Inter- and intraspecific effects of body size on habitat use among sexually-dimorphic macropodids

Sarah Garnick; Julian Di Stefano; Mark A Elgar; Graeme Coulson

Journal article

Inter- and intraspecific effects of body size on habitat use among sexually-dimorphic macropodids

Sarah Garnick, Julian Di Stefano, Mark A Elgar, Graeme Coulson

Oikos | WILEY | Published : 2014

DOI: 10.1111/oik.00861

Abstract

Body size affects key life-history parameters including dietary requirements and predation risk. We examined these effects on diel habitat use in a community of three sexually-dimorphic macropodid marsupial species: western grey kangaroo Macropus fuliginosus, red-necked wallaby M. rufogriseus and swamp wallaby Wallabia bicolor. In particular, our study seeks evidence of these effects operating concurrently at the intra- and interspecific levels. We used radio-tracking to quantify habitat use and characterised each used location by recording the cover of plant functional groups and the presence of plant species. During nocturnal foraging periods we predicted that smaller animals (between and ..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Julian Di Stefano Author Ecosystem and Forest Sciences

Mark Elgar Author Biosciences

Graeme Coulson Author Biosciences

Related Projects (1)

Population genetic structure and habitat specialisation in amphibians

This will be the first study to uncover the initial stages of ecological speciation in a fully natural setting, which will solidify Australi..

Grants

Awarded by Univ. of Melbourne's Faculty of Science, School of Land and Environment, and Optometry and Vision Sciences Animal Ethics Committee

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Awarded by Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Fund

Funding Acknowledgements

We thank Daryl Panther, Jemma Cripps and many volunteers for assistance with macropodid capture, Michelle Wilson for general assistance, David Lockwood for assistance in identifying plant species, and Parks Victoria (Halls Gap) and the Dept of Sustainability and Environment (Cavendish and Horsham) for logistical support and the use of Victoria Valley Airbase. This work was conducted under The Univ. of Melbourne's Faculty of Science, School of Land and Environment, and Optometry and Vision Sciences Animal Ethics Committee project no. 0810628 and the Dept of Sustainability and Environment permit no. 10004582, 10005421 and 10006116. This work was supported by the Australian Research Council (Discovery Project 0664120 to GC) and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment Fund (84176 to SG). SG was supported by an Australian Postgraduate Research Award.