Catherine Baudains

Like many of Australia’s digging mammals, the southern-brown bandicoot (known locally in the southwest of WA as the quenda) is considered an ecosystem engineer — their digging activities alter their physical surroundings, changing resource availability for other plants and animals. The ‘ecosystem services’ provided by quenda are likely to be crucial to maintaining a healthy ecosystem.

Murdoch University prides itself on its fundamental and applied research, as demonstrated by our work in biosecurity and invasive animals. Our researchers work across terrestrial and aquatic systems directly with industry and community partners.

Wild dogs are a huge problem for Australian livestock producers, costing farmers an estimated $50 million annually in livestock losses and for their control. Here we describe outcomes of a recent project that has examined aspects of wild dog control in WA.