8]

AND

RT Forestry Commissiun. , Ta smania

(with one table)

Twenty-eight species of tem:strial native mammals occur on . This representf, 82% of the total number recorded for , which is extremely the small area and insular nature of the peninsuhL The range of habitats present (Le. wet and dry forests, heaths and coastal lagoons) is probably Ihe main reason for this diversity of mammals. Because of high reiief, clearing of land has created a mosaic of The large area of ecotone between forest and pasture has benefited the herbivores. Populations of the larger camivores, the and the eastern have been dramatically reduced probably as a result of eradication campaigns. The nature of the peninsular may have helped to ensure that the carnivore population remains low. Of the marine mammals, one species of seal, the Australian fur seal, is rcsidenl in offthe peninsul'a and two other species are occasional visitors. Nine species of cetaceans have been recorded stranded on beaches around the peninsula, with having the greatcst number. Key Words: Tasman Peninsula, Tasmania, native mammals, herbivores, c;rmivores, From SMITH, SJ. (Ed.), 1989: IS HlSTORY ENOUGH? PA ST, PRESENT AND FUTURE USE OF THE RESOURCES OF TA SMAN PENINS l1lA Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart: 81-,87.

INTRODtlCTION METHODS

Despite the early settlement of Tasman Peninsula Limited surveys for mammals have been carried out associated with the penal station at Porl Arthur, much at various locations on Tasman Peninsula, The of the land stilI remains undeveloped. Areas cleared Zoology Deparmenl of the University of Tasmartia for agricultural development tend to be distributed in has conducted near Koonya (peliodicaHy for a mosaic amongst the natural vegetation. A the last 15 at Fortescue Bay (September proportion of the peninsula (approximately 45%) 1985 and September 1986) and the Tasmanian set aside in nature reserves or state forests. Tasman National Parks and Wildlife Service CfNPWS) has Peninsula has only a limited connection with Forestier surveyed the Lime Bay Nature Reserve (Novemher Peninsula to the north via a ridge of sand dunes at J 98 n In January 1985 the author conducted a survey Eaglehawk Neck. is, in turn. of the bats ill the Fortescue Ray area. Further isolated from the rest of Tasmania by the Demson information on the mammals present and historical Canal at Dunalley. Thus opportunities for dispersal in their abundance were obtained by of land mammals into and out of the peninsula are 1011,"-I'''TI'11 residents. Assessment of any iimited. changes in abundance is nece�sarily based mainly on This paper examines the mammals of Tasman the perceptions of lesidems. These people Peninsula and discusses the possible effectsupon them are concerned with commerically important of European settlement of the area. The two factors such as bmshtail possum or which listed above, i.e. a mosaic pattern of clearing and the regarded as pests. Thus nothing can said about insular nature of the region, have probably played the more secretive or commercially !mimportant major roles in influencing the outcome of the species. Records were also obtained from the literature interaclions hetween Europeans and the other and from the TASPAWS records scheme of the mammals. TNPWS, 82 RJ.Taylor

TERRES'T'RIAL MAMMALS Family Thy!adnidae

Native Thylacine (1:ismaniantiger) Thylacinus cynocephalus --- Gui1er (i985) reports thy!acines as having been collected from Tasman Peninsula. Despite recent "sightings" on the road between Family TaclJyglossidae Port Arthur, the species is now probably extinct.

