Underestimated and severe : small mammal decline from the forests of south-eastern Australia since European settlement, as revealed by a top-order predator

摘要: In Australia, numerous small mammal species have suffered extinction or severe declines in distribution and abundance following European settlement. The extent of these from forested areas south-eastern however, remains poorly understood. this paper we use sub-fossil deposits the sooty owl (Tyto tenebricosa tenebricosa) as a tool for understanding diversity palaeocommunity. These results are compared to contemporary diet same geographical region investigate degree decline Of 28 detected considered prey items at time settlement, only 10 were diet. Numerous not recently but also undergone niche contraction, they occupied greater regions habitats For some our their true ecological potential is therefore limited. that underwent greatest open habitat types terrestrial. severity likely resulted disruption ecosystem functions, with wide scale consequences. There an urgent need improve conservation, maintain crucial functions performed by mammals. It recommended broad-scale exotic predator control programs conducted which may provide suitable conditions re-introduction locally extinct species.