Terrestrial mammals of a sheep-grazing property on Bruny Island, Tasmania

• Main Authors: Driessen, MM, Carlyon, K, Gales, R, Mooney, N, Pauza, M, Thurstans, S, Visoiu, MH, Wise, P
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Royal Society of Tasmania 2011
• Subjects: Biological Sciences; Ecology; Terrestrial Ecology; Rattus rattus
• Online Access: http://ecite.utas.edu.au/117081

Land-based mammals were surveyed in a mosaic of dry sclerophyll forests and pasture on a sheep-grazing property on Bruny Island, Tasmania, using a range of methods in August 2010. This is the first mammal survey of a sheep-grazing property in Tasmania and the first large-scale survey of mammals on Bruny Island. Ten species were recorded comprising seven native and three introduced species. The Little Forest Bat, Vespadelus vulturnus , and the Black Rat, Rattus rattus , were recorded for the first time on Bruny Island, although both are probably long-term residents. No mammal species listed as rare or threatened under Tasmanian or Australian legislation were found on the property. Large numbers of Eastern Quolls, Dasyurus viverrinus , Brushtail Possums, Trichosurus vulpecula , Tasmanian Pademelons, Thylogale billardierii , and Bennetts Wallabies, Macropus rufogriseus , were recorded in a range of dry sclerophyll forests and in pasture. Longnosed Potoroos, Potorous tridactylus , were recorded widely on the property in native vegetation with relatively thick ground cover. Eastern Quoll capture rates were highest in pasture areas and in Eucalyptus ovata forest. Brushtail Possums, Long-nosed Potoroos, Tasmanian Pademelons and Bennetts Wallabies were virtually unrecorded from E. tenuiramis forest and woodlands. Given the level of survey effort and their potential to occur on the property it was remarkable that no Tasmanian Bettong, Bettongia gaimardi , Eastern Barred Bandicoot, Perameles gunnii , Southern Brown Bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus , or introduced House Mouse, Mus musculus , were recorded. We found that camera trapping was more cost-efficient than cage trapping for detecting the presence of mammals on "Murrayfield". Recommendations for ongoing management and monitoring of mammals are provided.