
%0 Journal Article
%A Mills, Harriet R. 
%A Bencini, Roberta 
%T New evidence for facultative male die-off in island populations of dibblers, <emph type="2">Parantechinus apicalis</emph>
%J Australian Journal of Zoology
%D 2000/12/01
%V 48
%N 5
%P 501-510
%K 
%R https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO00025
%U https://www.publish.csiro.au/paper/ZO00025 
%X The post-mating mortality of males in dasyurid species is thought to be a specific life-history strategy, associated with a tightly synchronised breeding season, that may enhance survivorship of juveniles. Parantechinus apicalis has been reported to exhibit male die-off in island populations but not in mainland populations, and males originating from both island and mainland populations are known to survive post-mating in captivity. However, males in the island populations have been reported to sometimes survive to breed in a second year. This study monitored captive and island populations over a three-year period (April 1997 &#8211; May 2000) to examine the extent of male die-off. In captivity, males showed no evidence of post-mating mortality. Males on one island were also found to survive post-mating, while another island population appeared to have high mortality of males in three years, and a complete male die-off after the 1999 breeding season. We conclude that P. apicalis may warrant inclusion in a new category of life-history strategy for species exhibiting facultative male die-off. 
