Life history, breeding biology and movement in a new species of carnivorous marsupial, the buff-footed antechinus (Antechinus mysticus) and a sympatric congener, the subtropical antechinus (Antechinus subtropicus)

Abstract

Antechinus are one of just a few mammal genera worldwide which exhibit semelparous reproduction. Consequently, the life history of many antechinus has been well studied. However, in the last few years, several new species have been described in the genus and their ecology is little known. Here, the first multi-year ecological study of breeding, growth and movement in one of these species, the buff-footed antechinus, Antechinus mysticus, was undertaken. Over a 2-year period, monthly capture-mark-recapture data from two geographically close sites (~2.5 km apart) in south-east Queensland, Australia, were collected. At one site, the subtropical antechinus, Antechinus subtropicus, also occurred. This allowed the investigation of possible competitive effects between this larger Antechinus species and A. mysticus. Intensive trapping across the breeding season of A. mysticus also allowed the growth rates of pouch young of a wild antechinus population to be calculated for the first time. Results showed that A. mysticus followed the synchronous, semelparous breeding strategy seen in all congeners. Male A. mysticus were last caught in August, and females gave birth in September. Average distance moved by A. mysticus was comparable with congeners. Competition with A. subtropicus may affect A. mysticus because A. mysticus weighed more and males moved further when not in sympatry with A. subtropicus. However, female A. mysticus moved further when in sympatry with A. subtropicus, confounding clear interpretation. Overall, the life history information obtained for A. mysticus provides a foundation for further research and will aid the conservation management of this new species.