Activity patterns and detection rates of red-legged pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica) in tropical north Queensland and temperate north-eastern New South Wales

Abstract

Red-legged pademelons (<i>Thylogale stigmatica</i>) occur as several subspecies in eastern Australia. The northern subspecies (<i>T. stigmatica stigmatica</i>) in north Queensland is considered common; the southern subspecies (<i>T. stigmatica wilcoxi</i>) in north-eastern New South Wales is, by comparison, rare and is listed as threatened. Activity patterns should also vary between these subspecies because <i>T. s. stigmatica</i> emerges from the forest at night to graze, whereas <i>T. s. wilcoxi</i> remains in the forest throughout the 24-h cycle. Using camera traps, we detected pademelons at a greater rate at a Queensland site occupied by <i>T. s. stigmatica</i> than at a New South Wales site inhabited by <i>T. s. wilcoxi</i>; this result is consistent with their conservation status. However, pademelons at these sites displayed remarkably similar activity patterns within rainforest over the 24-h period, a result that was unexpected based on what is known of their diel behaviour.