Radio-tracking Study Research Articles

Homing of translocated native Indian pythons in Moyar River Valley, South India

Homing is often a critical aspect of an animal's behavioural and spatial ecology. Translocation is considered to be a wildlife management strategy that could reduce human-wildlife confrontation, but this strategy may not be effective if animals attempt to home to their original capture location. Translocation of animals from sites where possible human-wildlife interaction occurs is a widespread but controversial intervention to resolve conflicts. In India, snakes are often the subject of such translocations, but there is a paucity of information on the behaviour of translocated snakes compared to resident snakes. The Indian python (Python molurus), one of the largest carnivores in the Indian subcontinent, is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN. We conducted a two-year radio-tracking study (December 2018 to December 2020) on the movements of 14 adult Indian pythons in the Moyar River Valley, within the Sathyamangalam and Mudumalai Tiger Reserves. Eleven of the 14 pythons were translocated 0.28–55.7 kms from their capture locations, while 3 pythons were not translocated: 6 were translocated short distances (<5 km from capture; range 0.28–4.67 kms), 2 were translocated to medium distances (9–11 kms from capture location), and 3 were translocated to long distances (21–55.7 kms from capture location). Four of the six snakes translocated short distances all returned to within 500 m of their original capture locations, and all 6 returned over 60 % of the translocated distance to the initial capture location. Of the two snakes translocated medium distances, both returned to within 1.1 km of the capture location (∼90 % of the distance home). None of the three snakes that were translocated long distances successfully returned to their capture locations. Translocated pythons exhibited greater net movement distances than resident snakes within the first 2 months of release. Based on these results, long-distance translocation may be an effective strategy to minimize human-python conflict, while short or medium distance translocation is unlikely to be successful. However, more research is needed about the long-term survival of translocated snakes as well as soft-release methodologies that could prevent aberrant movement behaviour directly following release.

First characterisation and conservation needs of a large maternity colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) in Aljezur, Portugal

A new maternity colony of lesser horseshoe bats (Rhinolophus hipposideros) was found and described in an abandoned building in Aljezur, Portugal. Between June 25 and July 4, 2022, we conducted emergence and juvenile counts, took light intensity measurements during emergence times and evaluated microclimatic conditions inside the roost, namely temperature and relative humidity. Moreover, we took ultrasound recordings in the open and performed transects to locate foraging areas and commuting corridors. We found the colony amounted to at least 501 individuals (371 adults and 130 juveniles), currently the largest known in Portugal and one of the biggest in Europe. Sixteen matching echolocation calls were recorded away from the colony near a water reservoir, a probable foraging area together with the Vale da Telha valley connecting the roost to the water body, which may also serve as a commuting corridor. Considering the threatened conservation status of the lesser horseshoe bat, the large colony size and its lack of protection, we proposed several conservation measures aimed at preserving the colony. We hope our recommendations will be included in the management plan currently being prepared for the Natura 2000 site Costa Sudoeste. Following up on this research, a radio-tracking study would definitively confirm the bats’ movements and foraging grounds.

Susceptibility to Predation Varies with Body Mass, Foraging Niche, and Anti-Predator Responses among Bird Species

Predation is a major source of mortality for many avian species. Species that face more predators, and those with less effective anti-predator responses, are presumably more likely to die from predation over time. Predation rate, as a measure of susceptibility to predation, is difficult to measure in the field. Radio-tracking studies, however, allow researchers to determine the time and cause of death of marked individuals, making it possible to estimate predation rate. I used estimates of predation rates from a large number of published radio-tracking studies in birds to assess in a phylogenetic framework the effect of several potential determinants. I obtained 393 estimates of predation rates from 129 species. Predation rates were lower in areas with fewer predators, such as islands and aquatic habitats, and for species with fewer potential predators, such as larger species. The predation rate was also lower for prey species with effective anti-predator responses, such as those that forage in flocks. Radio-tracking studies provide a unique opportunity to estimate overall predation rate in the field. Broadening the range of species and the range of habitats involved in such studies will help to further elucidate the factors that affect susceptibility to predation.

