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Australian Mammalogy Australian Mammalogy Society
Journal of the Australian Mammal Society
RESEARCH ARTICLE

Habitat preference of the Australian water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) in a coastal wetland and stream, Two Peoples Bay, south-western Australia

Peter C. Speldewinde A D , Paul Close A , Melissa Weybury B and Sarah Comer C
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, The University of Western Australia, Albany, WA 6330, Australia.

B The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA 6009, Australia.

C Department of Environment and Conservation, Albany, WA 633, Australia.

D Corresponding author. Email: peter.speldewinde@uwa.edu.au

Australian Mammalogy 35(2) 188-194 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM12001
Submitted: 6 January 2012  Accepted: 30 April 2013   Published: 14 June 2013

Abstract

This study provides a preliminary investigation of the home range and habitat selection of the Australian water rat (Hydromys chrysogaster) in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve near Albany, Western Australia. Six individuals were captured (trap success 1.9%) from 810 trap-nights. This low number suggests that the water rat population in Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve is much smaller than anecdotal evidence would suggest. Home-range size (neighbour-linkage method) averaged 18.9 ha (±11.6). Individuals preferentially utilised wetland habitats characterised by dense, low-lying vegetation (0–30 cm from ground), low-density canopy cover and shallow, narrow water bodies.

Additional keywords: water rat, radio tracking, habitat use, home range.


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