The Action Plan for Australian Rodents
Environment Australia, April 1995
Recovery Outlines for Rare and Insufficiently Known Australian Rodents
Recovery Outline - False Water-rat
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Xeromys myoides Thomas, 1889
3 English Name False Water-rat
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Insufficiently known.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known: insufficient information to determine status, but occurs in coastal wetland subject to reclamation.
CITES listing I.
6 Former distribution
Coastal northern Australia. The distribution of this species has never been delineated.
7 Current distribution
Coastal northern Australia (see 6 above).
8 Habitat Coastal wetlands.
9 Reason for decline
Not known if this has occurred.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Cooloola National Park (Qld).
11 Other public land on which species occurs
Myora Springs, Stradbroke Island (Qld).
12 Other land on which species occurs
Aboriginal lands on Melville Island, Arnhem Land and Daly River.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Knowledge of current distribution and biology of species inadequate.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine the current patterns of distribution and abundance.
14.2 Determine the species' natural history.
15 Management actions completed or planned
Autecological study under way by S. van Dyck, Queensland Museum.
16 Management actions required Unknown.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory; Qld Department of Environment and Heritage.
18 Other organisation(s), individuals involved
Queensland Museum.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
None.
20 Other land affected by Recovery
Aboriginal land in north-eastern Arnhem Land, Melville Island and Daly River.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. A survey of coastal areas of Queensland and Northern Territory is required ($60 000 for each State)
$120,000
Recovery Outline - Thornton Peak Uromys
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Uromys hadrourus (Winter, 1984)
3 English Name Thornton Peak Uromys, formerly known
as Thornton Peak Melomys
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Rare.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known.
6 Former distribution Known only since 1973.
7 Current distribution
Thornton Peak massif between 550 and 1220m elevation, Mt Carbine Tableland above 900m elevation. Lamins Hill, Atherton Tableland. May occur throughout Atherton Uplands between Kuranda in the north, and Herbert River Gorge in the south, but possibly only in continuous rainforest with high rainfall.
8 Habitat Rainforest.
9 Reason for decline
May have declined on the Atherton Tableland due to clearing and fragmentation of rainforest patches.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Thornton Peak - Cape Tribulation National Park; Daintree National Park; Bellenden Ker - Mt Bartle Frere complex. All are within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area (Qld).
11 Other public land on which species occurs
Daintree Timber Reserve; Mt Lewis State Forest. Both areas are in the Wet Tropics World Heritage area (Qld).
12 Other land on which species occurs None.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Knowledge of current distribution and biology of species inadequate.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Establish species' conservation status.
14.2 Establish factors influencing distribution and abundance.
15 Management actions completed or planned
Some information on distribution, habitat and conservation status as obtained during general faunal surveys. An investigation of the biology of the species in the Mt Bartle Frere area is currently being undertaken by Mr Les Moore.
16 Management actions required
More information is needed on natural history to prepare management strategy.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Qld Department of Environment and Heritage; Wet Tropics Management Authority.
18 Other organisation(s)/ individuals involved
Les Moore, CSIRO, Atherton.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Thornton Peak - Cape Tribulation National Park; Daintree National Park; Bellenden Ker - Mt Bartle Frere complex within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area (Qld).
20 Other land affected by recovery
Daintree Timber Reserve; Mt Lewis State Forest.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. A survey of the distribution and abundance specifically targeting this species is required. $30 000
Remarks This species has been given the status of rare but this may reflect lack of knowledge. The status needs confirmation.
Recovery Outline - Black-footed Tree-rat
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Mesembriomys gouldii (Gray, 1843)
3 English Name Black-footed Tree-rat
4 Intra-specific Taxa
Three subspecies are recognised: Mesembriomys gouldii gouldii from mainland Northern Territory and Kimberley; M. g. melvillensis from Melville Island (NT); M. g. rattoides from Cape York (Qld).
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Regionally Rare: secure in Arnhem Land, on the Cobourg Peninsula and on Melville Island; rare in the Kimberley and on Cape York.
Mace and Lande Secure.
6 Former distribution
Northern coastal regions of Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory, extending as far inland as Daly Waters.
7 Current distribution
Northern coastal areas of Western Australia, Queensland and Northern Territory, including Melville and Bathurst Islands. Range appears to have contracted towards the coast in the Northern Territory, but the reverse may be true in Queensland.
8 Habitat
Eucalypt forest and woodland, favouring areas of tall Eucalyptus miniata/E. tetrodonta open-forest on deep soils supporting a relatively dense understorey of small trees and shrubs (e.g. Gardenia, Terminalia, Petalostigma and Pandanus spp.).