Simulation of the Movement Behavior of Leopardus Guigna using Random Walkers

Scarcity of information regarding the natural history of Leopardus guigna, an endangered felid native to Chile and western Argentina, hampers the successful implementation of conservation strategies. Very little is known about the movement behavior of L. guigna and home range estimates rest on less than a handful of radiotracking studies. Due to the difficulties inherent in any study requiring the live capture of protected species, we suggest a mathematical approach to the modeling of territories occupied by individual guignas. Our approach is based on the hypothesis that L. guigna maintains a sedentary behavior in a specific area of a given territory, whereby starting points can be derived from point observations. In this context, the present article shows a way to simulate a distribution of points in a territory using random walkers to emulate field data as could be obtained by means of telemetry. Our model allows for an estimation of mean distances covered by individual cats from a fixed starting point and thus enables the prediction of interactions with known threats to the species, such as motor vehicles, free-roaming dogs, and people. The knowledge gained in this process can be of much help when defining the boundaries of protected areas and, more generally, in the planning of infrastructure, rural and urban development.

Increased rates of dispersal of free-ranging cane toads (Rhinella marina) during their global invasion

Invasions often accelerate through time, as dispersal-enhancing traits accumulate at the expanding range edge. How does the dispersal behaviour of individual organisms shift to increase rates of population spread? We collate data from 44 radio-tracking studies (in total, of 650 animals) of cane toads (Rhinella marina) to quantify distances moved per day, and the frequency of displacement in their native range (French Guiana) and two invaded areas (Hawai’i and Australia). We show that toads in their native-range, Hawai’i and eastern Australia are relatively sedentary, while toads dispersing across tropical Australia increased their daily distances travelled from 20 to 200 m per day. That increase reflects an increasing propensity to change diurnal retreat sites every day, as well as to move further during each nocturnal displacement. Daily changes in retreat site evolved earlier than did changes in distances moved per night, indicating a breakdown in philopatry before other movement behaviours were optimised to maximise dispersal.

Population dynamics of an island population of water voles Arvicola amphibius (Linnaeus, 1758) with one major predator, the eagle owl Bubo bubo (Linnaeus, 1758), in northern Norway

Predator–prey relationships are of great significance to ecosystems, and their effects on the population dynamics of voles and lemmings (Microtinae) in Boreal and Arctic environments have long been of particular interest. A simple ecosystem with one major prey and one major predator could be an ideal setting for a study of their interactions. This is the situation on several small islands on the coast of northern Norway just below the Arctic Circle, with populations of water voles Arvicola amphibius preyed upon by the eagle owl Bubo bubo. The population dynamics of the water vole was studied by trapping and tagging in 2003–2018, eagle owl pellets were collected for analyses, eagle owl breeding attempts were recorded, and some weather variables collected from official recordings. After having been introduced well into the study period, the number of sheep Ovis aries was also recorded. Water voles were the main prey of the eagle owl, with 89% occurrence in pellets, with an overrepresentation of adults and males. Both predation, sheep grazing and extreme weather events influenced the vole population. Predator exclusion, as happened in three summers due to an intensive radio tracking study, especially increased the number of surviving young (in particular from the early cohorts) and the mass of adults. Extreme weather events, such as flooding in summer and deeply frozen ground in winter, most significantly reduced vole populations. Sheep grazing may exacerbate the effects of predation. A similar multitude of factors may affect populations of other rodent species as well.

Juvenile Barn Owl Tyto alba dispersal: a radio-tracking study of roost site selection in relation to landscape features

ABSTRACT Capsule Radio-tracking of 19 juvenile Barn Owls Tyto alba alba in England revealed different spatial patterns for males and females, that tree branches were frequent roost sites, and that altitudinal distribution changed after owls acquired home ranges. Aims To gain new understanding of the natal dispersal of Barn Owls by identifying roost sites and analysing their spatial pattern, site type, altitude, and location in relation to linear features. Methods Diurnal roost sites of 19 juvenile Barn Owls were located by radio-tracking in southwest England. We evaluated the possibility of sex-bias in natal and between-roost dispersal distances and tested for change in the site types used as natal sites and daytime roosts. We tested for differences in the altitude of roosts used during the dispersal phase and those used once the birds acquired a home range, and we analysed the location of roost sites in relation to major roads, railways, and rivers. Results Barn Owls commenced dispersal when they were between 63 and 122 days after hatching (median = 94). Roost sites used by females were more widely scattered than those used by males. Owls roosted most frequently in trees, despite most natal sites being in buildings. The altitude of roost sites during dispersal in elevated landscapes was higher than those on their acquired home range. We could find no evidence that owls followed linear features during dispersal, nor that hills were barriers to dispersal. Conclusion Post-fledging roosting behaviour of female and male Barn Owls differed spatially and was congruent with a wider pattern of sex-bias in avian natal dispersal. Frequent roosting on tree branches had implications for exposure to adverse weather. Some juveniles roosted at altitudes that were higher than subsequent roosts on their acquired home range. We found no evidence to support the proposal that linear landscape features constituted dispersal corridors.

