bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Is the Carpentarian Rock-rat Zyzomys palatalis critically endangered?
Authors: M. J. S. Bowman David , L McIntyre Daniel , W. Brook Barry
Published: May 2016

The Carpentarian Rock-rat Zyzomys palatalis is a rare conilurine rodent with a global distribution restricted to a small area of sandstone escarpments in the Gulf of Carpentaria region of the Northern Territory. Previous assessments of its World Conservation Union (IUCN) status in 1996 had classified the species as Critically Endangered based on the restricted area of occupancy and a putative decline in the extent and quality of its closed forest habitat due to uncontrolled landscape fires. A later population viability analysis confirmed that habitat loss was potentially the single most important threatening process. Here we argue that the species should be reclassified as Vulnerable, on the basis of the following new evidence: (1) the assumption that it was a closed forest specialist was not supported by a radiotracking study, which showed that on average 43% of an individual's monitored time was spent in the forest-savannah margin, and (2) analysis of repeat historical aerial photography has shown that the core closed forest habitat has in fact increased by 36% over the last 50 years. This has lead to an increase of 140 in the minimum number of equivalent Z. paJatalis territories, from 387 to 587, when home range overlaps and utilization of the savannah margins are considered. Reclassification of the species' conservation status should be accompanied with: (i) genetic studies of relatedness between isolated populations; (ii) monitoring and maintenance of the integrity of the landscapes, including creeklines that connect patches; and (iii) consideration of the introduction of captive bred specimens into an adjacent unoccupied fragments.
Prestige, taboo, and sustainability: predicting wildlife population trajectories in indigenous commerce
Authors: S. Monson Clark. , Alan Cox Paul
Published: May 2016

Commercial traffic in plants and animals has led to severe declines for some species, while others have experienced few if any negative impacts. Given the uncertainty regarding which species are likely to be adversely affected by monetized trade, it would be useful to have a model that could predict wildlife population trajectories of wild-gathered species subsequent to commercialization. We suggest that the indigenous conservation strategy of "taboo" offers important insights into identifying species that are susceptible to over-exploitation through commercial traffic. We describe an economic conservation/extinction model based on the dual concepts of taboo and optimal foraging strategy and examine the model through a detailed case study of vulnerability to perturbation in the case of commercial traffic in Pacific island flying foxes. We suggest that tile virtual eradication of flying foxes from the island of Guam during the Twentieth Century resulted from a cultural predilection among the indigenous Chamorro people for consuming flying foxes coupled with the cultural loss of the traditional taboo conservation system on the island.
Are regional ecosystems compatible with floristic heterogeneity? A case study from Toohey Forest, south-east Queensland, Australia
Authors: W. Wardell-Johnson Grant , E. Lawson Ben , H. Coutts Robert
Published: May 2016

The recognition and effective portrayal of floristic heterogeneity is a complex issue for land classification. This study in Toohey Forest, south-east Queensland, examines the effects of mapping scale and environmental variables on a floristically heterogeneous area. Current Version 4.1 regional ecosystem mapping at 1: 1 00 000 scale maps Toohey Forest as a single regional ecosystem unit "12.11.5", described as an "open forest complex with Corymbia citriodora, Eucalyptus siderophloia, E. major on metamorphics ± interbedded volcanics". Plant taxa data from 50, 20 x 20 m sites comprising 247 native vascular plant taxa were collected, along with data for 17 environmental variables and 10 species richness categories. A priori site groupings of 1 :12 500 scale vegetation mapping and a geomorphic classifications of the area were examined using cluster analysis (UPGMA, Bray-Curtis Metric, β = –0.1) and ordination (SSH MDS). Biplots of several variables (shrub species richness, total species richness, per cent rock cover, CEC, carbon and phosphorus) were significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with the ordination axes derived from each of the two strata levels and the total taxa, for both geomorphological and vegetation mapping. Several variables (shrub, vine, woody and introduced species richness, and carbon, nitrogen, phosphorus, pH and CEC) varied significantly (P < 0.05) across both geomorphic categories and 1:12 500 scale vegetation community mapping. The ongoing reduction in regional ecosystem mapping scale, centred on the use of fine-scale geomorphology mapping, is likely to improve the representation of floristic patterns in heterogeneous environments.
Naked Ape to Superspecies: A personal perspective on humanity and the global eco-crisis 2nd Edition
Authors: Russell Monica
Published: May 2016

The book Naked Ape to Superspecies outlines some of the most disturbing issues associated with the environment on a world scale and highlights the constant growing pressure we are placing on our environment. David Suzuki (Canadian science broadcaster, geneticist, public lecturer, and environmental and civil rights activist) and Holly Dressel (environmentalist and writer/researcher), authors of Good News for a Change (1997) imply that the human species is at a turning point in time so significant to our existence that if changes arc not made now, not only in our way of thinking but in our underlying economical, social and political decision making, we will ultimately destroy the environment.
The impact of fire and dogs on Koalas at Port Stephens, New South Wales, using population viability analysis
Authors: Lunney Danial , Gresser Shaan , E. O'neill Lisa , Matthews Alison , Rhodes Jonathan
Published: May 2016

