bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Project Aquarius 3. Effects of Work Rate on the Productivity, Energy Expenditure, and Physiological Responses of Men Building Fireline With a Rakehoe in Dry Eucalypt Forest
Authors: Brotherhood JR , Budd GM , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

Four crews of firefighters built fireline for 7 min periods (with intervening rests), without fire, at self-chosen 'slow', 'normal', and 'fast' rates in Australian eucalypt forests. Individuals differed twofold for energy expenditure (EE, measured as oxygen uptake by the Douglas bag technique) and relative work load (RWL, i.e % of maximum oxygen uptake), and threefold for productivity and efficiency (productivity per unit EE). They maintained their differences in all stages of the test and also while suppressing free-running wildland fires, showing that the work rate adopted was a stable characteristic of the individuals' work behaviour. The technique of raking fireline did not constrain EE but instead allowed firefighters to call upon their maximum work capacity for urgent tasks with no reduction in efficiency. EE, RWL, and heart rate increased linearly with productivity whereas perceived exertion and pulmonary ventilation increased curvilinearly, rising steeply at 'fast' work rates. We suggest that perceived exertion and the ventilatory threshold (the upper limit of comfortable breathing) provide the cues by which firefighters pace themselves at sustainable work rates that balance their fireline productivity against its physiological cost. The findings were highly consistent over four crews, three summers, and two regions and are thus generally applicable to bushfire suppression in southern Australia.
Project Aquarius 5. Activity Distribution, Energy Expenditure, and Productivity of Men Suppressing Free-Running Wildland Fires With Hand Tools
Authors: Budd GM , Brotherhood JR , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

Timed-activity studies were made of four crews while they attempted to suppress well-developed experimental bushfires of intensities commonly faced by handtool crews, and also while they built fireline in the same way without fire, during three summers in Australian eucalypt forests. Fireline construction with rakehoes (including step up) occupied, on average, 63% of the crew's time. Firefighters raked for 38 seconds followed by 10 seconds of step up, thus obtaining frequent brief rests for the arm muscles involved in raking. Energy expenditure (EE) of all fire-suppression activities averaged 516 W, equivalent to a relative work load (RWL) of 45% of the men's maximum work capacity. Pulmonary ventilation averaged 55 (range 38-83) 1 min-1 during raking and 40 (range 23-73) 1 min-1 during all activities. Each firefighter built 1.90 m2 of fireline per minute of raking, and 1.21 m2 min-1 over the whole period of the attack. Each hour the six men engaged in fireline construction built and held 436 m2, i.e. 512 metres of fireline 0.85 metres wide. Individuals consistently differed twofold in their self-chosen levels of raking EE and RWL and threefold in productivity and efficiency (productivity per unit EE), whereas average raking EE did not differ between crews, nor between attacks with and without fire. We conclude that wildland firefighters pace themselves at their own preferred and sustainable work rates.
Project Aquarius 7. Physiological and Subjective Responses of Men Suppressing Wildland Fires
Authors: Budd GM , Brotherhood JR , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

The responses of four crews of 7-8 men were measured while they attempted to suppress well-developed experimental bushfires of intensities commonly faced by hand-tool crews, and also while they built fireline in the same way without fire, during three summers in dry eucalypt forests of SW and SE Australia. Average values were sweat rate 1,144 g h-1, heart rate (HR) 152 beats min-1, and rectal temperature (Tre) 38.2° C. Changes in the average temperatures of clothed and unclothed skin were negligible, indicating efficient evaporation of sweat. Firefighters considered the work 'somewhat hard', and felt 'just too warm' and 'wet' with sweat. By contrast, the responses of the scientific observers, doing less strenuous work in the same environment, were minimal: sweat rate 292 g h-1, HR 80 beats min-1, and Tre 37.6°C. Firefighters' responses were mainly due to exertion rather than fire, confirming an identical finding from measurements of their energy expenditure and thermal environment. Differences between attacks with and without fire were small in both groups (HR 8-9 beats min-1, Tre 0.1-0.2 degrees C) except for sweat rate (firefighters 401 g h-1, observers 181 g h-1), and were usually present before the attacks began. All responses were highly consistent over the four crews, three summers, and two regions. The above findings show that the firefighters worked within their capacity and paced themselves to sustain their own preferred equilibrium levels of strain. They also demonstrate the effectiveness of the firefighters' clothing and work practices.
Project Aquarius 9. Relative Influence of Job Demands and Personal Factors on the Energy Expenditure, Strain, and Productivity of Men Suppressing Wildland Fires
Authors: Budd GM , Brotherhood JR , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

Studies of hand-tool crews suppressing summer bushfires showed wide variations in firefighters' energy expenditure (EE) and productivity, and in their physiological and subjective responses ('strains'). Analyses of variance showed that (1) EE while using a rakehoe ('raking') varied mainly between subjects (i.e. with personal factors); (2) sweat rate, thigh skin temperature, and the proportion of the work time spent in each activity of fire suppression varied mainly between days of fireline construction (i.e. with job demands); and (3) heart rate, rectal temperature, perceived exertion, productivity, efficiency, and all-activities EE varied more or less equally between subjects and days, each of which explained about one third of the variation. These findings show that personal factors were no less influential than were the demands of the job.
Project Aquarius 10. Effects of Work, Weather, and Fire on the Energy Expenditure, Strain, and Productivity of Men Suppressing Wildland Fires
Authors: Budd GM , Brotherhood JR , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

