The southern- hairy nosed wombat (SHN) (Lasiorhinus latifrons) is a large colonial herbivorous marsupial. The species is predominantly nocturnal and inhabits interconnected burrow systems called warrens that act as protection from predation, fire, extreme weather as well as microclimate stability. This species is common, but patchily distributed, over the southern, semi arid regions of South and Western Australia with further populations in the Murraylands regions of South Australia. Wombat activities in these regions are under current pressure from human conflict with agricultural practices (due to the wombats large invasive warrens and grazing nature), land degradation, changing climate and disease. One such disease of prime interest is the highly contagious ectoparasitic mite infection caused by Sarcoptes scabiei var wombati, or commonly referred to as sarcoptic mange.
There has been minimal general research conducted on the Murrayland mite population. This research project seeks to investigate the spatial distribution of SHN infected with the mange and to evaluate the factors contributing to its survival, proliferation and dispersal. Such factors include climate variables (i.e. humidity, rainfall, temperature), burrow size, wombat density. The analysis will allow us to assess how the mites distribution will be influenced by climate change and help future management of the species in the conflict with landholders.