A taxonomic assessment of the Australian Dusky Antechinus Complex: a new species, the Tasman Peninsula Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus vandycki sp. nov.) and an elevation to species of the Mainland Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii mimetes (Thomas))

Baker, Andrew; Mutton, Thomas Y; Mason, Eugene D.; Gray, Emma L.

doi:10.17082/j.2204-1478.59.2015.2014-10

Cited by 35 publications

(15 citation statements)

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“…The lack of concordance between microsatellite and Cytb results for the Cooloola A. mysticus population may be driven by natural selection acting on Cytb. However, Cytb patterns are otherwise well aligned with known biogeographic barriers (Mutton, ) and morphological variation within and between Antechinus species (Baker et al., ). Furthermore, strong selection pressure on Cytb is often associated with very high altitude environments (Zhang, Lin, Nevo, Yang, & Su, ), which was not a factor in the present study.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…Antechinus are one of only a few mammal genera worldwide which exhibit semelparous reproduction and, as a consequence, have been widely studied as a model in breeding biology (Naylor, Richardson, & Mcallan, ). Such interest has also encouraged a number of genetic studies on Antechinus , with a principal focus on deeper level systematics (Mitchell et al., ; Westerman et al., ), taxonomy (Baker, Mutton, Mason, & Gray, ; Van Dyck, ) and a range of single population studies mainly focusing on habitat use (Banks et al., ; Kraaijeveld‐Smit, Lindenmayer, Taylor, Macgregor, & Wertheim, ; Lada, Thomson, Mac Nally, & Taylor, ). However, genetic studies of the genus have generally not been undertaken across a species’ total geographic range.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Such a comprehensive evaluation may provide invaluable information on the life history, habitat use, and extinction risk of a species. Recently, five new Antechinus species have been named based on combined phylogenetic, morphology and breeding biology data, and at least two of these are at risk of extinction (Baker, Mutton, & Hines, ; Baker, Mutton, Hines, & Van Dyck, ; Baker, Mutton, & Van Dyck, ; Baker et al., ). Currently, little is known about the ecology or population genetics of these five species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovered and disappearing? Conservation genetics of a recently named Australian carnivorous marsupial

Mutton

Fuller

Tucker

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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Five new species within the Australian carnivorous marsupial genus Antechinus have recently been named, at least two of which are threatened. Important facets of the habitat use and extinction risk of one of these new species, the buff‐footed antechinus, A. mysticus, are not well understood. Previous research has suggested that the species utilizes a broad range of inter‐connected forest habitats in southeast Queensland (Qld), Australia. Based on this potentially connected habitat, we predicted that A. mysticus should have low population genetic structure, particularly in relation to its congener, the spatially restricted, high altitude, closed‐forest A. subtropicus. We genotyped nine microsatellite loci for six populations of A. mysticus, sampled throughout their known range in eastern Australia, and compared them with four proximate populations of A. subtropicus. Surprisingly, genetic structuring among southeast Qld populations of A. mysticus was moderate to high and similar to that between A. subtropicus populations. We postulate that all A. mysticus populations have declined recently (<100 generations), particularly the northernmost southeast Qld population, which may be at risk of extinction. Our results suggest that A. mysticus is limited to a more scattered and fragmented distribution than previously thought and may be in decline. The identification of population decline in this study and recently in other Antechinus suggests the extinction risk of many Australian mammals should be reassessed.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Discovered and disappearing? Conservation genetics of a recently named Australian carnivorous marsupial

Mutton

Fuller

Tucker

et al. 2018

Ecology and Evolution

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“…For example, the dusky antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii) complex has recently been as revised. Three subspecies were elevated to species (A. arktos, A. mimetes, and A. vandycki) (Baker et al 2015). Similarly, although previous studies recognized three species or a single species of mulgara (Dasycercus), recent genetic studies recognize two species, the crest-tailed mulgara (D. cristicauda) and the brush-tailed mulgara (D. blythi), which has altered our understanding of their distribution.…”

