<p> Consultation Document on Listing Eligibility and Conservation Actions</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) You are invited to provide evidence related to:</p><p>1) the eligibility of Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list; and </p><p>2) the necessary conservation actions for the above subspecies.</p><p>Evidence provided by experts, stakeholders and the general public is welcome. Responses can be provided by any interested person. </p><p>Anyone may nominate a native species, ecological community or threatening process for listing under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) or for a transfer of an item already on the list to a new listing category. The Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes the assessment of species to determine eligibility for inclusion in the list of threatened species and provides its recommendation to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.</p><p>Draft information for your consideration of the ineligibility of this subspecies for listing starts at page 3 and information associated with potential conservation actions for this subspecies starts at page 9. To assist with the Committee’s assessment, the Committee has identified a series of specific questions on which it seeks your guidance at page 12.</p><p>Responses are to be provided in writing either by email to: [email protected] or by mail to: </p><p>The Director Marine and Freshwater Species Conservation Section Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division Department of the Environment PO Box 787 Canberra ACT 2601</p><p>Responses are required to be submitted by 27 February 2015. Contents of this information package Page General background information about listing threatened species 2 Information about this consultation process 2 Draft information about the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) and its eligibility for 3 listing Conservation actions for the subspecies 9 Collective list of questions – your views 11 References cited 12</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 1 of 15 General background information about listing threatened species</p><p>The Australian Government helps protect species at risk of extinction by listing them as threatened under Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Once listed under the EPBC Act, the species becomes a Matter of National Environmental Significance (MNES) and must be protected from significant impacts through the assessment and approval provisions of the EPBC Act. More information about threatened species is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/index.html.</p><p>Public nominations to list threatened species under the EPBC Act are received annually by the department. In order to determine if a species is eligible for listing as threatened under the EPBC Act, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee (the Committee) undertakes a rigorous scientific assessment of its status to determine if the species is eligible for listing against a set of criteria. These criteria are available on the Department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/pubs/guidelines-species.pdf.</p><p>As part of the assessment process, the Committee consults with the public and stakeholders to obtain specific details about the species, as well as advice on what conservation actions might be appropriate. Information provided through the consultation process is considered by the Committee in its assessment. The Committee provides its advice on the assessment (together with comments received) to the Minister regarding the eligibility of the species for listing under a particular category and what conservation actions might be appropriate. The Minister decides to add, or not to add, the species to the list of threatened species under the EPBC Act. More detailed information about the listing process is at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/nominations.html.</p><p>To promote the recovery of listed threatened species and ecological communities, conservation advices and where required, recovery plans are made or adopted in accordance with Part 13 of the EPBC Act. Conservation advices provide guidance at the time of listing on known threats and priority recovery actions that can be undertaken at a local and regional level. Recovery plans describe key threats and identify specific recovery actions that can be undertaken to enable recovery activities to occur within a planned and logical national framework. Information about recovery plans is available on the department’s website at: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery.html.</p><p>Information about this consultation process</p><p>Responses to this consultation can be provided electronically or in hard copy to the contact addresses provided on Page 1. All responses received will be provided in full to the Committee and then to the Australian Government Minister for the Environment.