The population dynamics of nectar-feeding non-flying mammals are poorly documented. We investigated aspects of the population ecology of the eastern pygmy-possum ( Cercartetus nanus) in southern New South Wales. We captured 65 individuals over a 4-year period during 5045 trap-nights and 1179 nest-box checks. The body mass of adult males (means.e.=24.61.0 g) was marginally not significantly different ( P=0.08) from that of non-parous adult females (28.21.9 g). Females gave birth to a single litter each year of 3-4 young during February-May. No juveniles were detected in spring of any year. Mark-recapture modelling suggested that survival probability was constant over time (0.78) while recapture probability (0.04-0.81) varied with season and trap effort. The local population (estimated at ~20-25 individuals) underwent a regular seasonal variation in abundance, with a decline in spring coinciding with the cessation of flowering by Banksia. A population trough in spring has been observed elsewhere. This appears to represent some local migration from the study area, suggesting a strategy of high mobility to track floral resources. Conservation of this species will depend on a more detailed understanding of how flowering drives population dynamics.
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