Ecology and conservation of the Southern Brown Bandicoot in an urbanising landscape

This paper summarises some preliminary findings on the utilisation of narrow linear strips of habitat by the endangered Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus in the former Koo Wee Rup Swamp region of south-central Victoria. Results from trapping and radio-tracking at six linear sites revealed that bandicoots can occur in relatively high numbers, breed and live as long-term residents in narrow strips of vegetation, even when these occur in close proximity to residential areas. Some individuals also made use of food and nesting resources in the surrounding matrix. This study highlights the adaptability of the Southern Brown Bandicoot and emphasises the value of linear habitats to conserve this species in an otherwise highly modified landscape. It also lends weight to the possibility of using linear strips of habitat to accommodate the species in newly urbanising areas and potentially to maintain connectivity with adjacent sub-populations.