Four crews of male firefighters were studied while they attempted to suppress well-developed experimental bushfires of intensities commonly faced by hand-tool crews, and also while they built fireline in the same way without fire, during three summers in Australian eucalypt forests. Multiple-regression analyses of their responses showed that they maintained their deep body temperature and heart rate at constant and sustainable levels over a wide range of work duration and intensity, and of heat from weather and fire that frequently exceeded the limits recommended in current heat-stress guidelines. Energy expenditure declined slightly with warmer weather and fire although not with rake duration. Productivity was unchanged by warmer weather but declined slightly with rake duration and with fire. The findings confirm the effectiveness of the firefighters' work practices that allowed them to set their own pace, and of their light, well ventilated clothing that permitted unrestricted evaporation of sweat.
Project Aquarius 13. The Thermal Burden of High Insulation and Encapsulation in Wildland Firefighters' Clothing
Authors: Budd GM , Brotherhood JR , Hendrie AL , Jeffery SE , Beasley FA , Costin BP , Zhien W , Baker MM , Hoschke BN , Holcombe BV , Cheney NP , Dawson MP
Published: January 2006

Light, heavy, and encapsulating clothing were compared in a climatic chamber during 60 minutes of moderate exercise (energy expenditure 382-464 W) in warm, dry conditions with no added radiant heat (air and mean radiant temperature 30°C, relative humidity 33 %, air velocity 0.5 m s-1). The results showed that high insulation and reduced ventilation restricted the evaporation of sweat and thus hindered the dissipation of metabolic heat. These adverse effects were apparent in (1) a reduced cooling efficiency of sweat and hence a higher sweat rate; (2) increased heat storage, cardiovascular strain, discomfort, and fatigue; and (3) a failure to attain thermal equilibrium even after 60 minutes of work. Comparison with the effects of fire, previously reported, on lightly dressed firefighters showed that the above penalties would outweigh any benefit that extra insulation or encapsulation could confer during wildland fire suppression with hand tools.
Aerial and Surface Fuel Consumption in Crown Fires
Authors: Call PT , Albini FA
Published: January 2006

An empirical model is presented which relates fractional reduction in loading to fuel element diameter and moisture content for surface and aerial fuels consumed near the fire front in a spreading crown fire. The model is based upon data from a series of experimental crown fires in immature jack pine. Its intended use is to permit calculation of fuel consumption per unit area (kg/m2) needed to estimate edge intensity (kW/m) from the spread rate of a crown fire. Model predictions of small fuel component fractional loading reduction had a root-mean-square error of almost 0.2 for our calibration data set. Most of the error arises from the model prediction of complete consumption of crown foliage, some of which was not exposed to flame in the fires of our data set. The model does not address the longer term burning of duff and large woody fuels.
Regeneration of Natural Pine Forest - Review of Work Done After the 1989 Fire in Mount Carmel, Israel
Authors: Ne'eman G
Published: January 2006

In September 1989 a fire burned a large natural Pinus halepensis Mill. forest on Mt. Carmel, Israel. This paper summarizes the main results of five years of research, in which the effects of natural factors and management on the development of the forest and the vegetation were studied. It was found that the burned pine tree skeletons were correlated with the spatial pattern of seed germination.. Fewer pine seedlings were found one year after the fire near the burned trunks, but the survival and growth rate of these young pine trees was higher in the following four years. Pine ash was found to inhibit post-fire seed germination, offering a possible explanation for the apparent effect of the old burned trees on the spatial pattern of the new pine seedlings. Both laboratory experiments and field measurements indicate that the high pH of the ash, is the main factor responsible for the inhibition of germination. We examined several management regimes designed to enhance the growth of the young post-fire pine trees and assess their influence on the recovery of the forest. The results revealed that four years after fire, and three years after treatments, forest regeneration was mainly affected by the natural process while management had only a marginal effect. Management such as cutting and leaving, or cutting and removing the burned trunks and twigs from the plots, had almost no effect on species composition and cover. However, thinning of Pinus and Cistus seedlings increased survival and growth of remaining seedlings.
Seedling Mortality in Regeneration of Aleppo Pine Following Fire and Attack by the Scale Insect Matsucoccus josephi
Authors: Mendel Z , Assael F , Saphir N , Zehavi A , Nestel D , Schiller G
Published: January 2006

