Using mosquito DNA for detecting the occurrence of native mammals within semi-arid refugia

Fifty-nine percent of NSW’s terrestrial mammals are listed as threatened or endangered, with arid and semi-arid mammals being particularly susceptible to declines and extinctions. To address this, a range of measures are being implemented, e.g. habitat protection, the creation of refuges, and reintroduction programs. However, the success of these and other conservation actions is dependent upon the collection of reliable biomonitoring data from both formally protected and rural environments. This information is pivotal for firstly determining if the species do still indeed exist, as well as understanding how their distributions are influenced by key environmental attributes, e.g. water availability, climate and habitat complexity. This is particular important in semi-arid and arid zones where mammals need to flourish during ‘boom’ periods after significant rainfall, whilst continue to persist during more challenging climatic conditions (e.g. prolong periods of drought).