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Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018) 1 Information current to December 2018 Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni Key Findings Kangaroo Island Dunnarts are notoriously difficult to monitor, however, the species is likely to have suffered major declines due to historic land clearing on Kangaroo Island. Security against ongoing habitat loss has been provided through conservation reserves and heritage agreements, so declines may have stabilised. There have been increased efforts in recent years to tackle other threats such as feral cats and Phytophthora, while also engaging private land holders in conservation activities. Photo: Jody Gates Significant trajectory change from 2005-15 to 2015-18? No, populations thought to be stable or increasing slightly. Priority future actions Control feral cats and Phytophthora – especially in known dunnart habitats. Management of fire to reduce habitat loss. Establish insurance population, either in captivity or within a large feral cat free fenced reserve. Full assessment information Background information 1. Conservation status and taxonomy 2. Conservation history and prospects 3. Past and current trends 4. Key threats 5. Past and current management 6. Support from the Australian Government 7. Measuring progress towards conservation 2018 population trajectory assessment 8. Expert elicitation for population trends 9. Immediate priorities from 2019 10. Contributors 11. Legislative documents 12. References 13. Citation The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, including estimating the change in population trajectory of 20 mammal species. It has been prepared by experts from the National Environmental Science Program’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, with input from a number of taxon experts, a range of stakeholders and staff from the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, for the information of the Australian Government and is non-statutory. It has been informed by statutory planning documents that guide recovery of the species, such as Recovery Plans and/or Conservation Advices (see Section 11). The descriptive information in this scorecard is drawn from the Recovery Plan (Gates 2011), the 2014 mammal action plan (Woinarski et al. 2014), results from recent research, and advice from contributing experts. The background information aims to provide context for estimation of progress in research and management (Section 7) and estimation of population size and trajectories (Section 8).

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Page 1: Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni€¦ · Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018) 1 Information current to December 2018 . Kangaroo

Threatened Species Strategy – Year 3 Priority Species Scorecard (2018)

1 Information current to December 2018

Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni

Key Findings Kangaroo Island Dunnarts are notoriously difficult to monitor, however, the species is likely to have suffered major declines due to historic land clearing on Kangaroo Island. Security against ongoing habitat loss has been provided through conservation reserves and heritage agreements, so declines may have stabilised. There have been increased efforts in recent years to tackle other threats such as feral cats and Phytophthora, while also engaging private land holders in conservation activities.

Photo: Jody Gates

Significant trajectory change from 2005-15 to 2015-18? No, populations thought to be stable or increasing slightly.

Priority future actions

• Control feral cats and Phytophthora – especially in known dunnart habitats. • Management of fire to reduce habitat loss. • Establish insurance population, either in captivity or within a large feral cat free fenced reserve.

Full assessment information

Background information

1. Conservation status and taxonomy 2. Conservation history and prospects 3. Past and current trends 4. Key threats 5. Past and current management 6. Support from the Australian Government 7. Measuring progress towards conservation

2018 population trajectory assessment

8. Expert elicitation for population trends 9. Immediate priorities from 2019 10. Contributors 11. Legislative documents 12. References 13. Citation

The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, including estimating the change in population trajectory of 20 mammal species. It has been prepared by experts from the National Environmental Science Program’s Threatened Species Recovery Hub, with input from a number of taxon experts, a range of stakeholders and staff from the Office of the Threatened Species Commissioner, for the information of the Australian Government and is non-statutory. It has been informed by statutory planning documents that guide recovery of the species, such as Recovery Plans and/or Conservation Advices (see Section 11). The descriptive information in this scorecard is drawn from the Recovery Plan (Gates 2011), the 2014 mammal action plan (Woinarski et al. 2014), results from recent research, and advice from contributing experts.

The background information aims to provide context for estimation of progress in research and management (Section 7) and estimation of population size and trajectories (Section 8).

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1. Conservation status and taxonomy Taxonomy: The taxonomy of the species is contested, and it has been listed previously as Sminthopsis aitkeni (Kitchener et al. 1984), and Sminthopsis griseoventer aitkeni (Kemper et al. 2011), but has been most recently called Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni following the nomenclature of Jackson and Groves (2015).

2. Conservation history and prospects The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is currently restricted to the 4405 km2 Kangaroo Island, South Australia, where it now probably occurs only in remnant native vegetation in the western third of the island. The evidence base is meagre, and there is some taxonomic uncertainty, but it may have occurred historically also on nearby mainland South Australia (Kemper et al. 2011). The map below shows the occurrence of Kangaroo Island Dunnart pre- and post- 1990.