9 Reason for decline
Grazing by introduced ungulates and changes in fire regimes since European settlement may have reduced the abundance of the understorey trees and shrubs which provide food for this species.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Northern Territory
· Kakadu National Park.
· Litchfield National Park.
· Gurig National Park (Cobourg Peninsula).
Queensland and Western Australia: occurrence in conservation reserves uncertain; may occur within the Wet Tropics World Heritage area (Qld).
11 Other public land on which species occurs
Not known.
12 Other land on which species occurs
Western Australia
Mitchell Plateau and Kalumburu Mission.
Northern Territory
Majority of records are from the north and east coasts of Arnhem Land, Melville Island and inland around the Daly River; most of these areas are Aboriginal lands.
Queensland
Most records come from the east coast of Cape York between Townsville and Cooktown and inland to "Black Rock" near The Lynd Junction; there are earlier records from the lower Archer River on the west coast of Cape York.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
Ecological knowledge of the species comes mainly from a single study carried out by CSIRO in Kakadu National Park in the early 1980s. Knowledge of the status and distribution of Queensland and Western Australian populations is inadequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Assess the potential distribution of M. gouldii using the BIOCLIM computer package and available records.
14.2 Use this information to target surveys to assess the status and distribution of the species, concentrating effort in the marginal areas in Queensland and Western Australia.
14.3 Investigate population size, diet and habitat preferences in selected areas of North Queensland (eg. Atherton - Mareeba population) and Western Australia.
14.4 Determine critical factors limiting population growth, especially influences of fire and grazing.
15 Management actions completed or planned
15.1 Studies of reproduction and population ecology completed for a population in Kakadu National Park.
15.2 Limited assessment and radio-telemetric study completed on the Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia.
15.3 All known museum records of the species have been assembled.
15.4 Assessment of potential distribution using the BIOCLIM package is planned.
15.5 No management action has been undertaken or is planned at this stage. However, ongoing eradication of feral buffalo from Kakadu National Park may benefit populations.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Information on this species is not sufficient to determine the need for additional reserves.
16.2 Information acquired from Kakadu National Park suggests some form of habitat management is required to maintain favoured structurally and floristically diverse open-forest.
16.3 Control of cattle and feral buffalo required to achieve aims of habitat management.
16.4 Translocation is not required at this stage.
16.5 A captive breeding program is not needed at this stage.
16.6 Research is needed to establish the role of fire in habitat management, and its effects on populations of M.gouldii.
17 Organisation/s responsible for conservation of species
Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia(Kakadu National Park); Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory; Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage (Qld); Wet Tropics Management Authority; Department of Conservation and Land Management (WA).
18 Other organisation(s)/ individuals involved
CSIRO, Division of Wildlife and Ecology.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Not known at this stage.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Not known at this stage.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required for research.
21.1 Assessment of potential distribution using BIOCLIM: collation of data and computer time $1,000
21.2 Field survey of distribution in Western Australia and Queensland (two staff for one year) $100,000
$101,000
Remarks Mesembriomys gouldii is the largest native rodent in Australia. Little is known of its status, distribution and habitat in Western Australia and Queensland. Evidence that the distribution has contracted towards the coast since European settlement indicates that there is a pressing need for detailed survey of distribution and status, and research to determine appropriate management strategies for conservation of the species.
Recovery Outline - Golden-backed Tree-rat
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Mesembriomys macrurus (Peters, 1876)
3 English Name Golden-backed Tree-rat
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Insufficiently known, possibly Vulnerable: Ne unknown, but habitat facing threats from grazing by cattle and destruction by pigs and fire.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known, possibly Vulnerable: loss of habitat resulting in decline in Ne (unknown); fragmentation of habitat resulting from grazing by cattle and destruction by pigs and fire; >5 subpopulations of unknown size.
6 Former Distribution
The type specimen is from Roebourne (Pilbara coast of WA), and there are single specimens from three localities in the Top End of the Northern Territory. The majority of records of this species are from the north-west Kimberley, but it must have also occurred in the wetter parts of the tropical/arid interzone.
7 Current Distribution
North-western Kimberley where it is known from woodlands over tussock or hummock grasslands on volcanic hill country, lateritic uplands, black soil plains and rugged sandstone country. During the 1987-88 Kimberley rainforest survey it was recorded in seven patches. Also found on Carlia, Margaret, Hidden, Unwins and Wollaston Islands. A survey of 62 rainforest patches and associated ecotones across the geographic spectrum of the Top End Northern Territory by the Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory failed to locate the species (Menkhorst and Woinarski 1992b; Woinarski pers. comm.), but there was one sight record in Kakadu National Park in 1993 (N. Gambold pers. comm.).