Section: Dasyuridsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara

Hernández-Santín¹

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The northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) is an endangered carnivorous marsupial in the family Dasyuridae that occurs in the northern third of Australia. It has declined throughout its range, especially in open, lowland habitats. This led to the hypothesis that rocky outcrops where it persists provide a safe haven from introduced predators and provide greater microhabitat heterogeneity associated with higher prey availability.Proposed causes of decline include introduced cane toads (Rhinella marina, which are toxic), predation by feral cats (Felis catus), foxes (Vulpes vulpes), and the dingo (Canis lupus), and habitat alteration by changes in fire regimes. The National Recovery Plan highlighted knowledge gaps relevant to the conservation of the northern quoll. These include assembling data on ecology and population status, determining factors in survival, especially introduced predators, selecting areas that can be used as refuges, and identifying and securing key populations. The Pilbara region in Western Australia is a key population currently free of invasive cane toads (a major threat).The Pilbara is a semi-arid to arid area subject to cyclones between December and ). These are dominated by spinifex (hummock) grasslands, with rugged rock outcrops, shrublands, riparian areas, and some soft (tussock) grasslands. They are subject to frequent seasonal fires, creating a mosaic of recently burnt and longer unburnt areas. The overall aim of this study was to assess the ecology of the northern quoll in the Pilbara to understand drivers of density and distribution of this endangered species, to enhance species-specific conservation efforts. I collected field data on six one-month trips over three years, predominantly using live-trapping, camera-trapping, sampling invertebrates, vegetation surveys, habitat structure, and den availability surveys.In the Pilbara, the largest mammalian predators are the introduced dingo and feral cat. The largest native mammalian carnivore is the northern quoll, which is smaller than the introduced predators but larger than the other dasyurids in the guild. In Chapter 2, I explored spatial and temporal associations among introduced predators and quolls and their associations with habitat to assess the impact of introduced predators on quolls. I found evidence that dingo control programs prevent dingoes from fulfilling their role as top predators, leading to mesopredator release of feral cats. Feral cats were associated with 3 open habitats (spinifex grasslands and recently burnt areas), and showed inverse associations to those of quolls, suggesting that quolls avoid cats in space. Quolls were positively associated with rocky habitats. In Chapter 3, I assessed spatial and temporal associations among dasyurids to understand the current role of northern quolls within their guild. I found that range contraction of northern quolls into rocky habitats prevent them from fulfilling their role as top predators across the landscape, potentially leading to mesopredator release of kalutas (Da...

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“…Several other new Antechinus species have recently been described and their ecology is poorly understood (see Baker, Mutton, Mason, & Gray, 2015).…”

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confidence: 99%

Vegetation structure and ground cover attributes describe the occurrence of a newly discovered carnivorous marsupial on the Tweed Shield Volcano caldera, the endangered black‐tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos)

Riordan

Pearce

McDonald³

et al. 2020

Ecology and Evolution

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The black‐tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos) is a recently discovered, endangered, carnivorous marsupial mammal endemic to the Tweed Shield Volcano caldera, straddling the border between Queensland and New South Wales in eastern Australia. The species' preference for cool, high‐altitude habitats makes it particularly vulnerable to a shifting climate as these habitats recede. Aside from basic breeding and dietary patterns, the species' ecology is largely unknown. Understanding fine‐scale habitat attributes preferred by this endangered mammal is critical to employ successful conservation management. Here, we assess vegetation attributes of known habitats over three sites at Springbrook and Border Ranges National Parks, including detailed structure data and broad floristic assessment. Floristic compositional assessment of the high‐altitude cloud rainforest indicated broad similarities. However, only 22% of plant species were shared between all sites indicating a high level of local endemism. This suggests a diverse assemblage of vegetation across A. arktos habitats. Habitat characteristics were related to capture records of A. arktos to determine potential fine‐scale structural habitat requirements. Percentage of rock cover and leaf litter were the strongest predictors of A. arktos captures across survey sites, suggesting a need for foraging substrate and cover. Habitat characteristics described here will inform predictive species distribution models of this federally endangered species and are applicable to other mammal conservation programs.

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A taxonomic assessment of the Australian Dusky Antechinus Complex: a new species, the Tasman Peninsula Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus vandycki sp. nov.) and an elevation to species of the Mainland Dusky Antechinus (Antechinus swainsonii mimetes (Thomas))

Cited by 35 publications

References 0 publications

Discovered and disappearing? Conservation genetics of a recently named Australian carnivorous marsupial

Discovered and disappearing? Conservation genetics of a recently named Australian carnivorous marsupial

Ecology and predator associations of the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus) in the Pilbara

Vegetation structure and ground cover attributes describe the occurrence of a newly discovered carnivorous marsupial on the Tweed Shield Volcano caldera, the endangered black‐tailed dusky antechinus (Antechinus arktos)

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