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Insights into the pre-European mammalian fauna of the southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia

journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 03:17 authored by Liddle, NR, Matthew McDowellMatthew McDowell, Prideaux, GJ
Many Australian mammal species have suffered significant declines since European colonisation. During the first century of settlement, information on species distribution was rarely recorded. However, fossil accumulations can assist the reconstruction of historical distributions. We examine a fossil vertebrate assemblage from Mair’s Cave, one of few known from the southern Flinders Ranges, South Australia. The Mair’s Cave assemblage was dominated by mammals but also included birds and reptiles. Of the 18 mammals recovered, two have not previously been recorded from the southern Flinders Ranges, at least one is extinct and seven are recognised as threatened nationally. Characteristics of the assemblage suggest that it was accumulated by a Tyto owl species. Remains of Tyto delicatula and a larger unidentified owl were recovered from the assemblage. Most mammals identified from the assemblage presently occupy Australia’s semiarid zone, but a single specimen of the broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus), which primarily occurs in high-moisture, low-temperature environments was also recovered. This suggests either that the southern Flinders Ranges once experienced higher past precipitation, or that M. fuscus can tolerate a broader climatic range than its current distribution suggests. Our study contributes new knowledge on the biogeography and ecology of several mammal species, data useful for helping to refine restoration targets.

History

Publication title

Australian Mammalogy

Volume

40

Pagination

262-268

ISSN

0310-0049

Department/School

School of Natural Sciences

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Place of publication

Australia

Repository Status

  • Restricted

Socio-economic Objectives

Health status (incl. wellbeing); Environmentally sustainable plant production not elsewhere classified

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