The Kangaroo Island Dunnart has been notoriously challenging to sample. It is likely to be rare and is difficult to detect using standard sampling techniques. Hence the evidence base on distribution, population size and trajectory, threats, and habitat requirements is limited. As with many other native species on Kangaroo Island, it is likely to have suffered major declines due to historic land clearing, with this habitat loss particularly pronounced in the eastern part of the island. However, much of the western part of Kangaroo Island, from where all recent records occur, is now well protected in conservation reserves and private conservation land, providing security against ongoing habitat loss. Nonetheless, even in protected areas, it may be affected by ongoing predation by feral cats, and habitat degradation due to fire and Phytophthora-associated vegetation dieback.

3. Past and current trends Population trends for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart are poorly resolved. Historical land clearing would have resulted in substantial losses in population size and distributional extent, but more recent trends are not well established.

Monitoring (existing programs): There is no established and continuing island-wide monitoring program for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart, in part because of the challenge involved in sampling it. In the last 40 years the Kangaroo Island Dunnart has been detected at twelve sites on western Kangaroo Island. A substantial baseline survey was conducted in 1999-2001 (Gates 2001), complemented by more recent sampling which has helped to develop more cost-effective sampling protocols (Hohnen et al. in press). Levels of site occupancy were similar between the 1999-2001 and the 2017-2018 surveys (26% and 27% respectively), but large confidence intervals associated with the estimates mean the 2017-2018 survey was unable to conclude, with any reasonable confidence, whether there has been a change in site

Conservation status 2018

EPBC Endangered

SA Endangered

(as S. aitkeni)

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occupancy (or population size) in the last two decades. Certainly, the species is reasonably restricted, being detected at only six of the 44 sites sampled in 1999-2001, and five of the 42 sites sampled in 2017-2018. Hohnen et al. (in press) make recommendations for the design of future monitoring surveys, including the site set up and survey duration required to maximise detectability, and these recommendations provide the best chance of detecting both severe and moderate declines.

The Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife Program (KILfW) has undertaken extensive Kangaroo Island Dunnart camera trapping surveys across approximately 3000 hectares in private properties in western Kangaroo Island (2018). The sites being surveyed by KILfW are in areas that have not previously been surveyed. This survey work will be expanded and is ongoing. Attempts will be made to trap the species at key KILfW monitoring sites in 2019.

Population trends: Tables 1 and 2 summarise the overall trend and status of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart. The information provided in these tables is derived from the recovery plan and conservation advices with some amendments made by contributing experts based on new information.

Table 1. Summary of the available information on Kangaroo Island Dunnart distribution and population size, and (where possible) trend estimates between 2015 and 2018 for each parameter.

Population parameters (WILD)

Published baseline

2015 Estimate 2018 Estimate Confidence in estimates

Extent of Occurrence 160 km2 * 1500 km2 1500 km2 Medium

Area of Occupancy 24 km2 ** 64 km2 64 km2 Low

Dates of records and methods used

As per Mammal Action plan

Based on results provided by R. Hohnen

No. mature individuals <2500

No reliable estimate available; but for this report,

estimated from MAP as ca. 2000

?

Change in occupancy assessed from 1999-2001 baseline survey to 2017-18 re-

sampling; but the very few detections rendered it difficult to assess population

trajectory

Any other measure of relative abundance (occupancy)

n/a n/a n/a

Medium. No significant change in occupancy from 1999-2001 to 2017-18. In both surveys the species’ distribution was

restricted (26% and 27% of sites respectively)

No. of subpopulations 1 1 1

Medium. Although there may be some fragmentation of populations and habitat

due to historic clearing, all known sites are in generally close proximity and likely to be susceptible to the same factors and

threat events

No. of locations 1 1 1 Nos. of locations arguable; but here taken

as for subpopulations

Generation time 1 n/a n/a High (as per MAP) * given value derived from known records (1993-2012) reported in Woinarski et al. (2014), but more realistic EOO is western third of KI; or ca. 1500 km2. ** based on no. of 2 km x 2 km grid cells with records; however recent modelling indicates occurrence in 294 km2 (R. Hohnen unpubl.)

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Table 2. Estimated recent (2005-2015) and current (2015-2018) population trends for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart.

Sub-population

Est. % of total pop’n (pre-2015)

2005-2015 trend

Confidence in

2005-2015 trend

2015-2018 trend

Confidence in

2015-2018 trend

Details

Whole population (Kangaroo Island)

100 ? n/a ? n/a

The population size of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart has declined historically due to land clearing. Current population trends are not well resolved (Hohnen et al. in press).