Field studies of a high elevation population of northern Greater glider Petauroides volans minor in the Bluff State Forest, Far North Queensland

ABSTRACT We present the results of field surveys and a radio-tracking study of the Greater glider Petauroides volans minor in the Bluff State Forest, North Queensland. Twenty-three spotlighting transects were surveyed twice in July 2018, mean abundance of P. v. minor was 0.24 ha-1 in wet sclerophyll and 0.38 ha-1 in dry sclerophyll forest. Field observations (n= 330) were collected from nine radio-collared animals across three field sites from July to October 2019. 95% kernel home range estimates varied, ranging from 1.03 – 11.45 ha. Observations of denning (n=66) across 22 den trees identified that the gliders utilised between 1 and 4 dens during the study. Den trees were predominantly large Blue gum Eucalyptus tereticornis, with Gum-topped box Eucalyptus moluccana, Narrow-leafed ironbark Eucalyptus drepanophylla, Tindale’s stringybark Eucalyptus tindaliae and unidentifiable tree stags were used to lesser extent in one field site. Mean availability of suitable den trees was 2.07±1.12 per ha in Site 1 and 2, and 1.57±1.24 in Site 3. Foraging observations (n=148) were collected, Pink Bloodwood Corymbia intermedia and E. moluccana were the most commonly observed feed trees utilised by the study animals during the tracking period. This study provides baseline data for P. v. minor within high elevation habitat (950 to 1000 m) at its most northern extent. Given the widespread decline of P. volans across much of its range, these data may be used for developing local conservation strategies for the species in North Queensland.

Seasonal Variation in the Home Ranges of Black Curassow,Crax alector, in French Guiana

Cracidae is the most threatened avian family in the Neotropics, mainly because of habitat destruction, heavy hunting pressure and poaching. In French Guiana, Black Curassows are heavily hunted, although basic knowledge of the ecological and demographical traits of the species remains limited. Such a gap prevents any attempt to assess the impact of hunting and to help stakeholders to develop proposals ensuring hunting sustainability. The spatial relationship between animals and their habitat is important for conservation management, being related to population densities through complex patterns. Here, we report on a radio-tracking study of Black Curassows in tropical primary rainforest, in Nouragues National Reserve, French Guiana. The aims of the study were to estimate home range size and its variation across seasons, and to quantify movement patterns of the birds. We captured and fitted VHF tags to four adults, and tracked them for 10 to 21.5 months. Daily movements were recorded, and home ranges estimated using the Kernel Density method, for two consecutive wet seasons and one dry season. Using 95% and 50% Kernel densities, the average annual home range and core area were 96.3± 32.6 ha (SE) and 22.8 ± 2.8 ha respectively. Home ranges appeared spatially stable over the two years, and overlapped between neighbouring groups. During the dry season, Black Curassows did not migrate but tended to enlarge their home range, with greater daily movements and higher home range overlap. Although additional data are still needed, our results can help to improve the knowledge and management of this poorly studied species.

Linking winter habitat use, diet and reproduction in snowy owls using satellite tracking and stable isotope analyses

ABSTRACT Coupling isotope values of feathers and satellite tracking of individuals have the potential to reveal multi-season linkages between wintering habitat, diet and carry-over effects on reproductive parameters in migrating birds. Snowy owls Bubo scandiacus have multiple wintering tactics as they can use both terrestrial and marine resources during the non-breeding season, but their nomadic behaviour complicates their study. We assessed if inter-individual variability in the diet inferred by feather isotopes could be explained by habitat use in winter as determined by satellite telemetry and examined possible carry-over effects on reproduction. Seventeen breeding female snowy owls were equipped with satellite transmitters and sampled for stable isotopes (δ 13C and δ 15N) in feathers. We found a positive relationship between the use of the coastal and marine environments in winter and the contribution of marine resources to the diet of snowy owls in the previous year based on feather analysis. The proportion of marine contribution to the winter diet was variable among individuals and showed a weak negative relationship to summer body mass but not with laying date or clutch size. Our integrated approach shows the usefulness of isotope analyses to infer habitat use and expand the temporal coverage of radio-tracking studies.