8 Habitat
Species-rich ecotones mostly between wet/dry tropical woodland and monsoon forest/vine thickets. Also associated with mangroves.
9 Reason for decline
Destruction of habitat by cattle, pigs and fire.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Prince Regent River Nature Reserve (15°30'S 125°30'E); Kakadu National Park.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
Four uninhabited coastal islands: Carlia Island (14°23'S 126°00'E); Wollaston Island (14°30'S 124°50'E); Unwins Island (15°20'S 124°50'E); "Margaret" Island, Buccaneer Archipelago.
12 Other land on which species occurs
Aboriginal land; pastoral land.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. An ecological study in areas other than Mitchell Plateau will assist.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Prevent further decline of the species in Western Australia.
14.2 Determine distribution and status in the Northern Territory
15 Management actions completed or underway
15.1 Study of reproduction in captivity has been completed.
15.2 Dietary study based on scats from the Mitchell Plateau is under way.
15.3 An ecological study of limited scope has been completed on the Mitchell Plateau.
15.4 Survey of rainforest patches in the north-western Kimberley is planned.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Continued monitoring of rainforest/monsoon forest patches and ecotones.
16.2 Monitoring of populations in reserves.
16.3 Investigation of the impact of fire on the Mitchell Plateau.
16.4 Further definition of habitat.
16.5 Establish captive display/public awareness program at Perth Zoo and Territory Wildlife Park.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
WA Department of Conservation and Land Management; Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
Biodiversity Group, Environment Australia(Kakadu National Park); Aboriginal Land Trusts: Northern Land Council; pastoralists; J.A. Kerle, Biological Consultant, Alice Springs.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Prince Regent River Nature Reserve; Kakadu National Park.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Mitchell Plateau.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to resurvey Mitchell Plateau and Prince Regent River Reserve populations to add to knowledge of ecology, especially the impact of fire (Mitchell Plateau).
$50,000
Recovery Outline - Northern Hopping-mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Notomys aquilo Thomas, 1921
3 English Name Northern Hopping-Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Insufficiently known.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known but possibly secure: insufficient information to ascertain status.
CITES listing I.
6 Former distribution
North-eastern Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt.
7 Current distribution
Uncertain; central and north-eastern Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt. Locally abundant on Cape Arnhem and coastal sites near Gove.
8 Habitat
Sandy areas supporting a wide range of vegetation types, especially coastal heaths, grasslands and Acacia thickets.
9 Reason for decline
Not known if this has occurred.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
None, although Cape Arnhem is now managed for conservation by the Dhimurru Land Management Corporation.
11 Other public land on which species occurs
None.
12 Other land on which species occurs
Aboriginal land in north-eastern Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt. Mining leases on Groote Eylandt.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Knowledge of current distribution and biology of species inadequate.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine the current patterns of distribution and abundance.
14.2 Determine the species' natural history.
15 Management actions completed or planned
15.1 Preliminary survey of status on Groote Eylandt and north-eastern Arnhem Land completed in 1992.
15.2 Captive breeding colony being established through cooperation of Groote Eylandt Mining Company and Territory Wildlife Park.
16 Management actions required Unknown.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.
18 Other organisation(s)/ individuals involved
Dhimurru Land Management Corporation; Groote Eylandt Mining Company.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
None.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Aboriginal land in north-eastern Arnhem Land and Groote Eylandt.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. A survey of the coastal areas of the Northern Territory is required. $60,000
(Detailed study of biology is required and probably best attempted on Groote Eylandt.)
Recovery Outline - Calaby's Mouse, Arnhem Land Pebble-mound Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys calabyiKitchener & Humphreys, 1987
3 English Name Calaby's Mouse, also known as
Arnhem Land Pebble-mound Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Rare: taxon with small localised population.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known: no data on population size, rate of change in population size, number of subpopulations, or threatening processes.
6 Former Distribution
No records prior to 1973, so former distribution is unknown.
7 Current Distribution
Valleys of the upper South Alligator and Mary Rivers, within Stage III of Kakadu National Park, Northern Territory. It may occur over a wider area of the Top End, but the range is difficult to determine without an intensive survey.
8 Habitat
Gravelly hills with Eucalyptus dichromophloia/ E. tintinnans woodland.