KEY: Improving Stable Deteriorating Unknown Confidence Description

? High Trend documented Medium Trend considered likely based on documentation Low Trend suspected but evidence indirect or equivocal

4. Key threats The threats listed here are derived from the Recovery Plan (Gates 2011), the 2014 Mammal Action Plan (Woinarski et al. 2014), results from recent research, and advice from contributing experts based on new information. Note that we do not consider all plausible threats, but rather focus on the threats that are likely to have the largest impact on populations. Note that this is not a list of all plausible threats, but a subset of the threats that are likely to have the largest impact on populations.

Inappropriate fire regimes Uncontrolled bushfires may cause the extirpation of local Kangaroo Island Dunnart populations and the short-medium term loss of habitat. An analysis of all dunnart records to date indicates that of the 42 known records with known fire history, the majority (27) are 10-20 years post-fire, with four records in the recently burnt category (>10 years post-fire), and four in the long unburnt category (>20 years post-fire) (Gates 2001). Fire may also compound impacts due to predation by feral cats, with cats likely to hunt preferentially, and have more impacts, in recently and extensively burnt areas. Fire regimes may also be influenced by climate change.

Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback Vegetation degradation due to P. cinnamomi dieback occurs in parts of the range of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart, including in some conservation reserves, and is likely to severely reduce habitat suitability for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart. For example: dunnarts have been recorded sheltering in the skirts of grass trees (Xanthorrhoea australis), a species that is particularly susceptible to P. cinnamomi dieback.

Feral cat predation Feral cats are widespread across Kangaroo Island, including in conservation reserves, with densities in some areas at least double the average density on mainland Australia. The extent of impact of cats on dunnarts is not well resolved, but is currently being investigated. Cat impacts may also interact with fire, given that cats are attracted to recently burnt areas and may hunt most effectively in them. This

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species has been reported in cat dietary studies (Rismiller and McKelvey 2003). Foxes are absent from Kangaroo Island.

Land clearance Historical land clearing has likely contributed to dunnart population declines. Around 50% of the natural vegetation on Kangaroo Island remains, but only half of this is conserved within National Parks and reserves. However, a significant amount of private land is now under heritage agreement.

The impacts of the major threats are summarised in Table 3.

Table 3. The major threats facing the Kangaroo Island Dunnart and their associated impact scores.

CURRENT THREAT IMPACT

Threat Timing Extent Severity

1. Increase in fire frequency/intensity Continuing/ongoing >90% of range 20-29%

2. Feral cats Continuing/ongoing >90% of range 20-29%

3. Phytophthora cinnamomi dieback Continuing/ongoing 1-50% of range Not negligible but <20%

Timing: continuing/ongoing; near future: any occurrence probable within one generation (includes former threat no longer causing impact but could readily recur); distant future: any occurrence likely to be further than one generation into the future (includes former threat no longer causing impact and unlikely to recur). Extent: <1% of range; 1-50%; 50-90%; >90%. Severity: (over three generations or 10 years, whichever is longer) Causing no decline; Negligible declines (<1%); Not negligible but <20%; 20-29%; 30-49%; 50-100%; Causing/could cause order of magnitude fluctuations.

5. Past and current management Recent and current management actions that support the conservation of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart are summarised in Table 4. This information is a collation of material provided by experts.

Recovery action is guided by the Recovery Plan (2011) (see Section 11).

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Table 4. Management actions that support the conservation of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart.

Action Location Timing Est. %

population Contributors and partners

Assess feral cat densities using camera traps (cat densities are reasonably high (0.4 cats/km2))

Flinders Chase National Park and surrounding farmland,

western KI private properties, eastern KI

2017-ongoing

100% Rosie Hohnen (CDU), NESP TSR Hub, DEW (eastern KI)

Intensive control of feral cats (cage trapping, shooting and detector dog use) across known KI Dunnart habitats. All feral cat stomachs are being analysed for KI Dunnart remains

Western KI, but potentially Island-wide. DEW cat

eradication initially happening on eastern KI (where there are

no recent dunnart records)

From 2018 and ongoing

currently <10% but

potentially 100%

KI Land for Wildlife, Terrain Ecology.

Fire management in KI reserves. Development of a KI Dunnart Ecological Fire Management Strategy.

Island-wide Ongoing 100% DEW Parks

Phytophthora management, including promotion of visitor and researcher hygiene practices. Warning signage and footwear cleaning stations are situated on walking trails in some parks.