Mortality of Pinus halepensis seedlings was investigated in Israel during the first years of natural regeneration after fire, with special emphasis on the role of Matsucoccus josephi, drought and competition. The investigations were conducted in the native natural forest on Mt. Carmel, and in a plantation severely damaged by the scale insect at Horeshim in Samaria. M josephi was the dominant mortality agent during the first five years after regeneration, killing almost 73 % and 54% of the seedlings at Mt. Carmel and Horeshim, respectively. Neither injury nor mortality due to the scale insect was recorded during the first year after regeneration, but subsequently mortality occurred during the third and the fourth years. About 23% of the seedlings died due to drought, interspecific and intraspecific competition. Mortality due to other biotic agents, i.e., Hylastes linearis and Pityophthorus pubescens was practically nil. It is shown that resistance of regenerating population of native P. halepensis on Mt. Carmel to the scale did not differ significantly from that of regeneration of a planted Aleppo pine forest of unknown seed sources at Horeshim, despite differences in the level of injury to the adult trees on each site. Five years after natural seeding seedling density in scale-infested plots is high enough to ensure stand development. This second growth possibly displays lower susceptibility to M. josephi than the present adult population.
A New Method to Estimate Fuel Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio Using Water Immersion
Authors: Fernandes PM , Rego FC
Published: January 2006

A fast, simple, low cost and general technique for estimating fuel surface area-to-volume ratio was developed. It requires the knowledge of particle density, the determination of fuel weight before and after immersion in water, and theoretical thickness of the adsorbed water pellicle that is assumed constant. Estimates by the technique were consistent and in good agreement with published surface area-to-volume ratios for the same fuels obtained through commonly used methods, and its performance is judged appropriate for the current fire behaviour modeling needs. The water immersion technique was applied to five common shrub species in Portugal. Limitations and possibilities for improvement of the newly developed technique are discussed.
Soil Seed Bank of a Jack Pine (Pinus Banksiana) Ecosystem
Authors: Whittle CA , Duchesne LC , Needham T
Published: January 2006

The soil seed bank (seed and vegetative propagules) of a jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) ecosystem was investigated using direct propagule emergence from soil cores in greenhouse experiments, and visual examination of rhizome/rooting systems in situ. Of the 985 emergents observed from soil cores 643 (65%) originated from seeds whereas 342 (35%) arose from rhizomes. Grasses and sedge comprised 89% of the seed emergents while shrubs comprised 75% of the vegetative emergents. In situ examination of root systems revealed that Linnaea borealis L., Carex houghtonii Torr., Gaultheria procumbens L., and Maianthemum canadense Desf. had rhizomes buried at or above the duff/mineral interface while Lycopodium obscurum L., Lycopodium complanatum L. and Pteridium aquilinum L. (Kuhn) were predominately buried within the upper- layers of mineral soil. All other vegetatively reproducing species examined, with the exception of Rubus alleghaniensis Porter, had rhizomes buried deeper than 25 cm into mineral soil. Rubus allegheniensis (reproductive roots) had no discrete area of burial and were located in duff, upper mineral, and deep mineral soil. Depth of burial of reproductive material is used to explain plant succession after disturbance.
Firefighter Safety Zones: A Theoretical Model Based on Radiative Heating
Authors: Butler BW , Cohen JD
Published: January 2006

Quantitative information regarding safety zone size for wildland firefighters is limited. We present a 3-surface theoretical model that describes the net radiant energy transfer to a firefighter standing a specified distance from a fire of specified height. Model predictions compare favorably with qualitative data from entrapments on four wildfires and two previously published models. Calculations indicate that for most fires, safety zones must be greater than 20 m wide to ensure firefighter survival. A general rule-of-thumb derived from this work is that a safety zone radius must be equal to or greater than 4 times the maximum flame height.
Patterns of Lightning-, and People-Caused Fires in Peninsular Spain
Authors: Vazquez A , Moreno JM
Published: January 2006

A comparative study of lightning-, and people-caused fires is presented for peninsular Spain, for the period 1974-1994. Based on records of fire reports, yearly trends for fires started by the two causes were compared. Fire reports assign each fire to one 10 × 10 km grid-cell within the country. This information, together with data on the cause and date of fire, elevation, size of fire, type of vegetation burned, and meteorological conditions at the time of fire initiation, was incorporated to a raster-based geographic information system for further analysis and mapping. Additional information incorporated to the GIS for each grid-cell was the phytogeographic sector to which it belonged and the main land-use types. The study shows that the number of fires has increased recently and, particularly, that of lightning fires. Annual fire occurrence of the two causes was significantly correlated. People-caused fires were widespread throughout most of the country, whereas lightning-caused fires, although also widely dispersed throughout Spain, were more clustered together in certain areas, mainly in the eastern part of the country and along certain mountain ranges. The difference between the geographic distribution of the fires started by the two causes was statistically significant. Additionally, lightning-caused fires occurred at upper elevations and were more clustered towards the summer than people-caused fires. Furthermore, in those grid-cells where fires of both causes occurred, lightning fires tended to occur at upper elevations, affected more woodlands, produced smaller maximum fire-sizes, and were started under different meteorological conditions than people-caused fi-es. Fire frequencies were small, and fire rotation periods high, in most phytogeographic sectors of the country for fires caused by lightning, not so for fires caused by people. In general, fire temporal-, and geographic-patterns, and fire characteristics of lightning-caused fires were different from those of people-caused fires.
Fuel Models and Fire Potential From Satellite and Surface Observations
Authors: Burgan RE , Klaver RW , Klaver JM
Published: January 2006

