bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recreational SCUBA diver interactions with the critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark Carcharias taurus
Authors: M. Barker Sean , M. Peddemors Victor , E. Williamson Jane
Published: May 2016

Grey Nurse Sharks Carcharias taurus are listed as ?Critically Endangered? along the east coast of Australia. Magic Point (off Maroubra) in Sydney is favoured by recreational SCUBA divers wishing to observe these sharks. This study was conducted to answer the question: do current recreational SCUBA diving practices at Magic Point have a significant impact on the aggregation behaviour of C. taurus? The study found that diver activity does temporarily affect the behaviour of C. taurus at this site, with a significant difference in the number of sharks and their distribution within the preferred area of occupation inside the cave between diver and non-diver treatments. Small dive groups (= 4 divers) approached the cave closer than large groups, resulting in a greater impact on sharks than large groups positioned further back from the cave. Shark behaviour rapidly returned to pre-diver exposure levels once divers left the area. This study is the first to (a) monitor recreational SCUBA diver activities at a critical habitat site and (b) use a non-invasive behavioural technique to study the behavioural responses of C. taurus towards SCUBA divers in southern NSW. It contributes to improving C. taurus conservation measures along the east coast of Australia by highlighting current diver behaviour and its impact on Grey Nurse Sharks at this site. Results suggest that changes in the current code of practice regarding SCUBA diving at recognized and protected Grey Nurse Shark critical habitat sites should be considered by relevant management agencies.
Fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation: can it reduce the impact of exotic
mammals on wildlife conservation?
Authors: Twigg Laurie
Published: May 2016

THERE is no doubt that
fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation
(also known as poison peas) has had
a profound effect on the evolution
and persistence of Western
Australian biota. Most of these
plants belong to the genus
Gastrolobium, and most are found in
the south-west corner of Western
Australia (Gardner and Bennetts
1956; Aplin 1971; Twigg and King
1991). The toxic principle of these
plants, fluoroacetate, is also
manufactured synthetically as 1080
(sodium fluoroacetate) for Australiawide
control of vertebrate pests,
such as rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus,
foxes Vulpes vulpes, wild dogs Canis
lupus familiaris and feral Pigs Sus
scrofa (Twigg and King 1991).
Because of their co-evolution with
fluoroacetate-bearing vegetation,
many native animals in Western
Australia have developed varying
levels of tolerance to this highly
toxic compound. In contrast,
introduced mammals are generally
highly sensitive to fluoroacetate.
Although it is not a prerequisite for
safe and effective pest control
programmes with 1080, the toxicity
differential between native and
introduced animals provides an
additional “safety net” when using
1080 products in Western Australia.
The use of Australian bioregions as spatial units
of analysis to explore relationships between
climate and songbird diversity
Authors: Williamson G J , Christidis L , Norman J , Brook B W , Mackey B , Bowman D M J S
Published: May 2016

Biogeographers often investigate patterns of biodiversity at continental and global scales, using existing data georeferenced
to a lattice of cells of latitude and longitude. Problems can arise with this approach when the available
biological data are insufficient to adequately sample each cell and the cells are environmentally heterogeneous. An
alternative, though less-often employed, approach is to use bioregions (defined as areas with distinctive biophysical
environmental characteristics) as the basic sampling unit and to statistically control for unequal areas of regions. Here
we applied this latter approach with the Interim Biogeographical Regionalisation of Australia (IBRA) to analyse continental
patterns of songbird species richness in relation to mean annual precipitation, mean annual temperature, and mean
wet season temperature, which are all predicted to substantially change given anthropogenic climate change. We used
the Birds Australia database that has a large sample (>1,560,000) of distribution records covering Australia. For each
of the 85 IBRAs, we determined the total number of songbird species and standardized these richness values
accounting for the species-area effect by including the log of bioregion area as a covariate in the statistical models.
Our analysis of standardized bioregion songbirds richness showed that the best supported model, based on information
theory statistics included an interaction of mean annual temperature and precipitation (48.6% deviance explained).
The fitted model showed declining richness with increasing temperature and declining precipitation, signalling that
future climates may result in regional declines in songbird abundance. We suggest our simple empirical-statistical
approach, using bioregions as the spatial unit, has promise for continental and global impact assessment of diversity
changes and for conservation planning
What Makes a Good Farm for Wildlife
Authors: Donaghey Richard
Published: May 2016

MY first impressions on flipping through the pages
of this book are that the layout is superb and wellorganized,
and the combination of text, good colour
photos, diagrams and box text should appeal to a
wide audience. Do we need another book on this
topic and, if so, what makes this one different? As a
conservation practitioner and ornithologist/ecologist
living in north-west Tasmania what I like most about
this book and what makes it different is the way
David Lindenmayer and his team communicate their
research findings to the lay public in a refreshing
manner with clear, practical messages and interesting
facets of plant-animal interactions of both vertebrates
and invertebrates.
Experience in local urban wildlife research enhances a conservation education programme with school children.
Authors: Awasthy Monica , Popovic Ana Z , Linklater Wayne L
Published: May 2016