Gps Telemetry and Home Range of the White-Backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos: Results of the First Experience

The White-backed Woodpecker Dendrocopos leucotos is one the rarest and the most vulnerable woodpeckers in Europe. Intensive forest practices have caused a widespread decline of the species. In the Spanish Pyrenees, on the south-west limit of the species range, a population of the lilfordi subspecies (Lilford Woodpecker) is estimated at less than 200 individuals which are confined to a few relatively well-conserved beech forests. Despite being an endangered taxon, our knowledge about the size and shape of its home range is still incomplete. Conventional radio-tracking studies of the taxon have been limited due to the complex topography of forests, whereas miniaturized GPS devices have not been available for such a small bird (∼100 g bodyweight) until recently. Here, we evaluate for the first time the utility of modern lightweight GPS tags to characterize the home range of the White-backed Woodpecker. Using 3.4 g GPS-tags we tracked movements of 14 adult individuals during the breeding and post-breeding periods between years 2017–2019. On average, the failure rate (the percentage of failed fix attempts) was 30%, and 76% of successful fixes were accurate (error < 20 m). According to 95% kernel density estimator, the mean home range (∼300 ha) was several times larger than previously reported for the species, and it did not change over the post-breeding period. This finding challenges the utility of previous management recommendations for protecting small buffer areas around the nest or single forest stands. By modeling the home range size as a function of the number of fixes and errors, we found that males had significantly larger home ranges than females. Our results demonstrate that GPS telemetry is feasible in White-backed Woodpecker adults, and it can provide novel and accurate information about the home range of the species if potential sources of error are adequately addressed.

Modelling the functional connectivity of landscapes for greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum at a local scale

ContextThe importance of habitat connectivity for wildlife is widely recognised. However, assessing the movement of species tends to rely on radio-tracking or GPS evidence, which is difficult and costly to gather.ObjectivesTo examine functional connectivity of greater horseshoe bats (GHS, Rhinolophus ferrumequinum) at a local scale using Circuitscape software; comparing our results against expert opinion ‘fly ways’.MethodsExpert opinions were used to rank and score five environmental layers influencing GHS movement, generating resistance scores. The slope and resistance scores of these layers were varied, and validated against independent ground truthed GHS activity data, until a unimodal peak in correlation was identified for each layer. The layers were combined into a multivariate model and re-evaluated. Radio-tracking studies were used to further validate the model, and the transferability was tested at other roost locations.ResultsFunctional connectivity models could be created using bat activity data. Models had the ability to be transferred between roost locations, although site-specific validation is strongly recommended. For all other bat species recorded, markedly more (125%) bat passes occurred in the top quartile of functional connectivity compared to any of the lower three quartiles.ConclusionThe model predictions identify areas of key conservation importance to habitat connectivity for GHS that are not recognised by expert opinion. By highlighting landscape features that act as barriers to movement, this approach can be used by decision-makers as a tool to inform local management strategies.

Radio-transmitters gnawed by edible dormice Glis glis in populations of different density

Abstract In a radio-tracking study of the edible dormouse Glis glis in Poland, 20 transmitters out of 125 used showed traces of gnawing, presumably by other dormice. All gnawed devices were found in a high-density population (8.0–9.5 individuals/ha) and none in low-density populations (2.5–5.5 individuals/ha). Sex, reproductive activity and season had no perceived impact on the damage done to the transmitters.

Looking at the forest through the eyes of birds: A radio-tracking study of microhabitat use in provisioning great tits

Detailed knowledge of habitat utilization by animals is integral in understanding their ability to adjust resource exploitation to the conditions of heterogeneous and constantly changing habitats. To identify the most important micro- and macrohabitat landscape characteristics that are important factors for birds when choosing foraging patches in their territory, we used a radio-telemetric approach with nestling-feeding great tit (Parus major) females in a heterogeneous habitat mosaic. We showed that birds preferred to forage in areas with low or high but not mid-range normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) values, similarly in coniferous and deciduous forests. At the same time, foraging birds avoided areas with low or high but not mid-range canopy cover only in the dense deciduous forest, whereas in the more open coniferous forest, females used areas, which vary widely in the amount of canopy coverage. Females employing this foraging behaviour raised larger broods on average. Our results suggest that foraging microhabitat selection in forest passerines is a complicated process subject to diverse and interacting effects of habitat characteristics other than simply a habitat's position on a food-richness axis. Moreover, the study demonstrates how using a micro-scale approach can reveal subtle, but significant, habitat selection mechanisms that remain hidden at a macro-scale level.

