In this part of southern New South Wales, where the land has been extensively cleared for sheep and wheat production, only 10 per cent of the original Mallee scrub is left. That's a disaster for local fauna that lived there before white settlement. Some species are already extinct. Don Driscoll from Australia's science agency, CSIRO, and his team, have been carrying out field trips to find out the extent of the impact.

"What I want to know is, are the creatures who used to live here still able to live here. Now a lot of people looked at birds but I'm interested in the little creatures that live on the ground, oh what have we got here, a little gecko."

It seems like quite a task, but Don Driscoll and his team are using a simple method to try to find out what species of spiders, beetles and reptiles are at risk. Out in the scrub, they dig trenches, lay down mesh fences and bury plastic buckets in the ground. Then early in the morning, they check the buckets to see what creature have fallen in.

Today the team have found 20 different reptile species which will be taken back to the base camp to be identified and marked before being released. By comparing the genetic make up of the same creatures from different sites Don can work out how far they have been able to travel. If the distance between the remaining areas of Mallee scrub is too large for the tiny creatures to move between them, it could be the end of the line for that particular species.

"Now I'm interested in studying movement indirectly using genetics because I want to know if these creatures are able to traverse the big distances between remnant Mallee patches so perhaps be able to recolonise places after they become extinct there."

For a small dragon and a species of legless lizards it's already too late and nine other reptile species are in decline. If scientists and concerned farmers work together, using this research, they can make the Mallee scrub a better habitat for small native creatures.

CSIRO Enquiries
Email: Enquiries@csiro.au
Phone: 1300 363 400
Locked Bag 10
Clayton South
VIC 3169