Echidna aculeatu5 Echidnas are Family Macropodidae com:noniy found throughout dry sclerophyll vegetation. They have a.lso been regularly observed Potoroo Putorous tridactylus -- Polomos occur in orchards where they may feed on grubs in the soil. the peninsula but in the drier regions are to areas with a denser undergrowth, Marsupials "'pe,:mHV around creeks . .Family Dasyuridae TriSmanian bettong Bettongia gaimardi - Numerous of bettongs have been This species Tasmanian devil SarcophUus harrisii ...-. Devils were . reported to be much more numerous and widespread IS to the dry sclerophyl! Areas with the 1920s and 1930s than they are an open undergrowth on poorer sandy soils probably carry the highest densities (Taylor 1986). believed that thev" no lon�er uc.,�u""u However devils hav� been trapped at Thylogaie Tunnel Hill and a small is probably Tasmanian pademelon (rufous wallaby) hillardieri associated with the Reserve. These - Pademelons are abundant and widespread. They are most numerous in the wet devils are to been animals that escaped from the Devil al . Kerstan, forests which surround open improved pastures. In the owner of Tunnel Hill, reports people who the drier vegetation they are associated with denser undergrowth around creeks. had at Tunnel Bay before the the had commented on the presence Red-necked wallaby (R(;rmetts wallaby) Macropus rufogriseus Eastern Dasyurus viverrinus ._- The status and .- Red-necked wallabies are abundant history quolls appears to mirror that of devils. and widespread. They are more numerous in rhe drier Quolls were much more widespread than areas, especially in associmion with pasture. with most reporting that they had never seen them in recent A road kill was reported Family Vombatidae from Sympathy Hills, one individual has been trapped Wombat Vo mbatus ursinus --- vVombats are common near Koonya by O. Buchma.'1n and an individual '""as throughout the drier areas, especially where soil recently near Port Arthur. A small population They are also in with distribution thus appears to bc present conditions allow association with areas after 011 the peninsula. clearing of wet forests. Burrows .in these open areas are most numerous on thc banks. antechinus Antechinus swainsonii and swamp sandier 'm"A" h :" " •. A. minimus - Wakefield & Warneke very early records of both of Family Pcmmeiidae Anteclzinus from Tasman Peninsula. also Brown bandicoot /soodon ohe,mlus Brown two colour phases of "mice" with pointed - bandicoots are present in the drier scrubby areas. They snouts. Antechinus swainsonii is associated with wet feed in pasture but nomially remain close to shelter. forest with an undergrowth of sedges and ferns and They are generall y absent rom wet forests. a heavy accumuiation of litter (Green 1972a. Hocking f 1975). Antechinus minim us is normally fou�d in we� Barred bandicoots Perameles f,utln! Barred sedgeland or heath vegetation (Gren 1972b, 1984). bandicoots can be found in the scrubs but are One species, probably A. swaillsonii, occurs at the most abundant. in association areas of pasture, Devil Park where it feeds on meal �cmps and food irrespective of the surrounding vegetation. the anirnal cages< Mammals 83

Family Phalangeridae forest with an undergrowth of dense bracken (Pteridium esculentum) and a thick litter layer (Norton Brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula - Brushtail 1983). possums are extremely abundant and widespread.

They are found in all vegetation types, although they Water rat Hydromys chrysogaster - Numerous are least common in heath. reports of water rats have been recorded. They appear to be abundant around the coast and associated with Family Petauridae creeks and lagoons.

Ringtail possum Pseudocheirus peregrinus - Ringtail Family Vespertilionidae possums are widespread but very much less abundant than brushtail possums. They are associated with areas Seven of the eight species of bats which occur in of tall tea tree (Melaleuca and Leptospermum) in the Tasmania have been caught in wet sc1erophyll forest wetter areas and along creeks, and shrubby areas in at Fortescue Bay (Taylor & O'Neill 1986). These windbreaks between paddocks. Ringtails often feed species are Eptesicus regulus, E. sagittula, among blackberry bushes (Rubus fruticosus). Nyctophilus geoffroyi, N. timoriensis, Chalinolobus morio, C. gouldii and Falsistrellus tasmaniensis. The Sugar glider Petaurus breviceps - Sugar gliders only species not recorded was E. vulturnus. This have been reported from Tunnel Hill, Marsh Road species occurs on Forestier Peninsula (Taylor & and the Lime Bay area. They may thus be present O'Neill 1 986) and will almost certainly also occur over a large proportion of the peninsula but nothing on Tasman Peninsula. Many of the people interviewed is known of their abundance. There is little commented on the presence of bats. This is unusual information on their habitat requirements in Tasmania and seems to indicate that bats are abundant on the but on mainland densities are highest in peninsula. Trapping success at Fortescue Bay was open forest with dense patches of Acacia (Suckling high in relation to other sites around Tasmanian which 1983). Tree hollows are required for nesting. have been investigated (Taylor & O'Neill 1986).