A national 1-km resolution fire danger fuel model map was derived through use of previously mapped land cover classes and ecoregions, and extensive ground sample data, then refined through review by fire managers familiar with various portions of the U.S. The fuel model map will be used in the next generation fire danger rating system for the U.S., but it also made possible immediate development of a satellite and ground based fire potential index map. The inputs and algorithm of the fire potential index are presented, along with a case study of the correlation between the fire potential index and fire occurrence in California and Nevada. Application of the fire potential index in the Mediterranean ecosystems of Spain, Chile, and Mexico will be tested.
Seasonal Changes in Fire Behaviour in a Tropical Savanna in Northern Australia
Authors: Williams RJ , Gill AM , Moore PHR
Published: January 2006

In a landscape-scale experiment, fires were lit in replicate catchments 15-20 km2 in area, either early in the dry season (June) or late in the dry season (September) between 1990 and 1994. For each fire, Byram-intensity was determined in representative one ha areas of Eucalyptus miniata – E. tetrodonta open-forest, with a ground stratum dominated by annual grasses. Fuel weights were measured by harvest, fuel heat content was assumed to be constant, and the rate of spread was determined using electronic timers. Fuels consisted primarily of grass and leaf litter, and ranged from 1.5 to 13 t ha-1; in most years, average fuel loads were 2-4 t ha-1. Rates of spread were generally in the range of 0.2-0.8 ms-1. The mean intensity of early dry season fires (2100 kW m-1) was significantly less than that of the late dry season fires (7700 kW m-1), primarily because, in the late dry season, there was more leaf litter, fuels were drier, and fire weather was more extreme. Crown fires, a feature of forest fires of high intensity in southeastern Australia, were not observed in the Kapalga fires. Fire intensity was a very good predictor of both leaf-char height and leaf-scorch height for fires between 100 kW m-1 and 10,000 kW m-1, the range in which the majority of experimental fires fell.
Corrigendum to: Reproduction in the northern bettong, Bettongia tropica Wakefield (Marsupialia : Potoroidae), in captivity, with age estimation and development of the pouch young
Authors: Johnson Peter M. , Delean Steven
Published: January 2006

Reproduction in the northern bettong, Bettongia tropica,
was studied in captivity. B. tropica is capable of
breeding throughout the year, and mating behaviour is similar to that reported
for other Bettongia species. The length of the oestrous
cycle was 21–23 days, and the period of gestation was 20–23 days.
Birth was usually followed by an oestrus and mating, and a subsequent
lactation-controlled embryonic diapause. The interval between loss of pouch
young and birth was 19–20 days. Permanent emergence from the pouch
occurred at 102–112 days, and young at foot were weaned at 166–185
days of age. Linear mixed-effects models were used to describe polynomial
growth equations for age determination of pouch young using both head and pes
length. The relationship between error in age prediction and each body
measurement was also defined. Pes measurements provided the most accurate
estimates of the age of pouch young.
Morphology, age and survival of adult male New Zealand fur seals, Arctocephalus forsteri, in South Australia
Authors: Troy S. K. , Mattlin R. , Shaughnessy P. D. , Davie P. S.
Published: January 2006

Nineteen adult male New Zealand fur seals,
Arctocephalus forsteri, were marked and measured at the
start of the breeding seasons in November 1992 and 1993 at Cape Gantheaume,
Kangaroo Island in South Australia. The age of each seal was estimated from
the number of cementum layers in a post-canine tooth. The males that were
attempting to hold territories were 7–15 years old and the heaviest was
160 kg. The mass of males could be predicted accurately from linear
measurements and several predictive equations enable estimation of mass in the
field. The mean annual survival rate for adult male New Zealand fur seals was
76%, which is higher than that in other fur seal species, perhaps
reflecting the expanding nature of the A. forsteri
population in Australia.
Ecology of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) in rural south-east Queensland, Australia
Authors: White Neil A.
Published: January 2006

This study investigated home-range size, utilisation of tree species and
patches, and the influence of spacing behaviour by females on social
organisation. It was undertaken in south-east Queensland in an area dominated
by agricultural activity (beef and dairy cattle and cropping). Extensive
clearing in the study area resulted in patches of vegetation that varied in
size from less that 1 ha to blocks of 50–100 ha.
Eucalyptus tereticornis and
E. crebra were the dominant species in these patches and
koalas used both species. The average home-range size (delineated by the
95% probability polygon from a kernel estimator) was 34.4 ha and 15.0
ha for males and females respectively; that delineated by the 70%
probability polygon was 12.5 ha and 5.0 ha for males and females respectively.
Koalas were not reliant on corridor systems and sometimes moved further than 5
km in a season. Koalas have few non-food-related requirements, i.e. they do
not need den sites, nest sites, display areas, etc. Furthermore, they do not
utilise the understorey and their mobility between patches does not appear to
be compromised by the absence of corridors of trees. It is suggested that, in
comparison with other arboreal marsupials, it should be relatively easy to
provide habitat for koalas within rural areas.
Abundance, distribution and status of the New Zealand sea lion, Phocarctos hookeri
Authors: Gales Nicholas J. , Fletcher David J.
Published: January 2006

