Factors influencing the distribution of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals in southeastern mainland Australia

The forage diggings of medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals (bandicoots and potoroos) were recorded over two seasons across 136 forested study sites, representing a stratified sample of the climatic, geological and topographi c features of far south-eastern mainland Australia. Diggings, presumably le ft by bandicoots, were recorded at a total of 42 sites, and those of potoro os at 27 sites. Statistical models were developed for the occurrence of the se diggings, based on environmental attributes measured for each site. At a landscape scale, mean minimum temperature of the coldest month was an impo rtant explanatory variable for both groups of animals, with likelihood of t heir occurrence increasing with increasing temperature during that period. More locally, soil fertility and time since last fire also influenced the o ccurrence of bandicoot and potoroo diggings, while density of ground cover was additionally important in explaining the occurrence of bandicoot diggin gs. Bandicoot and potoroo diggings were more likely to occur with decreasin g soil fertility and increasing time since fire, while occurrence of bandic oot diggings also increased with increasing density of ground cover. The po ssible management implications of our findings for conservation of medium-s ized ground-dwelling mammals in multiple-use forests are discussed.