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Rattus Fuscipes) Into Sydney Harbour National Park: Restoring Ecosystem Function

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Rattus Fuscipes) Into Sydney Harbour National Park: Restoring Ecosystem Function Translocation and Reintroduction of Native Bush Rats (Rattus fuscipes) into Sydney Harbour National Park: Restoring Ecosystem Function Megan Callander Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Science In the School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University 2018 Acknowledgements I would firstly like to thank my supervisors Ricky Spencer and Peter Banks for their assistance, input and feedback in helping this project come to completion. Extra thanks to Peter for the opportunity to be part of the Bush Rat Project, without which I would not have a thesis. Thanks to all organisations that were part of the Bush Rat Project: Australian Research Council, Department of Environment and Climate Change, National Parks and Wildlife Service, Landcare Research New Zealand, Rentokil, Australian Wildlife Conservancy, Taronga Conservation Society Australia and Mosman Council. Acknowledgements to the Banks lab in Sydney University and Australian Wildlife Conservancy for the enormous fieldwork effort and the collection and collation of data. Additional thanks to all the volunteers that assisted in the field throughout the research, none of this would be possible without you. Special thanks to Mark Emanuel for his assistance in the laboratory and always providing me with all the resources I needed. I would also like to thank Julie Old who provided me with invaluable information and feedback on genetic analysis and Fiona McDougall for her help in the lab and the field. Further thanks to Oselyne Ong for her amazing knowledge in genetic analysis and helping me through a sometimes very frustrating process. Thank you to the Lab Group, especially Jessica Dormer, Fiona Loudon and Jessica McGlashan, for their support throughout the research process and for understanding the ups and downs of research. To my amazing family and friends for their understanding, interest and support throughout this very long process. Last, but certainly not least, my partner Alan, who was always there for me in this roller-coaster of a project. I could not have done it without you. i Statement of Authentication The work presented in this thesis is, to the best of my knowledge and belief, original except as acknowledged in the text. I hereby declare that I have not submitted this material, either in full or in part for a degree at this or any other institution. Megan Callander ii Table of Contents Acknowledgements ........................................................................................................................... i Statement of Authentication ........................................................................................................ ii List of Figures ................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables .................................................................................................................................... xii Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. xiv CHAPTER 1: General Introduction and the Sydney Bush Rat Project ............................ 1 1.1 ECOSYSTEM RESTORATION AND TRANSLOCATION ............................................................ 2 1.1.1 Factors Driving Translocation Success ............................................................................... 3 1.2 INVASIVE SPECIES ............................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 BIOLOGICAL CONTROL ...................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.1 Competitive Biocontrol .............................................................................................................. 7 1.4 SYDNEY BUSH RAT PROJECT .......................................................................................................... 7 1.4.1 Overview of Study Design ......................................................................................................... 8 1.5 BUSH RATS IN SYDNEY HARBOUR NATIONAL PARK ....................................................... 12 1.6 SCOPE OF THESIS .............................................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 2: General Methods.................................................................................................... 16 2.1 STUDY SPECIES .................................................................................................................................. 17 2.2 SOURCE POPULATION .................................................................................................................... 18 2.3 REINTRODUCTION SITES .............................................................................................................. 22 2.4 RELEASE TECHNIQUE ..................................................................................................................... 23 2.5 TRAPPING AND DATA COLLECTION ......................................................................................... 24 2.6 SITE DESCRIPTION ........................................................................................................................... 26 2.6.1 Source Sites.................................................................................................................................. 26 2.6.2 Reintroduction Sites ................................................................................................................ 27 2.7 HABITAT CHARACTERISTICS ...................................................................................................... 28 CHAPTER 3: Selective Traits Influencing Bush Rat Survival ........................................... 31 3.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 32 3.1.1 Aims ................................................................................................................................................ 33 3.2 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................. 34 3.2.1 Study Species .............................................................................................................................. 34 3.2.2 Translocation and Monitoring ............................................................................................. 34 3.2.3 Habitat Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 35 iii 3.2.4 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................................... 35 3.2.4.1 Body Condition .................................................................................................................. 38 3.2.4.2 Virus Status ......................................................................................................................... 38 3.3 RESULTS ................................................................................................................................................ 38 3.3.1 Survival of Bush Rats over Time ......................................................................................... 38 3.3.2 Influence of Site on Adult Bush Rat Survival and Recapture .................................. 42 3.3.3 Influence of Sex on Bush Rat Survival and Recapture ............................................... 43 3.3.4 Influence of Sex on Bush Rat Offspring Survival and Recapture ........................... 46 3.3.5 Influence of Weight and Body Condition......................................................................... 47 3.3.6 Influence of Virus Status ........................................................................................................ 50 3.3.7 Habitat Characteristics ........................................................................................................... 51 3.4 DISCUSSION ......................................................................................................................................... 53 APPENDIX .................................................................................................................................................... 60 CHAPTER 4: Movement Behaviour of Bush Rats: Exploration and Establishment . 67 4.1 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................. 68 4.1.1 Aims ................................................................................................................................................ 70 4.2 METHODS ............................................................................................................................................. 71 4.2.1 Radio Tracking ........................................................................................................................... 71 4.2.2 Statistical Analysis .................................................................................................................... 73 4.3 RESULTS ...............................................................................................................................................
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