The Port Stephens Koala Phascolarctos cinereus population has been regarded as one of the strongholds for Koalas in New South Wales. This study applied population viability analysis to investigate the impact of fire and predation by dogs on the viability of the local population. The rapid decline of the modelled Koala population under basic assumptions throws the assumed security of such large populations into question. In all the modelled management scenarios, reducing mortality had more influence than any other factor. Reducing the severity and frequency of large catastrophic fires improved the probability of survival for the population, though the modelled population size still declined sharply. Any management action to improve Koala survival must be accompanied by a reduction in mortality from dog attacks. Fires and dogs will have an ever greater impact on Koala populations as coastal forests become more fragmented and isolated by urban development, and their combined control will be needed to complement land-use planning measures to address habitat loss and fragmentation.
Incorporating marine turtle habitats into the marine protected area design for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park, Queensland, Australia
Authors: Dobbs Kirstin , Fernandes Leanne , Slegers Suzanne , Jago Belinda , Thompson Leanne , Hall James , Day Jon , Cameron Darren , Tanzer John , MacDonald Fiona , Limpus Col
Published: May 2016

Marine turtle habitats were considered in the design of the new zoning network for the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park as part of the Representative Areas Programme. One of the specific design guidelines developed was the incorporation of marine turtle inter-nesting and foraging habitats into the overall network of no-take areas. The guideline was refined further for individual nesting and foraging sites to incorporate all very high priority nesting sites and to incorporate 20% of each identified foraging site, respectively. Marine turtle inter-nesting habitat increased in no-take area protection from 781 km2 to 1 886 km2 (23.4% to 56.5% of all identified sites); marine turtle foraging habitat increased in no-take area protection from 3 063 km2 to 12 490 km2 (7.1% to 29.1% of all identified sites). Although the nesting and foraging principles were not achieved in total for all identified marine turtle sites, overall the level of protection afforded by the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Zoning Plan 2003 increased for nearly all marine turtle sites identified. Additionally, other activities (e.g. water quality, fisheries, traditional use of marine resources) occurring in the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park that may impact upon marine turtles are being addressed via other mechanisms.
Conservation, Natural History and Science: the Challenge too Great, the Time too Short
Authors: F. Recher Harry
Published: May 2016

Good conservation is sound management based on good science and a thorough understanding of the natural history of the organisms and systems being managed. Even doing nothing, as some advocate for wilderness, is a management decision and one which should have its foundations in science and natural history. This idea that conservation management should have a strong scientific and natural history basis is a recurrent theme of Duffy and Kraus (2008) in their analysis of conservation management in Hawaii. It is a theme that I cannot disagree with, nor can I disagree with Duffy and Kraus when they argue that natural history knowledge is not appreciated and that there is a failure to include scientific knowledge in management decisions. I don?t have to live and work in Hawaii to reach this view; not much is different in Australia.
Medawar?s medicine: the local-global prescription for conservation actions
Authors: A. Leidy Robert , Lee Fiedler Peggy
Published: May 2016

Duffy and Kraus (2008) provide a broadly relevant and generally insightful overview of what plagues implementation of effective conservation science. That their overview is true is largely because many, if not all, of their insights and proffered solutions to remedy the ineffectiveness of conservation science apply globally. That is, one could replace ?Hawai?i? with any number of other Pacific islands and continental venues, a depressing and rapidly growing list of threatened ecosystems. In essence, the conservation issues raised by Duffy and Kraus are not local, regional, or by any means, unique to Hawai?i, although Hawai?i does represent one of the more challenging places to implement conservation practice successfully. Distinctions between regional (viz., island) and continental environmental crises are becoming blurred as ecosystems become increasingly fragmented and isolated, and their supporting processes altered. For example, California at approximately 40.5 million hectares, 38 million residents, and 150 years of habitat fragmentation now consists of many much smaller natural habitat fragments surrounded by a matrix of human-altered landscapes than only 50 years ago. These island fragments vary in size, number and spatial orientation not unlike island archipelagos. Furthermore, current knowledge gaps are universal, invasive species are invading every island and continent, more species are endangered or extinct than we can possibly know, document or protect, millions of ecosystems worldwide would benefit from some type of protection, active restoration, and management, and all types of conservation activities are grossly under funded around the globe.
Powerline easements: ecological impacts and contribution to habitat fragmentation from linear features
Authors: C. Strevens Tanya , L. Puotinen Marji , J. Whelan Robert
Published: May 2016