</p><p>In providing comments, please provide references to published data where possible. Should the Committee use the information you provide in formulating its advice, the information will be attributed to you and referenced as a ‘personal communication’ unless you provide references or otherwise attribute this information (please specify if your organisation requires that this information is attributed to your organisation instead of yourself). The final advice by the Committee will be published on the department’s website following the listing decision by the Minister.</p><p>Information provided through consultation may be subject to freedom of information legislation and court processes. It is also important to note that under the EPBC Act, the deliberations and recommendations of the Committee are confidential until the Minister has made a final decision on the nomination, unless otherwise determined by the Minister.</p><p>2 Isoodon obesulus obesulus</p><p>Southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)</p><p>Taxonomy Conventionally accepted as Isoodon obesulus obesulus (Shaw, 1797).</p><p>Woinarski et al. (2014) notes that ‘the taxonomy of the Isoodon obesulus complex has been unsettled. Westerman et al. (2012) concluded that the subspecies I. o. peninsulae was more closely related to I. auratus than I. obesulus, and should be either transferred to the former species or raised to a species itself. Following Pope et al. (2001), Zenger et al. (2005) and Westerman et al. (2012), the formerly recognised subspecies I. o. affinis and I. o. nauticus are included here in I. o. obesulus, leaving only one other subspecies, I. o. fusciventer from south- western Australia.’</p><p>I. o. fusciventer is proposed as ineligible for listing in this assessment process. </p><p>Species/Sub-species Information Description TSSC (2014, p.1) provides a description of the southern brown bandicoot as follows:</p><p>The southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern), family Peramelidae, is a medium-sized, ground-dwelling marsupial with a head and body length of approximately 30 cm (NSW DEC, 2006; Paull, 2008). Like other members of the family, the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) has a long tapering snout, a naked nose, a compact body (NSW DEC, 2006) and a short tail generally 110–120 mm long (Paull, 2008). The head has small, rounded ears and small, black eyes (NSW DEC, 2006; Paull, 2008). The dorsal surface of the body bears black spiny bristle hairs and softer, dark grey underfur that appears brown at a distance (Paull, 2008). The softer underbelly is creamy-white (NSW DEC, 2006). While the forelegs are short with curved claws on the digits, the hind limbs are much longer, resembling those of macropods (NSW DEC, 2006). Males are heavier (mean weight 890 g) than females (mean weight 620 g) (Paull, 2008). </p><p>Distribution Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 178) provides a description of the distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p>On the mainland, the distribution of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) extends from just north of Sydney (Ku-ring-gai Chase and Garigal National Parks) to the Adelaide Hills, Fleurieu Peninsula and Kangaroo Island and the Nuyts Archipelago in South Australia. Within this range it occurs mostly in coastal areas, and its distribution is fragmented, with many now discontinuous subpopulations (e.g. in South Australia’s south east (Le Duff & Stratman, 2009), Mt Lofty Ranges (Long, 2010) and Kangaroo Island (Jones et al., 2010)). The extent of occurrence has declined historically (e.g. with the presumed loss of its westernmost occurrences on Yorke and Eyre Peninsulas (McDowell et al., 2012), and the area of occupancy continues to decline. In the Nuyts Archipelago, it occurs on East and West Franklin Islands, which are joined at low tide (512 ha) and St Francis Island (809 ha). Subfossil material is known from Flinders Island in the Investigator Group (Kemper, 1990), southern Yorke Peninsula and Coffin Bay and Venus Bay peninsulas (McDowell, 1997; McDowell & Medlin, 2010). In Tasmania southern brown bandicoots are widespread and occur also on Bruny, Three Hummock and West Sister Islands.</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 3 of 15 Relevant Biology/Ecology Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 176-177) provides a description of the ecology of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p>The southern brown bandicoot prefers dense vegetation, including wetland fringes and heathland. It has responded well to fox control, with many populations in public land where fox control occurs now at greater abundance than previously (Morris et al., 1998). Some subpopulations within fox-proof fences have reached very high densities.</p><p>The southern brown bandicoot is omnivorous, eating both plants and animals. It forages for food mainly by digging in the leaf litter and soil to find insects, fungi, plant root nodules and bulbs. It also eats fruit, seeds and other plant material found above ground. Bandicoots prefer to live in areas with thick vegetation and construct nests under plants on the ground. They do not create their own burrow, but occasionally use the burrows of other species (Paull, 2008).