Survival and recolonisation following wildfire at Moyston West, Western Victoria. 1. Mammals

2012·3.3 MB·English

by  Peter Homan

Research Reports
Survival and recolonisation followingwildfire at
Moyston West, Western Victoria. 1. Mammals
Peter Homan
SchoolofLifeandPhysicalSciences,RMITUniversity
GPOBox2476V,Melbourne,Victoria3001.Email:[email protected]
Abstract
Wildfireisacommonoccurrenceinsouth-easternAustraliaaffectingfaunapopulationsinvariousways.Data
werecollected ata site nearMoystonin westernVictoriaon threeoccasions before and five occasions after
wildfire.Seventeenmammalspecieswererecordedpre-wildfirewhilst23specieswererecordedpost-wildfire.
Thediversityofinsectivorousbatswasnotaffectedbythewildfire,maybebecauseanumberofmatureRiver
Red Gums Eucalyptus camaldulensiswith numerous suitable roosting hollows survived the wildfire. Popu-
lations ofSugarGliderPetaurus breviceps. Common Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula and Common
RingtailPossumPseudocheirusperegrinusalsosurvivedthefireinanareaofmatureRiverRedGums.Asmall
population ofSwamp RatRattuslutreolussurvivedthefireandsuccessfullyrecolonised regeneratinghabitat.
Yellow-footedAntechinusAntechinusflavipesandEasternPygmyPossumCercartetusnanuswererecordedin
regenerating HeathyWoodlandafterwildfireseverelyburntthisvegetation.Thepopulation ofBlackWallaby
Wallabiabicolorincreasedthreeyearsafterwildfireasregeneratingvegetationproduceddensecover.Fewstud-
iesprovidepre-wildfireandpost-wildfiredata,especiallyonmammalsatinlandwoodlandsites.(TheVictorian
Naturalist129(6)2012,192-202).
Keywords:Wildfire, inlandwoodlands, insectivorousbats, marsupials, rodents
Introduction
Numerous wildfires have burnt large parts of indigenous plants for revegetation projects in
south-eastern Australia since European settle- surrounding districts. Small scale sheep graz-
ment 200 years ago. The intensity of fire and ing is also conducted at the property. Wuurak
condition of local environments produces a islocated on theplains eastofMtWilliam, the
range of effects on landscapes and mammal highest point in the neighbouring Grampians
populations (Wilsonand Friend 1999). Several National Park (Fig. 1). The terrain is mostly
studies have been conducted into recolonisa- flat grazing country; however, an ancient
tion by mammals following wildfire in south- sand-dune system covers alarge proportion of
eastern Australia, especially in coastal heath- the western and central parts ofthe property.
land (Newsome et al. 1975; Fox et al 1985; Reservoir Creek, an ephemeral tributaryofMt
Wilson and Moloney 1985; Catling 1986; Lun- William Creek, flows in a northerly direction
ney et al. 1987; Lunney and O’Connell 1988; alongtheeasternboundary.
Catling et al. 2001; Recher et al. 2009). There Four Ecological Vegetation Classes (EVCs)
are,however,fewstudiesthatprovidebothpre- arerepresented (DSE2004).HeathyWoodland
fire and post-fire data, especially on the effects and Sand Forest (partlydegraded) exist on the
ofwildfire on populations ofmammals at in- ancient sand-dune system; Damp Sands Herb-
land woodland sites (Friend 1993; Sutherland rich Woodland exists along Reservoir Creek;
andDickman 1999). and Plains Grassy Woodland is present across
In December2005 andJanuary2006 asevere the northern section ofthe property. Grazing
wildfire burnt 46% ofthe Grampians National wasconductedalongReservoirCreekbyprevi-
Park and adjoining areas in western Victoria, ous owners and some introducedweedspecies
especially around the Moyston district. Wu- exist in this part ofthe property. The current
urak is a 150 ha property situated seven km ownersjoinedtheVictorianGovernmentsLand
west ofMoyston in western Victoria (Lat 37° for Wildlife voluntary conservation scheme in
18'S, Long 142° 4TE) approximately 210 km 2002 and have since carried out several con-
westofthe MelbourneCBD. Theownersoper- servation initiatives including fencing offlarge
ate anativeplantnurseryon-site that provides areas along Reservoir Creek and revegetation
192 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
Fig1.WuurakLandforWildlifeproperty,withMtWilliaminbackground. PhotobyPeterHoman.