The ecological effects of roads on plant and animal populations are well recognized. However, very little is known about the magnitude of the effects created by powerline easements. Like roads, powerline easements are ubiquitous in many landscapes, including reserves such as National Parks, which have restricted human activities. Regular mowing of the easements to manage vegetation regrowth creates a stark discontinuity with adjacent natural vegetation. Abrupt transitions such as these contribute to habitat fragmentation and are associated with movement and dispersal inhibition of fauna. We used GIS to estimate the area of direct and indirect effects of powerline easements in a 5735 km2 area of coastal New South Wales, focusing on the potential reduction of habitat area both within and outside reserves. While the area directly replaced by these features is a small percentage of the total landscape (<1%), the upper estimates of direct and indirect effects combined amounted to a substantial portion of habitat (10 103 ha). Further, roads and powerlines combined may affect up to 33 780 ha (8%) of habitat in the study area. Although the overall ecological impact of powerline easements could be reduced by concentrating them in regions of pre-existing fragmentation, in our study area powerlines rarely occurred adjacent to paved roads. For example, in National Parks, only 3% of the habitat area affected by powerlines overlapped with that affected by roads. This study highlights the potential for powerline easements to make a significant contribution to habitat fragmentation, even in the presence of dense road networks, thus calling for greater attention to their ecological impacts and to improved management strategies.
Ground-based rodent control in a remote Hawaiian rainforest on Maui
Authors: R. Malcolm Trent , J. Swinnerton Kirsty , J. Groombridge Jim , D. Sparklin Bill , N. Brosius Christopher , P. Vetter John , T. Foster Jeffrey
Published: May 2016

Effective control of introduced mammalian predators is essential to the recovery of native bird species in Hawai?i. Between August 1996 and December 2004, introduced rodents were controlled within three home ranges of the Po?ouli Melamprosops phaeosoma, a critically endangered Hawaiian honeycreeper. Rats were controlled using a combination of ground-based rodenticide (0.005% diphacinone) application and snap traps. Beginning in August 2001, we monitored the effectiveness of these rodent control efforts. Relative abundances of Black Rats Rattus rattus and Polynesian Rats R. exulans were measured in each of five snap-trapping grids seven times over a 35-month period. Rat populations decreased inside of the rodent control areas, but control effectiveness differed between rat species. During the first year of monitoring, target control levels for R. rattus were consistently achieved in only one of the rodent control areas. Control techniques were refined in areas failing to meet targets. Subsequently, we achieved target control levels for R. rattus more consistently in all three rodent control areas. However, relative abundances of R. exulans did not differ between rodent control and reference areas, indicating that our rodent control techniques were insufficient to reduce population levels of this species. These findings signify a need for further improvement of rodent control methods in Hawai?i, especially for Polynesian Rats, and demonstrate the critical importance of periodic monitoring of the response of rodent populations to management. In the future, managers may need to design rodent control operations targeting R. rattus and R. exulans independently to achieve best results.
Nauru - Opportunity in loss
Authors: Feary Sascha
Published: May 2016

The nation of Nauru lies 72 km south of the equator in the Pacific Ocean. Until the discovery of phosphate deposits on the island at the beginning of the 19th century Nauru was covered in dense tropical rainforest which was tended in a traditional form of agroforestry by the indigenous Naumans, From the forest came fruits such as pandanus, fibre, and timber such as the Tomano or Pacific Mahogany. Aquaculture was performed in the Buada Lagoon, fish, such as tuna were caught from the steep ring reef, and Noddy birds were caught as they came in from the ocean to roost in the evenings,
Pacific Conservation Biology: an authorship and citation analysis
Authors: C. Calver M. , A. Bryant K.
Published: May 2016

We analysed Pacific Conservation Biology?s authorship and readership from 1993?2007 to quantify who publishes in the journal, who cites the journal, how the journal compares to other conservation journals and whether there are trends in authorship and useage over time. Authors came from Australia (73%, represented in 15 of 15 years), the Americas (Canada, USA and South American countries) (12%, represented in 13 of 15 years), New Zealand (8%, represented in 14 of 15 years), other Pacific and Asian countries (4%, represented in 11 of 15 years) and Europe (2%, represented in 11 of 15 years). Overall, 46% of authors were academics. Using the Scopus database in April 2008 and the cited reference feature in the ISI Web of Science in July 2008, =84% papers published each year between 1993 and 2001 were cited at least once in each database, declining to under 19% in 2007 because articles had far less time to accrue citations. Using the cited reference feature in the ISI Web of Science database in July 2008, authors citing Pacific Conservation Biology came from Australia and 82 other countries. Compared to 24 journals listed in Thomson Reuters? ?Biodiversity Conservation? category in 2008, Pacific Conservation Biology ranked between the 10th and 39th percentiles for a range of citation statistics derived from both Scopus and ISI Web of Science, including: Journal Impact Factor (JIF) for 2006, mean JIF for 2001?2006 and h-index, g-index, mean citations/paper and median citations/paper for 2000?2006. Overall, most authors are Australian, but with consistent international representation and academic and non-academic authors. With time, most papers are cited (including many international citations) and citation statistics are within the range of similar journals abstracted in ISI Web of Science. On the basis of the results, we offer suggestions for increasing Pacific Conservation Biology?s use and a critique of the growing tendency to accept citation-based bibliometric data as indicators of the quality or achievements of journals and individual scientists.
Impacts of an incursion of African Big-headed Ants, Pheidole megacephala (Fabricius), in urban bushland in Perth, Western Australia
Authors: K. Callan Shae , D. Majer Jonathan
Published: May 2016

