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Breeding biology and growth in a new, threatened carnivorous marsupial

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Abstract

The silver-headed antechinus, A. argentus, is a recently-discovered, threatened carnivorous marsupial known from only two small, isolated montane populations within central-eastern Queensland, Australia. Here, we present the first study of the species’ life-history characteristics. Antechinuses are well-known for their spectacular annual male die-off at the close of a one- to three-week mating period. The genus also displays sexual dimorphism for size—with males up to three times heavier than females. The A. argentus population we studied at Kroombit Tops National Park over 2 years fitted the norm for the genus, with strong evidence of both a synchronised male die-off (in June/July) and significantly larger males than females. We surveyed two proximate sites at Kroombit Tops where A. argentus was previously known to occur. Unexpectedly, there was a marked difference in A. argentus numbers between years and sites. We hypothesise that the disparate capture rates between sites may be at least in part linked to the effects of fire on vegetation. The marked fluctuation in capture numbers between years, coupled with annual male die-off raises concerns over the future of the Kroombit Tops population of this threatened mammal.

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Acknowledgments

Our study was generously funded by the Fitzroy Basin Association and the Burnett Mary Regional Group. EDM was assisted by an Australian Postgraduate Award scholarship for research. QUT granted the use of 4WD vehicles, without which this study would not exist. Bulk gratitude goes out to field trip volunteers: Dave Warner, Jarrah “Steve” Wills, Thomas “Forgot to come” Mutton, Jordan Rochfort, Matt “Zig Zag” Turner, Laura Allen, William Mason, Karl “Dente” Stone, Jake “Jakey BOI” Viel, “B.I.G.” Ed White, Kirsten Wallis, Paul O’Callaghan, Emily Coleman, Reece Newnham, Chai “Animals are such dogs” Glandfield, Temma Lee and Mie “Mad Dog” Geertsen. Thanks to Peter Pickering Ranger-Charge Kroombit Tops National Park for supporting the work, especially for allowing use of the barracks for ac-commodation. Research was conducted under permit WITK14454914 granted by the Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, and was approved by the Australian Ethics Committee (project number 1400000003).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth, Environmental and Biological Sciences School, Queensland University of Technology, 2 George St, Brisbane, QLD, 4001, Australia

    Eugene D. Mason, Jennifer Firn & Andrew M. Baker

  2. Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Department of National Parks, Sport and Racing, Level 19, 111 George St, Brisbane, QLD, 4000, Australia

    Harry B. Hines

  3. Queensland Museum, PO Box 3300, South Brisbane, Qld, 4101, Australia

    Andrew M. Baker

Authors
  1. Eugene D. Mason
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  2. Jennifer Firn
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  3. Harry B. Hines
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  4. Andrew M. Baker
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Correspondence to Eugene D. Mason.

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Communicated by: Hitoshi Suzuki

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Mason, E.D., Firn, J., Hines, H.B. et al. Breeding biology and growth in a new, threatened carnivorous marsupial. Mamm Res 62, 179–187 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-016-0303-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13364-016-0303-z

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