The abundance of the New Zealand sea lion,
Phocarctos hookeri, was estimated using a model that
incorporated estimated pup production. Pups are born at only five sites, four
of which are at the sub-Antarctic Auckland Islands, which lie to the south of
New Zealand. The remaining breeding site is at Campbell Island in the same
region. Pup production was estimated during the 1994/95 and 1995/96
breeding seasons from mark–recapture studies at the two largest sea lion
rookeries, at the Auckland Islands (Sandy Bay and Dundas Island), which
account for almost 90% of total pup production for the species. Pup
production for the other sites was estimated from direct counts or, in the
case of Campbell Island, from recent tagging data. Total pup production
estimates for all sites during the 1994/95 and 1995/96 breeding
seasons are 2640 and 2807 respectively. During the four-week pupping season,
pup mortality at most sites was estimated to be about 10%. The
estimates of absolute abundance based on pup production for the two breeding
seasons were 11 700 (95% confidence interval (CI): 10 500–13 100)
and 12 500 (95% CI: 11 100–14 000) respectively. This population
abundance is among the smallest reported for a species within the Otariidae.
The highly localised, and historically reduced distribution make this species
vulnerable to impact and warrants particular attention from conservation
managers. In particular, the potential impact of the annual bycatch of
P. hookeri in a trawl fishery requires close monitoring
and, ideally, some mitigation action.
The role of non-toxic prefeed and postfeed in the development and maintenance of 1080 bait shyness in captive brushtail possums
Authors: Ross J. G. , Hickling G. J. , Morgan D. R. , Eason C. T.
Published: January 2006

Shyness to sodium monofluoroacetate (1080) in cereal bait can persist in
sub-lethally poisoned possum (Trichosurus vulpecula)
populations for at least 2 years. We investigated the use of non-toxic cereal
‘prefeed’ and ‘postfeed’ as ways of inhibiting and
overcoming such shyness. The postfeed result was also compared with changing
to a non-cereal, gel-based 1080 bait. Prefeeding had a significant effect on
the number of possums that became ‘bait shy’ following an
approximate LD20 1080 dose, with 97% of
non-prefed possums developing an aversion to 1080 cereal bait compared with
only 22% of prefed possums. In contrast, postfeeding with cereal was
relatively ineffective in reducing the number of 1080 bait-shy possums, with
mortality of these possums being 30% compared with 0% of
non-postfed possums. In contrast, the gel 1080 bait killed 64% of 1080
cereal bait-shy possums. These results suggest that 1080 bait shyness can be
markedly reduced by prefeeding non-toxic bait to possums prior to each control
operation. However, this may not be the most cost-effective control option,
given the observed efficacy of follow-up baiting with 1080 gel.
Ecology of burrowing bettongs, Bettongia lesueur (Marsupialia: Potoroidae), on Dorre and Bernier Islands, Western Australia
Authors: Short Jeff , Turner Bruce
Published: January 2006

Population structure, reproduction, condition, morphology, movements, habitat
preference, and dynamics of the burrowing bettong were assessed on Dorre and
Bernier Islands between 1988 and 1995. The data come from 982 captures of
bettongs in 2661 trap-nights (an average of 37 captures per 100 trap-nights).
Recaptures within a trip made up 39% of bettong captures. Bettongs were
more abundant, as indexed by trap success, than were western barred bandicoots
(the other species caught in considerable numbers on trapping grids). Sex
ratio of bettongs (excluding recaptures) were skewed heavily towards males at
1.43: 1 despite approximate parity in pouch young. Production of young was
concentrated in the wetter winter months and appeared to fall well below their
theoretical capacity of 3 young per year. Bettong females were capable of
producing young at 880–900 g (approximately 7–8 months of age) but
incidence of females with pouch young or showing signs of recent lactation
increased from 40% for females of 881–1000 g to 62% for
females > 1000 g. The incidence of sub-adult bettongs in the population
peaked in spring, but varied between years (range 0–14% of the
population). There was an excess of males over females in the sub-adult
population. Bettongs showed little sexual dimorphism but there were
significant differences in morphology between the two island populations.
Bettongs appeared to suffer substantial reductions in numbers in a prolonged
drought extending from October 1986 to April 1989, reducing trap success for
this species to 19% in the 1989 survey. Numbers grew strongly on both
islands after the breaking of the drought in May 1989, showing an observed
rate of increase of r = 0.75 on Dorre Island.
Trap success had increased to 45% in September 1991. There was a high
turnover of bettongs on trapping grids – 25–40% over 6
months to 80% over 3 years. Movements of bettongs appeared limited: the
median distance moved by bettongs captured more than once within an 8-day
trapping session was 160 m. Only 4% of recorded movements were greater
than 1 km. There was no significant difference in movements between the sexes.
Bettongs were widely dispersed in winter through the four habitats surveyed
but tended to concentrate in dune and Triodia sandplain
habitat in autumn and spring.
Use of Rhodamine B as a systemic bait marker for feral cats (Felis catus)
Authors: Fisher P. , Algar D. , Sinagra J.
Published: January 2006