</p><p>The southern brown bandicoot breeds throughout the year with a peak in spring. The backward opening pouch contains eight teats arranged in an incomplete circle, and accommodates one to six (usually two to four) young in a litter. Two or three litters may be reared in a year, though this is dependent upon food availability. Older females produce more litters (DEC, 2012). Sexual maturity is reached in about 60 days. Longevity in the wild is three to four years (Paull, 2008), although in captivity animals have survived for up to six years (AnAge, 2012). Generation time is taken to be two years.</p><p>Threats Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 178) provides a description of the threats to the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p> threat factor conseque extent over which evidence base nce rating threat may operate Predation by red foxes severe large strong evidence (e.g. Coates & Wright, 2003) Habitat loss and severe large demonstrated absence or fragmentation reduced abundance in cleared areas (Lunney & Leary, 1988); however, many of the remnant populations in central southern Victoria are in areas of rank grass and weeds such as gorse in farmland Predation by feral and moderate- large cats take juvenile bandicoots; domestic cats severe impacts of cats and of feral (and stray) dogs less well understood; however, they can survive in their presence, e.g. in Koo Wee Rup town Inappropriate fire minor moderate available evidence is regimes inconclusive Mortalities associated moderate minor road kills observed with road traffic Habitat change due to moderate minor some correlative evidence livestock and other non-native herbivores</p><p>4 Disease minor large toxoplasmosis is known in some bandicoot populations; but impact poorly understood Timber harvesting minor minor impacts vary depending upon forest management regime, and age of regrowth Habitat change due to minor minor some evidence of case-by- weed infestation case detriment or benefit provided by weeds Habitat change due to minor minor no evidence, but plausible Phytophthora infestation Poisoning associated minor minor no evidence, but plausible with control of non- native predators</p><p>Assessment of available information in relation to the EPBC Act Criteria and Regulations</p><p>Criterion 1. Population size reduction (reduction in total numbers) Population reduction (measured over the longer of 10 years or 3 generations) based on any of A1 to A4 Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Very severe reduction Severe reduction Substantial reduction A1 ≥ 90% ≥ 70% ≥ 50% A2, A3, A4 ≥ 80% ≥ 50% ≥ 30% A1 Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred or suspected in the past and the causes of the (a) direct observation [except A3] reduction are clearly reversible AND understood AND ceased. (b) an index of abundance appropriate A2 Population reduction observed, estimated, inferred to the taxon or suspected in the past where the causes of the reduction may not have ceased OR may not be (c) a decline in area of occupancy, understood OR may not be reversible. extent of occurrence and/or quality of habitat A3 Population reduction, projected or suspected to be met in the future (up to a maximum of 100 years) [(a) cannot be used for A3] (d) actual or potential levels of exploitation A4 An observed, estimated, inferred, projected or suspected population reduction where the time (e) the effects of introduced taxa, period must include both the past and the future (up hybridization, pathogens, pollutants, to a max. of 100 years in future), and where the competitors or parasites causes of reduction may not have ceased OR may not be understood OR may not be reversible.</p><p>Evidence: The southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) experienced past population size decline (Woinarski et al., 2014). Current and future population size declines are limited, with some subpopulations declining (Woinarski et al., 2014). However, the overall rate of decline is inferred to be <30% over a 10-year period (Woinarski et al., 2014). </p><p>Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 178) provides a description of the abundance of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p>The southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) was formerly extremely abundant across much of its range, but many subpopulations have disappeared and it is now uncommon in many remaining subpopulations (Lunney & Leary, 1988). However, it remains common at some sites (Coates et al., 2008). There has been no published robust estimate of its total abundance, nor of its overall rate of decline. Home ranges vary between 0.5 and 5 ha (Paull, 2008) (i.e. densities of 20–200 individuals/km2, assuming </p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 5 of 15 no overlap in home range. Population estimates in the Nuyts Archipelago are c. 550 for West Franklin Island and c. 510 for East Franklin Island (Copley et al., 1990) and c. 500 for St Francis Island (Maxwell et al., 1996). Long term trends are unknown, but population densities on West Franklin Island were considered stable during a one-year trapping study (Copley et al., 1990). In Tasmania, the southern brown bandicoot (south- eastern) is abundant and there is no evidence of decline.