ofdegraded areas. The Heathy Woodland sec- a 30 cm high aluminium flywire drift fence
tionofWuurakadjoinstheeasternextremityof stretched for60m. Cageand Elliott traps were
the Grampians National Park and, apart from setinlinesof10with20mbetweentraps.Cage
thisareaofcrownland,muchoftheindigenous trapping was conducted pre-wildfire only; re-
vegetation in other neighbouring properties mote surveillance cameras were introduced as
is degraded or fragmented to some extent. A a replacement forcage traps post-wildfire. The
study ofthe presence and relative abundance number of cameras varied between four and
ofvertebrate fauna commenced at Wuurak in six and were set approximately 25 m apart in
October2004andthepropertywasseverelyaf- small natural clearings where minimal distur-
fectedbywildfire inJanuary2006. bance to vegetation was necessary. Cameras
weresetfacinginasoutherlydirectiontoavoid
Methods
sun-glare. Harptrappingwas restricted mainly
pSoesvte-rwailldmfeirtehotdosdewteercet tuhseedprpersee-nwcieldofifremaamn-d toDampSandsHerb-richWoodlandandSand
Forestdue toalackofsuitabletrappingsitesin
mals. These were cage trapping (Wiretainers
theotherEVCs. Baits fortrapsandcamerasta-
PtyLtd,PrestonVictoria),Elliotttrapping,type
A (Elliott Scientific Equipment, Upwey, Vic- btuitotnesr,coqnusiicskteodatosf,agmoilxdteunresyorufps,msoaortdhinpeseaannudt
toria), harp trapping (Faunatech, Bairnsdale vanilla essence. Common and scientific names
Victoria and Ecological Consulting Services,
andtaxonomyfollowMenkhorst(1995),except
Newport, Victoria), pitfall trapping, remote for House Cat Felis catus and European Hare
surveillance cameras (Scoutguard, Models:
Lepus europeaus which follow Menkhorst and
SG550V and KG680V, China), spotlighting ,
on foot and general observation. One pit- Knight (2011).
Thestudysiteswerevisitedonthreeoccasions
fall line consisting often 20 L plastic buckets beforewildfire (October2004, November2004
was established on a sand-dune in the area of
m and March 2005) and on five occasions after
HeathyWoodland. Bucketswere5 apartand
wildfire (December 2008, April 2010, Decem-
Vol 129 (6) 2012 193
Research Reports
pToasbtl-ewi1l.dfSiurrevefyormeeatchhoEdcsolaongdiceaflfoVretg(ettraatpi-onnigChltsa,ssca(mEeVrCa)-.niDghStHs,RsWpo=tliDgahtmhpouSrasn)dscoHmeprlbe-treidchprWeo-owidlldafnirde;aPnGd
Woodland=PlainsGrassyWoodland;RSC=remotesurveillancecamera;S/H=spotlighthours.
SurveyMethod
EVC Elliott Cage Pitfall Harp RSC S/H
HeathyWoodland Pre-fire 300 60 2
Post-fire 340 80 10 2
DSHRW
Pre-fire 60 156 10 8
Post-fire 150 15 22 14
PGWoodland Pre-fire 2
Post-fire
SandForest Pre-fire 2
Post-fire 8 1
ber 2010, March 2011 and April 2012). Over- striped Freetail Bat Tadarida australis was
all, 1213 trap-nights were completed; 588 pre- heard in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland.
wildfireand625post-wildfire(Table 1). Little Forest Bat Vespadelus vulturnus, South-
ern ForestBat Vespadelus regulus, Large Forest
Results
Bat Vespadelus darlingtoni and Lesser Long-
Pre-wildfire
eared Bat Nyctophilus geoffroyi were recorded
Seventeen species were recorded before wild- in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland. Swamp
fire: one monotreme, seven marsupial and
RatRattus lutreolus (front cover) was captured
wnienree neauttihveeriaannd(tTharbeleew2e)r.eFionutrrtoedeunceds.peOcinees in Elliottand cage traps in Damp Sands Herb-
rich Woodland. Burrows and runways ofthis
Short-beaked Echidna Tachyglossus aculeatus
wasseenin DampSandsHerb-richWoodland. species were found throughout this EVC. Two
wDeigrgeianlgssoftyopuincdalinofthtihsoEseVCmaadnedHbyeatthhisysWpoeocide-s lHioguhstiengCaintsDaFemlips cSaatnudsswHeerreb-sreiecnhdWuoroidnlgasnpdo.t-
land. Yellow-footedAntechinusAntechinusfla- Post-wildfire
vipes was captured in Elliott traps overnight Twenty-three species were recorded post-
and during the day in Heathy Woodland and wildfire: one monotreme, eight marsupial and
Damp SandsHerb-richWoodland(Fig.2).The 14 eutherian (Table 2). Eighteen species were
species was also seen on two occasions during native and five were introduced. One Short-
thedayfeedinghighinthecanopyofflowering beaked Echidna was seen in Damp Sands
Shining Peppermint Eucalyptus willisii in the Herb-rich Woodland during the first visit to
HeathyWoodlandarea. the property post-wildfire in December 2008.
