Backyard Bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation

后院袋鼠：让社区参与城市灌木丛的保护。该项目旨在通过确定城市土拨鼠所使用的资源，开发一个城市生态系统功能和恢复的模型。挖掘哺乳动物物种在寻找无脊椎动物、地下真菌和植物材料时，会翻转大量的土壤。这些生态系统工程师在水分渗透、养分循环、增加土壤微生物功能和幼苗补充方面做出了贡献。它们传播假冒的菌根真菌，这些真菌有助于植物营养，这在澳大利亚营养贫瘠的土壤中至关重要。这项研究有望改善灌木丛保护区的有针对性的种植，并识别和减轻城市中袋鼠的威胁。

Backyard bandicoots: Engaging community in urban bushland conservation. This project aims to develop a model for urban ecosystem function and restoration, by identifying resources used by urban bandicoots (quenda). Digging mammal species turn over substantial volumes of soil as they forage for invertebrates, subterranean fungi, and plant material. These ecosystem engineers contribute to water infiltration, nutrient cycling, increased soil microorganism function, and seedling recruitment. They spread hypogeous mycorrhizal fungi that contribute to plant nutrition, crucial in Australia's nutrient-poor soils. This research is expected to improve targeted plantings in bushland reserves, and identify and mitigate threats to bandicoots in cities.