The broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus) in Dandenong Ranges National Park - a colony located in regenerating forest

2 Pages·1992·0.5 MB·English

by  R L Wallis

Contributions
The Broad-toothed Rat—(Mastacomys fuscus) in Dandenong
Ranges National Park a Colony Located in Regenerating
Forest
Robert L. Wallis*
The Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys theareaisnowfouryearsold,andcontains
fuscus) is a native rodent with a disjunct E. regnans (up to 3 m high) and a dense
distribution in south-eastern Australia shrub layer of Cassinia aculeata, Acacia
(Watts and Aslin 1980). The species has dealbata, Coprosmaquadrifida, Bedfordia
been classified as rare in Victoria (Baker- arborescens, Pimelea axifolia and other
Gabb 1990). A small colony was located species typical of the tall open forest in
in Sherbrooke Forest in 1970 and the Sherbrooke, as well as a ground cover of
species' presence in Sherbrooke has been WireGrass (Tetrarrhenajuncea)andother
monitored since using predator scat grasses and mosses. Thesitewas foundto
analysis(Wallisetal. 1982).M.fuscushas containmanyrunwayswithlargequantities
beendetected in foxscatscollectedbetween oftMhegreen scats considered characteristic
1973 and 1985 with frequencies of of fuscus (Wallis 1988).
occurrence ranging from 4% to \°to of To confirm the presence of M. fuscus
scats (Wallis and Brunner 1987). wire cage traps (33 x 20x 16 cm) covered
A technique to locate M. fuscus has with plastic for protectionandbaitedwith
been developed which does not rely on peanut butter, honey and rolled oatmeal
trapping (Wallis 1988). The technique weresetover fourconsecutivenights. One
involves searching in suitable grassy sites M. fuscus was trapped on night three. Its
(oftenalongtracks)and in densewiregrass identification was confirmed by the
underEucalyptusregnansfor runwayswith presence of some green scats in the cage
the obvious green scats ofM.fuscus. The trap, and atuft ofhairwas removed from
scats of the other native rodent which is the specimen's back and microscopically
common in the Park, Rattus fuscipes, examined backinthelaboratory. Thescales
appearoften in thesamerunways, but are at the base of the large—r guard hairs had
somewhat narrower, longer and much typically pointed ends a feature which
darker in colour. MicroMscopic analysis of distinguishes M. fuscus from R. fuscipes
grooming hairs in the fuscus scats is (Brunner and Coman 1974). From the 78
usedtoconfirm thepresenceofM.fuscus. traps set in total, 11 Antechinus stuartii,
In contrast, the location by trapping may five R. fuscipes and one M. fuscus were
require a series of special techniques captured. The Broad-toothed Rat is
involvingpre-feedingwithappropriatebait considered averydifficultmammaltotrap
and the removal ofother small mammals when itexistsin lowdensities(Wallisetal.
fromthe trap site, asdescribed in Brunner 1982); interestingly, itwasnot necessaryin
et al. 1977. thiscasetousepre-feedingorremoveother
Recently a colony of M. fuscus was species in order to trap M. fuscus.
found in the Sherbrooke Forest region of There is some evidence that foxes and
Dandenong Ranges National Park. The cats prey selectively on M. fuscus in
colony livesin an areawhich was formerly preference to other rodents such as R.
an old pine plantation (Pinus radiata). It fuscipes (Green and Osborne 1981;
wasclearfelled in stages between late 1985 Brunner pers. comm.). Thus the current
and early 1987. The site is at the south- fox control program within the Park and
westernedgeoftheoldplantationand was attemptsatcatconfinement bySherbrooke
thelast section to becleared. Regrowth in Shire Council could well be important
