Extension of the range of the Smoky Mouse<i>Pseudomys fumeus</i>(Rodentia: Muridae) into New South Wales with notes on habitat and detection methods

Jurskis, Vic; Shiels, Roy

doi:10.1080/00049158.1997.10674704

Cited by 4 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 8 publications

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“…Additionally, the smoky mouse ( P. fumeus ) prefers recently disturbed areas and was found in sites logged and burnt two years prior to sampling in NSW (Jurskis et al . ). Recolonisation of an area following fire is typically dependent upon the recovery rate of vegetation density (Monamy & Fox ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

More long‐unburnt forest will benefit mammals in Australian sub‐alpine forests and woodlands

et al. 2019

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The composition of mammalian communities in Australia's Eucalyptus forests and woodlands is known to be affected by fire. However, there are few published studies that compare mammal assemblages in recently burnt and long-unburnt forests because there are few areas with long-term fire history data. Understanding the value of long-unburnt forest is important because it is becoming rare in fire-prone regions of the world, such as south-eastern Australia, partly because of the widespread use of prescribed burning. We deployed wildlife cameras for 28 trap-nights at each of 81 sites that ranged from 0.5 to at least 96 years since the last fire. We recorded a total of 15 native mammal species. At least one mammal species was recorded at 80 of the 81 sites. Significantly more species were detected at long-unburnt sites (>96 years since fire) than sites 0.5-12 years since the last fire. Species composition varied significantly between sites 0.5-12 years and >96 years since the last fire but did not vary between sites 0.5-2 years and 6-12 years since the last fire. Although there was not one category of time since fire (i.e. 0.5-2 years, 6-12 years and >96 years) in which all 15 native mammal species were recorded, long-unburnt sites were significantly more important for the occurrence of seven mammal species; intermediate and recently burnt sites were significantly more important for one species. Our results suggested that, while a diversity of fire ages is important for conserving mammalian diversity, long-unburnt forests and woodlands (which comprised only 8% of our study area) are disproportionately important for mammal conservation. Our results add to a growing body of the literature from south-eastern Australia, suggesting that remaining long-unburnt forest should be afforded protection from fire and more forest should be transitioned to long unburnt.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

More long‐unburnt forest will benefit mammals in Australian sub‐alpine forests and woodlands

et al. 2019

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Observations on the behaviour of the smoky mouse Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia: Muridae).

Woods¹,

Ford²

2000

Aust. Mammalogy

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This study examined aspects of behaviour in a captive colony of smoky mice, Pseudomys fumeus, over a two year period. Wherever possible behaviours observed in the captive population are compared to data collected in a study of a wild population in south-eastern New South Wales. This paper provides the first recorded observations of behavior in this species. Both captive and wild populations of P. fumeus display strictly nocturnal circadian activity rhythms. In the captive study, P. fumeus were found to exhibit social interactions similar to some previously studied Pseudomys species. However, in the wild, the species was found to communally nest during the breeding season, behaviour not observed in other Pseudomys from similar habitats. P. fumeus in captivity can have more than two litters in one breeding season which suggests that their reproductive parameters are more flexible than previous studies of wild populations have shown. Field data indicate that post-partum oestrus can occur in this species, and that gestation lasts for approximately 30 days, although these observations are based on a small sample.

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Historical resurveys reveal persistence of smoky mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) populations over the long-term and through the short-term impacts of fire

et al. 2015

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Context Range contractions are often the first indicator that a species is in decline. However, natural population fluctuations, characteristic of many Australian rodents, make differentiating between natural lows and unsustainable declines challenging. The endangered smoky mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) is a prime example. Surveys have failed to detect the species across much of its range over the past decade, but P. fumeus is known to experience fluctuations in abundance and periods of low detectability. Aims We compared past and current distributions of P. fumeus in the Victoria Range, Grampians–Gariwerd National Park (Victoria, Australia), to assess long-term population persistence over 40 years and short-term population persistence following a high-severity fire. Methods To evaluate the efficacy of surveys in detecting P. fumeus, we conducted analyses to explicitly model detectability using historical (1974, 2002) and modern (2013) survey data. We also tested the short-term impacts of fire on the presence of P. fumeus by surveying burned and unburned sites 3 months prior to, and 7 to 21 months following, a severe wildfire. Key results Our surveys detected P. fumeus at five new sites, confirmed presence at one historical site, and absence from two historical sites. The species persisted in situ through fire, and for at least 21 months following. We detected resident populations in burned and unburned wet drainage systems. Conclusions Despite periods of low density in which the species was undetected, P. fumeus persisted in an 8 km radius area of the eastern escarpment of Victoria Range of the Grampians–Gariwerd National Park for at least four decades through droughts, the presence of invasive predators, and the short-term impacts of wildfire. Implications Although P. fumeus persisted through a severe fire, factors influencing survival must be assessed before generalisations are made about the impacts of wildfire on the species. Management of P. fumeus should recognise that the species survives and breeds in wet drainage systems. Regular resurveys incorporating statistical estimates of detectability are necessary to identify and track distributional changes of threatened species, like P. fumeus, particularly in the context of natural, sustainable fluctuations.

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Extension of the range of the Smoky MousePseudomys fumeus(Rodentia: Muridae) into New South Wales with notes on habitat and detection methods

Cited by 4 publications

References 8 publications

More long‐unburnt forest will benefit mammals in Australian sub‐alpine forests and woodlands

More long‐unburnt forest will benefit mammals in Australian sub‐alpine forests and woodlands

Observations on the behaviour of the smoky mouse Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia: Muridae).

Historical resurveys reveal persistence of smoky mouse (Pseudomys fumeus) populations over the long-term and through the short-term impacts of fire

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