Rattus Fuscipes Research Articles

INTENSITAS SERANGAN HAMA TIKUS BELUKAR (Rattus sp) PADA TANAMAN KELAPA SAWIT (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) MENGHASILKAN DI KEBUN RAKYAT DESA SUKO AWIN JAYA KABUPATEN MUARO JAMBI

Cultivation of oil palm is inseparable from pests. One of the main pests that attack oil palm plants is the rat class which can cause oil palm plantations get a high losses. The aim of this study was to determine the attacktion intensity of the bush rat (Rattus sp) in Oil Palm smallholder at Suko Awin Jaya Village, Muaro Jambi Regency. The research was carried out from February to April 2021 at the oil palm smallholder specifically farmer group“Ridho Ilahi”. The experimental design was unformated trials, and the location was purposively chosen. The location determination of the sample was based on to the initial survey that there was found rats attacktion in this place. Sampling was carried out concurrently at the time fresh fruit bunches harvesting, fruit counting in the bunch, counting the number of fruits eaten by rats, counting good fruit (free from rat pest attacks), and weighing the weight of fresh fruit bunches. Parameters observed were the attacktion level in the land, attacktion intensity, production per hectare, environmental sanitation conditions. The rats attacktion rate of 100%, means that all sample in one stretch of plantation have been attackted by rats, it was indicated by a bite scars on the harvested fresh fruit bunches. The attacktion intensity of the bush rat pest was 23%. The average production was 21.6 tons/hectare/year. The sanitation conditions on the land was partially overgrown with weeds and there were piles of midrib in the area between the certain two path of oil palm tree.

Environmental Conditions and Predictors of Lassa Fever Transmission in a Low Socioeconomic Community in Nigeria

Lassa fever is of public health concern in West Africa due to its endemic nature. Housing conditions have been revealed to be important sites for primary transmission. This study assessed environmental and housing conditions of a low-income community for factors that could contribute to the transmission of Lassa fever. The study employed a cross-sectional design with a field component. Observational checklist and an interviewer-administered questionnaire were used to assess environmental conditions and respondents’ hygiene knowledge and practices respectively. Rodent traps were also placed in selected households. Data collected were analysed using SPSS Version20. 40% of the respondents had poor housing conditions, 80% had good hygiene practice while 20% had poor knowledge. Respondents with good housing condition were 1.9 times more likely to have good hygiene practice compared to houses with poor housing condition (OR= 1.941, p= 0.009). Rodents trapped from the households were Rattus rattus (43.2%), Rattus fuscipes (38.6%) and Rattus norvegicus (18.2%). Houses with most rats trapped had the poorest housing conditions and hygiene practices. The results suggest that households in the community are susceptible to the transmission of Lassa fever. Therefore, effective awareness campaigns on the transmission of Lassa fever and good hygiene and sanitation practice should be encouraged in and around the home.

Haemoprotozoan surveillance in peri-urban native and introduced wildlife from Australia

Vector-borne haemoprotozoans comprise a diverse group of eukaryote single-celled organisms transmitted by haematophagous (blood-feeding) invertebrates. They can cause debilitating diseases that impact wildlife, livestock, companion animals and humans. Recent research has shown that Australian wildlife host a diverse range of haemoprotozoan species; however, to date this work has primarily been confined to a few host species or isolated populations in rural habitats. There has been little investigation into the presence of these blood parasites in wildlife inhabiting urban and peri-urban areas. In this study, blood and tissue samples and ticks were collected from wildlife in New South Wales and Western Australia. Extracted DNA samples were screened with pan-specific molecular assays to determine the presence of haemoprotozoans using amplicon metabarcoding and Sanger sequencing approaches. In addition, light microscopy was performed on blood films. Eight haemoprotozoans were identified in the present study, which included species of Babesia, Hepatozoon, Theileria and Trypanosoma. Blood samples were collected from 134 animals; 70 black rats (Rattus), 18 common brush-tailed possums (Trichosurus vulpecula), two bush rats (Rattus fuscipes), 22 chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), 20 long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta), one quenda (Isoodon fusciventer) and one swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus). Molecular screening of DNA extracted from blood samples identified 52.2% (95% CI: 43.8–60.5%) of individuals were positive for at least one haemoprotozoan species, with 19.4% (95% CI: 13.4–26.7%) positive for more than one species. The present study provides the first sequences of Theileria cf. peramelis from black rats and long-nosed bandicoots. Babesia lohae was identified from brush-tailed possums. Two Hepatozoon genotypes were identified from black rats and bush rats. Black rats showed the highest haemoprotozoan diversity, with five species identified. No known human pathogens that have been described in the northern hemisphere were identified in the present study, and future work is required to understand the zoonotic potential of these microbes in Australia. This work represents the first large-scale body of research using molecular tools to investigate haemoprotozoans in animals at the urban-wildland interface. Further research is needed to investigate potential consequences of infection in wildlife, particularly effects of pathogen spillover from invasive black rats to native wildlife.