SugarGliderPetaurusbrevicepswasseendur- Yellow-footed Antechinus was recorded in the
ing spotlighting in Heathy Woodland and in HeathyWoodland area fiveyears afterwildfire
Sand Forest. Common Brushtail Possum Tri- and in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland and
chosurus vulpecula andCommon Ringtail Pos- in Sand Forest six and a halfyears after wild-
sumPseudocheirusperegrinuswereseenduring fire. Common Brushtail Possum was recorded
spotlighting in Damp Sands Herb-rich Wood- in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland three
land. Common Brushtail Possum was also re- years after fire and in Heathy Woodland six
cordedinSandForest. Smallnumbers ofBlack and a halfyears after fire. Eastern Pygmy Pos-
Wallaby Wallabia bicolor were recorded in sum Cercartetus nanuswascapturedinapitfall
Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodlandand Heathy trap fourandahalfyearsafter wildfire (Fig. 3)
Woodland. Significant numbersofRed-necked and in an Elliott trap six and a halfyears after
Wallaby Macropus rufogriseus were recorded wildfireinHeathyWoodland.SugarGliderwas
in HeathyWoodland, Plains GrassyWoodland recorded in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland
and Sand Forest. Large numbers of Eastern five years after wildfire and in Heathy Wood-
GreyKangaroosMacropusgiganteuswere seen land and Sand Forestsixand ahalfyears post-
in open grassy areas of the property. White- wildfire. Common Ringtail Possum was seen
194 TheVictorianNaturalist
<
Research Reports
U’c
>
iS y
'OJ'TO3 (fN IT) (N •—<fN»
U >-
<ltj rorOi-irovo(N '
50
<33O
wO-S
<D TO
53
oo
oyj>cu
£^
cc
CXtJ -dT3 o
d
©
©
£
2-d odb
- to’5b
'>4h-.t-SjP
U
II
3
>
t3-S
o
p—II
£ w
^
-d (U 3
K 2-3 2
-^s<O3;u §Ov3/>o)^P2p Oo3 230?3 Oo 0<3
£ si 0^3
Tdt3o Cii C(<&/JU5<toT,Wcdu/uOd33d,d ’<dO COsdQ OaOWidsS0dca;h/i.//3Dm;OC5S3(50/3q»u/DD D_^d.(UiOd§cd55O,3VSX1DOmiuOct^«c-cC^Tio,o/3JD^-""^o-gin§<dCdOdi9uD, s ^t<'^S4™<<<<D-d£0uuf*hSS-C^.O<jioc=CT0o_|O/d.O3,3d_IJ_5C*>Oa_r««aT-QSd..sjO O<0hd/D !cL^trdoL*•s§</Ctl/-D-3\ £ 2U„-—^£OgC5<tsgodo/uJ3pj^X^CS&3do<Cdo/J03 ^C-^io3D£^£Ob-OMJ*Cg3f3Sc2hSQlo-"^PSaHo3^£dd-.UD.*ro3UT«c©jC3C3/OO5-^o^H3cT0Oi8TdgjOO/-r •-5
Vol 129 (6) 2012 195
Research Reports
during spotlighting in Damp Sands Herb-rich halfyears post-wildfire and in Heathy Wood-
Woodlandsixandahalfyearspost-wildfire. landfiveandahalfyearspost-wildfire. RedFox
Eastern Grey Kangaroo and Black Wallaby Vulpesvulpeswasseen in Plains GrassyWood-
wererecordedinincreasednumberspost-wild- land threeyearsafterfire.NumerousEuropean
fire, whilst Red-necked Wallaby was recorded Rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus and smaller
in reduced numbers post-wildfire. White- numbers of European Hares Lepus europeaus
striped Freetail Bat and Lesser Long-eared wereseen in Plains GrassyWoodlandsixanda
Bat were recorded three years post-wildfire in halfyearspost-wildfire.
