A Strategy for Utilization of Regenerating Heathland Habitat by the Brown Bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus; Marsupialia, Peramelidae)

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Abstract
Bandicoots (I. obesulus) exhibit a clear preference for newly regenerating heathland, but this is most strongly shown by juveniles of both sexes, young mature females and large, old males. Middle-aged bandicoots increase their range of movement to include much more established vegetation. The population shows little annual fluctuation in size although the level of transience is high. The breeding season is highly predictable and females start to breed synchronously. It ends abruptly after 6 mo. Young females appear to commence breeding earlier than old females. There is a positive relationship between mean litter size and female body weight. The litter size declined from 1974, through 1975-1976. Within each year there is a chronological increase in litter size. Females produce, on average, 8.27 young/yr, but recruitment into the trappable population varies between about 12 and 18%. Approximately 7/8 of the production is lost from the study area. Bandicoots may be well adapted to utilize regenerating heath because of their high reproductive rate and their utilization of suboptimal adjacent habitats when the optimum habitat can be reinvaded. Their reproductive strategy oscillates about a continuum influenced by changes in juvenile and adult mortality and is similar to a semelparity-iteroparity gradient (the production of 1 litter or many litters during the life-span) although the oscillation is contained within narrow limits at the iteroparity end of the scale. Lack of predation, high longevity and (presumed) synchronous invasion of a newly created habitat results in a 3 year wave-like replacement of males.

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