Impacts of Rural Community on the Forest Estate in Ugbolu, Oshimili North Local Government Area, Delta State, Nigeria

This study examined the impact of Community based forest management (CBFM) in Ugbolu forest reserve (UFR), Delta State. A random selection of 110 respondents was carried out. Information on activities encouraging deforestation, list of resources extracted, jobs and income provided from involvement in CBFM, structure and strategy used by community in managing UFR were collected using structured questionnaire and interview section. Descriptive statistics was used to analysed the data (frequency table and likert scale). Majority of respondents were male (51.8%), married (61.6%), between the age of 31-40 (34.5%), had household size of 7-9 (39.1%). The activities that contributed to deforestation in the reserve were logging (70.9%), livestock breeding (15.5%), and farming (10.9%). The forest resources harvested included Tectona grandis, Gmelina aborea, Rattus fuscipes, Thryonomy swinderianus. Involvement in CBFM provided jobs (categorized as Forest user groups (FUG) namely; timber merchants, fellers, loaders, hunters, farmers, forest guards to community members. The income earned varied between ₦11,000 ($28.9) to ₦200,000 ($526.3) monthly. Majority (58.2%) of respondent stated that heads of different FUG constituted the committee which works with an annual plan (53.4%), arrived at by voting (70.0%). The annual plans meet the demands of various FUG (81.8%) with little interference from government (86.4%). The committees major forest management strategies included partnership of forest guards with rural people (40.0%), creation of a community forest administration group (26.4%) and laws stopping illegal entry into the forest estate (23.4%). Intensification of government involvement and adequate funding for effective CBFM were recommended by the study.

Environmental determinants and markers of Lassa fever transmission in a low socioeconomic community in Akure, southwestern Nigeria

Background: Lassa fever is currently one of the most acute and priority vector-borne endemic viral diseases with a prevalence of 40% in Nigeria. Domestic settings or housing conditions have been hypothesized to be important sites for primary transmission but information on the relationship between morbidity and environmental factors is inadequate. We assessed environmental factors and identified markers that could predispose a community to the transmission of Lassa fever in a low socioeconomic community in Akure, Nigeria. Methods and materials: The study employed a descriptive cross sectional design with field and laboratory components of which 276 respondents and 35 households were systematically sampled. Traps were placed in each of the households sampled for four weeks and rodents captured were identified using morphological characteristics. Viral screening was done on rodents captured using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction for detection of Lassa virus. Logistics regression was use to establish associations at a statistical significance of 0.05. Results: Observations showed that most houses had cracks and holes on their walls and floors respectively and hygiene/sanitary facilities and practices were poor in most houses. Respondents with good housing condition were 1.9 times more likely to have good hygiene practice compared to those that had poor housing condition (OR = 1.941, p = 0.009). 73.4% of respondents reported that they see rats every day in their houses. Three species of rodents were trapped from the selected households with Rattus rattus (43.2%) being the dominant species in the homes of the study area followed by Rattus fuscipes (38.6%) and Rattus norvegicus (18.2%). Two species of Rattus rattus tested positive, Rattus fuscipes and Rattus norvegicus had one rodent species each respectively testing positive for the strain. Conclusion: Environmental factors such as housing conditions, hygiene practices, etc. can predispose a community to the transmission of Lassa fever. Regular environmental sanitation within and around homes with surveillance is hereby advocated.