DampSandsHerb-richWoodland.LittleForest
Discussion
Bat, Large Forest Bat and Goulds Long-eared
Insectivorous bats make up a significant pro-
DBaatmNpyctSoapnhdisluHsegrobu-lrdiic(hFiWg.oo4)dlwaernedrfeocuorrdaenddina portionofnativemammalpopulationsinmany
parts of south-eastern Australia, especially in
halfyears post-wildfire. Chocolate Wattled Bat
Chalinolobus morio was recorded in Sand For- fragmented landscapes in agricultural districts
estfiveyearspost-wildfire.SouthernForestBat (Lumsden and Bennett 2000). Lumsden et al.
and Goulds Wattled Bat Chalinolobus gouldii (1995) suggested thatbats are more tolerantof
habitat fragmentation than other vertebrates
wererecordedfiveandahalfyearspost-wildfire
in Damp Sands Herb-richWoodland. Burrows and that several factors, including the ability
and runways typical ofthose made by Swamp to fly, colonial roosting habits and overlapping
Rat were found three years post-wildfire in a foragingareas, enableinsectivorousbats tolive
small unburnt area ofDamp Sands Herb-rich successfullyinfarmlandenvironments.
Woodland. Swamp Rat and Black Rat Rattus All insectivorous bats recorded in the Gram-
lraatntcuescwaemreerapihnotDoagmrpapShaenddsbyHerrebm-ortiechsWurovoeidl-- peixacnespt aCnodmmsournroBuenndti-nwginaggrBiacutltMuirnailopatreerauss,
landfourandahalfyears afterwildfire. Signifi- schreibersii, use tree hollows as roosting sites
cant numbers ofHouse Mice were captured in (Menkhorst 1995; Churchill 2008). Studies in
Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland four and a Tasmania and south-east New South Wales
196 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
Fig3.EasternPygmyPossumCercartetusnanus. PhotobyAdamMerrick.
found that several species offorestbats favour teenindividualbatsfromfourspecieswerecap-
roostsitesinlarge,oldtreeswithadiameter-at- turedpre-wildfire (12 harp trap-nights), whilst
breast-heightofover80cm(Lunneyetal 1988; 63batsfromseven specieswerecaptured post-
Taylor and Savva 1988). Lumsden etal (2002) wildfire (23 harp trap-nights). The increase in
foundthatpreferredroostsitesforGould’sWat- species and numbers may be due to a number
tledBatwereindeadspoutsofliving,large,old offactors. More surveys were conducted post-
River Red Gums Eucalyptus camaldulensis. At wildfireandhencetherewasanincreaseinsur-
Wuurak and on surrounding properties these vey effort. Five years after wildfire at Wuurak,
kindsofhollowswerepresentinlargeRiverRed dense regrowth along the edges ofpreviously
Gumsthatsurvivedthewildfire.Lumsdenetal. widetracksinSandForestformednewandim-
(2002) radio-tracked Gould’s Wattled Bats and proved sites for harp trapping. A newtrap-site
Lesser Long-eared Bats in northern Victoria nearReservoirCreekinDampSandsHerb-rich
andfoundthatindividualbatsforagedinfarm- Woodland,usedpost-fireonly,wasparticularly
landupto 12kmfromroostingsitesinforested successful. The significant increase in vegeta-
areas. Lunneyetal. (1985) recorded Chocolate tion post-wildfire especially along Reservoir
Wattled Batsforaging 5 km from roosting sites Creek may havecaused agreater abundanceof
located in exceptionally large trees. Taylor and insects,makingthesitemoreattractiveasafor-
Savva (1988) recorded a female Lesser Long- aginglocation forbatsroostingthroughoutthe
eared Bat travelling 4.8 km from roost site to localdistrict.
foragingarea. The Yellow-footed Antechinus has a wide
Several variables influence data obtained distributionacrosscentralVictoriawhereitoc-
by bat trapping, especially in open woodland cupies mostly heathy woodland and dry scle-
habitats,whereahighnumberofpossibleflight rophyll forest on the inland side ofthe Great
pathsmayexist. Itisthereforenotunusualfora Dividing Range (Kelly2006; Menkhorst 1995).
chosen trap siteto fail to capture anybats, and Thespeciescanbelocallycommonatsiteswith
hence traps may be moved to new locations large areas ofhigh quality habitat (Menkhorst
that are considered possible capture sites. Six- 1995; Myersand Dashper 1999; Homan 2005).
