Rattus villosissimus - radio tracking dataset 

This dataset contains radio-tracking information on the long-haired rats (Rattus villosissimus). Data was collected between October 2011 and December 2012. It contains the data from enclosure in which a radio-collared rat was released and tracked (Enclosure = 1 or 2), the treatment (Cats = yes or no), the exact date (Date) for when a rat was released with a collar (collared_released), the last time it was recorded (last-time-rec), the time period in months over which the collar frequency was detected (time-collar-detected), the fate of the animal (Fate = unknown, dead or alive), the last location change detected (last_loc_change), based on the latter, the estimated time a rat was assumed alive (estimated_time_alive), the last time a signal was detected from the collar (last_signal detected), the date of the last time an animal was trapped (last_trapped), whether dead remains were found (dead_remains_found = na, yes, or no) and whether the collar was found (collar_found = na, yes, or no). 

We at TERN acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians throughout Australia, New Zealand and all nations. We honour their profound connections to land, water, biodiversity and culture and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging. (C)2014 University of Tasmania, Australian Wildlife Conservancy. Rights owned by University of Tasmania, Australian Wildlife Conservancy. 

Predation by feral cats Felis sylvestris catus is currently one hypothesized cause for the recent dramatic small mammal declines across northern Australia. We conducted a field experiment to measure the effect of predation by for this areas typically low-density cat populations on the demography of a native small mammal which due to the now natural scarce abundance of small mammals in the wild had to be reintroduced. We established two 12.5-ha enclosures in tropical savanna woodland on Wongalara Sanctuary, south of Arnhem Land in the Northern Territory. Each enclosure was divided in half, with cats allowed access to one half but not the other. We introduced about 20 individuals of Rattus villosissimus, a native rodent, into each of the four compartments (two enclosures x two predator-access treatments) and monitored rat demography by mark-recapture analysis and radio-tracking, and predator incursions by camera surveillance and track and scat searches. Here the authors present the data used for the mark-recapture analysis. The radio-tracking data and predator incursions data will be uploaded separately. Australia has already lost many mammal species to extinction. Dramatic and continuing declines of mammals across northern Australia mean that more species could be lost in the near future. There is still time to reverse these declines, but this will depend on a clear understanding of what is causing them. The project will use landscape-scale experiments to discover the factors that threaten mammals in northern Australia, focusing on predation by cats and its interactions with fire and grazing. We will provide knowledge to prevent extinctions and implement management for recovery. 

Data not provided.