The “extinction of [ecological] experience” is a concern for children in urban centres. Urban environments, traditionally
the refuge of exotic human-commensal species, are being increasingly colonised by native species. We used a native
bird as a focal species for integrating urban biological research and environmental education (EE) in conservation. We
tested whether incorporating biological researchers into classroom teaching and hands-on experiences with radio-telemetry
of wild birds increased wildlife knowledge, environmental awareness and intentions to act amongst children from local
schools. We found no significant increases in knowledge after our EE programme. However, those children who
participated in exercises with researchers in local green space demonstrated a greater level of nature awareness than
groups who participated in the schoolyard, and retained this level three months after the programme completion. We
illustrate the importance of incorporating biological research in conservation education in urban centres.
Time to agree on a conservation benchmark for Australia.
Authors: Hayward Matt W
Published: May 2016

WELL defined goals are critical to
successfully achieve outcomes and
monitor the success of achieving
them, yet conservation agencies
rarely explicitly state the goals of
their management activities with
appropriate metrics. Here I use case
studies on the conflicting conservation
management focus of the
Sydney Harbour National Park at
North Head, the legislative impediments
of bridled nailtail wallaby
conservation management, the planning
for broadscale habitat connectivity
programmes such as Habitat
141, fire management for the
conservation of the quokka and the
broader Kimberley landscape, and
mesopredator suppression using
dingoes to highlight the problems
with inappropriate conservation
benchmarks. I compare these issues
with activities from South Africa,
India, New Zealand and Poland to
illustrate the benchmarks other nations
have. I conclude that Australia
urgently needs an explicit conservation
benchmark upon which to aim
our conservation efforts and excuses
of inadequate knowledge can no
longer be accepted for maintaining
the status quo.
Burning Issues – Sustainability and Management of Australia’s Southern Forests.
Authors: Leavesley Adam J
Published: May 2016

THE day we know how every Australian plant and
animal responds to three fire intensities, three fire
frequencies, and two fire seasons is the day that fire
managers will finally have a decent handle on this
most complex of processes. In the meantime though,
where the science runs out fire management is
directed by best guesses. In Australia, these guesses
fall into three paradigms: the ecological paradigm;
the indigenous paradigm; and the forestry paradigm.
The ecological paradigm is species-centred and based
on Ockham’s Razor — the assumption that the
simplest answer is the most likely. The indigenous
paradigm is based on the assumption that aboriginal
people were the dominant drivers of fire regimes
before Europeans arrived and that the best thing
that we can do to manage fire now is to try to
emulate what we think they used to do. The forestry
paradigm is based on the assumption that traditional
timber production practices are the best way to meet
fire management aims. In practice, most fire
management programs are an amalgam of all three
paradigms with priority given to one or another
depending on the circumstances and worldview of
the practitioners.
The efficacy of soil ameliorants to improve early establishment in trees and shrubs in degraded Eucalyptus gomphocephala woodlands
Authors: Ruthrof Katinka X , Douglas Tegan K , Calver Michael C , Craig Michael D , Dell Bernard , Hardy Giles E ST J
Published: May 2016

Many Mediterranean-type ecosystems (MTEs) are now vulnerable to climate change, with some regions predicted
to undergo a shift towards much drier and hotter conditions. Although MTE woodlands are highly resilient to periods of
drought and perturbations such as fire, this shift increases the already wide range of threatening processes they face.
Without intervention, such as revegetation, many of these woodlands could degrade to the point where they support
little of the original biota. However, in MTEs with hard to predict breaks in the season and nutrient poor soils; seedling
establishment success is often very low. Using degraded Eucalyptus gomphocephala woodlands as a case study, we
undertook two field trials with five commercially available plant treatments to evaluate their effectiveness in increasing
early seedling establishment. We found that the mere addition of seedlings may not be enough to undertake successful
revegetation in some degraded woodlands because a) survival rates in controls were, on average 53% at one of the
study sites and b) the supplementation of nutrient resources beneath the rootball when planting increased early seedling
growth and health compared with other treatments. We suggest that under emerging and well-recognized challenges
to revegetation, supplementing abiotic resources, in particular nutrients applied exclusively beneath planted seedlings,
may increase early establishment success.
Where is the clamour and clutter of introduced birds?
Authors: Fulton Graham R
Published: May 2016