A number of cats in a captive population were fed 50 mg of Rhodamine B in
non-toxic kangaroo meat baits. Samples of whiskers (mystacial vibrissae) taken
10 days later were examined for fluorescent marking. Examination of hairs for
marking was carried out by means of a ‘single blind’ trial, with
the investigator having no prior knowledge of which of 36 cats had received
the dye. All of the cats that had ingested baits containing the dye were
marked. Examining hair samples under ambient light or under a hand-held
ultraviolet (UV) light without magnification was not as reliable as examining
hair samples under a fluorescence microscope. These results indicate that
Rhodamine B acts as a reliable systemic marker of bait consumption in feral
cats and has potential application in field studies to assess bait uptake by
feral cats.
Fertility control of wild mouse populations: the effects of hormonal competence and an imposed level of sterility
Authors: Chambers L. K. , Singleton G. R. , Hinds L. A.
Published: January 2006

We report on a study of confined populations of wild mice in which 67%
of females were surgically sterilised to simulate the possible effects of
fertility control on population dynamics. Social structure can influence the
breeding performance of female mice and, as this may be hormonally controlled,
we examined whether the maintenance of hormonal competence by sterilised
female mice was necessary to achieve a significant decrease in population
size. We compared two methods of surgical sterilisation – tubal
ligation, which leaves the animal’s reproductive hormone regulation
intact, and ovariectomy, which disrupts the normal regulation of the hormones
of the pituitary–ovarian axis. There was no difference in the population
sizes produced by the two methods of sterilisation and thus the maintenance of
hormonal structure is unlikely to influence the population’s response to
fertility control. If anything, the population response to the presence of
hormonally competent but sterile females was different from that expected
– populations with tubally ligated females had slightly higher growth
rates, recruitment of young, and breeding performance, than populations with
ovariectomised females. The 67% level of infertility amongst females in
the population successfully reduced population size and growth rate when
compared with unsterilised populations. This reduction in population size was
not related to the level of sterility imposed. Compensation occurred through
improved breeding performance of unsterilised females, particularly in the
tubally ligated populations.
Temporal, spatial and individual variation in the diet of red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) in central New South Wales
Authors: Molsher R. L. , Gifford E. J. , McIlroy J. C.
Published: January 2006

This study describes temporal, spatial and individual variation in the diet of
255 red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) collected from
agricultural land in central New South Wales from July 1994 to November 1996.
Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), sheep
(Ovis aries), eastern grey kangaroos
(Macropus giganteus) and invertebrates were the most
important food items overall. Significant seasonal variations, and sex and age
differences between foxes occurred in the consumption of some food types. Some
temporal synchrony was also evident, with different individuals often eating
similar foods on the same night. This may have been related to moonlight. On
full moon nights, foxes ate rabbits and small mammals significantly less often
than during other moon phases. The management implications of variation in
diet are discussed.
Transmission of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus in a population of cats (Felis catus)
Authors: Courchamp Franck , Say Ludovic , Pontier Dominique
Published: January 2006

The increasing awareness of the ecological impact of domestic cats
(Felis catus) as wildlife predators has given rise to
much effort in research on cat control, but studies related to the spread of
pathogens in natural populations remain almost non-existent. We aimed to
determine the infection strategy of Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) in a
natural population of cats, focusing on qualitative and quantitative aspects
of its transmission. FIV is a lethal retrovirus infecting cats world-wide,
transmitted by bites. It has an interesting potential as a control agent for
this species. We studied an urban population of stray cats over three years,
monitoring its epidemiology and its social and spatial structures. Despite a
high cat density, both transmission rate and prevalence of FIV were relatively
low. Socially dominant males were more likely to be infected. In addition,
males of the study population were less often infected than in another
population, where a polygynous mating system involved more fights. Infected
individuals lived long enough to acquire the virus and infect another cat.
Because they were subordinates, non-infected cats had a shorter life
expectancy, which would not have permitted the spread of FIV. Thus, FIV
infected predominantly at-risk individuals whose social ranking allowed a high
probability of retransmitting the virus.
Survival of Wild and Hand-reared Ringtail Possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in Bushland near Sydney
Authors: Augee ML , Smith Barbara , Rose S
Published: January 2006

Radio-tracking studies of ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) were carried out in Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park at its border with suburban Sydney. Hand-reared and relocated ringtail possums released into the study site survived an average of 101 days and wild ringtail possums resident in the study area survived an average 182 days. Of the 118 individuals whose fates were determined, all but eight were killed by predators, 52% by foxes and 29% by cats. Within the study area both introduced and wild ringtail possums used dreys (nests) more frequently than tree hollows, and nests on the ground were used about 7% of the time.
Orientation studies on the regent honeyeater, Xanthomyza phrygia (Meliphagidae), an endangered bird of south-eastern Australia
Authors: Cooke Belinda , Munro Ursula
Published: January 2006