Ten years on – a decade of intensive biodiversity research after the 2009 Black Saturday wildfires in Victoria’s Mountain Ash forest

ABSTRACT The catastrophic 2009 wildfires in the Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria provided an opportunity to gain new insights into the responses to fire by various elements of the biota. Ongoing long-term monitoring at a large number of permanent field sites for up to 25 years prior to the fire, together with 10 years of post-fire monitoring, has provided an unparalleled series of datasets on mammal, bird, and plant responses on burned and unburned sites. The empirical studies briefly summarized in this paper show patterns of steep declines in large old trees and declines in site occupancy by arboreal marsupials and birds. These changes contrast markedly with the responses of the two most common species of small mammals (the Agile Antechinus [Antechinus agilis] and Bush Rat [Rattus fuscipes]), which recovered within two generations after the fire. Declines in arboreal marsupials, birds and large old trees have also occurred on unburned sites, indicating an ecosystem-wide trend. In general, logging had a greater impact than fire on the majority of groups of birds and plants, particularly post-fire salvage logging that occurred in some areas following the 2009 wildfires. Beyond interactions between fire and post-fire (salvage) logging and their effects on forest biota, we have uncovered evidence of other kinds of interactions in Mountain Ash forests. These include interactions between: (1) the severity of fires and logging history, (2) post-fire bird population recovery and long-term climate and short-term weather conditions, and (3) impacts on forest soils. The structure and landscape composition of the Mountain Ash ecosystem has been radically altered over the last century. This has resulted from the combined impact of several large fires, including the 2009 fires as well as widespread clearfell logging that has been conducted within state forests over the last 50 years. The ecosystem now supports old growth cover that is 1/30th to 1/60th of what it was estimated to have been prior to European settlement. The ongoing decline of key components of the Mountain Ash ecosystem has led to it being classified as Critically Endangered and at high risk of ecosystem collapse. We argue that current forest policy and practices need to better mitigate the effects of fire on this already highly disturbed forest and enhance the possible persistence of species in this ecosystem. Several key strategies are required to do this. First, there is a need to significantly expand the extent of old growth within the Mountain Ash forest estate. This is because fire severity is diminished in such areas. Spatial contagion across old-growth dominated landscapes also may be suppressed relative to landscapes composed primarily of young forest. Allied management strategies include the protection of more mesic parts of Mountain Ash landscapes as these are less likely to burn or at least burn at high severity. Such enhanced protection should include an expanded network of buffers around drainage lines and waterways as these are where fire severity is likely to be lowest and also where old growth elements like large old hollow-bearing trees are more abundant. In addition, all existing living and dead hollow-bearing trees need to be protected by buffers of unlogged forest within wood production forests to promote their standing life and better conserve cavity-dependent fauna such as the Critically Endangered Leadbeater’s Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) and other declining taxa like the Greater Glider (Petauroides volans).

Predictors, Prevalence and Spatial Distribution of Lassa Virus from Household Rodents in Low Socio-economic Community in Akure, Nigeria

Background Lassa fever is a disease of public health importance and an acute viral illness that is endemic in West Africa.However, studies on its household determinants and geographical distribution is lacking. Hence we assessed and identified markers of Lassa fever transmission and carried out a spatial analysis of the disease in a low socioeconomic community in Akure, Southwestern Nigeria Methods The study employed a descriptive cross sectional design with field and laboratory components of which 35 households were systematically sampled. Traps were placed in each of the households sampled for four weeks and rodents captured were morphologically identified using standard methods. Viral screening was done on rodents gathered from each of the households using reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) for detection of lassa virus and spatial maps were generated using ArcMap 10.1 to show rodent infested areas and areas prone to outbreak of the disease Results Three species of rodents were trapped from the selected households with Rattus rattus (43.2%) being the dominant species in the homes of the study area followed by Rattus fuscipes (38.6%) and Rattus norvegicus (18.2%). Two species of Rattus rattus tested positive followed by Rattus fuscipes and Rattus norvegicus which had one rodent species each respectively testing positive for the strain.Spatial maps were generated to show rat infestation density and areas prone to an outbreak of the disease. Mastomys, the rodent vector for Lassa fever was not found among the captured rodents but the species of rodents captured in the study had positive strains of lassa virus showing that Mastomys natalensis is not the only reservoir for the virus Conclusion Therefore, there should be effective awareness campaigns on Lassa fever transmission and regular environmental health surveillance to check and control possible outbreaks.