Family Burramyidae Introduced Species Eastern pygmy possum Cercartetus nanus and little pygmy possum C. lepidus - Both species have been Eutherians recorded from the peninsula. Two individuals of C. nanus were found in a tree felled near Cashs Lookout. Family Cervidae Cercartetis lepidus has been recorded from Tunnel

Hill, Port Arthur and the Lime Bay area. Cercartetus Fallow deer Dama dama - Fallow deer once nanus is thought to be more numerous in the wetter occurred on the peninsula. However, the last forests whereas C. lepidus occurs mostly in the drier individual is believed to have been shot at Deer Point forests and heaths (Green 1973). in the late 1950s.

Eutherians Family Muridae

Family Muridae House mouse Mus musculus - This species was reported in associated with human habitation.

Swamp rat Rattus lutreolus - Swamp rats are probably abundant and distributed over most of the Black rat Rattus rattus - This species is also found peninsula. They are found in the wetter forests and in in association with humans, It is distributed patchily drainage lines and denser undergrowth within the drier in dry sc1erophyll forests elsewhere in Tasmania forests. Swamp rats have been trapped at Fortescue (Taylor, unpublished data) and thus may also be Bay and near Taranna. present in this vegetation on the peninsula.

Long-tailed mouse Pseudomys higginsi - Long-tailed Family Lagomorpha mice have been trapped at Fortescue Bay and reported from the Tunnel Hill and Taranna areas. They are European rabbit Oryctolagus coniculus - Rabbits likely to be associated with the wetter forests (Green are scattered throughout the drier forests and in 1983) but have also been found in dry sc1erophyll association with pastoral development in the wetter 84 areas, Rabbits were once rDucb fDore nurnefOW; but estuarine. The occurrence occasional declined markedly after the introduction of GonditicHlf" could ensure that any colonisation rnyxOll'Hltosis ii.! the earlY 1960s, bodjes platypus, \vouid not he successful in the kmg terrn, Family Ji'elidae

Feral Felis be lOC;lJly dumps. l'vlARiNE MA!'vHvlALS In natural vcgct(ltion cats are probably more in the wet than in areas of dry' Seals sderophyll. Fem! cats also occllr on Tasman and Family Otal"iidae Islands. The cats on Tasrfian Island AustraJ.ian seal -- Fur seals from animals associated with occur permanently ill the waters offTasman Peninsula, keepers, The cais kill numbers of Hauling grounds occur at Hippoly1e Rocks, The seabirds (Brothers 1979) and for reason an Monument at Hauy, and eradication programme began in ! 977 (Brothers (Pearse 1979). breeding grounds occur on the 1982). The was redm:ed from around 50 peninsula. to only a few by and shooting, However, due to difficulties in a foHow-up campaign, the has !mill up On Family Phoddae , have been grazed a lease Leopard seal Hydrurga lepwnyx - The leopard seal from state since 1902. Rabbits were ' is a resident of the alllarctic but non-breedjn� introduced by around the 1930s, They had . indi viduals into ternperatewate, ; a severe impact on the pastures and were (Rounsevell Singh; individuals introdtlCed 1939 to try to reduce rabbit have been seen at RemarkableCave, ROBring Beach, population. They died Gut ".oct were reintroduced in Fortescue (D. ROImsevell, pel's. comm,) and m the early 1970s" The rabbits subsequ�ently died out Copping, pel's. comm.). but this probably due predation hom cats (N. Brothers, per" comm.), A stable of Elephant seal Miroungaleonina - The elephant seal 20,,25 adult cats exists on the island effect on is a resident the sub.. alltarcti c region a the seabirds currently being assessed (N. Brothers, colony once exis!.ed King Island) but oc,ca,aol�al pers, comm,), vagrants occur in temperate waters (Bryden 1983). Thirty·four native species of terrestrial Single animals have recorded at Eaglehawk Neck mammals are extant There is evidence over the years. seen on beaches aTe either the occurrenceof twenty ·eight of these Tasman moulting or are sick. which represents 82% the totaL Of the not recorded, the distributions of four of Macropus gigrlntl?us, Dasyurus m,JCiIIC,lfUS, and Whales (Order Mas't{l,co,m)!s ,fu,,;( Pseudomys novaeholialldiael Five species are regularly sighted in around not extend iuto the southeast and hence \v ould Tasman Peninsula. These are no! he CAp",c.eu were Tursiops truncatu,\, not been de/phis, southem dm!!13!t humphack whale novaeangliae and platypus pilot whale G!obicephala melaena (.L ,\1J'1"Uhn" '" leucopus has COln!11,). Table 1 lIsts records of strandillgs recorded from wide hahitats "wi whales from Tasman Peninsula. Cetacean induding rainforest, dry sderopbyll, tree scrub strandil1g�; most recorded frorrl ilnd dry heath (Green 1 972c, 1(79), This snecies Eaglehawk Neck (7) and Bay (3). Both of often difficult trap (Ahem 1983) and, given its these areas have Large senll-enclosed bodics of water. habitat preferences, well be present The McManus el aL (1984) believe that such conditions platypus from could be due are prohably haza.rdnus to whaks. habitat j\1os.tcreeks and.rivet s fe'W Jarge pennanent such water iire Mammals 85