An incursion of the African Big-headed Ant, Pheidole megacephala, has recently been recorded in bushland in Perth, Western Australia. This unexpected discovery prompted an investigation into the effects of the incursion on the native ant assemblages. Extensive pitfall trapping in invaded and non-invaded areas revealed that the incursion had a significant negative impact on ant species richness, diversity and evenness. Approximately 53% of native ant species present in non-invaded bushland were not sampled in areas occupied by P. megacephala, while the remaining species suffered considerable declines in frequency of occurrence. Many of these species perform important ecosystem functions, and their loss was thought to have had serious consequences on the ecosystem. Changes to the prevalence of the various ant Functional Groups indicated major disruptions to the composition of the assemblage as the abundance of P. megacephala increased. Ants that avoided direct competition with P. megacephala, by occupying temperature dependant temporal niches, were more persistent in its presence. Estimates of the ant biomass sampled indicated that the invasive population was larger than that of all other ant species combined by several orders of magnitude. A feeding trial revealed intensified exploitation of food resources in invaded areas, which could have flow-on effects on other invertebrates and plants. Changes to predation, decomposition, and soil amelioration regimes, as well as possible disruptions to ant-plant interactions and invertebrate symbioses resulting from the disappearance of native ant species, were thought to have further eroded the conservation values of the ecosystem.
Causes of mortality in stranded Common Dolphin (Delphinus sp.) from New Zealand waters between 1998 and 2008
Authors: A Stockin Karen , J Duignan Padraig , D Roe Wendi , Meynier Laureline , Alley Maurice , Fettermann Ticiana
Published: May 2016

Post-mortem examinations provide valuable information on sources of mortality for marine mammal populations. However, no published data exist to describe causes of death in the New Zealand population of Common Dolphin (Delphinus sp.). In order to examine the proportion of human and non-human induced mortality affecting this population, necropsies were conducted on 133 individuals that stranded around the New Zealand coastline between 1998 and 2008. Of these, 92.5% (n=123) were found as beach cast carcasses, with just 7.5% (n=10) as live strandings that subsequently died or that were euthanized on humane grounds. The sample included 54 males, 67 females and 12 animals of unknown sex from a range of age classes. Of the individuals for which cause of mortality could be established, 41.2% (n=35) were classified as human induced, with 28.2% (n=24) of carcasses exhibiting evidence of net entanglement. A further 10.6% and 32.9% of mortality was attributable to disease and natural (non-human related) causes, respectively. Few examples of disease were detected, but this may be at least partly a consequence of sampling constraints. Of the carcasses assessed, 68.6% of individuals exhibited some form of parasitism. Parasites identified were typical of the genus and considered to be present in low to moderate burdens. The proportion of beach cast carcasses exhibiting evidence of net entanglement suggests that fisheries-related mortality maybe higher than that previously considered for the New Zealand Common Dolphin population.
Desert Water
Authors: R. Fulton Graham
Published: May 2016

About water. The photo in my mind is of a pool of permanent water in the desert fringe (Mileura Station). It was (and still is) called; Poonthoon Pool (see backcover for a picture of Poonthoon Pool. The water is salty more so than some bores. The why doesn?t matter. But it made a nice salty cup of tea, which some of the students in my company didn?t finish drinking even though they agreed with me that had they made soup with it the salt would have been advantageous. I only asked, ?Did the water boil?? Thus, it was safe to drink ? even better with soup. In some cities in Australia they are banning bottled water, because it is the most wasteful use of money and energy since the disposable razor. There are lessons to be learnt here. But, they are for you to evaluate.
Ecological Restoration: Principles, Values, and Structure of an Emerging Profession
Authors: E. M. Watson James
Published: May 2016

The field of ecological restoration is a rapidly growing discipline that encompasses a wide range of activities and brings together practitioners and theoreticians from a variety of backgrounds and perspectives. This textbook is part of the Science and Practice of Ecological Restoration Book Series which is intended to serve a broad audience of people who are active in the field of ecological restoration or have specialized interests in it. In the authors? own words, this book aims to move beyond the past twelve volumes in the series and create a unified vision of ecological restoration as a field of study, one that clearly states the discipline?s precepts and emphasizes issues of importance to those involved at all levels. In doing this, the authors fundamentally aim to embrace a wider, holistic definition that takes into account both environmental and social components.
New Zealand lacks comprehensive threatened species legislation ? comparison with legislation in Australia and the USA
Authors: N. H. Seabrook-Davison M. , Ji W. , H. Brunton D.
Published: May 2016

