Mountain Pygmy Possum, 20 years of research. Dr Ian Mansergh, Part 2

Ecological connectivity of habitats is a major issue for conservation in Australia at multiple scales. The endangered Mountain Pygmy-possum (Burramys parvus) is the only Australian mammal restricted to the alpine subalpine region and seen as the canary in the coal mine for global warming in Australia. Major alpine resorts and downhill skiing occur within each of its three regional and genetically distinct populations generating a history of land use and management conflicts. In the 1980s, the Mt Higginbotham Mt Loch population (bisected by the Mt Hotham Alpine Resort) was (and remains) the largest, most viable population supporting the largest part of the total global population. In 1986 a corridor and tunnel were constructed on Mt Higginbotham, to mimic the boulder-field habitat and restore ecological connectivity of Burramys which was disrupted by a road and resort infrastructure. Facilitating access to migratory males, the "tunnel of love" achieved early notoriety and scientific success (Mansergh and Scotts 1989).

Analysis of annual monitoring data since 1981 indicates positive long-term effect of the tunnel. Habitat and population connectivity was restored and importantly remained ecologically within the larger demographic unit, local extinction being avoided. Although there were edaphic differences between the disturbed (tunnel) and control sites, at the latter: population abundance increased; social age structure levels and survivability were restored; however, weights and fecundity remained lower. This paper reports on: the continuing ecological success of this installation over 23 years; subsequent efforts at other sites; and some of the broader and positive societal effects of the experiment in the scientific, educational and popular literature.

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Science & Technology