Demographic responses of Antechinus stuartii (Marsupialia) to supplementary food

摘要: This study investigates the effects of supplementary feeding on populations Antechinus stuartii, an insectivorous, semi-arboreal species dasyurid marsupial. Animals were live-trapped, marked and released in three areas forest near Canberra, from September 1980 to November 1981. Supplementary food was supplied above ground trees one area January 1981, second May while third left unmanipulated as a control. The supplemented increased numbers, mean body weights survival, showed decreased movements between traps smaller overlaps home ranges. Discontinuation 1981 produced reciprocal shifts these parameters. Reproduction, home-range area, head-body length, use terrestrial arboreal parts habitat largely unaffected by provision food. In contrast rodents, where fed usually increase rapidly due immigration or reproduction, A. stuartii responded relatively slowly via survival young. Population responses probably retarded at beginning experiments summer abundance natural invertebrate prey, but became more obvious winter when scarce. added contributed directly weights, may also have enhanced parameters indirectly allowing foraging animals space out avoid intraspecific intolerant contacts. These suggest strongly that are limited supply.