THE IMPORTANCE OF REFUGE HABITAT IN THE LOCAL CONSERVATION OF STRIPE-FACED DUNNARTS SMINTHOPSIS MACROURA ON ARID RANGELANDS ANKE FRANK AND TODD SODERQUIST ANTHROPOGENIC change to Australian habitats accelerated rapidly during the late 1800s as sheep grazing spread across the continent. In particular, intensive grazing in arid and semi-arid regions is believed to have vastly altered vegetation communities, triggered extensive soil erosion, and reduced shelter available to small mammals, thus increasing their vulnerability to predation (Morton 1990). It is not surprising, then, that since European settlement 32 species (42%) of mammals inhabiting the arid zone of Australia have become extinct (Landsberg et al. 1997), and many others have suffered major range reductions or are currently considered widespread but rare. This faunal collapse was due to multiple factors (Burbidge and McKenzie 1989; Morton 1990), but the most consistent predictor of marsupial decline is geographic overlap with domestic sheep (Fisher et al. 2003). While overgrazing is a serious broadscale problem, the destruction of naturally occurring pockets of high- quality habitat probably played a critical role in the extirpation of species that relied on refugia for survival during droughts (Morton 1990). Domestic grazing continues on approximately two-thirds of Australia, while less than 5% is dedicated to nature conservation (Ehmann and Cogger 1985). Many authors have emphasized that conservation on private land is essential to preserving local species diversity (e.g., Dickman 1994). However, the potential for private endeavours to conserve small mammals has rarely been demonstrated. This study investigated whether small remnants of ungrazed land in the arid zone might be sufficient refuges for the protection of one focal species, the rare and declining stripe-faced dunnart (Sminthopsis macroura). Although S. macroura has a wide distribution across inland Australia (Morton 1995a), it has declined in many parts of this range including the western region of New South Wales (NSW) where this study occurred. The species is currently listed as ‘Vulnerable’ in NSW, with overgrazing being considered one of the leading threats (Dickman et al. 2001). METHODS This study was conducted at the University of New South Wales Fowlers Gap Arid Zone Research Station (31° 09’ S; 141° 07’ E), 112 km north of Broken Hill, NSW. A 12.5 ha grazing exclosure was constructed there in 1981, fenced with a 2 m high barrier of rabbit and kangaroo mesh buried 30 cm into the ground. The fence was intended to exclude all medium and large herbivores, including rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), kangaroos (Macropus rufus, Macropus robustus, Macropus giganteus, Macropus fuliginosus), sheep (Ovis aries), goats (Capra hircus) and emus (Dromaius novaehollandiae). Small mammals readily move through the fence. The enclosed area has been used sporadically for studies on Macropus spp., D. novaehollandiae and sheep since construction, but only for short periods (up to six weeks per year). O. cuniculus occasionally find passage into the fenced area, but are not common inside. The fence was not designed to exclude predators and, while it may have hindered passage by foxes (Vulpes vulpes), cats (Felis catus) and some native reptilian predators, the exclosure is not predator free. Avian predators also have ready access. During this four-month study (25 October 2001 – 1 March 2002), no large hervivores were present in the exclosure and few sheep or goats Frank A and Soderquist T, 2005. The importance of refuge habitat in the local conservation of stripe-faced dunnarts Sminthopsis macroura on arid rangelands. Australian Mammalogy 27: 75-79. Key words: stripe-faced dunnart, Sminthopsis macroura, grazing, habitat selection. A Frank, Museum Alexander Koenig, Rheinische Friedrich Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Konrad-Adenauer- Allee 160, 53111 Bonn, Germany. T Soderquist, Threatened Species Unit, Dept. of Environment and Conservation, 48 Wingewarra St, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia. E-mail: todd.soderquist@npws.nsw.gov.au. Manuscript received 19 February 2004; accepted 23 April 2004.