</p><p>In several areas subject to recent substantial fox control programs (notably Southern Ark in East Gippsland, Glenelg Ark in south-western Victoria and Grampians Ark in the Grampians Range), subpopulation sizes of the southern brown bandicoot have increased (Dexter & Murray, 2009; Robley et al., 2009; Homan & Schultz, 2012).</p><p>The data presented above appear to demonstrate the subspecies is not eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the subspecies’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.</p><p>Criterion 2. Geographic distribution is precarious for either extent of occurrence AND/OR area of occupancy Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Very restricted Restricted Limited B1. Extent of occurrence (EOO) < 100 km2 < 5,000 km2 < 20,000 km2 B2. Area of occupancy (AOO) < 10 km2 < 500 km2 < 2,000 km2 AND at least 2 of the following 3 conditions: (a) Severely fragmented OR Number of = 1 ≤ 5 ≤ 10 locations (b) Continuing decline observed, estimated, inferred or projected in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of occupancy; (iii) area, extent and/or quality of habitat; (iv) number of locations or subpopulations; (v) number of mature individuals (c) Extreme fluctuations in any of: (i) extent of occurrence; (ii) area of occupancy; (iii) number of locations or subpopulations; (number of mature individuals</p><p>Evidence: The extent of occurrence of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) is estimated at 494 000 km2 and the area of occupancy is estimated at 1884 km2, although this is likely to be an under-estimate, noting the recent increase following fox control in parts of the mainland range and few Tasmanian localities in the mapping database (Woinarski et al., 2014). Therefore, the area of occupancy is likely to be >2000 km2 (Woinarski et al., 2014).</p><p>The data presented above appear to demonstrate the subspecies is not eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the subspecies’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.</p><p>Criterion 3. Small population size and decline Critically Endangered Vulnerable Endangered Low Limited Very low Estimated number of mature individuals < 250 < 2,500 < 10,000 </p><p>6 AND either (C1) or (C2) is true C1 An observed, estimated or projected Very high rate High rate Substantial rate continuing decline of at least (up to a 25% in 3 years or 1 20% in 3 years or 1 10% in 10 years or 3 max. of 100 years in future generation generation generations (whichever is longer) (whichever is (whichever is longer) longer) C2 An observed, estimated, projected or inferred continuing decline AND its geographic distribution is precarious for its survival based on at least 1 of the following 3 conditions: (i) Number of mature individuals in ≤ 50 ≤ 250 ≤ 1,000 each subpopulation (ii) % of mature individuals in one 90 – 100% 95 – 100% 100% subpopulation = (b) Extreme fluctuations in the number of mature individuals</p><p>Evidence</p><p>The population size is estimated at >30 000 mature individuals (Woinarski et al., 2014). Therefore, although the population is showing continuing decline, the population size is >10 000 individuals (Woinarski et al., 2014).</p><p>The data presented above appear to demonstrate the subspecies is not eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the subspecies’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.</p><p>Criterion 4. Very small population Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Extremely low Very Low Low</p><p>Number of mature individuals < 50 < 250 < 1,000</p><p>Evidence: The southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) does not have a very small population, with the number of mature individuals estimated at >30 000 (Woinarski et al., 2014).</p><p>The data presented above appear to demonstrate the subspecies is not eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the subspecies’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.</p><p>Criterion 5. Quantitative Analysis Critically Endangered Endangered Vulnerable Immediate future Near future Medium-term future ≥ 50% in 10 years or 3 ≥ 20% in 20 years or Indicating the probability of extinction in generations, 5 generations, ≥ 10% in 100 years the wild to be: whichever is longer whichever is longer (100 years max.) (100 years max.)</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 7 of 15 Evidence: No population viability analysis has been undertaken for the southern brown bandicoot (south- eastern) (Woinarski et al., 2014). </p><p>There are insufficient data to demonstrate if the subspecies is eligible for listing under this criterion. However, the purpose of this consultation document is to elicit additional information to better understand the subspecies’ status. This conclusion should therefore be considered to be tentative at this stage, as it may be changed as a result of responses to this consultation process.