Vol 129 (6) 2012 197
Research Reports
Fig4.GouldsLong-earedBatNyctophilusgouldi.PhotobyMaryroseMorgan.
The Yellow-footed Antechinus has also been wildfire. In particular, large numbers of old-
recorded in degraded and fragmented areas growth eucalyptswithmanyhollowsandfallen
andinremnant,linearhabitatsalongroadsides logs with hollows were destroyed by the fire.
(Loynetal 2002;vanderRee2003;Marchesan Yellow-footed Antechinus (one juvenile male)
andCarthew2004; Carthew etal. 2009; NMIT was recorded at Wuurak in HeathyWoodland
unpubl.data).Studiesinfragmentedlandscapes in December 2010, five years after wildfire.
near Euroa, Victoria and near Penola, South This individual most likely entered the prop-
Australia showed that the species was able to erty from areas ofnearbyhabitat that escaped
move long distances through suitable habitat, thefire orthatwere onlylightlyburnt. Yellow-
but also across open, cleared farmland (van footed Antechinus was subsequently recorded
derRee2003;Carthewetal 2009).TheYellow- inDamp SandsHerb-richWoodlandandSand
footedAntechinus usuallynests intreehollows Forest six and a halfyears post-fire. The spe-
or hollow, fallen logs (Menkhorst 1995; Kelly cies could recolonise Wuurak onlyby moving
2006); however, the species will use other nest through adjacent regenerating vegetation or
sites when these are not available (Menkhorst across adjacent fragmented habitats and open
andKnight2011). grazingland.
Large scale wildfires often leave some areas The Eastern Pygmy Possum inhabits a wide
only lightly burnt or completely unburnt. The range ofvegetation communities within Vic-
wildfire at Wuurak severely burnt the Heathy toria including Heathy Woodland (Menkhorst
Woodland area and surrounding areas, espe- 1995). Thespeciesisageneralistomnivore,but
ciallysimilarhabitatintheadjacentGrampians feedsextensivelyonnectarandpollenespecial-
National Park. The area ofDamp Sands Herb- lyfrom the inflorescences ofseveral species of
rich Woodland where Yellow-footed Antechi- Banksiaspp. (Turner 1984;Ward 1990). Huang
nus was recorded pre-wildfire and all of the etal.(1987)analysedthefaecesofEasternPyg-
Sand Forestwerealsoseverelyimpactedbythe my Possums atasite nearNarNarGoon, Vic-
198 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
toria,andfoundthatpollenwasapredominant the species was recorded 2 to 3 months after a
itemduringthefloweringofBanksiaspinulosa. major wildfire, but was not recorded from this
At Wuurak the species was not recorded pre- siteduringthreeyearsofsurveyeffortimmedi-
wildfire, but was recorded on two occasions ately prior to the fire (Sutherland et al. 2004).
post-wildfire in HeathyWoodland. Priortothe Sutherlandetal (2004)suggestedthattheEast-
wildfire only a small number ofmature speci- ernPygmyPossum isamid-storeyspeciesand,
mensofSilverBanksiaBanksiamarginatawere withthelossofthispartofthehabitatafterfire,
present;however,followingwildfirelargenum- thespeciesisforcedtomoveacrosstheground.
bers ofthis plant germinated. The first record Thestudies inthesetworeservesdemonstrated
of Eastern Pygmy Possum, a juvenile female, that the failure to trap Eastern Pygmy Possum
occurred in April 2010, four and a halfyears on the ground in unburnt forest does notnec-
post-wildfire, which coincided with a major essarily indicate its absence (Sutherland et al
floweringeventforSilverBanksia. Asecondin- 2004).
dividual,anadultfemale,wascapturedinApril Three arboreal marsupials, Common Brush-
2012, which also coincidedwith prolific Bank- tail Possum, Common Ringtail Possum and
siaflowering. Sugar Glider, were recorded pre-wildfire and
TherecordingofEasternPygmyPossumpost- post-wildfire. All three species are nocturnal
wildfire at Wuurak was unexpected, especially and use hollows in trees for shelter during the
considering the severe impact by wildfire on day(Menkhorst 1995).Studiesatseveralinland
the Heathy Woodland and surrounding areas. sites have demonstrated that these species are
Itisunclearwhetherthespecieswaspresentbe- abletosurviveinsmallpatchesandfragmented
forefire, andwassimplynotdetected despitea landscapes(Lunt 1988; Downesetal 1997;van
significantamountofsurveyeffort,orwhether der Ree et al 2003; Homan 2009). The severe
it recolonised from the neighbouring section wildfire at Wuurak destroyed virtually all old-
of the Grampians National Park. The species growtheucalyptsintheHeathyWoodland,Sand
usuallynestsinhollows,whichweremostlyde- Forest and Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland.