New Zealand lacks dedicated threatened species legislation which is hindering the effective recovery of the country?s threatened species. Few of New Zealand?s recorded threatened species receive active management. New Zealand is recognized as a biodiversity hotspot which has undergone widespread anthropogenic change in a relatively short time. Using its own threat classification system based on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List, but modified to suit the island characteristics of its biota, New Zealand has identified 2,788 species and subspecies within 14 taxonomic groups that are threatened with extinction. However, this level of awareness of the threatened state of New Zealand?s biota is not supported by comprehensive threatened species legislation. We reviewed New Zealand?s current legislation for the management and recovery of threatened species and made a comparison with the US Endangered Species Act 1973 (ESA1973) and the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Act 1999 (EPBC1999). We argue that New Zealand needs to develop similar legislation to the ESA1973 and EPBC1999 to enable an integrated and legally accountable approach to the management and recovery of threatened species. A strength of the ESA1973 and EPBC1999 is that species that have been assessed to be threatened with extinction are listed on a central government register with a legal mandate for the production of recovery plans. A weakness of both acts is that species can languish on these lists without effective recovery actions. Although not always implemented, both acts have the provision for the protection and conservation of critical habitat.
Australian Saltmarsh Ecology
Authors: Sommer Bea
Published: May 2016

Australia, including its territorial islands, is surrounded by almost 60 000 km of coastline (Geoscience Australia, http://www.ga.gov.au/education/) and, according to Saintilan, coastal saltmarshes occupy some 16 000 km2. Saltmarshes provide valuable ecosystem services and are generally recognized as among the most productive ecosystems on Earth. This is considered to be ecologically important because excess detrital matter exported to marine waters sustains food webs, including important fisheries (i.e., Odum?s [1980] ?outwelling hypothesis?). Although physically and biologically similar to saltmarshes elsewhere, Australian coastal saltmarshes have certain unique characteristics (e.g., the tidal zonation of marsh and mangroves and levels of productivity) that natural resource managers need to be aware of. Perhaps more so than elsewhere, the great majority of the Australian population lives along or near the coast. Consequently, Australian saltmarsh environments have been subject to significant human-driven change since European settlement. In spite of these compelling facts, Australian publications remain under-represented relative to the extent of saltmarsh on the continent. Australian Saltmarsh Ecology does much to correct this situation.
Obituary, Lionel Wayne Braithwaite, Ph.D.
Authors: Schodde Dick
Published: May 2016

ON Friday 4th
March, 2011, Australia
lost in Wayne
Braithwaite one of
its most pragmatic,
lateral-thinking and
influential conservation
ecologists at
the premature age of 69. He died after a long
and brave battle with pulmonary fibrosis. Wayne
was born and raised on a small property just
west of Griffith, New South Wales, the eldest of
three siblings. From the earliest age he was
engrossed in the natural world, and particularly
in birds: he had the largest and most
comprehensive collection of birds’ eggs in the
district, all properly data-based. During his
secondary schooling as a boarder at Canberra
Boys Grammar, he added to his egg collection
with long series from Red Hill. He then went
on to take his B.Sc. at the University of Sydney,
graduating in 1962 and landing a job immediately
as a biochemical analyst at Royal Prince
Alfred Hospital.
The significance of habitat and exposure to the reef-flat macroinvertebrates of Rarotonga, Cook Islands, for conservation planning
Authors: Drumm D J , Loneragan N R , Ellis N , Skilleter G A
Published: May 2016

Marine habitats are often used as surrogates of biodiversity for marine park planning. In this study we investigate
the significance of both habitat and wind exposure to reef-top macroinvertebrates to determine whether habitats alone
provide a surrogate of biodiversity. Detailed habitat maps of the reef flat of Rarotonga (Cook Islands) and historical
wind data, were used to assess the distribution and abundance of the macroinvertebrate fauna of the reef-top.
Macroinvertebrates were surveyed along transects at 128 sites in four main, broad habitat types (rubble/rock, sand/
coral, sand and algal rim) and two exposure categories (windward/leeward). Analyses of variance on the most abundant
species and multivariate ordination (nMDS) found that habitat was more important than exposure per se in explaining
the abundance of species and the composition of assemblages. The rubble/rock habitat had the greatest substratum
heterogeneity and structural complexity and supported the largest number of species and individuals. Five of the
abundant holothurian species and two echinoids (Echinometra mathaei and Tripneustes gratilla) were most abundant
in the rubble/rock, while two holothurian species (Holothuria cinerascens and Actinopyga mauritiana) and the gastropod
Trochus niloticus, were most abundant in the algal rim. Spatial data for the five most abundant species and two of
the key fisheries species highlighted the significance of the south-eastern, windward coast to all species, an area
that is most likely to be impacted by an increase in the frequency and magnitude of major storm events under future
climate change scenarios.
Dead standing trees contribute to the
conservation of arthropods in burnt woodland of
Kings Park, Western Australia
Authors: Majer Jonathan D , Toly Syprianus Radho , Recher Harry F
Published: May 2016