The diet of a Sooty Owl from Yarrangobilly Caves, NSW

ABSTRACT A total of 783 dietary items from a Sooty Owl Tyto tenebricosa tenebricosa with suspected partial xanthochromism (yellow plumage colouration) was identified from Yarrangobilly Caves, NSW. Observations of the owl at the cave and collection of feathers suggest that prey items accumulated between 2011 and 2018. A total of 12 mammal species was detected in the diet, with the Bush Rat Rattus fuscipes, Agile Antechinus Antechinus agilis, Sugar Glider Petaurus breviceps and Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus dominating. The diet also included three threatened species, the Eastern Pygmy Possum Cercartetus nanus, Smoky Mouse Pseudomys fumeus and Broad-toothed Rat Mastacomys fuscus. The diversity of prey identified in the diet contrasts markedly with that found in studies of subfossil deposits from the area, supporting evidence of extensive mammal declines since European settlement.

The fast and the curious II: performance, personality, and metabolism in Karoo bush rats

Personality traits (e.g. activity, exploration, boldness) are frequently correlated with each other and with various other traits of biological importance. According to the performance, allocation, and independent models of energy management, the relationship between personality traits and resting metabolic rate (RMR) is predicted to be either positive, negative, or nil. As for the relationship between personality traits and locomotor performance, the trait compensation and co-specialisation hypotheses respectively predict a positive and negative relationship. To test for associations between personality, metabolism, and performance, we studied a wild population of Karoo bush rat (Myotomys unisulcatus) in South Africa. During summer 2018, we captured 45 individuals (38 females and 7 males) a total of 293 times and repeatedly measured docility (time spent immobile during a bag test), exploration (distance moved in an open-field test), sprint speed, and RMR. We found a behavioural syndrome in our population, as more docile individuals covered less distance in the exploration test (r ± SE = − 0.74 ± 0.21). RMR was not correlated with any trait; therefore, the independent energy management model applies to this population. Fast sprinters were less explorative in the novel environment than slow sprinters (r ± SE = − 0.41 ± 0.21), going against the prediction of the phenotypic compensation hypothesis and suggesting co-specialisation of these traits. A similar result was previously observed in two other rodent species, suggesting that exploratory behaviour and locomotor performance may interact in an additive instead of compensatory way. Given the apparent complexity of the links between performance, behaviour, and metabolism, more studies are needed in order to understand their relationships. In this study, we test alternative energy management models and hypotheses predicting different relationships between behavioural, performance, and metabolic traits. Our results support the independent model of energy management, since resting metabolic rate was not correlated with either docility or exploration. The negative relationship between exploration and sprint speed is counter to the intuitive idea that more explorative individuals should be better equipped to deal with the increased risks of predation, but instead supports the co-specialisation hypothesis. Finally, we emphasise the importance of partitioning the variance in raw measurements as a way to better appreciate the variability in measurements of metabolic rate and locomotor performance. Such multilevel analyses provide an idea of the relative variability at among-individual level vs. other levels (tests, trials, and residuals), which might have important implications for the understanding of how factors like stress and motivation might potentially generate or obfuscate relationships between behavioural, performance, and metabolic traits.

Food habits of the Indian bush rat (Golunda ellioti Gray, 1837) in Pothwar region, Pakistan

Abstract The Indian bush rat, Golunda ellioti, is indigenous to the Indo-Pak subcontinent. Food habits of this bush rat were investigated using its stomach and fecal contents. Trapping was conducted every month from November 2013 to February 2016. This over 28 months generated a total of 2520 trapping nights. Sample slides from 82 stomach and 10 fecal samples were compared with the reference slides. Field observations along with feeding the Indian bush rat in captivity revealed that it preferably fed on 27 species of grasses with Digitaria sanguinalis [frequency of occurrence (FO) = 13.5%] being the most abundant one followed by Pennisetum orientale (FO = 8.5%). However, the Berger-Parker index revealed that D. sanguinalis (d = 0.148) was followed by Triticum aestivum (d = 0.145). Along with that, they also consumed tillers and seeds of wheat, gram seeds and young leaves of mustard. Considering the climatic changes, its success in adapting to the arid regions and dependence on grasses for food and cover may favor this species in future.