Conservation reserves and Western KI private properties

Ongoing 90% DEW Parks staff, Biosecurity Liaison officer, KI Land for Wildlife, Terrain Ecology

Improve knowledge of KI Dunnart distribution and determine best methods for detecting dunnarts (using Elliot, pitfall and camera traps) to inform effective monitoring program.

Western KI, Eastern KI private properties

2017-2018

100% Rosie Hohnen (CDU), NESP TSR Hub, KI Land for Wildlife, Terrain Ecology.

Camera trapping across KI private properties, identifying four known sites on private lands (with additional 18 records)

Western Kangaroo Island private properties

2018 10%

KI Land for Wildlife, Terrain Ecology, Australian Government, FAME, Wettenhall Environment Trust

Engage private land owners in conservation activities (with focus on the dunnart). Seven management plans in draft, identifying specific management prescriptions (dieback, fire, weeds, feral animal control)

Western Kangaroo Island 2018 10% KI Land for Wildlife, Terrain Ecology

Examine feasibility and non-target impacts of broad scale feral cat baiting (using the bait “Eradicat”) on western KI, to inform future cat eradication efforts in the area

Western Kangaroo Island 2018 100% Rosie Hohnen (CDU), NESP TSR Hub.

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6. Actions undertaken or supported by the Australian Government resulting from inclusion in the Threatened Species Strategy

A large-scale long-term program is underway to eradicate feral cats on Kangaroo Island and contribute to the protection and recovery of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart. The local council, NRM body, farmers and the broader local community are strongly engaged. Strong partnership potential and local community participation boosts the likelihood of success for the species and the potential for enduring outcomes. Funding has included $236,500 through the Threatened Species Recovery Fund to the Kangaroo Island Natural Resources Management Board.

An additional $165,000 from the National Landcare Program, Threatened Species Recovery Fund, FAME and Wettenhall Environment Trust has been delivered to the Kangaroo Island Land for Wildlife program (2018) for Kangaroo Island Dunnart conservation activities including population monitoring and control of threatening processes; specifically feral cat management and Phytophthora dieback management).

A research project undertaken by the Threatened Species Recovery Hub of NESP, with funding from the Australian government, has undertaken a broad-scale assessment of Kangaroo Island Dunnart distribution and habitat, assessed a range of protocols for monitoring and undertaken some assessment of potential non-target risks of cat management.

7. Measuring progress towards conservation Table 5. Progress towards management understanding and management implementation for each of the major threats affecting the Kangaroo Island Dunnart in 2015 (i.e. timing of TSS implementation) and 2018, using the progress framework developed by Garnett et al. 2018. PROGRESS IN MANAGING THREATS

Threat Year Understanding of how to manage threat Extent to which threat being managed

1. Increase in fire frequency/ intensity

2015 1. Research being undertaken or completed but limited understanding on how to manage threat

4. Solutions are enabling achievement but only with continued conservation intervention

2018 2. Research has provided strong direction on how to manage threat

4. Solutions are enabling achievement but only with continued conservation intervention

2. Feral cats 2015

3. Solutions being trialled but work only initiated recently

0. No management

2018 4. Trial management under way but not yet clear evidence that it can deliver objectives

2. Work has been initiated to roll out solutions where threat applies across the taxon’s range

3. Phythopthora cinnamomi dieback

2015 1. Research being undertaken or completed but limited understanding on how to manage threat

2. Work has been initiated to roll out solutions where threat applies across the taxon’s range

2018 4. Trial management under way but not yet clear evidence that it can deliver objectives

2. Work has been initiated to roll out solutions where threat applies across the taxon’s range

> Green shading indicates an improvement in our understanding or management of threats between years 2015 and 2018, while red shading indicates deterioration in our understanding or management of threats

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KEY (Table 5): Score Understanding of how to manage threat Extent to which threat is being managed

0 No knowledge and no research No management

1 Research being undertaken or completed but limited understanding on how to manage threat Management limited to trials

2 Research has provided strong direction on how to manage threat

Work has been initiated to roll out solutions where threat applies across the taxon’s range

3 Solutions being trialled but work only initiated recently Solutions have been adopted but too early to demonstrate success

4 Trial management under way but not yet clear evidence that it can deliver objectives

Solutions are enabling achievement but only with continued conservation intervention

5 Trial management is providing clear evidence that it can deliver objectives

Good evidence available that solutions are enabling achievement with little or no conservation intervention

6 Research complete and being applied OR ongoing research associated with adaptive management of threat The threat no longer needs management

8. Expert elicitation for population trends An expert elicitation process was undertaken to assess population trends for the period 2005-2015 and post-2015 under the following management scenarios. Please note that differences between Management Scenarios 2 and 3 (Fig. 1) are difficult to attribute, as it can be difficult to determine whether actions undertaken after 2015 were influenced by the Threatened Species Strategy or were independent of it (see Summary Report for details of methods).