I write this editorial in the hope it will elicit
some response from the conservation readership
to produce papers on introduced birds. There
is a dearth of research on introduced birds.
Why? There is an obvious litany of reasons that
spring to mind: 1) they are more drably
coloured than native birds, but this is not to say
they are ugly; 2) they occur too frequently in
suburban habitats, which are less interesting as
holiday destinations for field work; 3) they are
perceived as less interesting biologically, which
is an erroneous perception; 4) they are not
endangered and not in need of urgent study;
in short, they lack glamour and are
Enhancing our Heritage: Conservation for 21st Century New Zealanders: Ways forward from the Tahi Group of Concerned Scientists
Authors: Craig John , Moller Henrik , Saunders Denis , Williams Morgan
Published: May 2016

New Zealanders are constantly reminded of their degraded environment and the threatened status of their unique
plants, animals and ecosystems. Instead of presenting these as symptoms of unsustainable living and the socio-economic
system that rewards this, there has been a propensity to treat these as independent problems needing individual solutions
with insufficient resources allocated to implement the solutions. For example, conservation of native biota and ecosystem
protection are viewed as biological problems that are mainly the responsibility of government to be addressed through
a government-based reserve system. In contrast, the Tahi Group view a diverse native biota and healthy ecosystems
as essential elements of New Zealanders’ heritage that require social engagement and innovative economic reform.
Most of all, the New Zealand conservation paradigm needs to be broadened to encourage collaboration of a wider
range of stakeholders and land owners and the application of new tools for learning how best to reverse ongoing decline
of native biota and degradation of ecosystems. Diversification of conservation strategies has begun in small “bottomup”
ways in communities, organizations, businesses and institutions, powered by commitment and energy of many
individual citizens. These strategies, where monitored, demonstrate effective and efficient actions that inspires hope
for a future that fully integrates conservation as a normal and an essential component of a prosperous economy and
healthy South Pacific society with little or no government input. We make a plea to move from the constant reiteration
of conservation problems to a focus on developing and implementing solutions to these problems with the engagement
of all New Zealanders.
Provenance Errors and Vagrants: Their Role in Underestimating the Conservation Status of Sea Kraits (Elapidae: Laticaudinae)
Authors: Heatwole Harold , Cogger Harold
Published: May 2016

Erroneous locality records and those based solely on vagrants have provided an unrealistic assessment of the
true distribution (area of occupancy) of breeding populations of sea kraits (genus Laticauda). This distortion over-estimates
the extent of their geographic ranges and seriously under-estimates their conservation status.
The Australian monsoonal tropics: An opportunity to protect unique biodiversity and secure benefits for Aboriginal communities.
Authors: Moritz C , Ens E J , Potter S , Catullo R A
Published: May 2016

The Australian monsoonal tropics region contains one of the planet’s largest, relatively intact tropical savannas
and has been continually occupied by humans for at least 50,000 years. The region, spanning Cape York Peninsula,
the Top End and the Kimberley of northern Australia has long been known to host high biodiversity, but only now is
the true extent of locally unique (endemic) species and genetic diversity within each of these areas becoming apparent.
Though some critical regions have been included in the national reserve system, including the iconic Kakadu National
Park, the ecological and evolutionary dynamics are such that large interconnected swathes of the region need to be
actively managed to sustain this unique diversity in the face of escalating anthropogenic impacts and species decline.
The growth in Indigenous Protected Areas and Indigenous-owned land where Traditional Owners aspire to “care for
their Country” offers an opportunity to contribute to the broader conservation effort in the region. The conservation
imperative is also entwined with Aboriginal cultural aspirations. Over the last few decades there has been a resurgence
of effort by Aboriginal landowners to maintain their cultural responsibilities and knowledge, pursue socio-economic
development opportunities, as well as to protect the bio-cultural values of their ancestral country. In the Australian
monsoonal tropics, over 40% of the landscape is under some form of Aboriginal ownership or control and emerging
initiatives such as the Indigenous Protected Area programme, representing a partnership of community, government
and sometimes NGOs offer one (though not the only) constructive way forward. As the biological uniqueness of the
landscape is uncovered, this should bolster the perceived biodiversity value and encourage further investment in
protecting it, especially through programmes that promote engagement with, and employment of, Aboriginal communities.
For this to be sustainable, the discovery and management of the region’s biodiversity needs to be driven increasingly
by Aboriginal land owners with clear cultural and community, as well as biodiversity, benefits. This
Conservation and the Holy Grail: The Story of the Night Parrot
Authors: Pyke Graham H , Ehrlich Paul R
Published: May 2016

