other wetland plants that provide an important food source for wetland-dwelling rodents.]]> Thu 14 Jul 2022 14:35:11 AEST ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:8355 Sat 24 Mar 2018 08:39:51 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:5121 Sat 24 Mar 2018 07:48:56 AEDT ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:40432 Setonix brachyurus, in south-west Western Australia. We hypothesised that movement between known populations would be relatively rare and result in significant genetic structuring. Genetic analyses from 412 adult individuals at 14 nuclear markers (microsatellite) from 33 sampling locations identified structure, diversity and spatial separation of quokkas across their mainland distribution and on two islands. We identified nine inferred (K = 9) populations of quokka that would be otherwise difficult to define with standard ecological techniques. The highest genetic diversity was evident in a large central population of quokka in the southern forest area and genetic diversity was lower at the peripheries of the distribution. The Rottnest Island population contained 70% of the genetic diversity of the mainland populations but the genetic diversity of animals on Bald Island was markedly lower. Populations of quokka in the northern jarrah forest were the only ones to show evidence of recent or long-term population bottlenecking. Of particular interest was the recently identified population at the Muddy Lakes area (the only remaining locality on the Swan Coastal Plain), which was identified as being genetically associated with the southern forest population. Overall, spatial and population cluster analysis showed small insular populations in the northern jarrah forest area, but in the southern forests there appears to be a large panmictic population.]]> Fri 22 Jul 2022 14:30:34 AEST ]]> https://ogma.newcastle.edu.au/vital/access/ /manager/Repository/uon:46948 Fri 09 Dec 2022 14:35:31 AEDT ]]>