Management Scenario 1 (red line): no conservation management undertaken since 2015, and no new actions implemented.

• No effective management of cats, fire, phytophthora or other threats.

Populations may persist for decades in private and public reserves in the western third of KI, but numbers gradually eroded by no management of Phytophthora, fire or cats.

Management Scenario 2 (blue line): continuation of existing conservation management (i.e. actions undertaken before implementation of the Threatened Species Strategy or independent of the Threatened Species Strategy).

• At least locally effective management of fire, cats and phytophthora

Populations probably reasonably stable in private and public reserves in the western third of KI, with some management of fire, cats and Phytophthora.

Management Scenario 3 (green line): continuation of existing management, augmented by support mobilised by the Australian Government under the Threatened Species Strategy.

• As for scenario 2, but enhanced management of cats in some areas leading more rapidly to island-wide control.

Populations probably stable in private and public reserves in the western third of KI, and in private conservation land in the region with suitable remnant habitat, with some management of fire and Phytophthora, and with gradually increasing control of feral cats (although this will initially be in the eastern part of KI, in which few or no dunnarts occur). Kangaroo Island Dunnart habitat on private property in the west managed for feral cats (with reductions in cat numbers evident).

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Overall estimated population trajectories subject to management scenarios considered The Kangaroo Island Dunnart is currently being managed under Scenario 3 (green line).

Figure 1. Estimated relative percentage change in population under each of the management scenarios described above. Data derived from 9 expert assessments of Kangaroo Island Dunnart expected response to management, using four-step elicitation and the IDEA protocol (Hemming et al. 2017), where experts are asked to provide best estimates, lowest and highest plausible estimates, and an associated level of confidence. The dashed line represents the baseline value (i.e. as at 2015, standardised to 100). Values above this line indicate a relative increase in population size, while values below this line indicate a relative decrease in population size. Shading indicates confidence bounds (i.e. the lowest and highest plausible estimates). NB: lower and upper bounds wider than shown in graphs.

Population size projections based on expert elicitation are extended here to 2025, 2035 and 2045 (i.e. 10, 20 and 30 years after the establishment of the Threatened Species Strategy) on the grounds that some priority conservation management actions may take many years to achieve substantial conservation outcomes. However, we note also that there will be greater uncertainty around estimates of population size into the more distant future because, for example, novel threats may affect the species, managers may develop new and more efficient conservation options, and the impacts of climate change may be challenging to predict.

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Improved trajectory (Threatened Species Strategy Year 3 target): The primary purpose of this scorecard is to assess progress against achieving the year three targets outlined in the Australian Government’s Threatened Species Strategy, i.e. a demonstrated improved trajectory for at least half of the priority species (10 birds and 10 mammals). To assess this, we first use the expert-derived trend between 2005-15 (i.e. 10 years prior to implementation of the TSS) as a baseline for assessing whether there has been an improvement in trajectory in the time since implementation of the TSS (i.e. 2015-18). Table 6 below summarises this information, where negative values indicate a declining population, and positive values indicate an increasing population. We used Wilcoxon match-paired tests to compare trajectories for these two periods; a significant result (probability <0.05) indicates that there was a high concordance amongst experts that their trajectory estimates for 2005-15 were different to their estimates for 2015-18.

Table 6. A comparison of the relative annual percentage population change for the periods 2005-2015 and 2015-2018.

Pre-TSS trend (2005-2015)

Post-TSS trend

(2015-2018)

Year 3 target met?

Significant concordance among elicitors

Annual percentage population change

-3.07 -0.56

Elicitors did not consistently conclude that there was any change in trajectory

from the period 2005-15 to 2015-18

Additional actions that could improve trajectory The potential impact of carrying out specific additional conservation measures on the population trajectory of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart was also evaluated through expert elicitation. Additional actions that could further improve the population trajectory of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart include:

• Effective control of cats and fire island-wide, and as effective-as-possible management of phytophthora; some translocations of dunnarts to currently unoccupied sites.