9 Reasons for decline Not known.
10 Conservation Reserves in which species occurs Kakadu National Park
11 Other public land on which species occurs
None known.
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is the knowledge of the species adequate for the objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Information is needed on distribution, ecology and threats.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine the species' current distribution, population size, diet, reproductive behaviour, social organisation, relationship to fire regimes and potential threats and limiting factors through survey and intensive study of selected populations.
14.2 Monitor known populations regularly to assess change in status.
15 Management actions completed or underway
An initial study of habitat use has been completed (Woinarski 1992).
16 Management actions required
Fire management to optimise habitat should be instigated.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Australian Nature Conservation Agency; Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.
18 Other organisation(s), individual(s) involved
Territory Wildlife Park.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Kakadu National Park.
20 Other land affected by recovery None.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No.
21.1 Survey and intensive study 1995-1996 ($30 000 per annum) $60 000
21.2 Monitor known populations 1995-1999 ($5 000 per annum) $25 000
21.3 Prepare Recovery Plan $10 000
$95,000
Remarks
A captive breeding colony has been maintained at Territory Wildlife Park since 1991. A comparative genetic study of all pebble-mound mice would be useful to determine their relatedness and evolutionary history.
Recovery Outline - Pilbara Pebble-mound Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys chapmani Kitchener, 1980
3 English Name Pilbara Pebble-mound Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Insufficiently known.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known: declared as fauna that is likely to become extinct, or is rare, under the Wildlife Conservation Act 1950 (WA); inhabits an arid land system and therefore likely to experience marked fluctuations in population size. This species has narrow habitat requirements and its patchy distribution makes it prone to local extinction.
6 Former distribution
The Pilbara, inland Gascoyne, and northern Murchison districts of Western Australia.
7 Current distribution
The non-coastal, central and eastern part of the Pilbara district, Western Australia.
8 Habitat
Rocky, hummock grasslands, with little or no soil. Occupies burrows beneath mounds of pebbles which are collected from nearby. Mounds are most common on the spurs and lower slopes of ridges.
9 Reason for decline
Unknown at present, but possibly a consequence of predation by feral cats.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Karijini National Park, Rudall River National Park, Millstream-Chichester National Park, Collier Range National Park.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
Vacant Crown Land; classified public land (e.g. Woodstock/Abydos); pastoral leases (e.g. White Springs and Mt Edgar Stations); mining leases (e.g. West Angelas mine site).
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
Only broad objectives can be stated at present. A research program examining the status and conservation of this species is about to commence, subject to availability of funds.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine the present distribution of the Pebble-mound Mouse.
14.2 Determine the factors responsible for the decline of this species.
14.3 Take steps to prevent further decline.
14.4 Re-introduce the Pebble-mound Mouse to sites within former range if necessary.
14.5 Establish the taxonomic relationships between this and other pebble-mound rodent species.
14.6 Ensure that proposed and existing mining developments do not reduce the conservation status.
15 Management actions completed or underway
Funding for research being sought.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Survey of distribution and population parameters required before the need for additional conservation reserves and management actions can be determined.
16.2 Information required on the response to fire.
16.3 Determine impact of feral cats and foxes.
16.4 Development of habitat management programs in liaison with mining companies.
16.5 Establish a captive display/public awareness program at Perth Zoo.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
WA Department of Conservation and Land Management.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
Pilbara Aboriginal communities, mining companies and pastoralists.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Karijini National Park. The species is extant in the Barlee Range Nature Reserve, Millstream-Chichester National Park, Rudall River National Park and probably the Collier Range National Park.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Pastoral and mining leases in the Pilbara, Gascoyne and Murchison districts of Western Australia.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to prepare and implement the recovery plan over ten years.
21.1 Research into conservation biology (over four years) $64,000
21.2 Implementation of management program (cost dependent on research above but not more than $120 000 over six years) $120,000
$184,000
Recovery Outline - Smoky Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys fumeus Brazenor, 1934
3 English Name Smoky Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa Not defined but populations in western Victoria differ in size and colour from those in eastern Victoria.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Rare.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known but probably secure: occurs in areas subjected to fuel reduction burning and timber harvesting.
6 Former distribution
Subfossil deposits indicate that this species was once widespread in south-eastern New South Wales and in parts of eastern and western Victoria, including the Buchan district, the Grampians and near Nelson.
7 Current distribution
Victoria: disjunct populations in the Grampians, coastal slopes of the Otway Ranges, Central Highlands, Barry Mountains, near Mt Cobberas and coastal east Gippsland between Marlo and Tamboon Inlet. Australian Capital Territory: Brindabella Ranges.