The mitochondrial genome of Angiostrongylus mackerrasae is distinct from A. cantonensis and A. malaysiensis.

The native rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus mackerrasae) and the invasive rat lungworm (Angiostrongylus cantonensis) occur in eastern Australia. The species identity of A. mackerrasae remained unquestioned until relatively recently, when compilation of mtDNA data indicated that A. mackerrasae sensu Aghazadeh et al. (2015b) clusters within A. cantonensis based on their mitochondrial genomes (mtDNA). To re-evaluate the species identity of A. mackerrasae, we sought material that would be morphologically conspecific with A. mackerrasae. We combined morphological and molecular approaches to confirm or refute the specific status of A. mackerrasae. Nematodes conspecific with A. mackerrasae from Rattus fuscipes and Rattus rattus were collected in Queensland, Australia. Morphologically identified A. mackerrasae voucher specimens were characterized using amplification of cox1 followed by the generation of reference complete mtDNA. The morphologically distinct A. cantonensis, A. mackerrasae and A. malaysiensis are genetically distinguishable forming a monophyletic mtDNA lineage. We conclude that A. mackerrasae sensu Aghazadeh et al. (2015b) is a misidentified specimen of A. cantonensis. The availability of the mtDNA genome of A. mackerrasae enables its unequivocal genetic identification and differentiation from other Angiostrongylus species.

Uptake of ‘Eradicat’ feral cat baits by non-target species on Kangaroo Island

Abstract ContextPredation by feral cats (Felis catus) threatens a range of vertebrate species across Australia, and cat-free islands increasingly act as safe havens for biodiversity. A feral cat eradication program has begun on Kangaroo Island (4405km2) in South Australia, and poison baiting is likely to be one of the main methods used. Aims Here, we trial a non-toxic version of a cat bait, ‘Eradicat’, on western Kangaroo Island, to examine its potential impact on non-target species. MethodsNon-toxic baits containing the biomarker Rhodamine B were deployed across four sites in early August and late November in 2018, with bait take and consumption assessed both by remote cameras and by the presence of Rhodamine B in mammalian whisker samples taken post-baiting. Key resultsCats encountered baits on very few occasions and took a bait on only one occasion in August (<1% of 576 baits deployed). Non-target species accounted for over 99% of identifiable bait takes. In both seasons, >60% of all baits laid was taken by either the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) or Australian raven (Corvus coronoides). In November, Rosenberg’s goanna (Varanus rosenbergi) and southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern subspecies; Isoodon obesulus obesulus), listed nationally as Endangered, also took baits (3% and 1% respectively). The Kangaroo Island dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni), listed nationally as endangered, approached a bait on only one occasion, but did not consume it. Evidence of bait consumption was visible in the whiskers of captured common brushtail possums (100% of post-baiting captured individuals in August, 80% in November), bush rats (59% in August and 50% in November), house mice (Mus musculus) (45% in November) and western pygmy-possums (Cercartetus concinnus) (33% in November). ConclusionsAlthough feral cat baiting has the potential to significantly benefit wildlife on Kangaroo Island, impacts on non-target species (particularly the bush rat and common brushtail possum) may be high. ImplicationsAlternative cat baits, such as those containing a toxin to which native species have a higher tolerance or that are less readily consumed by native wildlife, will be more appropriate.