Dead, standing trees, commonly referred to as stags in Australia and as snags in North America, are a regular
feature of forests and woodlands. Although previously regarded as useless, often meriting removal, stags are now
recognized as important for wildlife. We quantified the abundance of arthropods that visited or used the trunks of
stags in Kings Park, an inner-city woodland park in Perth, Western Australia. Stags ranging from around 4 to 11 years
since death were compared with live trees of the same species; Jarrah Eucalyptus marginata, Tuart E. gomphocephala,
and Fraser’s Sheoak Allocasuarina fraseriana. At the ordinal level, stags were visited or used by almost as many taxa
of arthropods as live trees. One group, the beetles (Coleoptera), when considered at the morphospecies level, was
found to be only slightly less diverse on Eucalyptus stags than on live trees and was more diverse on sheoak stags
than live sheoaks. A large proportion of the beetle species was specific to either live trees or stags, suggesting that
the existence of stags enriches the diversity of arthropods in forests and woodlands. In addition to contributing to
arthropod diversity and conservation, these organisms provide a food source for insectivorous vertebrates, as well as
contributing to core ecosystem functions, such as nutrient cycling. Retention of stags therefore has important
conservation benefits and, other than when there is a risk to public safety, stags should be protected and allowed to
fall naturally in the course of time.
Coastal dolphins in north-western Australia: The need for re-evaluation of species listings and short-comings in the Environmental Impact Assessment process.
Authors: Bejder Lars , Hodgson Amanda , Loneragan Neil , Allen Simon
Published: May 2016

LITTLE is known about the distribution,
abundance and behavioural
ecology of dolphins in the tropical
north-west of Australia. This region is
remote, and until recently, has had a
relatively low human population. Two
of Australia’s tropical coastal dolphin
species, the Australian Snubfin
Orcaella heinsohni and Indo-Pacific
Humpback Dolphins Sousa chinensis
(“Snubfin Dolphin” and “Humpback
Dolphin”, hereafter) are known to
occur in the region. Australia-wide,
the only scientific publications on
these two species come from a few
studies from eastern Queensland,
where both species live in
“populations” of 50–100 individuals
(Parra et al. 2006a; Cagnazzi et al.
2009) that are genetically isolated
from one another (Parra 2011); have
small home ranges; and are found in
near-shore areas, typically within 3-
5 km of the coastline (Parra 2006;
Parra et al. 2002, 2004, 2006a,b;
Cagnazzi et al. 2009). In eastern
Australia, both species forage on
coastal/estuarine fish and cephalopods,
which is further evidence of
their reliance on the near-shore
environment (Parra and Jedensjö
2009). According to population sizes
in Queensland, and the extent of
potentially suitable habitat along the
north-west coast, the total numbers in
Western Australia are likely to be in
the low thousands of individuals
(i.e., < 5000). The combination of
these life-history characteristics may
render Snubfin and Humpback
Dolphins particularly vulnerable to
local extinctions due to human
activities such as habitat modification
and increased shipping and boating
activity (Frankham 2005; O’Grady et
al. 2006).
In this Essay, we review the current
extent of coastal developments in the
waters of north-west Australia. Then
we discuss the conservation and
management implications of this in
relation to coastal dolphins,
particularly Snubfin and Humpback
Dolphins. We also appraise the
current, non-targeted methods being
used to survey marine mammal
populations for environmental impact
assessments (EIAs), highlighting their
inadequacy for coastal dolphins.
Finally, we make recommendations
that should improve government
decision making processes for the
long term conservation of these two
species.
Using AFLP markers to inform population management of the endemic Chatham Island toetoe, Austroderia turbaria (Poaceae).
Authors: Houliston Gary J , Dawson Murray I , De Lange Peter J , Heenan Peter B
Published: May 2016

Austroderia turbaria Connor is a threatened grass endemic to the Chatham Islands. Although formerly more
widespread, remaining natural populations consist of highly fragmented remnants and/or individuals. Population genetic
analysis of seed-raised progeny from six of the extant natural populations on Chatham and Pitt islands, using amplified
fragment length polymorphisms (AFLPs) and microsatellite markers, shows that there are very low levels of variation
(expected estimated heterozygosity He 0.023–0.030, no. of effective alleles Na 1.039–1.053), and no significant
differentiation within or between populations on the two islands. Flow cytometric analysis of endosperm to embryo ratios
suggests a sexual breeding system. This lack of population variation and no discernable differences between the two
islands suggest that management practices such as the establishment of new populations can be carried out irrespective
of the location of source material. One caveat to this is the possibility of Fusarium wilt occurring on the islands, in
which case measures should be taken to best prevent spread across the range of the species.
Long-term response of the mamane forest to feral herbivore management on Mauna Kea, Hawaii.
Authors: Reddy E , Van Vuren D H , Scowcroft P G , Kauffman J B , Perry L
Published: May 2016

