lect 6 scats and tracks, walk debrief 2013
DESCRIPTION
The basics of fauna identification through the usage of field guides, tracks and scats.TRANSCRIPT
OEEDU5003 Connecting with Nature
Week sixTracks, scats and reviewing the walk.
Tracks, Scats & other Signs
TRACKS
• What are the best surface types to find tracks? – Snow, mud, sand, creek banks, road side dust,
dried puddles, beaches• When is the best time to observe tracks ?
– In the morning, can estimate age of track by amount of weathering
• What does size of track show? – Juvenile/adult, male/female?
• What are the different structures of feet? – Toes, claws, number of pads, arrangement, amount
of foot on ground, shape of print• Sand boxes
Gaits
• What gaits do Australian species use?– Hop, bound, run, jump, waddle, crawl, slide
or creep
• What does stride length show?• Gaits of introduced species?
– Walk, trot, gallop
• Using Triggs book, have a go at ID’ing A to G, pp. 8-9
• Check your answers!
Who did these??
Scats: Carnivore
• Characteristics?
• Cylindrical (sausage) shape, fragments of bone, twist of hair at one end of scat
• May have white chalky substance on outer layer (from bones)
• Strong odour
• Variations in scats: diet, seasonal change, age
• Territorial markers
Scats: herbivores
• Lots of herbivores!• Look at the size of the poo.• What’s in it? Marsupials extract moisture – dry
grass in poo.• Consider main diet – Koala (leaves).• Consider place – Wombats wipe their bum!• Kangaroos and Wallabies groom – so can have
hair mixed in.• Koala rarely and Wombats never groom.
SCATS
• Why is scat ID important?• Identify species of animals in area (many
nocturnal animals)– Also what eaten & when
• Guide to animal size, weight, age• Herbivores – general characteristics?• dark brown, black, dark green
– Fibrous plant material– Large quantities– Weathered: lighter color– Usually groups of pellets
OTHER TRACES?
• Shelters: open grassland, hollows in trees, under logs, burrows, tunnels, grassy nests, caves, forks of trees (coppice), house cavities
• Claw marks, diggings• Landing places• Paths• Bones (anatomy similar)
• Effect on vegetation
Borhoneyghurk Common
A transformed landscape
Understanding landscape controls
• Rocks own the site (largely determine what can occur. Soil over time?)
• Climate manages the site (water critical element in SE Aust. Creates and limits possibilities)
• Biota occupy the site (subject to rock and climate influences)
• Aspect imposes site restrictions (north sloping vs south sloping)
• Humans???
Reflect on the trip (pairs)
• What aspects of this trip were useful in developing connections?– Contrast with a canoe or climbing trip?– What is the role of knowledge? Eg, flora,
history.– Role of experiential elements? Walking,
looking, camping?
• What made sense and worked best for you?
Assessment items - progress?
• The Nature Diary (3 visits minimum) – Place?– Visits to date?– Frame of reference?– Reflections on connection to place?
• Final due date and presentation summary October 17th.
Assessment items - progress?
• Assessment 2– What are you planning on doing?– Need to see me about trips now, so you can
start planning– Do you need time in class to present?