</p><p>Consideration for delisting A decision to delist a taxon can include consideration of the eligibility of the species for inclusion on the EPBC Act list and/or that by being included the listing is contributing to the survival of the taxon and removal will result in it becoming threatened. </p><p>The southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) was listed on the EPBC Act in the endangered category in 2001 because of a decline in population size (i.e. criterion 1) (TSSC, 2001). This subspecies was also eligible for listing in the vulnerable category because of its precarious geographic distribution (i.e. criterion 2) (TSSC, 2001). This assessment process includes the formerly recognised subspecies I. o affinis and I. o. nauticus in I. o. obesulus (Woinarski et al., 2014). Isoodon obesulus nauticus was listed on the EPBC Act in the vulnerable category in 2000 because of its small population size (i.e. criterion 4) (TSSC, 2012). </p><p>The taxonomic change, with I. o affinis and I. o. nauticus no longer considered valid subspecies and subsequently included in I. o. obesulus, and a genuine change in the rate of decline in population size such that the rate of decline is not severe enough to meet the critera for endangered within the relevant timeframe, suggest that the subspecies’ eligibility for inclusion on the EPBC Act threatened species list should be changed from endangered to not eligible (Woinarski et al., 2014). </p><p>A number of plans/management prescriptions in place are contributing to the survival of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) and could continue to prevent the subspecies becoming threatened. These plans/management prescriptions include the following (TSSC, 2014):</p><p>Recovery plan for the southern brown bandicoot in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, 2004 to 2009 (Haby & Long, 2005). Recovery plan for the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) (NSW DEC, 2006). Threat abatement plan and background document for predation by the European red fox (DEWHA, 2008a,b). Threat abatement plan and background document for predation by feral cats (DEWHA, 2008c,d). Threat abatement plan and background document for competition and land degradation by rabbits (DEWHA, 2008e,f). Threat abatement plan for dieback caused by the root-rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi (DotE, 2014). </p><p>The draft national recovery plan prepared by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment for the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in 2010 (Brown & Main, 2010) has not yet been finalised or adopted under the EPBC Act. The draft recovery plan covers only the mainland distribution (i.e. not the Tasmainian population as included in this assessment process).</p><p>The distribution of this subspecies overlaps with the following EPBC Act-listed threatened ecological communities (TSSC, 2014): Upland Basalt Eucalypt Forests of the Sydney Basin Bioregion 8 White Box-Yellow Box-Blakely's Red Gum Grassy Woodland and Derived Native Grassland Lowland Grassy Woodland in the South East Corner Bioregion Eastern Suburbs Banksia Scrub of the Sydney Region Grassy Eucalypt Woodland of the Victorian Volcanic Plain Peppermint Box (Eucalyptus odorata) Grassy Woodland of South Australia Grey Box (Eucalyptus microcarpa) Grassy Woodlands and Derived Native Grasslands of South- eastern Australia.</p><p>Overlap with EPBC Act-listed threatend ecological communities should afford the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) and its habitat some protection.</p><p>Conservation Actions</p><p>Recovery Plan The draft national recovery plan prepared by the Victorian Department of Sustainability and Environment for the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in 2010 (Brown & Main, 2010) has not yet been finalised or adopted under the EPBC Act. The draft recovery plan covers only the mainland distribution (i.e. not the Tasmainian population as included in this assessment process).</p><p>The conservation advice prepared for the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) under the EPBC Act in 2014 identifies regional and local priority recovery and threat abatement actions to support the recovery of the subspecies (TSSC, 2014). This conservation advice was prepared prior to I. o. affinis (Tasmania) and I. o. nauticus (Nutys Archipelago, South Australia) being considered invalid subspecies and subsequently included in I. o. obesulus. Removal of the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) from the EPBC Act list would result in the removal of the conservation advice. </p><p>The actions included in the conservation advice relate to the major threats (e.g. habitat loss, disturbance and modification; animal predation or competition; fire; diseases, fungi and parasites) affecting the subspecies and provision of conservation information to stakeholders. Many management actions are currently operating for this subspecies. These include the development and implementation of state recovery plans in New South Wales and South Australia, and regional recovery plans for some parts of its Victorian range; ongoing survey and monitoring activities; research on habitat use, and responses to threats (fire, feral animals and weeds) and their management; site-specific management of