The occurrence of the Southern Brown Bandicoot 'Isoodon obesulus obesulus' and its habitat on Chinaman Island, Western Port, Victoria

Anthropogenic influences and pressure from feral predators on the Southern Brown Bandicoot Isoodon obesulus obesulus have resulted in the contraction of its distribution, such that it now exhibits a disjunct distribution across its former range. Isolated populations have the potential to become genetic bottlenecks while at the same time being valuable as reservoirs of genetic variability. This paper investigates the occurrence of the Southern Brown Bandicoot on Chinaman Island, Western Port, a locality previously reported as having evidence of the species. In this study, the first direct evidence was obtained of the Southern Brown Bandicoot occurring on the island. Habitat on Chinaman Island was found to be complex. It is described here according to Ecological Vegetation Classes, which are mapped across the island, and physical structure, which was quantified at sampling locations in this area.