Six juvenile regent honeyeaters, Xanthomyza phrygia,
from a captive population held at Taronga Zoo, Sydney, were tested for their
orientation in the early morning between April and July 1998. Testing was
performed outdoors in Emlen orientation cages, which were covered with opaque
lids. All study birds oriented in a north-easterly direction between April and
late May (Stage 1). During June and July (Stage 2) no uniform directional
preferences were shown. The results obtained for regent honeyeaters during the
April/May period suggest that there is some genetic control of seasonal
movements and that the birds use a non-visual compass mechanism, as in some
migratory Australian birds. The interpretation of our results remains
tentative due to the lack of knowledge of regent honeyeater movements in the
wild.
Foraging behaviour of the large-footed myotis, Myotis moluccarum (Chiroptera : Vespertilionidae) in south-eastern Queensland
Authors: Barclay Robert M. R. , Chruszcz Bryan J. , Rhodes Martin
Published: January 2006

Because of differences in the time, energy, and nutrient demands on male and
female mammals during reproduction, differences in foraging behaviour can be
expected between the sexes and over time. Using radio-telemetry, we studied
the foraging behaviour of male and female large-footed bats
(Myotis moluccarum) in south-eastern Queensland during
the lactation and post-lactation periods. Individuals commuted over 10 km from
their diurnal roost to forage over a large reservoir. There were typically one
or two foraging trips per individual per night for a total foraging time
averaging 7 h. Females foraged longer than did males, due to longer second
foraging bouts. Males foraged for longer during the lactation period than
during the post-lactation period, whereas there was no difference for females,
possibly due to the fact that post-lactating females are pregnant with a
second litter and thus may not experience a large reduction in energy demand.
Males of this harem-forming species did not appear to defend foraging
territories and females did not forage near their harem male.
Variation during breeding in parameters that influence blood oxygen carrying capacity in shearwaters
Authors: Davey Cristina , Lill Alan , Baldwin John
Published: January 2006

Parameters that influence blood oxygen carrying capacity (whole-blood
haemoglobin content, haematocrit and red blood cell count) were measured in
samples of 30 breeding, adult short-tailed shearwaters
(Puffinus tenuirostris) on Phillip Island, Victoria at
seven key stages of their reproductive cycle. The aim of the investigation was
to determine whether variation in blood oxygen carrying capacity during the
birds’ 7-month breeding cycle was correlated with variation in the
energy demands they experienced or was an incidental by-product of other
physiological changes. All the blood parameters varied significantly during
breeding, but the pattern of variation was only partly correlated with the
likely pattern of changing energy demand imposed on parents by their schedule
of breeding activities. The main trend conceivably related to energy demand
was that significantly higher values were recorded for these blood parameters
during the nestling stage than earlier in the breeding cycle. This could have
reflected the high costs of the very long foraging trips undertaken by parents
feeding nestlings, but it could also have occurred in preparation for the long
migration undertaken soon after breeding finished. It involved an ~10%
increase in blood oxygen carrying capacity above the lowest mean value
recorded during the breeding cycle and so other mechanisms must also be
employed to achieve the increase in aerobic metabolism likely to be required
at this stage. The lack of adjustment of blood oxygen carrying capacity to
energy demand early in the breeding cycle suggests that either oxygen delivery
was not a rate-limiting process for aerobic metabolism at that time or that
delivery was enhanced through other mechanisms. At egg laying, females had a
lower haematocrit and erythrocyte count than males, which could be
attributable to either estrogenic suppression of erythropoiesis or an increase
in osmotic pressure of the blood associated with yolk synthesis. Immature,
non-breeding birds attending the colony were of similar mass to adults, but
did not show the increase in the parameters determining blood oxygen carrying
capacity that occurred in adults later in the breeding cycle. Factors other
than changing energy requirements (dehydration, burrow hypoxia and
differential responsiveness to capture stress) that might have influenced the
pattern of variation in blood oxygen carrying capacity of adults during
breeding are discussed.
Incubation of eggs of the Australian broad-shelled turtle, Chelodina expansa (Testudinata : Chelidae), at different temperatures: effects on pattern of oxygen consumption and hatchling morphology
Authors: Booth David T.
Published: January 2006

Incubation temperature influences embryonic development and the morphology of
resultant hatchlings in many species of turtle but few studies have addressed
its effect on oxygen consumption and total embryonic energy expenditure. Eggs
of the Australian broad-shelled river turtle,
Chelodina expansa, were incubated at constant
temperatures of 24˚C and 28˚C to determine the effect of temperature
on oxygen consumption, embryonic energy expenditure and hatchling morphology.
All embryos at both incubation temperatures experienced a period of
developmental diapause immediately after oviposition. Once this initial
diapause was broken, embryos underwent a further period of developmental
arrest when the embryo was still very small and had minimal oxygen consumption
(<20 µL h–1). However, once rapid
embryonic growth started, development appeared to be continuous. Rate of
increase and peak rate of oxygen consumption were temperature dependent, both
being highest at 28˚C. Net production efficiency (total oxygen consumed
during incubation divided by yolk-free hatchling mass) was 120 mL
O2 g–1 at 24˚C and 111
mL O2g–1 at 28˚C.
Hatchling mass and yolk-free hatchling mass were independent of incubation
temperature, but hatchlings from 28˚C had larger residual yolks and
smaller head widths than hatchlings from 24˚C.
Climatic modelling of the distribution of the mahogany glider (Petaurus gracilis), and the squirrel glider (P. norfolcensis)
Authors: Jackson Stephen M. , Claridge Andrew
Published: January 2006

