The cutest little marsupial in the world? A Mardo known scientifically as the Yellow Footed Antechinus. Very lucky to see six of these tiny creatures with large pink ears and dark glistening eyes.  Generally just a matter of sitting quietly close to the tangled branches of a long dead tree and looking for movement.  These little guys seemed to emerge around 9.30am, when the warmth of the sun made itself felt in the understory.  Active little creatures that dart in and out of hollows, up trees, through the leaf litter in search of insects.  Interestingly, this is a species where males die after breeding.  Years ago in an honours thesis for my Zoology degree I modelled the long term viability of two populations of Dibblers, a closely related species that lived on two islands off the coast of Jurien Bay.  On one island males died after breeding while on the other island they lived for several years like females.  The two islands are only a few hundred metres apart, so why the difference?  Phd studies by other students found that male lifespan is genetically controlled, however a degree of plasticity exists in male lifespan, whereby, environmental factors operate to influence genetic expression.  Effectively a genetic switch.  In harsher environments and years where resources are scarce the switch is flicked and males die after breeding.  In years and places where resources are abundant the switch stays off and males live long happy, fulfilled lives!!