stroyed by the wildfire; however, Ward (1990) Despite the severe impact ofthe fire an area of
noted that the Eastern Pygmy Possum is very old-growthRiverRedGumswithmanyhollows
mobile and is able to use a wide range ofnest survived the fire with their canopy intact in a
sites. section of Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland
Studies at other sites have recorded Eastern and adjacent Plains Grassy Woodland, along
PygmyPossumfollowingwildfire.Intheneigh- the northern section ofReservoir Creek. With
bouring Grampians National Park, Stevens surrounding areas severely impacted by wild-
(2008) conducted an extensive post-fire mam- fire, this section of River Red Gums became
mal trapping survey two and a halfyears after an isolated patch. All three arboreal marsupial
wildfire. EasternPygmyPossum (oneindividu- species were recorded for the first time post-
al only) was recorded from an isolatedsitethat wildfireinthispatch.IntheGrampiansNation-
wasseverelyimpactedbywildfire.This sitewas al Park, Stevens (2008) alsorecordedCommon
3 km from thenearest area ofunburnt vegeta- Brushtail Possum fromsmall andlargeisolated
tion. In the eastern Otway Ranges in Victoria, patches that survived wildfire. Newsome et
one Eastern Pygmy Possum was recorded one al (1975) found that Common Brushtail Pos-
yearafteraseverewildfire(WilsonandMoloney sum and Common Ringtail Possum survived
1985). Wilson and Moloney (1985) concluded wildfire in NadgeeNature Reserve inwet areas
that animals can survive wildfire if sufficient where thetreecanopyhadnotbeen destroyed.
refuges,such as unburnt pockets ofvegetation, The Swamp Rat is found over a wide area
are available. At Ku-ring-gai Chase National of southern Victoria, where it inhabits dense
Parkin NewSouth Wales, Eastern Pygmy Pos- vegetation in wet heath, damp woodland and
sum wasrecorded 13 monthsafterwildfire,but sedgefields(Menkhorst 1995). Thespeciescon-
nospecimenswerecaptured in nearbyunburnt structs extensive runways and burrow systems
vegetation (Sutherland et al. 2004). At Nadgee especially through areas of sedges and damp
Nature Reservein south-east NewSouthWales grasses (Menkhorst 1995). At Wuurak, Swamp
Vol 129 (6) 2012 199
Research Reports
Ratswere found before wildfire in dense sedge burnt. In the Grampians, Stevens (2008) re-
vegetation in Damp Sands Herb-rich Wood- cordedarapidresurgenceofHouseMousetwo
land along Reservoir Creek. As this vegetation years after wildfire, especially at isolated sites
regeneratedatWuurak, Swamp Ratsuccessful- many kilometres from unburnt vegetation. At
ly recolonised, within five and a halfyears, all Wuurak House Mouse was recorded in low
areaswherethespecieshadbeen recordedpre- numbers pre-wildfire, but numbers increased
wildfire. When the property was visited three dramaticallypost-wildfire. In an area ofDamp
yearsafterwildfiretheonlyevidenceofSwamp SandsHerb-richWoodlandthecaptureratefor
Rat was found in a small section of Damp House Mouse was 33.3% four and a halfyears
Sands Herb-rich Woodland covering approxi- after wildfire severely impacted this site. Two
mately0.5hathathadsurvivedthefire. Despite years later the capture rate at this location had
considerable searching at this time no other dropped to 1%. In Heathy Woodland House
evidence ofthe species could be found along Mouse capture rate was 11% five and a half
other sections of Reservoir Creek. One and yearspost-fire,butdecreasedto0.8% sixand a
a halfyears later, runways and burrows were halfyearspost-fire.LowcaptureratesforHouse
foundalonganothersectionofReservoirCreek MouseinApril2012,correspondedtorecoloni-
m
approximately200 furtherdownstream, and sation byYellow-footed Antechinusofallparts
one Swamp Rat was photographed by remote of Wuurak. Menkhorst (1995) suggested that
surveillancecameraatthislocation. Fiveanda in the presence of Yellow-footed Antechinus,
halfyearsafterwildfire,freshburrowsandrun- HouseMousemaybelargelyrestrictedtoareas
wayswerefoundalongallsectionsofReservoir lessfavourabletoAntechinus.
