Diurnal resting sites of the nocturnal dasyurid marsupial Sminthopsis douglasi in Bladensburg National Park, Queensland

Abstract

An attempt has been made to determine where Julia Creek dunnarts (Sminthopsis douglasi), small nocturnal dasyurid marsupials, rest during the day under differing seasonal conditions. A short-term study was carried out in Bladensburg National Park, near the southern edge of its known distribution on the Mitchell grass downs in Queensland. Radio-collared individuals were located in cracks and holes. None of the males and females (including one with young in the pouch) were found to use the same resting site over periods of up to nine days, suggesting that they may be nomadic. Climatic factors may have affected the size of the dunnart population over the course of the study.