Known locality records of the mahogany glider
(Petaurus gracilis) and the squirrel glider
(Petaurus norfolcensis) in Queensland were used to
predict the distributional limits of both of these species within Queensland
using the computer program BIOCLIM. The mahogany glider was predicted to occur
in areas with a higher average mean annual temperature, smaller temperature
range, higher temperatures throughout the year, higher annual precipitation,
higher seasonality of precipitation, higher seasonality of moisture index and
higher precipitation in the wettest quarter and warmest quarter when compared
with the predicted distribution of the squirrel glider. The squirrel glider
has been recorded across a wider geographic area and its distribution had a
larger variation in bioclimatic variables. The predicted distribution of the
mahogany glider did not extend outside the known area on the mainland,
although the species was predicted to occur over 500 m elevation in some areas
within their known range. BIOCLIM did, however, predict that the mahogany
glider might occur on Hinchinbrook Island and the Palm Islands. In contrast to
the mahogany glider, the squirrel glider was predicted to occur well outside
of its known distribution, including all that area predicted to be habitat for
the former species. Despite this predicted overlap, the closest these two
species are known to occur to each other is 25 km.
Energetics of embryonic development in the cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) and the king quail (Coturnix chinensis)
Authors: Pearson James T.
Published: January 2006

In this study the energetics of embryonic development and metabolism of the
altricial cockatiel (Nymphicus hollandicus) were
compared with that of the precocial king quail
(Coturnix chinensis), which produces hatchlings of
similar body mass (~4 g). On average, cockatiel invested 28% less
energy in their eggs (principally as smaller yolks), which contained more
water than king quail eggs. Cockatiel embryo mass and the accumulation of
tissue solids increased at slower rates than in king quail. A similar fraction
of egg energy was converted to yolk-free hatchling (50%) in both
species; however, king quail consumed more energy during development and
hatched about 3 days earlier. As a result, total production efficiencies of
energy transformation into hatchling tissues was 64% for cockatiel,
higher than for king quail (56%) and another parrot
(Agapornis 45%) despite the prolonged incubation
period of cockatiel. Metabolic intensity increased more rapidly in the king
quail during hatching, and thus functional maturity of hatchlings was higher;
this was similar to the situation in much larger precocial species. However,
there were significant increases in metabolic intensities during pipping and
in the hatchling cockatiel to suggest that greater physiological maturation,
as a prelude to the development of endothermy, occurs earlier than in
Agapornis and altricial passerine species.
Distributional patterning of mammals on the Wessel and English Company Islands, Arnhem Land, Northern Territory, Australia
Authors: Woinarski J. C. Z. , Palmer C. , Fisher A. , Brennan K. , Southgate R. , Masters P.
Published: January 2006

Eighteen non-marine mammal species (including seven species of bats) were
recorded from a total of 49 islands in the Wessel and English Company island
chains off north-eastern Arnhem Land, Northern Territory. Most individual
species were restricted to, or had higher incidence on, larger islands, and
species richness as a whole increased as island size increased. The most
notable exception was the semi-aquatic
Hydromys chrysogaster, which occurred relatively
equitably across island sizes; this species, two bat species and the macropod
Petrogale brachyotis were recorded from islands smaller
than 10 ha. However, the variation between islands in the number of native
terrestrial mammal species was not best predicted by island size, but rather
by a combination of sampling effort and altitude (which explained 64%
of the deviance in species richness), or altitude and distance to larger land
mass (explaining 63% of deviance).
Richness–area patterns for individual islands in these chains were
reasonably consistent with those of other islands sampled in northern
Australia. However, the fauna of the Wessel and English Company groups as a
whole was less rich than that of the Pellew and Kimberley islands, and
individual islands appeared to have lower species richness than comparable
mainland areas. Species that were notably absent or that were recorded from
relatively few islands include large macropods,
Tachyglossus aculeatus, Antechinus bellus, Phascogale tapoatafa, Sminthopsis spp., Mesembriomys gouldii, Rattus colletti, Leggadina lakedownensis
and Pseudomys calabyi. Some of these species may be
absent through lack of suitable habitat; others have presumably disappeared
since isolation, possibly due to Aboriginal hunting.
Richness at the quadrat (50 × 50 m) scale was generally very low.
Habitat relationships are described for the 7 species recorded from more than
5 quadrats. At a quadrat-scale, the richness of native mammals was greater on
islands larger than 1000 ha than on islands smaller than 1000 ha.
Quadrat-scale species richness varied significantly among the islands sampled
by the most quadrats (even when the comparison was restricted to either of the
two most extensive vegetation types), but this variation was not closely
related to either area or altitude. The two most frequently recorded species,
the rodents Melomys burtoni and
Zyzomys argurus, showed distinct habitat segregation on
islands where both were present, but tended to expand their habitat range on
islands where only one of the species occurred.
The most notable conservation feature of the mammal fauna of the Wessel and
English Company Islands is the occurrence of the golden bandicoot,
Isoodon auratus, a vulnerable species apparently now
extinct on the Northern Territory mainland. Four feral animal species
(Rattus rattus, Canis familiaris, Bubalus bubalis and
Capra hircus) were recorded from a total of 6 islands.