STUDIES OF THE GROUND-DWELLING MAMMALS OF EUCALYPT FORESTS IN SOUTH-EASTERN NEW-SOUTH-WALES - THE SPECIES, THEIR ABUNDANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

We examined the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the major eucalypt communities within 500 000 ha of eucalypt forest in south-eastern New South Wales. Data for 22 species of mammal are p resented from 13 areas comprising 42 eucalypt communities. Two feature s were the abundance and widespread distribution of the introduced red fox and cat, and the absence of small wallabies (potoroo size) and lo w abundance of other medium-sized native mammals such as bandicoots. S ix mammal species occurred in all areas and in most eucalypt communiti es. Although there were differences in the distribution and abundance of species between areas there was no significant difference between a reas in the number of native and introduced species. Some mammal speci es were absent from some eucalypt communities, but no eucalypt communi ty was devoid of ground-dwelling mammals and each had native and intro duced species present. The E. fastigata group had the highest number o f species (14) and one community (E. fastigata-E. cypellocarpa) contai ned the highest number of native (9) and introduced (4) species. The E . maculata group contained the lowest number of native species with ea stern grey kangaroos absent and common wombats present in one communit y only. The results of this study suggest that management options for arboreal mammals may not apply to the ground-dwelling mammals. The gro und-dwelling mammals present today in south-eastern New South Wales ap pear to be remnants of a more diverse fauna left after clearing, fores try activities and predation by introduced species. Some species are i n urgent need of protection and management if they are to persist.