A study of the distribution and habitat of Potorous longipes in East Gippsland, Victoria.  A. N. Drinnan and F. A. R. Hill.  June 1984.  16 pp. + App. (unpubl.)

SUMMARY

Nine specimens of Potorous longipes Seebeck & Johnston (long-footed potoroo) have been collected this century, all in East Gippsland. Seven were collected immediately around the Bellbird Creek and two at separate localities, 29 and 46 kilometres north-west of Bellbird. A specimen collected in the nineteenth century was from Rosedale, Central Gippsland.

In this study, all of these former capture sites were visited and data were collected on the vegetation and management histories, to identify site variables favoured by the potoroo.

The sites contained a variety of forest habitats with an altitudinal range of 140 to 1080 metres; though most sites were in stringybark (Eucalyptus spp.) forests with dense dry sclerophyll shrub and wire-grass (Tetrarrhena juncea R.Br.) understories. Thus management regimes that favour dense shrubby sclerophyllous forest habitats may be important in determining densities of P. longipes.

The management histories of the most recent capture sites suggest that the species can either recolonise regenerated logging coupes or tolerate disturbance due to logging. Fox and dog predation appear to be important regulators of present-day densities of P. longipes populations.