Burrowing bandicoots – an adaptation to life in a fire-prone environment?
Kirstin LongDepartment for Environment and Heritage, South Australia, 115 Maryvale Road, Athelstone, SA 5076, Australia. Email: long.kirstin@saugov.sa.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 31(1) 57-59 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM08107
Submitted: 26 June 2008 Accepted: 18 August 2008 Published: 16 April 2009
Abstract
The southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus, is regarded as a ground nesting species that is not known to dig burrows for shelter; however, it has been observed sheltering in burrows constructed by other species. During a recent study, two bandicoots were found sheltering in small burrows after a fire. The locations and dimensions of these burrows suggest that they are likely to have been constructed by the bandicoots themselves, rather than by other species. This observation supports other accounts of burrow-use in lesser-known literature, which also suggest bandicoots may construct their own burrows. Burrows are likely to provide an increased level of shelter that allows bandicoots to escape extreme weather conditions and bushfires.
Additional keywords: burrow, fire, Isoodon obesulus, prescribed burn, shelter, southern brown bandicoot.
Acknowledgements
I thank Josh Griffiths, Karleah Trengrove and Jasmin Packer for their tireless work in the field, Wendy Stubbs, Hafiz Stewart, Adrian Stokes, Laurie Haegi and Peter Copley for project support and feedback on the manuscript and Mark Hutchinson, Jason van Weenen, Fred Ford and Barbara Triggs for their advice regarding burrow identification. Thanks also go to the anonymous referees whose constructive comments improved the manuscript. This work was undertaken by the South Australian Department for Environment and Heritage with funding provided by Nature Foundation SA and the Adelaide and Mount Lofty Ranges Natural Resources Management Board. Radio- tracking was undertaken under the Department for Environment and Heritage Scientific Permit Y24820 and with approval from the Department for Environment and Heritage Animal Ethics Committee (Application Number 20/2006).
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