*AppliedAustralianEcological ResearchUnit, Deakin factors in the future survival of the M.
University — Rusden Campus, Clayton, Vic. 3168 fuscus colony.
177
Vol. 109 (5) 1992
Contributions
Thenextstageinthisprojectistosearch References
fDoarndoethneorngcoRlaonngieess NoaftiMo.nalfuPsacruks. Winhiltshte BakeVErin-cvGliaorbroiban,mienDn.1t9:(9109M!9e0(l)Db.eopu'arLrinstetm)e.onfttohfrCeoantseneerdvatfiaounnaanidn
the species is likely to occur in very low Brunner,H.andComan,B.(1974). 'TheIdentification
densities inthemature forest where dense of Mammalian Hair', (lnkala Press: Melbourne).
wire grass and thick understorey exists Brunner, H.. Wallis, R. L. and Voutier, P. P. (1977).
eutndate.r1a98E2.),rietginsanposssuipbpleerthcaatnocpolyon(iWeaslloisf (LVoMiccatasotmriincagonmaNynastdfwuanslacipussptiT9nh4g:o2m0ta7hs-e2)1B0a.troPaodw-etlolottohwend. TRhate
higher densities might live in more open Green, K.andOsborne, W.S.(1981). thedietoffoxes,
sites with soft grasses, such as the site Vulpeswipes(L.),inrelationtoabundanceofprey
described in this paper. above the winter snowline in New South Wales.
whoIsweogurledatlkinkeowtloedtgheanakndHeaxnpseriBernucnenleerd WalliAVsui,sctRt.roarIli..ai,nanBrfiuWenilnldedrls,itfuHed.ieRsaensoednaMrtechnhekh8B:or3ro4sa9l-d,3-6tP0.o.oWl.he(d198R2a)t.
to his identifying the site initially, and (Mastacomys fuscus Thomas). The Victorian
Linda Moon, SimoneLouwhoffandSarah Naturalist 99:12-21.
Meachem for help with the trapping. Wallis, R. I . and Brunner, H. (1987). Changes in
Trapping was carried out under National mammalian prey of loses, Vulpes vulpes
Parks and Wildlife Permits 90-080 and (nCeaarrniMveolrbao:urCnaen,idVaiec)loorviae.rA1u2syteraarlsiainnMaafmormesatlpoagryk
901/002 and with the approval of the 10:43-44.
Victoria College Animal Experimentation Wallis, R. I . (1988). Mammalian field studies using
Ethics Committee. John Lloyd is indirect methods, in 'Eleventh Asian Regional
ptahrrtoiucguhlaorulty thtihsasntkueddy afnord ihnisousrupmpaonryt CHAosesnrofnceairnaedtneiczoen, fioVnr.BBiRioeolyloeogsgyyEadnEuddcuactaGito.ino:nY'Ma.pa.niElda(s)A.siaDn.
yearsofresearch at Sherbrooke previously. Watts. C. IE S. and Aslin, II. .1. (1981). 'TheRodents
The two anonymous referees are also of Australia'. (Angus and Robertson: Sydney).
thanked for their helpful suggestionsabout
the manuscript.
Monkey Vine or Gargaloo - Parsonsia eucalyptophylla
F. Muell. A New Species for Victoria
James R. Turner and Lyn Turner*
Whilst holidaying on the Snowy River Parsonsia eucalyptohylla occurs in the
near Wallis on the Victorian/New South western plains, western slopes and far
Wales border a field botany trip was western plains botanical divisions ofNew
undertaken. The areavisited was situated South Wales where it is found in sandy to
within the Cobberas/Tingaringy National loamy, or, red sandy soils. These shallow
Park south of Sandy Creek, 6 kilometres soilssupport Cypress Pine, Boxand Mallee
from Wallis. Some 100 metres up on the woodlands (Cunningham et at. 1981).
rocky slope from the Snowy River a Thehabitat ofthe Victorianpopulation
creeperwasnoted. Thiswasaspecies 1 had occurs in shallow sandy rocky soil within
not encountered before. the rain shadow area of the upper
Specimenswerecollectedand forwarded Victorian reaches of the Snowy River.
to Mr. D. Albrechl of the Melbourne Cypress Pine (Callitrisglaucophylla and C
Herbarium. These specimens were enderlicheri) and White Box (Eucalyptus
alliens) woodland.
nideewntitfaixeadfaosrPaVircstoonrsiiaa.eucalyptophylla, a On asubsequent visit to this sitea more
comprehensiveexaminationoftheareawas
RMB
* 2260 Kalimna West Victoria undertaken. Approximately 27 mature
178
Victorian Nat.