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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 34(4)

Microhabitat use by the brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) and burrowing bettong (B. lesueur) in semiarid New South Wales: implications for reintroduction programs

Theresa A. Pizzuto A , Graeme R. Finlayson A C , Mathew S. Crowther A B and Chris R. Dickman A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Institute of Wildlife Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

B Department of Environment and Climate Change (NSW), PO Box 1967, Hurstville, NSW 2220, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: graeme.finlayson@bio.usyd.edu.au

Wildlife Research 34(4) 271-279 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR06127
Submitted: 3 October 2006  Accepted: 25 May 2007   Published: 28 June 2007

Abstract

Detailed studies of how endangered species use their environments at varied habitat scales are crucial if they are to be conserved and managed effectively. In this study, we used spool-and-line tracking to investigate the microhabitats used by the brush-tailed bettong (Bettongia penicillata) and the burrowing bettong (B. lesueur), two species with geographical ranges that have been dramatically reduced since European settlement in Australia. The study was carried out at Scotia Sanctuary, in semiarid western New South Wales, where both species have been recently reintroduced. The nocturnal movements and foraging of bettongs were associated with sites containing more canopy cover (mean 10–25%) than was available on average (0–10%). Models generated to predict the probability of bettong movements or activity points showed positive correlations with ground vegetation cover and ground vegetation height. Other microhabitat components of varying importance, including sand cover, litter cover, litter depth, crust cover, and distance to shrub/tree, were incorporated into these models. Species comparisons indicated that, although slight differences occurred in the way each species moved through the habitat, both species foraged in areas with similar microhabitat characteristics. While the models should have broad utility for the selection of favourable habitat for future release sites for B. penicillata and B. lesueur, further studies of diet and food availability are recommended to refine them further.


Acknowledgements

This project was completed in accordance with the University of Sydney’s Animal Ethics Code: Project title: ‘Scotia Endangered Mammal Recovery Project’, project approval number L04/12–2004/2/4010. All field work was conducted under scientific permit number S10614, held by Dr David Priddel, Department of Environment and Conservation (NSW). Field equipment and on-site accommodation was generously provided by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, whose threatened species management program, Scotia Sanctuary staff and onsite facilities made this project possible. Funding was provided by an AWC postgraduate award to Graeme Finlayson. We thank Laura Chapman, Henry Cook, Danielle Lister, George Madani, Mark Semeniuk, David Taggart, Sam Taggart, Emerson Vieira, Robert Wheeler and Sarah Wiecek for their assistance in the field, and Chris Jackson for reading drafts of this paper. We also thank two anonymous referees for their helpful and constructive comments, which have substantially improved the manuscript.


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