TABLE 1 Records of Dead Animals and Strandings of Dolphins and Whales for Tasman Peninsula*

Species Locality Date Notes

Common dolphin Eaglehawk Neck 1944,1967,1 984 Delphinus de/phis Sloping Main 1967 Fortescue Bay 1983 35 stranded and all, bar one, were successfully returned to sea

False killer whale Eaglehawk Neck 1946 Pseudorca crassidens Fortescue Bay 1977

Pilot whale Newmans Beach, 1979 34 stranded, all died Globicephala melaena Koonya

Bottlenosed dolphin Eaglehawk Neck 1981 single animal Tursiops truncatus

Pygmy right whale Eaglehawk Neck 1950 pregnant female Caperea marginata

Minke whale Fortescue Bay 1973 male Balaeonoptera acutorostrata

Cuviers beaked whale Port Arthur 1968 Ziphius cavirostris

Strap-toothed whale Sloping -Island 1966 skeleton found Mesoplodon layardi

Gray's beaked whale Eaglehawk Neck 1946 Mesoplodon grayi

* Data taken from Guiler (1978), McManus et at. (1984) and J. Wapstra (pers. comm.).

DISCUSSION (405 ha) (S. Kerstan, pers. comm.). In contrast K. Clarke stated that during the Depression years before All of the larger species of herbivores (i.e. the area was developed, he was pleased if he was pademelons, red-necked wallabies and wombats) able to shoot one wallaby in a full days hunting here. appear to have increased dramatically in numbers. It is claimed that several farms at the end of The development of pasture on areas which once Thorntons Road, which are mostly surrounded by the supported forests has led to an increase in food Cape Raoul State Reserve, have proved uneconom­ supplies. The hilly terrain present over much of the ic due to heavy pasture losses to wallabies. This land peninsula had led to clearing in patches on the flatter is now being purchased for the production of pine areas with forest remaining on the steeper areas. trees. Thus pasture is surrounded by areas which can be Wombats now occur on pastoral areas which utilised by pademelon and red-necked wallaby for once supported wet sclerophyll forest, an unsuitable shelter. The increased ecotone between pasture and habitat for them. As well as competing for food with forest has favoured both species. When 1080 domestic stock, the burrowing activity of wombats poisoning was used in 1983 to reduce wallaby can prove hazardous especially on sloping ground. numbers at Storrnlee, it was estimated by an inspector Here tractors can easily roll over or break an axle if that 2000 had been killed over an area of 1000 acres one wheel falls into a deep burrow. 86 R.J. Taylor'