Morphological and molecular divergence of subspecies of Indian Bush Rats, <i>Golunda ellioti</i> Gray, 1837 (Rodentia: Muridae) from Sri Lanka

Genus Golunda is comprised of a single species of small bush rat endemic to southern Asia. In Sri Lanka, two subspecies are recognized, Golunda ellioti ellioti (Indian bush rat) and G. e. nuwara (Ceylon bush rat). These two subspecies can be differentiated by their tail length (longer in G. e. ellioti vs shorter in G. e. nuwara) fur type (short, harsh, spinous in G. e. ellioti vs long, soft and moderately fine in G. e. nuwara), colour of ventral pelage (light grey in G. e. ellioti vs bluish grey in G. e. nuwara) and microscopic hair anatomy (broader and shorter Guard Hair 1 with triangular and square shaped cross sections at the tip of the shield in G. e. ellioti vs narrower and longer Guard Hair 1 with circular to oval shaped cross sections in G. e. nuwara). In the present study, the divergence between the two subspecies was further evaluated using morphology (external and cranial) and molecular data (cytochrome-b, 16S and Rag 1 genes). We found that the brain case was comparatively rounded in G. e. ellioti and the interparietal bone was elongated in G. e. nuwara. Genetic distance between the two subspecies remain at subspecies level; 1.2% for cytochrome-b.

Assessment of Hazardous Metal Concentrations in Organs of Selected Game Animals in the Natural Environment

The study was conducted to determine the levels of hazardous metals in game animals. A total of eighteen (18) animals which comprised six species of three (3) each from the same location were trapped or hunted and sacrificed. Organs analyzed for hazardous metal levels were skin, liver, kidney and heart using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry and content expressed in mgkg-1. The statistical analysis was done with Genstat (2007). Results obtained showed that all the hazardous metals under study were present in the organs at variable concentrations. Lead: skin (0.18 – 0.46) mgkg-1, liver (0.03 – 0.4) mgkg-1, heart (0.25 – 0.58) mgkg-1 and kidney (0.38 1.12) mgkg-1; Cadmium: skin (0.08 – 0.58) mgkg-1 and kidney (0.09 – 0.7) mgkg-1; Zinc : skin ( 0.46 – 0.66) mgkg-1, liver (90.04 – 0.82) mgkg-1, heart (0.42 – 1.21) mgkg-1 and kidney (0.43 – 1.58) mgkg-1; Copper: skin (6.13 – 12.57) mgkg-1, liver (5.1 – 9.56) mgkg-1, heart (6.89 - 15.15) mgkg-1 and kidney (7.63 – 24.87) mgkg-1; Iron : skin (9.53 – 26.35) mgkg-1, liver (8.07 -28.08) mgkg-1, heart (13.83 - 46.40) mgkg-1 and kidney (12.43 – 47.61) mgkg-1. Iron was highly (p <0.05) deposited in all species of animals in the heart 19.88 mgkg-1, 46.40 mgkg-1, 40.83 mgkg-1, 13.83 mgkg-1 and 41.38 mgkg-1 respectively for civet (Civettictis civeta), antelope (Antilocapra americana), grasscutter (Thryonomys swiderianus), hedgehog (Atelerix albiventris) and bush dog (Speothos venaticus) except the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) that had its highest deposition (46.71 mgkg-1) in the kidney. Copper was also highly deposited in animals after iron with higher concentrations in heart and kidney. The highest concentration was recorded for bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) (15.15 mgkg-1) in heart and 24.87 mgkg-1 in kidney. Due to bioaccumulation of hazardous metals, care should be taken in patronizing bushmeat obtained from the studied ecosystem since failure could be perilous to the health of consumers as their concentrations are beyond the safe limits for the respective metals. It is further recommended that environmental safety principles for safe disposal of hazardous metals are appropriately carried out.

The selfie trap: A novel camera trap design for accurate small mammal identification

SummaryCamera traps are a popular tool for monitoring wildlife though they can fail to capture enough morphological detail for accurate small mammal species identification. Camera trapping small mammals is often limited by the inability of camera models to: (i) record at close distances; and (ii) provide standardised photos. This study aims to provide a camera trapping method that captures standardised images of the faces of small mammals for accurate species identification, with further potential for individual identification. A novel camera trap design coined the ‘selfie trap’ was developed. The selfie trap is a camera contained within an enclosed PVC pipe with a modified lens that produces standardised close images of small mammal species encountered in this study, including: Brown Antechinus (Antechinus stuartii), Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes) and Sugar Glider (Petaurus breviceps). Individual identification was tested on the common arboreal Sugar Glider. Five individual Sugar Gliders were identified based on unique head stripe pelage. The selfie trap is an accurate camera trapping method for capturing detailed and standardised images of small mammal species. The design described may be useful for wildlife management as a reliable method for surveying small mammal species. However, intraspecies individual identification using the selfie trap requires further testing.

