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The common names of species serve an important role in scientific and everyday communication, so well-constructed names should be easy to remember and convey important information about a species. The discovery of new species, or the revision and splitting of existing species, may lead to new or changed common names. We review new common names given to Australian mammal species described, or recognised, since the year 2000. We reference the principles adopted by the Australian Mammal Society in 1980, formulated to guide the selection of common names. Of 31 new species, 25 had common names that referenced their morphology, geographic location or ecosystem, one had an indigenous name and five involved eponyms (named after a person). Three of the eponyms reflected the animal's specific name, one was given after consultation with indigenous cultural experts, and one was named after the collector of the specimen. We argue that the recommended common name for this latter species (Petaurus notatus) was inconsistent with the long-standing principles of the Australian Mammal Society for selecting common names, so we offer an alternative name, the inland sugar glider. Common names may be subservient to scientific names but they play an important role, and therefore, should be selected very carefully and be consistent with established principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tree sap is important in the diet of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis). I investigated the use of 66 trees in sap feeding by gliders at 32 sites (equating to 32 glider groups) in eight surveys over 2 years in the Shoalhaven region of New South Wales to evaluate the potential to use such trees in population monitoring. I estimated the probability of detecting two different types of glider incision made on the sap trees within 0-3 months of a survey: one representing bouts of sap feeding and the other representing the testing of the suitability of these trees for sap feeding. The probability of detecting each type of incision varied by season, being lowest in autumn and highest in spring (feeding: 0.30 ± 0.03 (s.e.) to 0.51 ± 0.04; testing: 0.40 ± 0.04 to 0.63 ± 0.03). I also investigated whether detection of any new incision differed between individual sap trees at a site. The probability of detection per survey was equivalent (0.76 ± 0.03) between trees and between years. The incisions accumulate over a year, so scoring any incisions made since a previous annual survey will increase this probability. New incisions were detected in each of the two sample years at all sites indicating short-term stability in home range occupancy and demonstrating a useful method of population monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Knowledge of the role of non-flying mammals in the pollination of the Australian flora is still incomplete. We captured non-flying mammals visiting Banksia ericifolia in north-east New South Wales and sampled pollen from their heads. The grassland melomys (Melomys burtoni) was captured >4 times more often than the house mouse (Mus musculus) or the swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus). Nocturnal pollen loads (mean 295 ±53 grains) measured on the melomys are among the highest for an Australian non-flying mammal. Pollen removal from flowers at night was widespread. These observations suggest the grassland melomys is likely to play an important role in the pollination of subtropical B. ericifolia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated nest temperatures in nest boxes occupied by single lactating brush-tailed phascogales (n = 8 boxes) and 1–3 adult sugar gliders (n = 7 boxes) when overnight ambient temperature dropped to <5°C. Temperature in the nest decreased or increased rapidly as animals vacated or re-occupied their nests. In the hour following first night-time departure, temperatures in sugar glider nests dropped by 9°C but only by 4°C in phascogale nests. The slower rate in phascogale nests was due to the presence of nestlings. Phascogales returned repeatedly to the nest during the night, resulting in an average 15°C differential above ambient over the night (2200–0500 h). Gliders returned infrequently during the night, resulting in an average nest-ambient differential of 3–5°C. After departure some glider nests tracked ambient to <0°C. The ability of nests to insulate and moderate temperature fluctuations requires further study. Our study highlights that we have incomplete knowledge of many aspects of the nesting ecology of cavity-using Australian mammals. We describe winter temperature variation in nest boxes occupied by brush-tailed phascogales and sugar gliders when overnight temperatures dropped to <5°C. Phascogale mothers returned often during the night, keeping nest and nestlings warm. Gliders returned infrequently to the nest, so some nests tracked ambient to <0°C. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Population monitoring of arboreal mammals should be informed by estimates of detection probabilities from different methods. We employed trapping and spotlighting across 36 transects to detect the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis). Repeat surveys were conducted over five sessions. We used multi-method occupancy to compare these methods. The probability of detection did not differ between one night of spotlighting (0.23 ± 0.04, mean ± s.e.), or one night of trapping (0.22 ± 0.03). Trapping continued for three nights, which led to the probability of detection rising to 0.41 ± 0.04. Spotlighting was only conducted once per session. These methods would require equivalent effort when conducted over three nights. Further investigation is required to compare this and other methods such as camera trapping and spotlighting with thermal cameras. Population monitoring of arboreal mammals should be informed by estimates of detection probabilities from different methods. We employed trapping and spotlighting across 36 transects to detect the squirrel glider. The probability of detection did not differ between one night of spotlighting (0.23 ± 0.04, mean ± s.e.), or one night of trapping (0.22 ± 0.03). Photograph by Brendan Taylor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small macropodoid marsupials are well represented among Australia's extinct and threatened mammals. Population monitoring is central to understanding how remaining species respond to on‐going landscape change and threatening processes on private land and within managed conservation reserves. Camera trapping and occupancy modelling provide a reliable approach to monitor these often cryptic species. However, understanding the survey effort required to detect population declines of a given magnitude with high statistical certainty is often overlooked. We use empirical data from camera trapping and occupancy modelling to determine an optimal survey design for a regionally endangered population of the black‐striped wallaby. We established a 1200 ha grid of 60 cameras and sampled in three 30‐day intervals over a 1‐year period. We investigated factors that may influence occupancy and detection followed by power analyses with our broad objective being to devise a monitoring program that would be robust enough to detect a 50% decline with at least 80% power. This species was not detected at rainforest sites. Naïve occupancy within eucalypt forest was 0.42. The detection probability (using 5‐day detection occasions) varied with season (from 0.17 ± 0.04 in autumn to 0.34 ± 0.05 in spring). Occupancy was negatively influenced by shrub cover and negatively influenced by elevation. We found no apparent influence of dingo detection on occupancy or detection of the black‐striped wallaby. We explored different configurations of detection sites and number of survey occasions to satisfy our 50:80 criteria when initial occupancy was 0.40. Sampling 60 sites for a minimum of 30 days would satisfy these criteria. Power analyses can inform optimal designs for threatened species monitoring and similar investigations should be conducted for other threatened small macropods to assist their conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]