threats (particularly fox control: Southern Ark operates over the entire known distribution of southern brown bandicoot (south- eastern) in Far East Gippsland); development of revegetation actions to bolster connectivity; and projects to enhance community awareness and participation. In addition, there are several threat abatement plans relating to animal predation or competition (i.e. predation by European red fox (DEWHA, 2008a, b), predation by feral cats (DEWHA 2008c, d) and competition and land degradation by rabbits (DEWHA, 2008e,f)). The threat abatement plan for dieback caused by the root-rot fungus Phythophthora cinnamomi (DotE, 2014) is also relevant. </p><p>Primary Conservation Objectives</p><p>Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 180) identifies the primary conservation objectives or the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) as follows:</p><p>1. Manage threats to secure or increase overall population size. 2. Secure all currently known subpopulations. 3. Through re-introduction and intensive threat management, re-establish populations that have been lost.</p><p>Conservation and Management Actions</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 9 of 15 Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 179) provides a description of management actions for the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p>Theme Specific actions Priority Active mitigation of threats implement control mechanisms for high non-native predators, that minimise adverse impacts upon this subspecies establish corridors between medium fragmented populations implement forestry practices that medium minimise impacts on this subspecies implement fire regimes that minimise medium impacts on this subspecies implement Phytophthora control and medium quarantine measures manage weeds in a manner that low-medium delivers overall benefit to this subspecies implement measures to reduce road low-medium kills Captive breeding establish or maintain a captive low-medium breeding population for insurance and re-introductions Quarantining isolated maintain fox-free status of Kangaroo high populations Island and fox- and cat-free status of other islands where the subspecies occurs Translocation assess options and risks associated medium with potential to re-introduce individuals to extirpated or currently non-viable subpopulations Monitoring implement integrated monitoring medium across range Community engagement develop conservation covenants on medium lands with high value for this subspecies liaise with community to enhance their low-medium involvement in conservation management of this subspecies</p><p>Information and research priorities Woinarski et al. (2014, p. 179) provides a description of the information required for the southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern) in the Mammal Action Plan (MAP) as follows:</p><p>Theme Specific actions Priority Survey to better define continue to define fine-scale medium-high distribution distribution patterns, and the number of individuals in subpopulations, especially on the mainland maintain or enhance program to medium-high involve community in surveys and sightings base Assess relative impacts of define population-level impacts of high threats foxes, cats and dogs, in rural and peri-urban settings 10 define responses of populations, and medium-high of food and shelter resources, to differing fire regimes, and model longer-term impacts define responses to differing levels medium of grazing by non-native herbivores (and, where relevant, high densities of native herbivores) Assess effectiveness of threat assess incidence of disease, and the medium mitigation options factors contributing to it identify mechanisms to reduce road low-medium mortalities assess relative impacts of a range of medium-high management regimes for non-native predators identify critical factors that minimise medium impacts of forestry and development practices identify landscape-scale options for medium habitat retention and connectivity Establish or enhance enhance and integrate existing medium monitoring program monitoring across range, to include assessment of efficacy of management interventions Resolve taxonomic define the extent of genetic medium uncertainties differentiation (and taxonomic status) of the most disjunct subpopulations define the extent of genetic medium differentiation (and taxonomic status) for all Isoodon taxa Assess habitat requirements identify key habitat requirements medium needed to minimise forestry impacts Assess diet, life history assess the extent to which food low-medium availability may limit population size or reproductive success Undertake research to develop broad-scale, targeted feral medium develop new or enhance Cat eradication technology (with no existing management detrimental impacts for this mechanisms subspecies)</p><p>Collective list of questions – your views 1. Do you agree with the current taxonomic position for this taxon (as identified in the draft conservation advice)?</p><p>2. Can you provide any additional references, information or estimates on longevity, age of maturity, average life span and generation length?