Seven exclosure sites located on Mauna Kea, Hawaii and established in the 1960s and 70s were sampled to
characterize long-term response of the mamane (Sophora chrysophylla) forest to protection from feral sheep grazing,
and to assess impacts of non-native plant species and recurrent sheep presence on forest recovery. The forest
provides essential habitat for an endangered bird, the palila (Loxoides bailleui). Vegetation was sampled inside
exclosures during 1972–1976, 1998, and 2009, and also outside exclosures during 2009. Patterns of response
varied among exclosures, but overall, mamane trees and native shrubs showed increasing cover between the 1970s
and 1998, then a slowed rate of increase in cover or a decline between 1998 and 2009. Cover of native herbaceous
vegetation showed variable trends between the 1970s and 1998, and then appeared to decline between 1998 and
2009. Mamane height class distributions inside exclosures indicated that recruitment was initially high but then declined
as heights shifted toward larger size classes, and presumably an older age distribution. We found limited evidence
of a negative effect of non-native species on forest regrowth, but the effect was not consistent over time or
among sites. Recurrent sheep presence outside exclosures negatively affected mamane canopy density and perhaps
tree density at all sites, and mamane condition at some sites. Our results indicate that the mamane forest has
shown substantial regrowth inside exclosures at some sites, especially those protected the longest. However, these
exclosures represent a small portion of the mamane forest. Sheep presence continues to impact mamane recovery
outside exclosures, and thus habitat quality for the palila.
Obituary, Ivor E. Beatty OAM.
Authors: Saunders Denis A , Recher Harry F
Published: May 2016

IVOR Beatty, the man who made Pacific Conservation Biology possible, died on 29th June 2012 after a long illness. Ivor had
many roles in the play that was his life. Only one was as a publisher and conservationist, but it is for that role that naturalists across Australia will remember him.
Impacts of tourism on threatened species in the Pacific region: a review.
Authors: Morrison Clare
Published: May 2016

The Pacific region has high levels of endemism and contains three of the world’s global biodiversity hotspots.
Despite its conservation significance, the region faces difficulties in protecting its biodiversity primarily due to restricted
knowledge, limited local capacity and financial constraints. Tourism has been increasingly promoted in the region as
a means of promoting and financing conservation activities. To date however, there have been few studies looking at
the impacts of increasing tourism on biodiversity in the Pacific. This paper reviews publicly available data on the
contribution of tourism to the threatened status of Pacific biodiversity. The ~1900 IUCN Red listed species in the
region are threatened by a number of factors that can be grouped into four major processes; habitat loss (55%),
overexploitation (32%), invasive species (22%) and pollution (14%). Tourism, as a specific threatening process, affects
15% of all assessed listed species with its impacts more apparent in countries with relatively large and significant
tourism industries. Most of the individual species reported as threatened by tourism are corals (83%). Terrestrial species
may be equally threatened but the absence of National Lists of threatened species and incomplete IUCN Red Lists
for all countries in the region highlights significant knowledge gaps making it difficult to fully assess the impacts of
tourism on all taxa. While sustainable tourism development currently appears to be a suitable income-generating and
conservation-promoting activity in the region, the short and long-term impacts of this development must be carefully
monitored and addressed.
Wildlife Search and Rescue: A Guide for First Responders.
Authors: Recher Harry F
Published: May 2016

WILDLIFE rescue has become part of Australian
urban society. Injured and sick animals are common
in all cities and their surrounding suburbs. The
majority of these are common human commensals
that have been dogs, cats, and cars, or have struck
overhead wires or windows. Near coasts, it is
common to find birds entangled in fishing line (with
or without hooks) or fouled by other rubbish that is
the jetsam of human society. Rescuing these animals,
whether or not there is any conservation value or
not, makes people feel good. Since the 1980s,
organizations, such as Wildlife Information Rescue
and Education Service (WIRES) in New South Wales,
have proliferated and process tens of thousands of
distressed animals annually. WIRES, for example,
processed 56 500 animals in 2009/10. Many of these
were threatened fauna, with the WIRES’ web site
stating they handle 130 species on average each
month. Birds are the most common group processed.
There are 2000 WIRES volunteers, all of whom have
been required to undertake training in the handling
of wild animals. Although oiled birds, whales
entangled in shark nets or stranded on beaches are
often in the headlines, rescuing them requires
professional skills and logistical support outside the
scope of “wildlife rescuers” and are
Predictor sets and biodiversity assessment: the evolution and application of an idea
Authors: Kitching R L , Ashton L A
Published: May 2016

