Australian Journal of Zoology

Australian Journal of Zoology is an international journal covering the evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology of Australasian fauna. Read more about the journalMore

Editor-in-Chief: Paul Cooper

Current Issue

Australian Journal of Zoology

Volume 65 Number 2 2017

ZO17027Owl survey of the Peel–Harvey Estuary in south-western Australia

Graham R. Fulton

pp. 71-76

This study investigated the abundance and detectability of forest owls in south-western Australia. Boobooks occurred 23 times (48% of nights) and the masked owl once in 42 surveys. Tawny frogmouths were detected three times. These results are considered with two other investigations of forest owls in the region.

ZO17006Spatial ecology of yellow-spotted goannas adjacent to a sea turtle nesting beach

Juan Lei, David T. Booth and Ross G. Dwyer

pp. 77-86

Yellow-spotted goannas (Varanus panoptes) are the main turtle nest predators at the Wreck Rock rookery, adjacent to Deepwater National Park in south-east Queensland. Examination of space-use patterns indicates that it is the larger male yellow-spotted goannas that are the main predators of sea turtle nests at the Wreck Rock beach-nesting aggregation.
Photo by Juan Lei.

ZO16087No evidence of protracted population decline across 17 years in an unmanaged population of the green and golden bell frog in north-eastern New South Wales

Ross L. Goldingay, Jonathan Parkyn and David A. Newell

pp. 87-96

Describing the population trends of threatened species is central to conservation. We conducted mark–recapture modelling for a population of green and golden bell frogs in two periods, 17 years apart. There was no evidence this unmanaged population was in decline. We highlight factors that may cause bias in population modelling.
Photo by Sergio Jacomy.

ZO16079Morphometric analysis of the Australian freshwater crocodile (Crocodylus johnstoni)

Glenn P. Edwards, Grahame J. Webb, S. Charlie Manolis and Alex Mazanov

pp. 97-111

We conducted a morphometric analysis of Crocodylus johnstoni and present formulae which allow the accurate reconstruction of C. johnstoni from measurements of individual body parts. We also compared relative growth in C. johnstoni to that in other species of crocodile and discuss possible ecological correlates of observed differences.
Photo by Yusuke Fukuda.

ZO17005Do female dingo–dog hybrids breed like dingoes or dogs?

Marina S. Cursino, Lana Harriott, Benjamin L. Allen, Matthew Gentle and Luke K.-P. Leung

pp. 112-119

The breeding seasonality of female dingo–dog hybrids was investigated. Ovary follicular phase was characterised by growing follicles in late summer and autumn. Characteristics of uterus pregnancy were observed in winter and coincided with a peak of corpus luteum. Overall, the data show that hybrids have a single annual breeding season in winter, exhibiting the same breeding seasonality as dingoes.

ZO16063Ecology of the rare but irruptive Pilliga mouse, Pseudomys pilligaensis. V. Relationships with yellow-footed antechinus, Antechinus flavipes, and house mouse, Mus domesticus

Hideyuki Tokushima and Peter J. Jarman

pp. 120-129

We investigated relationships between Pseudomys pilligaensis and other small mammals in terms of their population fluctuations and habitat selection during its irruption. It is suggested that Mus domesticus was possibly excluded from our sites through competition with P. pilligaensis. This study provides ecological information which can contribute to effective management planning for P. pilligaensis.
Photo by Hideyuki Tokushima.

ZO17025Effect of flow on platypus (Ornithorhynchus anatinus) reproduction and related population processes in the upper Shoalhaven River

M. Serena and T. R. Grant

pp. 130-139

The occurrence of high poststorm discharge in the period when juveniles are confined to nesting burrows was the best predictor of platypus reproductive failure in the unregulated upper Shoalhaven River. In contrast, a significant positive linear relationship was identified between percentage lactation and antecedent March–July flow.
Photo by the Australian Platypus Conservancy.

Online Early

The peer-reviewed and edited version of record published online before inclusion in an issue

Published online 18 October 2017

ZO17038Native marsupials as egg predators of artificial ground-nests in Australian woodland

Graham R. Fulton

Marsupials are not generally regarded as nest-predators of birds. Three marsupials – boodie (Bettongia lesueur), woylie (B. penicillata) and brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) – were identified taking eggs from artificial ground nests. Dietary evidence of bettongs consuming vertebrates, including live prey, is presented.
Photo by John Lawson.

Published online 02 October 2017

ZO17017Seasonal effects on body temperature of the endangered grassland earless dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla, from populations at two elevations

Lyn S. Nelson and Paul D. Cooper

Populations of the endangered grassland earless dragon, Tympanocryptis pinguicolla, from two elevations were compared for seasonal preferred temperature in a laboratory temperature gradient and in the field using radio-telemetry and chest temperature measurements. These data and operative temperatures in various microhabitats indicate that these lizards are moderate thermoregulators.
Photo by L. S. Nelson.

Published online 04 September 2017

ZO17004Demographic parameters of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in an urban forest remnant

David J. Sharpe and Ross L. Goldingay

Effective management of species requires detailed knowledge of key population parameters. We conducted capture–mark–recapture of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis). The overall probability of annual apparent survival was 0.49 ± 0.08. Estimates of population size varied markedly over our 4-year study, but suggested this population near Brisbane was in decline.
Photo by Ross Goldingay.

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

ZO17038, Accepted 08 October 2017

Native marsupials as egg predators of artificial ground-nests in Australian woodland

Graham Fulton

ZO17038Abstract

ZO17046, Accepted 28 September 2017

Mammals on Western Australian islands: occurrence and preliminary analysis

Andrew Burbidge and Ian Abbott

ZO17046Abstract

ZO17036, Accepted 15 September 2017

It’s a girl! A female southern elephant seal born in Western Australia

Clive McMahon, Michele Thums, Melissa Evans, Holly Raudino, Miecha Bradshaw, Vaughn Chapple, Stephen Goodlich, Paul Rebuck, Clair Holland, Steven Busby and Mark Hindell

ZO17036Abstract

ZO16028, Accepted 30 June 2017

Dietary composition and prey preference of a new carnivorous marsupial species, the Buff-footed Antechinus (Antechinus mysticus), at the northern and southern limits of its range

Coral Pearce, Chris Burwell and Andrew Baker

ZO16028Abstract

Australian Journal of Zoology

Current Issue

Australian Journal of Zoology

Online Early

The peer-reviewed and edited version of record published online before inclusion in an issue

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

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