Creek. TheBlackRatisfoundinmanypartsofwest-
Otherstudies have recorded Swamp Ratsuc- ern Victoria, especially near human habitation
cessfully recolonising regenerating vegetation and around farm buildings (Menkhorst 1995).
following wildfire. At Nadgee Nature Reserve, Thespeciesbecomesestablishedinareaswhere
SwampRatwasthefirstnativemammalspecies disturbance such as fire has displaced native
to recolonise regenerating heathland six years rats (Menkhorst 1995).The Black Rat was not
after wildfire (Catling 1986). During another recorded from indigenous vegetation at Wu-
studyatthis location Swamp Ratwas recorded urak pre-wildfire; however, the owners ofthe
twoyearsafterintensewildfireasgrassyground property reported encountering the species
vegetationdeveloped andoneyearafteranoth- occasionally around sheds and other human-
er wildfire partially burnt the study site (Re- made structures. The species was detected by
cher et al. 2009). Flowever, Stevens (2008) did remote surveillance camera on two occasions
notrecordSwamp Ratfrom anysurveysitesin in Damp Sands Herb-rich Woodland along
the Grampians that were impacted severely or Reservoir Creek four and a halfyears and six
mildlybywildfire. andahalfyearspost-wildfire.
Two introduced rodents, House Mouse and In recent years remote surveillance cameras
Black Rat, colonised parts ofWuurak follow- have become a common survey method to
ing wildfire, especially areas of Damp Sands determine the presence of terrestrial mam-
Herb-rich Woodland along Reservoir Creek. mals (Nelson etal. 2009; De Bondi etal. 2010;
The House Mouse is seen as an early coloniser Johnstonetal. 2012). Inmanyinstances,where
ofdisturbed sites (Menkhorst 1995). The spe- there is no need to handle animals, cameras
cieshasbeen recordedinlargenumbersatnu- havereplacedcagetraps.Settinglargenumbers
merouslocationsfollowingwildfire (Newsome ofcage traps, especially in thick vegetation, is
etal. 1975; Wilson and Moloney 1985; Catling very labour-intensive. Prior to wildfire at Wu-
1986). Recher et al. (2009) found that House urak the vegetation in Damp Sands Herb-rich
Mouse colonised burnt areas within two years Woodland was quite open, providing fairly
ofwildfireandpersisted forthree to fouryears easy access. Following wildfire, however, pro-
beforedisappearing.Lunneyetal.(1987)found lificregrowthofSwamp GumEucalyptusovata
that the species reached plague proportions combinedwithnumerousfallentreesproduced
twoyearsafterfireinanareathatwasintensely almostimpenetrablethicketsovermuchofthis
200 TheVictorianNaturalist
Research Reports
EVC.Thischangeinconditions madeitalmost necked Wallaby population had not returned
impossible to replicate survey methods used to pre-wildfire levels. This may be due in part
and effort completed pre-wildfire. Due to the tocompetitionwithEasternGreyKangaroosor
changeinhabitatstructure,andwiththeability to predation on juvenile wallabies by the Red
ofcameras to detect the presence ofall terres- Fox. Juvenile Red-necked Wallabies that have
trial mammals recorded pre-wildfire and any recently vacated the pouch are left in dense
possibleadditionalspecies,remotesurveillance vegetation whilst adults graze in nearby areas
cameras were chosen as an efficient and less (Johnson 1987). Menkhorst (1995) stated that
labour-intensive alternative to cage trapping predation by Red Foxes at this stage may be
post-wildfire. high. The Red Fox was common at Wuurak
The three large macropod species recorded post-wildfire and predation by this species on
pre-wildfirewereall recorded threeyears post- juvenile wallabies may have adversely affected
wildfire and during subsequent visits to the recolonisationbytheRed-neckedWallaby.