Cryptosporidium viatorum from the native Australian swamp rat Rattus lutreolus - An emerging zoonotic pathogen?

Cryptosporidium viatorum is a globally distributed pathogenic species of Cryptosporidium that has only ever been recorded from humans, until now. For the first time, we molecularly characterised a novel subtype of C. viatorum (subtype XVbA2G1) from the endemic Australian swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) using the small subunit of nuclear ribosomal RNA (SSU) gene and then subtyped it using the 60-kilodalton glycoprotein (gp60) gene. In total, faecal samples from 21 swamp rats (three were positive for C. viatorum), three broad toothed rats (Mastacomys fuscus) and two bush rats (Rattus fuscipes) were tested for Cryptosporidium. The long-term, isolated nature of the swamp rat population in Melbourne's drinking water catchment system (where public access is prohibited), the lack of C. viatorum from other mammals and birds living within the vicinity of this system and its genetic distinctiveness in both the SSU and gp60 gene sequences from other species of Cryptosporidium collectively suggest that C. viatorum might be endemic to native rats in Australia. The current state of knowledge of epidemiological surveys of Cryptosporidium of rats and the zoonotic potential are further discussed in light of the finding of C. viatorum. Long-term studies, with the capacity to repetitively sample a variety of hosts in multiple localities, in different seasons and years, will allow for greater insight into the epidemiological patterns and zoonotic potential of rare Cryptosporidium species such as C. viatorum.

Can remote infrared cameras be used to differentiate small, sympatric mammal species? A case study of the black-tailed dusky antechinus, Antechinus arktos and co-occurring small mammals in southeast Queensland, Australia.

The black-tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos) is an endangered, small carnivorous marsupial endemic to Australia, which occurs at low population density along with abundant sympatric populations of other small mammals: Antechinus stuartii, Rattus fuscipes and Melomys cervinipes. Using A. arktos as a model species, we aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of infrared digital camera traps for detecting and differentiating small mammals and to comment on the broad applicability of this methodology. We also sought to understand how the detection probabilities of our target species varied over time and characterize their activity patterns. We installed 11 infrared cameras at one of only three known sites where A. arktos occurs for five consecutive deployments. Cameras were fixed to wooden stakes and oriented vertically, 35 cm above ground, directly facing bait containers. Using this method, we successfully recorded and identified individuals from all four species of small mammal known previously in the area from live trapping, including A. arktos. This validates the effectiveness of the infrared camera type and orientation for small mammal studies. Periods of activity for all species were highly coincident, showing a strong peak in activity during the same two-hour period immediately following sunset. A. arktos, A. stuartii and M. cervinipes also displayed a strong negative linear relationship between detection probability and days since deployment. This is an important finding for camera trapping generally, indicating that routine camera deployment lengths (of one-to-two weeks) between baiting events may be too long when targeting some small mammals.

Recoveries and cascading declines of native mammals associated with control of an introduced predator

Invasive animal species are a major factor in the extinction and endangerment of native species worldwide. Longterm monitoring reveals some mammal recoveries have not been sustained in the presence of a broad-scale threat abatement program aimed at reducing the impact of the introduced Vulpes vulpes (red fox)-a top-order predator and key threat to many native species in Australia. Over 51,000 records of 19 terrestrial mammal species reported from a range of survey methods (pitfall traps, Elliott box traps, wire cage traps, spotlighting, sand plots, and nest boxes) across the Upper Warren region of southwestern Australia were used to investigate population changes over 41 years (1974-2014). Since the mid-1990s, populations of at least 7 native mammal species or genera have successively declined at similarly rapid rates and magnitudes (80-100%): Sminthopsis spp., Rattus fuscipes, Phascogale tapoatafa, Isoodon obesulus, Pseudocheirus occidentalis, Bettongia penicillata, and Notamacropus irma. R. fuscipes has not been recorded in the region since 2005 and may have become locally extinct. The other species that have declined remain at risk of becoming locally extinct. Three species have increased since 2000: Trichosurus vulpecula, Dasyurus geoffroii, and Notamacropus eugenii. The Upper Warren region in which this community disassembly has occurred is one of the principal sites for the conservation of many threatened mammal species and is within Australia's global biodiversity hotspot. We discuss the critical importance of long-term monitoring and the need to identify the causes of population change to inform how conservation and management activities can best be focussed. Predation by the introduced Felis catus (cat) is hypothesized as the most likely common or primary cause behind many of the recent declines in the Upper Warren. The integrated reduction of both cats and foxes, conducted within an experimental framework, is the most direct and definitive action to test this and deliver the greatest practical conservation outcomes.

