BIODIVERSITY MONITORING IN THE PETER MURRELL RESERVES BY THE TASMANIAN FIELD NATURALISTS CLUB

In March 2010, the Tasmanian Field Naturalists Club (TFNC) undertook a fauna and flora survey of the Peter Murrell reserves with the overall objective of: (1) providing the land manager, the Parks and Wildlife Service (PWS), with information that would assist with the management and understanding of the reserves; and (2) to provide club members with the opportunity to participate in a range of monitoring activities. The Peter Murrell reserves were chosen for survey for several reasons: the PWS was planning to undertake management burns in the reserves; they are close to Hobart with easy access; they provide habitat for a number of species that would be adversely impacted should the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) become widely established in Tasmania; and they are also becoming increasing isolated through urban development with unknown impacts on its wildlife. Biodiversity monitoring within the reserves will focus, at least initially, on areas subject to management burns primarily for the purpose of fuel reduction.