The critical detection distance for passively tracking tagged fish using a fixed radio telemetry station in a small stream

BackgroundFixed radio telemetry stations are used to study the movement ecology of fishes in streams and rivers. A common assumption of such studies is that detection efficiency remains constant through space and time. The objective of this study was to understand how site characteristics and tag distance can influence the detection efficiency of a fixed receiver when used for fisheries research in a small stream. Field tests included a fixed receiver station on Forty Mile Creek, in Banff National Park, AB, Canada that recorded signals from radio tags over specified distances (i.e., 0 m, 27 m, 53 m, 80 m) within the expected detection range from July to October, 2016. Model selection was used to test which parameters may influence detection efficiency.ResultsThe fixed receiver was able to record an average of 89% of transmissions over the study period. Detection efficiency was greater or equal to 0.97 at tag distances of ≤ 53 m. Detection efficiency significantly declined by 36% to a rate of 0.62 for tags placed 80 m from the fixed receiver. Water temperature and water depth also reduced detection efficiency, but only at the critical threshold of 80 m from the tag. Interestingly, turbidity had no influence on detection efficiency in this study.ConclusionsThis study provided insights into the reliability of fixed receiver stations as a passive tracking technique in small streams. The abrupt change in detection efficiency observed in this study presumably occurs in other systems. Identifying critical detection distance thresholds would appear to be a useful strategy for avoiding false-negative results. It is recommended that researchers who conduct radio tracking studies with fixed arrays should consider the deployment of sentinel tags over the study to understand the system performance.

Anosmic migrating songbirds demonstrate a compensatory response following long-distance translocation: a radio-tracking study

A number of studies have shown that migrating birds can navigate to their destinations even when displaced to unfamiliar territory. It has been demonstrated that adult Eurasian Reed Warblers (Acrocephalus scirpaceus) captured in spring in the Eastern Baltic, displaced 1000 km eastward to the Moscow region and tested in orientation cages, show a clear orientation tendency towards their breeding grounds. This response requires the ability to determine a new geographic position relative to the goal. The natural cues that are used as coordinates for this behaviour remain controversial. Among other natural cues, both magnetic and olfactory sources of information have received the most experimental attention. More recently, virtual displacement experiments have shown that the geomagnetic information alone is sufficient for Reed Warblers to find their geographic position. However, the role of olfaction was not explicitly examined. In the present study, we displaced anosmic Reed Warblers together with untreated controls between the same capture and displacement sites where the Emlen funnel tests were previously performed. Following release, we radio-tracked birds for the first few kilometres using an array of automated radio-tracking towers. The results strongly suggest a navigational response of both anosmic and intact birds (anticlockwise re-orientation), unlike some other experiments showing impaired navigational abilities of anosmic migrating birds. This data supports the hypothesis that, at least in this songbird species, the olfactory system is not crucial for determining geographic position, and that the zinc sulfate anosmia treatment is unlikely to have any non-specific effects on navigational abilities.

Spatial behavior in rehabilitated orangutans in Sumatra: Where do they go?

Wildlife restoration is one of the key components of conservation strategies, and this includes the rehabilitation and release of animals confiscated from wildlife traffickers. When primates are re-introduced, most individuals need a pre-release training to acquire the skills needed to survive in the wild. Pre-release training may either negatively or positively affect primate post-release behavior and survival. Post-release behavior, however, has rarely been monitored even though it is the only means to assess the survival of released individuals. Here, we present a thorough analysis of data from a 3-year radio tracking study on 32 orangutans (Pongo abelii) released in Sumatra after their rehabilitation. We investigated whether and how the age at release, the duration of the pre-release rehabilitation and training, and the release location affected the post-release individual spatial behavior. Orangutans released at older age exhibited post-release habitat selection patterns that were more comparable to that shown by wild conspecifics, i.e., they chose areas closer to rivers and at lower elevations (150–250 meters a.s.l.) where previous research had documented greater food availability. In contrast, individuals released at younger age showed a stronger spatial dependency on the rehabilitation station and exhibited disrupted habitat selection patterns; although after several months after the release all individuals tended to decrease their spatial reliance on the rehabilitation facility. This study indicates that the rehabilitation of individuals for a longer period and their release further from the rehabilitation station have facilitated the subsequent development of more natural spatial behavior, i.e. driven by food availability rather than by the dependence on care-giving human facility. Our study provides indications on how to improve the rehabilitation and release of confiscated orangutans, highlighting the importance of the age at release, the length of the rehabilitation program, and the location of the release site.