Barred bandicoots are abundant ill the pastoral to carnage they cause to nets and because: they are areas and wi11 na'ii,le benefited the increased grHb seen as co!npeting for fIsh, Some individual seals population in the sOlI vvhichaccolnpanies an inlproved learn tn follow crayfish�rmen and ;Nill eat thc pasture. These animals have also been observed underized crayfish as they thnnvn back jnto the feeding on maggols from sheep carcases. Both species wrtter. The TNPV·/S provision. for penn its to be nf bandicoot, as wen as potoroos� �;an cause rninor issued LO CUlling of seals that arc causing problems in market gardens but this easily rectified problcru;;. with Because of the large :numher;:,� touri�ts which possmm utilise the high qualifY v]si1 the COHvict ruin� Arthur, a number of grasses and herbs present in pastorai areas venlures have been sHccessful! y established which 1984). They also eat crops such tumips the utilise the unique Tasmanian rnarnmal fauna to capilrre blossoms and fmit irom apple trees. Their numbers the tourist dollar. The Devi! Pa.rk uses the are thus likely to have increased, although undescrvcdly reaJ'somc reputation of the Tasmanian for skins may have had a effect on dcvil as a drawcard and Marine Park featurcs fur increase. In contrast, residents recall possums seals. There is also an increasing interest in boat far more abundant in the past. They do nol 10 Cape Pillar 10 obsen'e the seals on the any habitat change was associated with grounds. this drop in numbers. Such a decline has also occurred over much of the rest of Tasmania and it has been hypothesised that disease has been responsible for THE FUTURE this decline (Thompson & Owen 1964). The carnivorous Tasmanian devil and eastern Given its small and insular nature, Tasman more abundant Peninsula has an extremely proportion of the 1�1smallian mammal fauna. The of this fauna 01] the mamtenance of the habitat diversity were once considered be nllmerolls, mosaic patternnow present. Heathland is mosHy many repOits of raids on chicken coops. An intensive reserved and this should be secure. Much of the wetter eradication campaign seems to have been forests occur in State Forests aIld, provided any against both species with [cports of them logging is undertaken wisely, mammals in these trapped and snared. Only remnant forests should not be in danger. The drier forests are both species now remains. It is pm,sible that the insular mainly under private ownership and it is here that nature of the peninsula which allows only limited most care is needed to ensure that clearing is not dispersal into the area has helped 10 ensure that the excessive and that mosaic pattern of natural and carnivore populations remain low. Similar altered habitats is retained. tions of these species elsewhere in Tasmania not led to pennanent reductions in size. Thyla� cines were also hunted on the and this may have contribllted to the demise of this species. ACKNOWI,EDGEMEN'fS Water rats are now abundant but there appears to have been a period during 1he Depression when I wOllld like to thank the following people for hunting led to a crash in the populatlOn. The fur of information Oll the mammal:; of Tasman Peninsula: this species was very valuable and hence was much James Bayly-Stark, Nigel Brothers. Othmar sought afrer during this difficult economic period. Buchmann, Don Clarke, Kingsley Clarke, Mike Water rats arollnd fishing spots such as the '-"''''''''F;, David Hamilton, Don Hird, Alan Jackson, near The now benefit from abundant Kerstan, Jack Littk\ ROll Mal.vbey, Randy scraps and bait left by fishemlen. The Marine H03e, Dennis David Rounsevcll, Mike Park has had proble'Ils with waler rals raiding Stoddart, Dan and Hans Wapstra. Davie! aquariums. Rounsevell gave permission to examine the A commercial industry based on the TASPAWS records for Tasman Peninsula ane! of Australian fur seals once eX.lsted in Tasmania. provided helpful comments on the manuscript. population was severely reduced and thus came under regulations. These remained in existence until the industry was phased out in 1923. By 1945 the had recovered (Warneke 1983). nle fishing has traditionally been intolerant of seals due Mammals 87