8 Habitat
Variable. Heathland and heathy open forest from the coast to sub-alpine regions (to 1800m). Occasionally found in adjacent wetter habitats such as fern gullies. Understorey at most sites is dominated by heathy shrubs, particularly from the families Papillionaceae and Epacridaceae.
9 Reason for decline
Subfossil record suggests that this species probably declined prior to European settlement. Loss of habitat as a result of clearing vegetation has probably caused further contraction of range. Changes to the floristic composition of ground and shrub vegetation brought about by inappropriate fire regimes may be deleterious. Predation by Red Fox, feral cats and Tiger Quoll may be significant for small isolated populations.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Victoria
· Grampians National Park.
· Otways National Park.
· Alpine National Park.
· Croajingalong National Park.
Australian Capital Territory
· Namadgi National Park.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
Upper Yarra Dam Catchment Area. Various sites in State Forests in the Central Highlands and Barry Mountains (Vic.).
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No. Lack of knowledge of ecological requirements, particularly in relation to fire, prohibits preparation of a detailed management plan. However, research and survey priorities can be set.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Determine taxonomic significance of differences between populations.
14.2 Define habitat and dietary requirements of populations in coastal East Gippsland and Great Dividing Range.
14.3 Survey populations in the Otway Ranges and Brindabella Ranges to assess conservation status.
14.4 Identify the most appropriate fire regimes for populations in the Grampians, Otway Ranges, Great Dividing Range and Coastal East Gippsland.
14.5 Monitor populations in all regions.
15 Management actions completed or underway
The distribution and broad habitat requirements of the species are known. The ecology of a population on Mt William, Grampians National Park, is well studied (Cockburn 1979). However, no management actions specifically aimed at this species have been undertaken. Reservation status is now adequate.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Additional conservation reserves are not a priority.
16.2 Habitat needs of coastal populations and those at high altitudes need to be defined before management can be prescribed.
16.3 The significance of predation needs to be determined.
16.4 Translocation is not required.
16.5 A captive breeding program should only be established if monitoring indicates that populations in the Great Dividing Range and coastal East Gippsland have recently declined. There have been few records from these populations in the last decade.
16.6 Captive display for educational purposes at Melbourne Zoo and Healesville Sanctuary.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Vic.); ACT Parks and Conservation Service.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
None.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Victoria
· Grampians National Park.
· Otways National Park.
· Alpine National Park.
· Croajingalong National Park.
Australian Capital Territory
· Namadgi National Park.
20 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. Initial research and monitoring will require funding beyond the resources of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Vic.). Estimated cost of survey to ascertain status:
$65,000
Recovery Outline - Central Pebble-mound Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys johnsoni Kitchener, 1985
3 English Name Central Pebble-mound Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa None described.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Insufficiently known.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known: apparently sparsely distributed in the Davenport and Murchison Ranges when first found. This species became quite rare during the subsequent drought. No trapping has occurred since then. Inhabits an arid land system and therefore likely to experience marked fluctuations in population size.
6 Former distribution Not known.
7 Current distribution Original specimens from the Davenport and Murchison Ranges (NT) (20°40'S 134°50'E). Also found in owl pellet material from Peaker Piker Pocket in the Mittiebah Range (NT)
(18°52'S 136°42'E). Pebble mounds have been observed near Helen Springs and Nicholson block (NT), but no specimens have been collected.
8 Habitat
Pebble-covered ridges and plains vegetated with spinifex (Plectrachne pungens and Triodia longiceps) and a shrubby overstory varying from very sparse to moderately dense.
9 Reason for decline
Species first collected in 1983 and described in 1985. Re-examination of specimens in Northern Territory collections has not revealed any additional records.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Pebble mounds have been recorded on land recently acquired for a national park in the Davenport and Murchison Ranges (NT), near the type locality.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
None known.
12 Other land on which species occurs
Aboriginal land of the Nicholson River region.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
No, distribution and abundance is effectively unknown.
14 Recovery objectives
Not defined. A survey of the distribution and abundance is the first step in defining these objectives.
15 Management actions completed or underway
None to date.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Determine the distribution, abundance and status of the species.
16.2 An ecological study of the species, particularly in relation to fire regimes and preferred substrate types, is required.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Conservation Commission of the Northern Territory.