Overwinter survival and post-release movements of translocated water voles: implications for current mitigation guidance

Translocation is currently used as a last resort mitigation strategy for water voles (Arvicola amphibius) in the UK (Dean et al. 2016), where populations have undergone widespread declines during the past century. To increase the chances of success, current guidance suggests translocation of voles during autumn should not be carried out as individuals may be at higher risk of overwinter mortality, and instead should be overwintered in captivity for release the following spring. To verify this guidance, we carried out a mark recapture and radiotracking study of an autumn translocated and resident population in lowland England. Whilst we found translocated voles undertook longer exploratory movements than residents and those previously recorded in spring, there was no evidence from our study that translocated voles suffered higher mortality rates compared to the resident individuals. The turnover in both populations was high with 25% and 8% of the translocated and resident individuals being recaptured in spring. Younger voles that were not collared had a significantly higher chance of being recaptured in spring and their survival and settlement on the receptor channel is considered important as this is the age class that will produce most of the following years’ young. Mean weekly distances moved by collared voles showed no pattern of stabilisation, in either sex, over the 10-week monitoring period and combined dispersal from both study populations accounted for 26% of those that were not recaptured in spring. However, due to low sample size, we were unable to distinguish between the effects of dispersal and mortality. We conclude that where individuals or populations will be negatively impacted by planned development, autumn translocations in lowland England may offer a feasible alternative to housing animals in captivity, given the high financial cost and additional health and welfare risks associated with a captive environment. The receptor site and adjacent habitat (> 1 km) would need to support a seasonal abundance of food and cover, be connected to existing populations and be part of a wider landscape that is mink free and under an effective mink control programme to help secure long-term population viability. We advise, however, that due to our small sample size, further studies are undertaken to confirm our findings.

Differing mortality rates in two concurrently radio-tracked populations of koala (Phascolarctos cinereus)

Radio-tracking studies enable insights into factors that contribute to koala mortality. Two radio-tracking studies investigating the impacts of disturbance events on koalas were undertaken in different areas over the same period. Both studies employed similar techniques for koala capture, processing and monitoring. In one study, none of nine koalas died during a 5-month monitoring program following their translocation into a new habitat area, while in the second study 6 of 11 koalas died over the same period during an in situ impact-monitoring study. The two populations differed morphologically and genetically: that with the higher mortality rate notable for a smaller head and neck circumference and lower genetic diversity. Differing outcomes from the two studies lend support to a hypothesis that inbreeding and the loss of genetic information may predispose some individuals and/or populations of koalas to an elevated stress response and/or increased susceptibility to disease, the expression of which may become exacerbated in the presence of ongoing disturbance or novel stressors that can include research activities. If this is the case, the endocrinology and genetic structure of free-ranging koala populations needs to be afforded greater consideration in terms of predicting a given population’s immunological response to potential isolation and/or disturbance events.

Aspects of the ecology of the Atherton antechinus (Antechinus godmani) living in sympatry with the rusty antechinus (A. adustus) in the Wet Tropics, Queensland – a trapping and radio-tracking study

The ecology of the geographically restricted Atherton antechinus (Antechinus godmani) is poorly known. This trapping and radio-tracking study provides historical baseline information on its ecology. The Atherton antechinus foraged primarily at night in deep leaf litter and rotting logs. The sympatric, smaller rusty antechinus (A. adustus) was arboreal and active both day and night, suggesting resource partitioning between species. The diet of the Atherton antechinus included a significant component of beetles, centipedes, spiders, cockroaches, crickets, and ants; minor items included a frog and a skink. Declines in male condition of both antechinus species occurred in June–July. Free-living young of the rusty and the Atherton antechinus were first trapped in November and January, respectively. Minimum convex polygon home ranges for the Atherton antechinus were 2.5–5.8 ha for males and 3.6 ha for a female. Multiple nest sites were used by individual Atherton antechinuses with simultaneous sharing of nests observed only between sexes. A home range of a single female was overlapped by the home ranges of numerous males. The Atherton antechinus prefers contiguous areas of wet tropical upland rainforest with old-growth characteristics, including large old trees for nest sites, fallen woody debris and deep leaf litter for foraging. The impacts of climate change could be devastating.