Artificial nectar supplementation for vertebrates after wildfires – proof of concept
Abstract
Following the 2019–2020 wildfires of Kangaroo Island, the threatened little pygmy-possum (Cercartetus lepidus) lost 88% of its range. We determined whether supplementary nectar could be delivered successfully for wildlife recovery and developed a proof of concept for Cercartetus spp. We created the Stonor feeder, which can be made cheaply, and was used by C. concinnus, brushtail possums, several bird species, and even the marbled gecko, not previously known to feed on nectar. Although the deployment of such a feeding program might assist some threatened species, whether it should be conducted needs serious evaluation, planning, and scientific investigation.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Amphibian and Reptile Biology
Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Australian Journal of Zoology
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Volume
- 74
- Issue
- 2
- Publication date
- 2 March 2026
- Language
- EN