Abstract
There is growing evidence that persistence of mammal fauna under climate change is reliant on refuges protected from disturbances such as extreme drought and fire. During the ‘millennium drought’ (1996–2010), the swamp antechinus (Antechinus minimus maritimus) declined precipitously in the eastern Otways, resulting in restriction to coastal dune refuges. Here, we evaluated the species’ distribution across the extended Otway landscape to identify the localities and characteristics of refuges. Targeted surveys (cameras, live-trapping) were conducted at sites of previous healthy populations and in putative habitat refuges (2018–2023). Eleven micro-refuges (<500 ha), located in Coastal Dune Scrub, were identified but are subject to destruction due to sea level rise. Three mid-connected refuges (500–1000 ha), providing habitat connection features (e.g. gullies), and three macro-refuges (>1000 ha) of unfragmented, complex vegetation were identified. The swamp antechinus remains absent from previously inhabited heathy woodland in the eastern Otways, and although it was initially (2021) trapped with high success in heathy woodlands of the Carlisle Heath, it was not captured subsequently, possibly related to incompatible fire, introduced predators and Phytophthora dieback. Management of refuges to ensure the future of the swamp antechinus will require effective control of Phytophthora infestation and predators, and protection from inappropriate fire.
Published Version
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