property. The Black Wallaby (also known as Acknowledgements
Swamp Wallaby) is widely distributed across Thestudywasconductedunderthetermsofresearch
much ofVictoria (Menkhorst 1995). In recent permitnos. 10002377, 10004149and10005276issued
decades the range ofthe species has expanded bytheDepartmentofSustainabilityandEnvironment
into many parts of western Victoria where aSmnadllapIpnrsotviatlutnioonss0A2n0i7maanldE2t5h0ic9soCfotmhmeiWtitldeleifoefatnhde
it was previously unknown (Bird 1992). The Department ofPrimary Industry. Maryrose Morgan
Black Wallaby is a generalist browser and is ofCarlton and Adam Merrick ofWuurak provided
often most numerous in dense understorey, field assistance. Many thanks to the Merrick family
especially in riparian vegetation (Menkhorst ftohreirthweonindveirtfatuilonprtoopecrotny.duTctwoveartneobnraytmeoussurvreeyfesreoens
1995). AtWuurak, densevegetation developed improvedtheoriginalmanuscript.
following wildfire in Damp Sands Herb-rich
Woodland along Reservoir Creek. When this References
BirdPR(1992)ExpansionoftheRangeoftheBlackWallaby
thahbeitpaotpuwlaastiovinsiotfedBltahcrkeeWayelalrasbypowsat-swinlodtfiicree-, CairntWheeswteSrMn,ViHcotrorniear.TBheanVdictJoornieasnNKatMurWali(s2t010099),D89o-9u1t.il-
ablyhigherthan pre-wildfire. Numerous Black iWtiyldcloirfreiRdeosresarafcfhec3t6,mo48v8e-m4e9n5t.sofsmall terrestrial fauna?
Wallabies were seen and fresh scats typical of Catling PC(1986) Rattuslutreolus.ColonizerofHeathland
those produced by the species were common. afterFireintheabsenceofPseudomysspecies?Australian
InMumbullaState ForestinNewSouthWales, CatWlilidnlgifPeCR,esCeoaorpcsh1N3C, 1a2n7d-1B3u9r.tRJ(2001)Thedistribution
Lunney and O’Connell (1988) found that the and abundance ofground-dwellingmammals in relation
to time since wildfire andvegetation structure in south-
population of Black Wallaby increased within easternAustralia.WildlifeResearch28,555-564.
two years ofwildfire as shrub cover increased. ChurchillS(2008)AustralianBats.2edn.(AllenandUnwin:
Other studies in revegetation sites and planta- DeCrBoownsdiNeNs,t)WhiteJG, StevensM andCooke R (2010) A
tions showed high usageby Black Wallabies of comparisonoftheeffectivenessofcameratrappingandlive
dense vegetation aged from two to four years trappingforsampling terrestrial small-mammal commu-
nities. WildlifeResearch37,456-465.
(Floyd 1980; HillandPhinn 1993). DownesSJ,HandasydeKAandElgarMA(1997)TheUseof
The Red-necked Wallaby and Eastern Grey CorridoorsbyMammalsinFragmentedAustralianEuca-
Kangaroo are both grazers (Menkhorst 1995). DSlEypt(2Fo0r0e4s)tsE.VCoCnsBeernvcathimoanrkBisol-ogGyre1a1,te7r18G-r7a2m6p.iansbiore-
Both species rest during the dayamongst veg- gion. (Department of Sustainability and Environment:
etationinwoodlandsandforestsandemergeat FlMoeydlboRuBrn(e1)980) Density of Wallabia bicolor (Desmarest)
dusk or after dark to graze on adjacent grass- (Marsupialia: Macropodidae) in Eucalypt Plantations of
lands (Hill 1981; Johnson 1987). Several years FoDxifBfJe,rQeuntinAngesR.DAuasntdraBlrieaynteWinlbdalcihfeGRJes(e1a9r8c5h)7A,3c3o3m-p3a3r7i.son
post-wildfiresignificantrainfalloccurredinthe ofsmall-mammal succession followingfirein shrublands
Moyston district producing prolific growth of ofAustralia,CaliforniaandSouthAfrica.Proceedingsofthe
EcologicalSocietyofAustralia14,179-197.
grasses and ideal grazing conditions for large FriendGR(1993)Impactoffireonsmallvertebratesinmal-
macropods. Six and a halfyears post-wildfire lee woodlands and heathlands in temperate Australia: a
the population ofEastern Grey Kangaroo had HilrlevGiJewE.(B1io9l8o1g)icAalSCtoundsyerovfatHiaobint6a5t,P9r9e-f1er1e4n.cesin theGrey
increased significantly and was noticeably Kangaroo.Australian WildlifeResearch8,245-254.
higher than pre-wildfire. However, the Red- HillGJEandPhinnSR(1993)RevegetatedSandMiningAr-
Vol 129 (6) 2012 201