Following a capture-mark-release program (February 1977-June 1979) on Dasyurus hallucatus,
Antechinus bilarni, Zyzomys argurus and Zyzomys woodwardi, the study area was burnt to determine
the effects of fire on these species. The area was described in terms of fuel characteristics and details
of the fire were recorded. Post-fire trapping began July 1979 and continued until July 1980 (15,600
trap-nights). A. bilarni was the only species to suffer an increased mortality immediately after the fire,
but the number of animals known to be alive declined over the year following the fire, for all species
except D. hallucatus. The fire affected reproduction in all four species, but in different ways. Breeding
in D. hallucatus was delayed by 1 month, and the mean number of young leaving the pouch per female
was lower than before the fire. A higher number of resident females kept recruitment up. Litter size
in A. bilarni was not affected, but a reduced number of resident females meant that recruitment was
halved. Zyzomys argurus and Z. woodwardi showed few lactating and pregnant females in July-August
following the fire, and the numbers of juveniles were lower than in the previous two years.
Following the fire, no detectable differences in body weight were recorded, but all species except
D. hallucatus changed their preferred habitat, moving to the Scree Slope. Z. woodwardi was most affected,
and moved from the Closed Forest.
A technique for estimation of Barn Owl (Tyto alba stertens Hartert, 1929) prey biomass with special reference to mandible length-body weight ratio of small mammals