Responses of invasive predators and native prey to a prescribed forest fire

Fire shapes biome distribution and community composition worldwide, and is extensively used as a management tool in flammable landscapes. There is growing concern, however, that fire could increase the vulnerability of native fauna to invasive predators. We developed a conceptual model of the ways in which fire could influence predator–prey dynamics. Using a before–after, control–impact experiment, we then investigated the short-term effects of a prescribed fire on 2 globally significant invasive mesopredators (red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and feral cat, Felis catus) and their native mammalian prey in a fire-prone forest of southeastern Australia. We deployed motion-sensing cameras to assess species occurrence, collected predator scats to quantify diet and prey choice, and measured vegetation cover before and after fire. We examined the effects of the fire at the scale of the burn block (1,190 ha), and compared burned forest to unburned refuges. Pre-fire, invasive predators and large native herbivores were more likely to occur at sites with an open understory, whereas the occurrence of most small-and medium-sized native mammals was positively associated with understory cover. Fire reduced understory cover by more than 80%, and resulted in a 5-fold increase in the occurrence of invasive predators. Concurrently, relative consumption of medium-sized native mammals by foxes doubled, and selection of long-nosed bandicoots (Perameles nasuta) and short-beaked echidnas (Tachyglossus aculeatus) by foxes increased. Occurrence of bush rats (Rattus fuscipes) declined. It was unclear if fire also affected the occurrence of bandicoots or echidnas, as changes coincided with normal seasonal variations. Overall, prescribed fire promoted invasive predators, while disadvantaging their medium-sized native mammalian prey. Further replication and longer-term experiments are needed before these findings can be generalized. Nonetheless, such interactions could pose a serious threat to vulnerable species such as critical weight range mammals. Integrated invasive predator and fire management are recommended to improve biodiversity conservation in flammable ecosystems.

Where do animals come from during post‐fire population recovery? Implications for ecological and genetic patterns in post‐fire landscapes

Identifying where animals come from during population recovery can help to understand the impacts of disturbance events and regimes on species distributions and genetic diversity. Alternative recovery processes for animal populations affected by fire include external recolonization, nucleated recovery from refuges, or in situ survival and population growth. We used simulations to develop hypotheses about ecological and genetic patterns corresponding to these alternative models. We tested these hypotheses in a study of the recovery of two small mammals, the Australian bush rat and the agile antechinus, after a large (> 50 000 ha), severe wildfire.The abundance of both species was severely reduced by fire and recovered to near or above pre‐fire levels within two generations, yet we rejected a hypothesis of recovery by external recolonization. While the agile antechinus showed genetic evidence for far greater dispersal capacity than the bush rat, neither species showed gradients in abundance or genetic diversity with distance from unburnt forest during population recovery.Population recovery was driven by local‐scale processes. However, the mechanisms differed between species, resulting from the spatial impacts of fire on habitat suitability. Agile antechinus populations recovered through population growth from in situ survivors. The bush rat followed a model of nucleated recovery, involving local recolonization from micro‐refuges in topographic drainage lines.Nucleated recovery by the bush rat was associated with changes in dispersal, and fine‐scale patterns of genetic admixture. We identified increased dispersal by females during recovery, contrasting with male‐biased dispersal in unburnt forest. Such flexibility in dispersal can potentially increase recovery rates compared to expectations based on dispersal behavior within undisturbed populations.Our study shows how the initial distribution of survivors, determined by fire effects on resource distribution, determines the subsequent scaling of population recovery patterns, and the sensitivity of population distribution and genetic diversity to changing disturbance regimes.