Status, ecological attributes and conservation of native rodents in Queensland

Abstract

In total, 41 species of native rodents have been recorded from Queensland, more than for any other State or Territory in Australia. Assessments of status for these species, using information on patterns of distribution and abundance, indicate that 21 species remain common, 3 are rare, 2 are vulnerable, 7 are endangered and 8 are presumed extinct. Comparisons of body weights, habits and habitats revealed no differences between common and threatened species, but species with broad diets have tended to remain common compared with dietary specialists. South-eastern Queensland has relatively more threatened and extinct species combined than the richer north-east, while species that occur or occurred in two or more regions are more likely to have remained common than those that occurred in one region only. All 12 extant rare and threatened species appear to be afflicted by one or more threatening processes, with only seven of these having ranges that coincide with reserved land. Although native rodents have fared better in Queensland than in other, principally southern States, their status leaves no room for complacency for future management. We propose several measures for survey, research, management and education to assist progress toward conservation goals.