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
Aboriginal Land Trusts (formerly MacLaren Creek Station); pastoralists (Kurundi Station); J.A. Kerle, Biological Consultant, Alice Springs.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Proposed national park in the Davenport and Murchison Ranges.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Aboriginal land; pastoral land.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to ascertain status.
$45,000
Remarks Land has been acquired for a national park in the Davenport and Murchison Ranges adjoining localities from which the species has been collected and in which pebble mounds have been recorded.
Recovery Outline - Heath Mouse
1 Family Muridae
2 Scientific Name Pseudomys shortridgei (Thomas, 1907)
3 English Name Heath Mouse
4 Intra-specific Taxa
None described. This species occurs in two discrete, widely separated populations, one in Victoria, one in south-western Western Australia.
5 Species Survival Status
IUCN Endangered in Western Australia where habitat is greatly reduced; secure in Victora.
Mace and Lande Insufficiently known: considered endangered in Western Australia, probably secure in Victoria.
CITES listing I.
6 Former distribution
Immediately before European settlement the Heath Mouse was found through the coastal heaths and mallee of south-western Australia. It was described from a specimen collected in 1906 at Woyerling in the central Western Australian wheatbelt and was subsequently collected in 1931 at Buniche in the south-eastern wheatbelt. Until 1987, it was thought to be extinct in Western Australia, as no further specimens had been collected. In Victoria, this species is reasonably common in sandy heaths in south-western Victoria between the Lower Glenelg and Grampians National Parks.
7 Current distribution
Ravensthorpe Range, Fitzgerald River National Park and Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve (WA). South-western Victoria.
8 Habitat
Variable. In Western Australia, scrub mallee and mixed scrub (Banksia) on loamy soils, unburnt for at least 30 years. In Victoria, sandy heaths and heathy woodlands.
9 Reason for decline
In Western Australia, probably loss of habitat as a result of clearing of the wheatbelt. Loamy soils were preferred for growing cereal crops. Introduced predators may have exacerbated the decline.
10 Conservation reserves in which species occurs
Western Australia
Fitzgerald River National Park; Dragon Rocks Nature Reserve.
Victoria
Cape Nelson Coastal Park; Grampians National Park; Lower Glenelg National Park; Narrawong Flora Reserve.
11 Other public lands on which species occurs
Western Australia
Vacant crown land in the Ravensthorpe Range
Victoria
Several State Forests in south-western Victoria.
12 Other land on which species occurs
None known.
13 Is knowledge about species adequate for objectives and actions to be defined accurately?
Only broad objectives can be stated at present.
14 Recovery objectives
14.1 Ensure the species persists in its present range.
14.2 Clarify taxonomic position of the Victorian and Western Australian populations.
14.3 Return the species to parts of its former range.
14.4 Investige the conservation biology of the species.
15 Management actions completed or underway
15.1 A fire exclusion policy is in place for Heath Mouse habitat in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
15.2 A fox control program is underway in the Fitzgerald River National Park.
15.3 Research into the conservation biology of the Heath Mouse is proposed, including a survey of Western australian wheatbelt sites for additional populations.
16 Management actions required
16.1 Action to declare additional conservation reserves in Western Australia can only be taken if populations are found outside of existing reserves.
16.2 In Western Australia, a fire exclusion regime should be maintained until habitat requirements are defined.
16.3 The fox control program should be continued in Western Australia, and the impact of feral cats needs to be ascertained.
16.4 Translocation should only occur if additional suitable habitat is found and the reasons for the species' decline are ascertained.
16.5 A captive breeding program may be required if natural populations are not large enough to support a translocation program.
16.6 Develop ecologically suitable fire regimes for habitat in Victoria.
17 Organisation(s) responsible for conservation of species
Department of Conservation and Land Management (WA); Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (Vic.).
18 Other organisation(s)/individuals involved
University of Western Australia, Departments of Zoology and Biochemistry.
19 Conservation reserves affected by recovery
Western Australia
Fitzgerald River National Park; possibly other large wheatbelt reserves.
Victoria
Grampians National Park; Lower Glenelg National Park.
20 Other land affected by recovery
Ravensthorpe Range vacant crown land.
21 Can recovery be carried out with existing resources?
No. The following additional funds are required to undertake recovery.
21.1 Research phase (0.5 salary $17 500 per annum for three years) $52,500
21.2 Management phase ($20 000 for three years) $60,000
21.3 Plant and materials 1995-97 $20,000
$132,500
Remarks There are some ecological differences between the Western Australian and Victorian populations of this species, notably their tolerance of different fire regimes. A taxonomic comparison of the two populations is warranted and should precede the management phase.