In this paper we discuss how to recognise ‘Top End’ bats from their echolocation sequences, data needed for rapid inexpensive survey and monitoring programmes that inform conservation planning. We present the results of the first systematic survey of the bats occupying Northern Territory mangrove forests. More broadly, we identify environmental controls influencing the species composition and structure of tropical bat communities across north-western Australia.

The Black Summer bushfires were catastrophic, impacting some of Australia’s most iconic species. This study used pre- and post-fire data to determine how the bushfires affected eastern pygmy possum populations on the NSW Central Coast, finding that some populations were able to persist. This study helps improve our understanding of the susceptibility of native species to such events, which becomes increasingly important as wildfires are predicted to increase in frequency and intensity in response to climate change. Left photograph by Dylan Chew; right photograph by Brad Leue, AWC.

Understanding movement patterns of threatened bats is critical, though sometimes difficult, to conserving their habitats. This study was undertaken to understand movement patterns for the threatened Pilbara diamond-faced bat, resulting in the recordings of two large, 40-km, flights undertaken over single nights. This study will be used to conserve habitat for the species and demonstrates the capability of new and emerging tracking technology. Photograph by Christopher Knuckey.

The red-tailed phascogale is a threatened marsupial species native to Australia, and it has been reintroduced to Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia. Traditional monitoring methods for the species did not work at Mt Gibson, so we relied on camera monitoring until we developed an arboreal trapping method. The monitoring methods have shown that the reintroduction has been successful, and the arboreal trapping methods may be useful at other red-tailed phascogale populations.

Understanding glide performance in gliding mammals provides useful knowledge. We investigated this in the inland sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) in central Victoria. From 40 glides, horizontal glide distance averaged 18.1 m (range 8–41 m), glide ratio (horizontal glide distance/height dropped) averaged 2.2 and glide angle averaged 26.4°. Photograph by William Terry

Bandicoots and bilbies are among the most threatened Australian mammals, but their general behaviour is poorly studied. We studied exploratory behaviour of adult male northern brown bandicoots (Isoodon macrourus), finding inter-individual variation in exploration over time. Older bandicoots that appeared to be in better breeding condition were also less exploratory, indicating a possible life-history trade-off between reproduction and maintenance. Our pilot study on bandicoot exploratory behaviour could provide insights on their potential dispersal ability and movements in their natural landscapes.

Wombats commonly come into care due to collisions with vehicles, sarcoptic mange and attacks. Caring for wombats is time-consuming and expensive, particularly when raising wombat joeys, which were more likely to be successfully rehabilitated and released compared to adult wombats. This paper provides insights into the issues facing wombats, the people that care for wombats, and the wider carer sector.

Animals modify their behaviour to avoid poor conditions like temperature extremes, which affects the success of observation studies. We surveyed greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) at least once a year between 2015 and 2023 and found that as average environmental temperature decreased, the number of bilby observations also decreased within a spotlight survey session. Wildlife managers should include environmental temperature as a factor in survey timing and analysis.

Sperm storage is common in dasyurid species and has been recorded for up to 8 days in red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura). We present a case where sperm storage has occurred for 15–27 days in a free-living translocated red-tailed phascogale. Our result is the longest sperm storage period recorded to-date in dasyurid species.

The northern quoll is a small, endangered marsupial that inhabits the northern areas of Australia, including overlapping with areas targeted for mining in the Pilbara. Following more than 10 years of long-term data collection in the Pilbara, we present best practice survey techniques and options for reducing the impact of disturbance or improving northern quoll populations. These survey techniques are relevant to northern quoll research, conservation management, to detect their presence in areas previously unsurveyed, and for monitoring the outcomes of management activities.

Camera trapping was used to describe aspects of the breeding pattern in the long-nosed potoroo in the north of its range. Cameras operated continuously at eight sites over a 17-month period. Females produced two to four young per site equating to 2.1 per year. Image by R. Goldingay.

The golden-backed tree-rat, a large native rodent from tropical Western Australia and Northern Territory, was once abundant and widespread, but numbers have declined greatly. Its conservation depends on knowing its ecology and breeding biology, and in this study we provide the first details of the breeding biology of this tree-rat. This information is essential for developing conservation strategies to ensure the survival of this unique Australian species. Photograph by Euan Ritchie.

Roosting ecology in Australia’s flying-fox species is characteristically colonial, though a small amount of scientific literature refers to solitary roosting individuals or singletons. This note reports five accounts of black and grey-headed flying-foxes roosting as singletons outside of periods of food shortages, including one instance of solitary roosting occurring over multiple days. Photograph by Matthew Mo.

Boodies (burrowing bettongs, Bettongia lesueur) have a maternal social structure in their remnant natural population on Barrow Island. We have successfully recreated a similar social structure in Matuwa Kurrara Kurrara National Park, despite translocation and hybridisation. Given that many attempts to translocate boodies to the unfenced landscape have failed, possibly because the translocated animals showed no site fidelity or group cohesion, our research is the first to recommend that pre-existing social groups be translocated together, rather than random individuals.

Artificial tree cavities may be installed to restore habitat quality for tree-cavity-dependent wildlife. We used detections of the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and the inland sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) in nest boxes over a 6-year period to investigate the influence of the surrounding forest on nest box use. Image: R. Goldingay

The greater bilby, an iconic and culturally important Australian marsupial, now inhabits less than 20% of its former range. The Pilbara bioregion, a vast multi-use landscape in the north-west of Western Australia (WA) is an important stronghold for the species. To improve knowledge of the status and ecology of bilbies in northern WA, a research program, informed by multiple stakeholders, was instigated. The ensuing program has greatly enhanced our ecological knowledge of the bilby in the Pilbara and elsewhere in WA. Photograph by © John Lawson.

The burrow excavated by the southern hairy-nosed wombat is initially located by an entrance into the ground, but entrances also lead to other structures, with these not previously defined. With counts of active burrows used as the primary feature in population estimations, accuracy in their identification is vital. Here, we provide definition of these structures to increase the accuracy of population estimations but also to increase knowledge of the southern hairy-nosed wombat’s digging activity, functional potential, warren system architecture, and possible adaptive ability. Image by R. Norris.