REFERENCES GUILER, E.R., 1985: THYLACINE: THE TRAGEDY OF THE TASMANIAN TIGER. Oxford University Press, AHERN, L.D., 1983: White-footed Dunnart, Sminthopsis Melbourne. leucopus. In Strahan, R. (Ed.): COMPLETE BOOK HOCKING, G.J., 1975: Investigations into the behaviour OF AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. Angus and Robertson, and ecology of Antechinus swainsonii (Waterhouse, Sydney: 55. 1840) in Tasmania. Unpub!. B.Sc. Hons thesis, Univ. BROTHERS, N.P., 1979: Seabird Islands: , Tasm. Tasmania. Corella 3: 55-57. McMANUS, T.J., WAPSTRA, J.E., GUILER, E.R., BROTHERS, N.P., 1982: Feral cat control on Tasman MUNDAY, B.L. & OBENDORF, D.L., 1984: Cetacean Island. Aust. Rang. Bull. 2: 9. strandings in Tasmania from February 1978 to May BRYDEN, M.M., 1983: Southern elephant seal Mirounga 1983. Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasm. 118: 117-135. leonina. In Strahan, R. (Ed.): COMPLETE BOOK OF NORTON, T.W., 1983: Habitat utilization by small AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. Angus and Robertson, mammals in northeastern Tasmania. Unpub!. B.Sc. Sydney: 467-469. Hons thesis, Univ. Tasm. FITZGERALD, A.E., 1984: Diet ; of the possum PEARSE, R.J., 1979: Distribution and conservation of the (Trichosurus vulpecula) in three Tasmanian forest types Australian fur seal in Tasmania. Viet. Nat. 96: 48-53. and its relevance to the diet of possums in New Zealand ROUNSEVELL, D. & EBERHARD, L, 1980: Leopard forests. In Smith, A. & Hume, L (Eds): POSSUMS seals, Hydrurga leptonyx (Pinnipedia), at Macquarie AND GLIDERS. Surrey Beatty & Sons, Sydney: Island from 1949 to 1979. Aust. Wildl. Res. 7: 403-415. 137-143. SUCKLING, G.C., 1983: Sugar glider Petaurus breviceps. GREEN, R.H., I 972a: The murids and small dasyurids in In Strahan, R. (Ed.): COMPLETE BOOK OF Tasmania. Part 5. Antechinus swainsonii (Waterhouse, AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. Angus and Robertson, 1840). Rec. Q. Vict. Mus. 46: 1-13. Sydney: 138-139. GREEN, R.H., 1972b: The murids and small dasyurids in TAYLOR, R.J., 1986: Habitat requirements and Tasmania. Part 6. Antechinus minimum (Geoffroy, conservation of the Tasmanian bettong, Bettongia 1803). Rec. Q. Vict. Mus. 46: 13-27. gaimardi. Unpub!' rep., Aust. Nat! Pks Wild!. Serv., GREEN, R.H., I 972c: The murids and small dasyurids in Canberra. Tasmania. Part 7. Sminthopsis leucopus. Rec. Q. Vict. TAYLOR, R.J. & O'NEILL, M.G., 1986: Composition of Mus. 46: 27-34. bat (Chiroptera:Vespertilionidae) communities in GREEN, R.H., 1973: THE MAMMALS OF TASMANIA . Tasmanian forests. Aust. Mammal. 9: 125-130. R.H. Green, Launceston. THOMSON, J.A. & OWEN, W.H., 1964: A field study of GREEN, R.H., 1979: A survey of the vertebrate fauna of the Australian ringtail possum Pseudocheirus heathland areas between Round Hill and The Gardens, peregrinus (Marsupialia:Phalangeridae). Ecol. Mono. north-east Tasmania. Rec. Q. Vict. Mus. 67: I-II. 34: 27-52. GREEN, R.H., 1983: Long-tailed mouse Pseudomys WAKEFIELD, N.A. & WARNEKE, R.M., 1963: Some higginsi In Strahan, R. (Ed.): COMPLETE BOOK OF revision in Antechinus (Marsupialia) 1. Vict. Nat. 80: AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. Angus and Robertson, 194-219. Sydney: 396-397. WARNEKE, R.M., 1983: Australian fur-seal Arctocephalus GREEN, R.H., 1984: The fauna of Ordinance Point, north­ pusillus. In Strahan, R. (Ed.): COMPLETE BOOK OF western Tasmania. Rec. Q. Vict. Mus. 84: 32-52. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS. Angus and Robertson, GUILER, E.R., 1978: Whale strandings in tasmania since Sydney: 462-463. 1945 with notes on some seal reports. Pap. Proc. R. Soc. Tasm. 112: 189-213.