This chapter focuses on the establishment of a long-term ecological research experiment to understand the restoration of box-gum grassy woodlands through key interventions, the reintroduction of locally extinct species, particularly ecosystem engineers like the eastern bettong. A predator-proof fence built around Mulligans Flat and Goorooyarroo Nature Reserves enabled the safe reintroduction of native species and exclusion of invasive predators. Key objectives included evaluating the ecosystem impacts of treatments, reintroducing species at different trophic levels, such as the eastern bettong, and understanding the broader dynamics of the ecosystem through long-term monitoring of various response variables, including birds, mammals and invertebrates. The project also explored the concept of whole ecosystem restoration, where the reintroduction of species, coupled with fire and grazing management, was aimed at restoring ecological processes. The research demonstrated the potential of multi-species, sequenced reintroductions as a strategy for ecosystem recovery. Ultimately, this work contributes to broader ecological restoration practices, offering insights into species interactions, trophic impacts, and long-term ecosystem sustainability in Australian woodlands.

The successful reintroduction of eastern bettongs relies on suitable food being available, particularly truffles (underground fungal fruitbodies). Here, we compared stable isotopes (carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ15N)) and radiocarbon (∆14C) in hair and scat in bettongs subsequently reintroduced to Mulligan Flat Woodland Sanctuary (MFWS) against marsupial species of different diets to test whether such measurements are useful for dietary assessments. Patterns in bettong scat δ13C reflected seasonal shifts in the consumption of photosynthate derived from C3 plants (dicots and temperate grasses) versus C4 plants (tropical grasses), whereas a winter peak in scat δ15N reflected maximum reliance on truffle consumption. In hair, eastern bettongs resembled preferential fungivores in δ13C and δ15N and differed from carnivores, grazers, herbivores and opportunistic fungivores. Radiocarbon levels were higher in fungivorous potoroos than in wallaby grazers, suggesting similar measurements in eastern bettongs could assess fungal importance in their diet. These isotopic measurements will be useful for assessing the diets of reintroduced bettongs and other fungivorous marsupials in new environments.