An Integrated Multi-Scale Approach to Habitat Modelling and Conservation for a Threatened Marsupial in a Dynamic and
Luke Lupone1, Anthony Rendall1, Raylene Cooke1
1School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Victoria Australia.
Ecology and Evolution
|December 29, 2025
Summary
Conservation efforts for the southern brown bandicoot require validated species distribution models (SDMs) and fine-scale habitat analysis. Understanding habitat associations in dynamic, fire-prone landscapes is key for this threatened marsupial.
Area of Science:
- Ecology
- Conservation Biology
- Wildlife Management
Background:
- The southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus obesulus) is a threatened marsupial species.
- Its distribution and habitat use in dynamic, fire-prone landscapes are poorly understood.
- Effective conservation requires identifying core habitats at multiple scales.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the distribution and habitat associations of the southern brown bandicoot.
- To identify landscape and local-scale core habitats for conservation planning.
- To evaluate the utility of Species Distribution Models (SDMs) and occupancy modelling for this species.
Main Methods:
- Developed and field-validated SDMs to predict landscape-scale habitat suitability.
- Conducted systematic field surveys to assess model performance and collect presence/absence data.
- Utilized occupancy modelling with fine-scale habitat data to understand local ecological niche.
Main Results:
- SDMs showed good predictive ability (AUC=0.75) but overestimated distribution due to dynamic populations.
- Occupancy was positively associated with spear grass, slender twine-rush, sedge, and diggings.
- Occupancy was negatively associated with high densities of Callitris.
Conclusions:
- SDMs are valuable for identifying potential core habitats for endangered species.
- Rigorous validation with independent field data and fine-scale habitat analysis are essential for dynamic species.
- A multi-scale approach is crucial for accurate conservation planning in fire-prone environments.
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