The role of feral predators in disrupting small vertebrate communities in arid South Australia

Project Summary Project 1.1.4

Brush-tailed Mulgara in the Simpson Desert. Photo: Aaron Greenville

Research in Brief Why is the research Strzelecki and Simpson Deserts. Lack of successful dispersal across This project is investigating why needed? non-refuge habitat types appears to native species persist in some Most medium-sized and many small be a limiting factor and will be the refuge areas of South Australia mammal species have fared poorly focus of this research. but not others, and the role of in the wake of early livestock grazing habitat condition and especially practices, successive rabbit plagues, How will the research feral predators in restricting and introduced predators. help? their populations. The kowari and fawn hopping mouse are The threatened kowari and fawn This project will test a series of threatened and other species hopping mouse suffered large range hypotheses about why native such as the plains mouse reductions following European species persist in some refuge areas and crest-tailed mulgara are occupation of Australia and now but not others, the role of habitat restricted in range. appear to be restricted to specific condition, and particularly predators, refuge habitat on vast stony plains in in restricting populations and All species of northern South north-east SA and south-west QLD. their dispersal. Australia are also at risk of fox The lack of shelter for larger predators, and cat predation, less so where such as the red fox and feral cat, and The project will contribute to a predator activity is suppressed further suppression by the dingo, much greater understanding of by dingoes, particularly on vast may work together in providing how predators (feral cat, fox and stony plains where cover is refuges for these species in this area. dingo) interact among themselves inadequate for prolonged and with other disturbance factors cat and fox occupation. However, the kowari population to affect populations of threatened When the impacts of predators has not responded to favourable vertebrates in the arid lands of South are understood, rebuilding seasonal conditions in the same Australia, particularly the stony plains ecological function may be way as other small mammal species, assemblage which features kowari, possible through translocation particularly the functionally similar kultarr, fawn hopping-mouse, sandy of threatened species. crest-tailed mulgara which has inland mouse and periodically the recolonised large areas of the sandy long-haired rat. The improved understandings will undertake population viability analyses inform management strategies to determine the extinction risk of targeted at recovering the populations threatened mammal species. and ranges of threatened species. To determine the ability of the In particular, rebuilding of ecological kowari to recolonise former empty function may be possible through the refuges, we will conduct research translocation of threatened species into dispersal behaviour and survival back to parts of their former range. of kowari using a combination What research activities of trapping and radio-tracking. The team will determine the effects are being undertaken? of the predators, grazing and other The research team will undertake interacting threats that may limit field assessment of small mammal dispersal opportunities for the kowari. communities under differing Lastly, the team will review collected disturbance regimes (grazing and datasets and species records predation) using live-trapping of small to determine historic and current Dingo in Simpson Desert. Photo: William La Marca mammals and camera-based studies distribution; prepare management of herbivore and predator activity. recommendations; review how Who is involved? The project will conduct an analysis threatened species respond when The project is being led by the of long-term survey data to assess management is implemented, University of Sydney who are threatened species responses to and assess the need for collaborating with the South changing environmental conditions, translocations to establish Australian Department for the discover habitat preferences and insurance populations. Environment and Water. Where is the research happening? The research takes place in the stony plains country of arid northern South Australia. When is the research happening? The project will run for three years from 2016 to 2019.

Further Information For more information please contact: Robert Brandle [email protected]

Kowari in Sturts Stony Desert. Photo: William La Marca

This project is supported through funding from the Australian Government’s National Environmental Science Programme.