The idea of “indicator species” is a relatively old one with a huge associated literature. The idea that the existence
or health of a single species somehow captures the state of an entire ecosystem, though, remains a challenge to
those who, like us, study entire assemblages of invertebrates. This challenge is especially marked when the ecosystems
of choice are rainforests. Nevertheless there remains a need for a measure of diversity somewhere between the
single species and the entire assemblage, which, for invertebrates in rainforests, may add up to many hundreds of
species. This need led one of us (RK), in the nineteen nineties, to formulate the idea of a ‘predictor set’: that is, a
statistically defined set of species, from within a much larger assemblage, whose spatial or temporal distribution
captures the patterns characteristic of the entire assemblage.
This essay will trace the origin and development of this idea and present some current applications and future
research questions. Of course, the use of single charismatic species as “flagship” or “umbrella” species is undoubtedly
of conservation value and remains unchallenged.
Conservation of Biodiversity in the Pacific Islands of Oceania: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Jupiter Stacy , Mangubhai Sangeeta , Kingsford Richard T
Published: May 2016

Pacific Island biodiversity has a notorious record of decline and extinction which continues due to habitat loss and
degradation, invasive species, overexploitation, pollution, disease and human-forced climate change. In terrestrial systems,
these global and local pressures are more acute because of relatively small land to sea area, high endemism and
poor adaptations to resist predation. Regional policy and learning frameworks exist to combat biodiversity loss and
environmental degradation, but implementation remains patchy across the 22 Pacific Island countries and territories
(PICTs) within Oceania. PICTs are challenged by small, under-resourced government departments, limited data, and
strong political will for rapid economic development at the cost of ecological sustainability. In this synthesis of the special
issue, we identify the challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation on Pacific islands. We identified bright
spots of implementation occurring through regional initiatives, knowledge-sharing networks, and community-based
management. The challenge looms large, given the relatively small-scale efforts compared to the core drive for
development of natural resources which continues to pervade island communities. Five key initiatives promise improved
conservation effectiveness: 1) alignment of national biodiversity strategies to the Aichi Targets, under the Convention
on Biological Diversity; 2) increased engagement with local communities to promote wise stewardship and local
environmental monitoring; 3) dissemination of best practice guidelines for management through learning networks;
4) cost-benefit analyses that drive investment in biosecurity and invasive control; and 5) implementation of integrated
island management that accounts for the multiple synergistic benefits of ecosystem management (e.g., climate adaptation,
disaster risk reduction, improved health).
Human impacts and saltmarsh loss in the Circular Head coast, north-west Tasmania, 1952– 2006: implications for management.
Authors: Prahalad Vishnu N.
Published: May 2016

Coastal saltmarshes of temperate Australia are in decline and have recently been listed as a threatened ecological
community under Federal legislation. Further research is required to better understand both the extent and nature of
their decline in order to plan their recovery. A case study is presented of the most extensive area of saltmarshes in
Tasmania, on the north-west Circular Head coast. A mixture of aerial photographs and ground-truthing data were used
to determine human impacts and saltmarsh loss between 1952 and 2006. There was an absolute loss of 219 ha since
1952, largely due to the effects of a 24.5 km network of levees. Of the 1 153 ha of saltmarshes that remained in
2006, a further 752 ha (65%) was associated with one or several of land-based human impacts. This left 401 ha (35%)
of saltmarshes that had no recorded human impacts and a contiguous vegetative buffer zone of 50–100 m. These
areas represent some of the least disturbed saltmarshes in Tasmania and warrant adequate conservation measures.
Future planning for conservation and the use of land and marine resources should strive to promote both the extent
and functional health of saltmarshes.
Culture, Ecology and Economy of Fire Management in Northern Australian Savannas – Rekindling the Wurrk Tradition.
Authors: Leavesley Adam
Published: May 2016

THE management system that this book describes
— Western Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA)
— is run by scientists and anthropologists, is
informed by a vigorous research agenda and is aimed
at empowering Indigenous management of the
northern savannas by re-establishing a dialogue of
traditional Indigenous fire management. The
program might be best described as a hybrid fire
experiment/management operation which seeks to
provide worthwhile employment for traditional
owners by generating income through emission
trading, carbon storage, ecosystem services and
biodiversity conservation. It is hoped that the process
will combat Indigenous disadvantage and at the same
time allow the re-establishment and enhancement of
people’s connections to country. In my opinion, the
key to the success of this innovative, transdisciplinary
program is the willingness of the researchers
(scientific, social and policy) to integrate the research
process with management. It is perhaps only possible
to make this happen without a crippling bureaucratic
burden in the remote regions of Australia, but
nonetheless hearty congratulations are due for their
successes. The publication is a great legacy for the
resilience and commitment required over many years
to reach this stage.