</p><p>3. Has the survey effort for this taxon been adequate to determine its national distribution and adult population size?</p><p>4. Do you accept the estimate provided in the nomination for the current population size of the taxon? </p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 11 of 15 5. For any population with which you are familiar, do you agree with the population estimate provided? If not, are you able to provide a plausible estimate based on your own knowledge? If so, please provide in the form: Lower bound (estimated minimum): Upper bound (estimated maximum): Best Estimate: Estimated level of Confidence: %</p><p>6. Can you provide any additional data, not contained in the current nomination, on declines in population numbers over the past or next 10 years or 3 generations, whichever is the longer?</p><p>7. Is the distribution as described in the nomination valid? Can you provide an estimate of the current geographic distribution (extent of occurrence or area of occupancy in km2) of this taxon? </p><p>8. Has this geographic distribution declined and if so by how much and over what period of time? </p><p>9. Do you agree that the taxon is ineligible for inclusion on the threatened species list?</p><p>10. Do you agree that the threats listed are correct and that their effects on the taxon are significant?</p><p>1. To what degree are the identified threats likely to impact on the taxon in the future?</p><p>2. Can you provide additional or alternative information on threats, past, current or potential that may adversely affect this taxon at any stage of its life cycle? </p><p>11. In seeking to facilitate the recovery of this taxon, can you provide management advice for the following: What individuals or organisations are currently, or need to be, involved in planning to abate threats and any other relevant planning issues? What threats are impacting on different populations, how variable are the threats and what is the relative importance of the different populations? What recovery actions are currently in place, and can you suggest other actions that would help recover the taxon? Please provide evidence and background information.</p><p>12. Can you provide additional data or information relevant to this assessment?</p><p>References cited in the advice AnAge (2012). The animal aging and longevity database. Available on the internet at http://genomics.senescence.info/species/ Brown, G. W. & Main, M. L. (2010). Draft National recovery plan for the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus. Heidelberg: Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Sustainability and Environment. Coates, T. D. & Wright, C.J. (2003). Predation of Southern Brown Bandicoots Isoodon obesulus by the European Red Fox Vulpes vulpes in south-east Victoria. Australian Mammalogy 25, 107-110 Coates, T., Nicholls, D. & Willig, R. (2008). The distribution of the southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus in south central Victoria. Victorian Naturalist 125, 128-139 12 Copley, P., Read, V., Robinson, A. & Watts, C. (1990). Preliminary studies of the Nuyts Archipelago bandicoot Isoodon obesulus nauticus on the Franklin Islands, South Australia. In J. Seebeck, P. Brown, R. Wallis & C. Kemper, Bandicoots and Bilbies (pp. 345-356). Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty & Sons. Department of the Environment (DotE) (2014). Threat abatement plan for dieback caused by the root-rot fungus Phytophthora cinnamomi and associated background document. Canberra: DotE. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/threat-abatement-plan-disease-natural- ecosystems-caused-phytophthora-cinnamomi Department of Environment and Conservation (2012). Quenda Isoodon obesulus (Shaw, 1797). Available on the internet at: http://www.dec.wa.gov.au/content/view/7009/1979/. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008a). Threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-european-red-fox Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008b). Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by the European red fox. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-european-red-fox Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008c). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-feral-cats Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008d). Background document for the threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/predation-feral-cats Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008e). Threat abatement plan for competition and land degradation by rabbits. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/competition-and-land-degradation-rabbits Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2008f). Background document for competition and land degradation by rabbits. Canberra: DEWHA. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/resource/competition-and-land-degradation-rabbits Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC) (2011). Draft referral guidelines for the endangered southern brown bandicoot (eastern), Isoodon obesulus obesulus. EPBC Act policy statement. Canberra: DSEWPaC. