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Wednesday, 19 May 2010

Radio tracking and motion-detecting night vision cameras are being used to learn more about the habitat and home range of rakali, a native rodent, at Two Peoples' Bay.

The joint project by UWA Honours student, Melissa Weybury, with the Department of Environment and Conservation is only the second study of the rakali in WA. Rakali is the Noongar name for the rodent scientifically known as Hydromys chrysogaster.

As part of the project, several rakali have been trapped, anaesthetised, and fitted with a radio collar before being released at the point of their capture. The captured animals are then tracked with radio telemetry equipment that detects the direction from which the signal is coming. Rakali live around waterways in southern WA and eat fish, frogs, gilgies and other invertebrates.

The project has been several years in the planning for Dr Peter Speldewinde, from the UWA Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management, and Sarah Comer and Keith Morris from the Department of Environment and Conservation. Learning more about the home range and habitat of the rakali will help with plans for the conservation of the species.

More information about this project or the rakali can be obtained from Dr Peter Speldewinde at UWA CENRM in Albany.

Media references

Mr Randall Jasper - Phone 9842 0848

Associate Prof Peter Speldewinde - Phone 9842 0845

Tags

Channels
Research — Teaching and Learning
Groups
Centre of Excellence in Natural Resource Management — Science Matters — UWA Institute of Agriculture