Distribution of the Dusky Hopping-Mouse (Notomys Fuscus) in North-Eastern South Australia
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Distribution of the Dusky Hopping-mouse (Notomys fuscus) in north-eastern South Australia April 2018 Catherine Lynch (Community Ecologist, Natural Resources SA Arid Lands) and Patrick Hodgens (Terrain Ecology) DISCLAIMER The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, and its employees do not warrant or make any representation regarding the use, or results of use of the information contained herein as to its correctness, accuracy, reliability, currency or otherwise. The South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board and its employees expressly disclaim all liability or responsibility to any person using the information or advice. This report may be cited as: Hodgens, P., and Lynch, C. (2018). Distribution of the Dusky Hopping-mouse (Notomys fuscus) in north-eastern South Australia. South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board, South Australia. Cover image: Dusky Hopping-mouse detected at its burrow entrance on Quinyambie Station by a motion sensor camera trap. © South Australian Arid Lands Natural Resources Management Board 2018 Table of Contents Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 3 Methods ................................................................................................................................ 4 Personnel .......................................................................................................................... 4 Weather conditions ............................................................................................................ 4 2 ha track plot monitoring .................................................................................................. 5 Data analysis ..................................................................................................................... 6 Trapping ............................................................................................................................ 8 Spotlighting ....................................................................................................................... 9 Results ................................................................................................................................ 10 2 ha track plot monitoring ................................................................................................ 10 Predator associations .................................................................................................. 13 Native and introduced herbivore associations .............................................................. 19 Comparison between inside and outside the Dog Fence .............................................. 20 Habitat and vegetation associations ............................................................................. 23 Suitability of plots for tracking ....................................................................................... 23 Trapping .......................................................................................................................... 24 Spotlighting ..................................................................................................................... 24 Discussion .......................................................................................................................... 26 Climatic conditions........................................................................................................... 26 Trackability ...................................................................................................................... 26 Trapping and spotlighting ................................................................................................ 26 Habitat associations and condition .................................................................................. 27 Predator associations ...................................................................................................... 27 Native and introduced herbivore associations .................................................................. 28 Refuge sites for Dusky Hopping-mice .............................................................................. 29 Implications and recommendations ................................................................................. 29 Acknowledgements ............................................................................................................. 31 References ......................................................................................................................... 31 Appendices ......................................................................................................................... 33 List of Figures Figure 1. Weather conditions were ideal for the tracking survey. ........................................... 4 Figure 2. 2018 2 ha track plot monitoring sites. ..................................................................... 7 Figure 3. Pitfall trap and fly wire fence used to survey for the Dusky Hopping-mouse. .......... 8 Figure 4. Camera traps used to survey for Dusky Hopping-mice. .......................................... 9 Figure 5. Bipedal hop of the Dusky Hopping-mouse across a sand dune. ........................... 10 Figure 6. Locations where Dusky Hopping-mice were detected in the 2018 survey. ........... 11 Figure 7. Abundance of Dusky Hopping-mouse at sites where the species was detected. .. 12 Figure 8. The percentage of plots at which herbivores, predators and other species were detected during the 2018 survey. n = 84. ............................................................................ 13 Figure 9. The percentage of plots at which predator species were detected across each monitoring event. Only those sites surveyed in every event (2011, 2012 and 2018) are included (n = 53). ................................................................................................................ 14 Figure 10. Fox tracks (L). Fresh dingo and hopping-mouse tracks on Quinyambie Station (R). ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Figure 11. Feral cat (top), rabbit (middle) and Dusky Hopping-mouse (bottom) tracks. ....... 15 Figure 12. Distribution of feral cats across the survey area. ................................................ 16 Figure 13. Distribution of dingoes across the project area. .................................................. 17 Figure 14. Distribution of the red fox in the study area. ....................................................... 18 Figure 15. Tracks and/or other sign of kangaroos were detected at 77 % of plots. .............. 19 Figure 16. The percentage of plots at which herbivores and rodents/dasyurids were detected across each monitoring event. Only those sites surveyed in every event (2011, 2012 and 2018) are included (n = 53). .......................................................................................................... 20 Figure 17. Percentage of plots at which herbivores, predators and other species were detected during the 2018 survey inside the Dog Fence (n = 68) vs. outside the Dog Fence (n = 16). 22 Figure 18. Percentage of plots in each ground cover class inside the Dog Fence vs. outside the Dog Fence across each monitoring period. ................................................................... 22 Figure 19. Percentage of plots in each ground cover class at which Dusky Hopping-mice were recorded across each monitoring period. ............................................................................ 23 Figure 20. Percentage of suitable tracking substrate at sites where hopping-mice were detected compared to all sites surveyed. ............................................................................ 24 Figure 21. One of the five Dusky Hopping-mouse individuals captured on Quinyambie station. ........................................................................................................................................... 25 Figure 22. Dusky Hopping-mouse specimens collected for the SA Museum. Note the different appearance of the bottom individual to the typical sandy orange colour of the top specimen. ........................................................................................................................................... 25 List of Tables Table 1. Percentage of plots at which herbivores, predators and other species were detected during the survey. Total plots surveyed = 84 (68 inside Dog Fence and 16 outside Dog Fence). ........................................................................................................................................... 21 List of Appendices Appendix 1. Details for 2ha track plot sites surveyed in 2018. ............................................. 33 Appendix 2. Details of trapping sites used during 2018 survey. ........................................... 35 Appendix 3. Details of spotlight transects undertaken during the 2018 survey. ................... 35 Appendix 4. Statistical analysis. .......................................................................................... 36 SUMMARY The Dusky Hopping-mouse (Notomys fuscus) is a small native rodent that was once distributed