BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 364          Total No. of Sites: 0
Survey/Project Name: Lake St Clair CP Swamp Antechinus population monitoring
Abstract: The swamp antechinus is a small marsupial, which on mainland Australia only occurs in small fragmented populations around the SE coast in low lying thickly vegetated swampy areas. Past and present human impacts on this type of habitat are causing grave concerns for the future of the species in SA and it is questionable whether the reserve system in this state adequately conserves areas of potential habitat for the swamp antechinus. The present lack of understanding of the exact habitat requirements of the swamp antechinus in SA is the driving force behind this study. The project is aiming to discover and describe the exact habitat requirements of the swamp antechinus in the western limits of its range, (just south of Robe in SA). The focal point of this study is a recently discovered (1997) population on privately owned land on the NE corner of Lake St. Clair. The hope is that this population can be located again through capturing live individuals and the core habitat requirements of the species documented. This information can then be used across the SE to gain a better understanding of what is required for conservation of the species in this state, including adequate protection within the reserve system. The project was conducted between 2000-2005.
 
Start Date: 01/04/2000      End Date: 01/04/2005
Survey Type: Fauna only
   
Study Area Description: *** No study area description recorded
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: Coastal strip (~10km wide) from Robe to South End, including NE corner of Lake St. Clair (south of Robe), Little Dip C.P. and Canunda C.R. A brief summary of my 2000 results from this research to date from the site at Lake St. Clair are as follows: LAST GENERATION - 12 females identified -(9 captured at breeding time carrying young) -(5 captured since independent young have been caught- post breeding) - 4 males identified -(point of male die-off witnessed at late June/early July) PRESENT GENERATION - 10 juveniles captured (7 males, 3 females) Most animals have been recaptured a number of times- allowing for some analysis of animal movement and changes in weight. The data was obtained from trapping done under the "Silky Tea Tree Ecosystem Monitoring" project. Details on the Swamp Antechinus are included in the report resulting from this project (attached to Animal Ethics Approval 3/2001 in Mark Bachmann's file).
Methodology
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation methodology recorded
         Fauna: *** No vertebrate methodology recorded

Data Distribution Rules: Public Dataset
Project Basis: Fauna : Rare and Threatened Species Protection Strategies. - Standard Survey methodology used.
Information Authority: Department for Environment and Heritage (BDBSA:South East) - Mt Gambier Office - Regional Ecologist