Populations stable in private and public reserves in the western third of KI, and in some suitable habitat on private conservation land, with effective management of fire and Phytophthora and island-wide eradication or reduction in cat numbers; dunnarts translocated effectively to suitable habitat at more locations on island once feral cats have been eradicated (or, should feral cat eradication be unfeasible).

It is difficult to evaluate any change in conservation outlook for this species because there is such limited information on its distribution, abundance, habitat, threats and management requirements. It is likely that ongoing management of fire and Phytophthora in national parks and private conservation reserves has reduced the intensity of some threats. The recent and ongoing program to control – and, ultimately, eradicate – feral cats from Kangaroo Island is likely to achieve substantial benefit to the species. Many stakeholders have contributed to the research and management efforts. This includes support associated with the Threatened Species Strategy towards feral cat control, and research on the distribution and abundance of Kangaroo Island Dunnarts and cats on private reserves and across much of western Kangaroo Island.

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9. Immediate priorities from 2019 The priorities listed here are derived from the Recovery Plan (Gates 2011), the 2014 Mammal Action Plan (Woinarski et al. 2014), results from recent research, and advice from contributing experts. Identification of these priorities in this document is for information and is non-statutory. For statutory conservation planning documents, such as Recovery Plans or Conservation Advices, please see Section 11.

Data collection: • Examine non-target impacts of feral cat baiting on western KI so as to better understand the

feasibility of broad scale cat control. • Continue to attempt to live trap dunnarts for population studies and DNA studies to clarify

taxonomy issues

Management actions: • Implement targeted monitoring program across public and private land (using camera traps facing

drift line fences) to gain an understanding on distribution and habitat parameters while observing behavioural patterns and population trends.

• Control of feral cats – especially in known dunnart habitats. • Effective implementation of management to reduce risks and extent of Phytophthora, especially in

known dunnart habitats. • Effective management of fire. • Establish insurance population if feasible, either in captive institution or translocate animals into a

large feral cat free fenced reserve.

10. Contributors Peter Copley; John Woinarksi, Sarah Legge, Stephen Garnett, Hayley Geyle (NESP TSR Hub); Jody Gates; Heidi Groffen; Pat Hodgens; Rosie Hohnen; Peter Menkhorst; Nicholas MacGregor; Peter Latch; Andrew Burbidge.

11. Legislative documents SPRAT profile: http://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=300

Gates, J.A. (2011). Recovery Plan for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/recovery-plans/recovery-plan-kangaroo-island-dunnart-sminthopsis-aitkeni. In effect under the EPBC Act from 10-Feb-2012 as Sminthopsis aitkeni

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12. References Garnett ST, Butchart SHM, Baker GB, Bayraktarov E, Buchanan KL, Burbidge AA, Chauvenet ALM,

Christidis L, Ehmke G, Grace M, Hoccom DG, Legge SM, Leiper I, Lindenmayer DB, Loyn RH, Maron M, McDonald P, Menkhorst P, Possingham HP, Radford J, Reside AE, Watson DM, Watson JEM, Wintle B, Woinarski JCZ, Geyle HM (2018) Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian Birds. Conservation Biology https://doi.org/10.1111/cobi.13220.

Gates JA (2001) 'The distribution and ecology of the Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni.' South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, Kingscote.

Gates JA (2011). Recovery Plan for the Kangaroo Island Dunnart Sminthopsis aitkeni. Department of Environment and Natural Resources, South Australia.

Hemming V, Burgman MA, Hanea AM, McBride MF, Wintle BC (2017) A practical guide to structured expert elicitation using the IDEA protocol. Methods in Ecology and Evolution, 9, 169-180.

Hohnen R, Murphy B, Gates J, Legge S, Dickman C, Woinarski J (in press) Detecting and protecting the Kangaroo Island Dunnart (Sminthopsis fuliginosus aitkeni). Conservation Science and Practice.

Jackson SM, Groves C (2015) 'Taxonomy of Australian mammals.' (CSIRO Publishing: Clayton South, Australia)

Kemper CM, Cooper SJB, Medlin GC, Adams M, Stemmer D, Saint KM, McDowell MC, Austin JJ (2011) Cryptic grey-bellied dunnart (Sminthopsis griseoventer) discovered in South Australia: genetic, morphological and subfossil analyses show the value of collecting voucher material. Australian Journal of Zoology 59, 127-144.

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13. Citation Please cite this document as: National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Research Hub (2019) Threatened Species

Strategy Year 3 Scorecard – Kangaroo Island Dunnart. Australian Government, Canberra. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/20-mammals-by-2020/kangaroo-island-dunnart