This is an online (Zoom) talk and meeting.

Dr Emily Scicluna will discuss all things Fat-tailed Dunnart: ecology, conservation status, skulls, behaviour, threats… and what needs to occur to conserve this species. The Fat-tailed Dunnrt is the last small marsupial of the grasslands – and a mighty predator. Emily is the force behind the recent listing of "Dunnies" as Vulnerable under the Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act, and they are now included on the Threatened Species List in Victoria. Loss of their native grassland habitat, as grazing becomes replaced by cropping, has been a major factor in their decline.

Emily recently completed her PhD at La Trobe University and is now a Research Associate at The University of Melbourne, specialising in carnivorous marsupial conservation. Within her PhD project, Emily investigated a number of key aspects of Fat-tailed Dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) ecology, captive breeding, characterisation of personality, cognitive ability, skull morphology and reintroduction success. Her questions revolved around what changes occur during captivity that might influence reintroduction success later.

Emily's talk will be followed by a Grassy Plains Network monthly meeting. The Zoom link for both the talk and the meeting is https://us06web.zoom.us/j/8959...

Photo by Caleb McElrea Media