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/epbc/publications/southern-brown-bandicoot.html. Dexter, N. & Murray, A. (2009). The impact of fox control on the relative abundance of forest mammals in East Gippsland, Victoria. Wildlife Research 36, 252-261. Haby, N. & Long, K. (2005). Recovery plan for the southern brown bandicoot in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, 2004 to 2009. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.sa.gov.au/managing-natural- resources/Plants_Animals/Threatened_species_ecological_communities/Recovery_plan ning/Plans_for_threatened_animals_in_SA/land-mammals Homan, P. & Schultz, N. (2012). Further records of mammal and reptile fauna from the Black Range, near Stawell and the Grampians National Park, Western Victoria. Victorian Naturalist 129, 36-45.</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 13 of 15 Jones, S., Mooney, P., Ross, J. & Pisanu, P. (2010). The distribution and ecology of threatened small mammals on Kangaroo Island. Kingscote: Department for Environment and Heritage. Kemper, C. (1990). Status of bandicoots in South Australia. In J. Seebeck, P. Brown, R. Wallis & C. Kemper, Bandicoots and Bilbies (pp. 67-72). Chipping Norton: Surrey Beatty & Sons. Le Duff, M. K. & Stratman, B. K. (2009). An Assessment of the Conservation Status of the southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in the South East of South Australia. Mount Gambier: Department for Environment and Heritage. Long, K. (2010). Recovery Plan for the southern brown bandicoot in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia 2010-2015. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide. Lunney, D. & Leary, T. (1988). The impact on native mammals of land-use changes and exotic species in the Bega district, New South Wales. Australian Journal of Ecology 13, 67-92. Maxwell, S., Burbidge, A. A. & Morris, K. (1996). The 1996 action plan for Australian marsupials and monotremes. Canberra: Wildlife Australia. McDowell, M. C. (1997). Taphonomy and palaeoenvironmental interpretation of a late Holocene deposit from Black’s Point Sinkhole, Venus Bay, SA. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 117, 79-95. McDowell, M. C. & Medlin, G. C. (2010). Natural resource management implications of the pre- European non-volant mammal fauna of the southern tip of Eyre Peninsula, South Australia. Australian Mammalogy 32, 67-93. McDowell, M. C., Baynes, A., Medlin, G. C. & Prideaux, G. J. (2012). The impact of European colonization on the late-Holocene non-volant mammals of Yorke Peninsula, South Australia. The Holocene 22, 1441-1450. Morris, K., Armstrong, R., Orell, P., and Vance M. (1998). Bouncing back. Western Shield update. Landscope 14(1), 28-35. New South Wales Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW DEC) (2006). Southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) recovery plan. Available on the Internet at: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/resources/nature/SouthernBrownBandicootFinalRec overyPlan.pdf.</p><p>Paull, D. J. (2008). Southern brown bandicoot Isoodon obesulus. In S. Van Dyck & R. Strahan, The mammals of Australia, Third edition (pp. 180-182). Sydney: Reed New Holland. Pope, L., Storch, D., Adams, M., Moritz, C. & Gordon, G. (2001). A phylogeny for the genus Isoodon and a range extension for I. obesulus peninsulae based on mtDNA control region and morphology. Australian Journal of Zoology 49, 411-434. Robley, A., Gormley, A., Albert, R., Bowd, M., Smith, A., & Scroggie, M. (2009). Monitoring and evaluation of Glenelg Ark – 2005 to 2008. Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Technical Report Series No. 183. Heidelberg: Department of Sustainability and Environment. Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2014). Approved Conservation Advice for Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (eastern)). Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=68050 Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2001). Commonwealth Listing Advice on Isoodon obesulus obesulus. Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=68050 Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2012). Commonwealth Listing Advice on Isoodon obesulus nauticus (southern brown bandicoot (Nuyts Archipelago)). Available on the internet at: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=66667 14 Westerman, M., Kear, B. P., Aplin, K., Meredith, R. W., Emerling, C. & Springer, M. S. (2012). Phylogenetic relationships of living and recently extinct bandicoots based on nuclear and mitochondrial DNA sequences. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 62, 97-108. Woinarski, J. C. Z., Burbidge, A. A., & Harrison, P. L. (2014). The action plan for Australian mammals 2012. Collingwood, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. Zenger, K. R., Eldridge, M. D. B. & Johnston, P. G. (2005). Phylogenetics, population structure and genetic diversity of the endangered southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus) in south-eastern Australia. Conservation Genetics 6, 193-204.</p><p>Isoodon obesulus obesulus (southern brown bandicoot (south-eastern)) consultation Page 15 of 15</p>