The Night Parrot Pezoporus occidentalis, known from just two specimens and with no confirmed sightings for just
over 100 years, and having declined from being one of the most widespread of Australian birds, has surely been amongst
the most enigmatic birds of the world and deservedly the ʻholy grailʼ for many birders. Amazingly, a population of this
species has recently been re-discovered by John Young and the ʻquestʼ is over, but swift action is now required lest
the ʻgrailʼ slip from our grasp. Steps must be taken to protect and manage the newly-located population, and to better
understand the biology of the species and the reasons for its widespread decline. Much of this decline occurred before
the end of the 19th century and must therefore have resulted from broad factors associated with earlier landscape
changes, such as cat predation and altered fire regimes. Searches for additional Night Parrot populations also seem
warranted. Progress toward these goals would benefit from acceptance of the reasonable accumulation of ʻunconfirmedʼ
observations of the species and further utilizing the large numbers of ʻamateurʼ birders who would doubtless be keen
to be involved. We suggest that the Night Parrot should now be viewed as an ʻiconʼ for conservation, possibly even an
ʻindicatorʼ for how successful we are in terms of conservation in general. With his discovery of the Night Parrot, John
Young has thus made a significant contribution to conservation, opening a new realm of necessities and possibilities.
Vertebrate Fauna In Termite Mounds Compared To Surrounding Vegetation On Barrow Island.
Authors: Moro Dorian , Cullen Pat , Flecther Johnathan
Published: May 2016

Scant information is available on the value of termitaria for supporting vertebrate fauna in Australia, or how the
diversity and abundance of vertebrates using termitaria compares to the surrounding habitat. There was an
opportunity to dismantle 407 large termitaria during approved land-clearing activities on Barrow Island, Western
Australia. Following the dismantling of each mound and thorough searches, we found that herpetofauna were the
predominant species to utilise termitaria (26 species), with small mammals (four species) also occupying mounds,
although less frequently. While species diversity was higher in the surrounding vegetated matrix sampled (41 reptiles,
six mammals, one amphibian species), no unique species were found in termitaria. However, four reptile species
(Heteronotia binoei, Gehyra pilbara, Antaresia stimsoni, Morethia ruficauda exquisita) were found more frequently in
termitaria. This information supports the recognition of large termitaria as useful habitat and potential refugia for a
diversity of species, and improves our understanding that these large structures should be afforded special
consideration for relocating vertebrates during land clearing exercises elsewhere.
Desert Channels — The Impulse to Conserve.
Authors: Leavesley Adam , Mallela Jennie
Published: May 2016

AUSTRALIANS have pretty much all the science we
need to conserve our landscapes, what lacks is the
will and motivation to make it happen. This book
challenges the assumption of many conservationists
that science is, or should be the primary consideration
in land management. Instead conservation is
presented as a value — an impulse. Science is a key
facet but no more important than the culture, history,
economy or social context of the people and the
place.
Reading a bit like an extended National
Geographic article, the book is presented in four
parts entitled “Place”, “Landscape”, “Biodiversity”
and “Livelihood”. Between each part is an artistic
interlude of illustrations and within each chapter are
standalone sidebars, captioned images and a
soundtrack — the collective work of almost 50
contributors from diverse backgrounds and varying
interests. The academic imperative to reference has
been retained, but not in the heavy-handed scientific
style. Each piece has a feeling of individuality; “this
is where I come from, this is my experience, this is
what I have learned and this is what I think.”
Scientists are well represented amongst the
contributors, but the scientific method is afforded no
special prominence. The book is a collection of
stories by self-professed conservationists —
historians, biologists, painters, pastoralists, activists,
palaeontologists, sociologists, traditional owners,
photographers, students, agronomists, anthropologists,
journalists, poets, public servants, archaeologists
and more.
The South Pacific biodiversity conservation programme
Authors: Robin South G.
Published: May 2016

Conservation in the South Pacific Islands is being given a major shot in the arm, through the launching of the South Pacific Biodiversity Conservation Programme (SPBCP), a five-year programme that is now getting underway. Funded to a total of US$10,000,000 through the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), as part of the Global Environment Facility, and with promised co-financing from the Australian International Development Assistance Bureau to an amount of A$2,500,000, the SPBCP will be managed in concert with Pacific Island countries by the South Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP) from its new headquarters in Apia, Western Samoa.
Declines in populations of Australia's endemic tropical rainforest frogs
Authors: J. Richards Stephen , R. McDonald Keith , A. Alford Ross
Published: May 2016

Comparisons of present and past occurrences suggest that populations of six frog species endemic to the tropical rainforests of northern Queensland have declined during the past ten years. Most declines have occurred at high altitudes in the southern portions of the tropical rainforest. An extensive survey conducted during the summer of 1991-1992 did not locate any individuals of two upland species, Litoria nyakalensis and Taudactylus rheophilus. Another upland species, T. acutirostris, which formerly was widely distributed, appears to have declined in rainforests south of the Daintree River. Three species (Litoria nannotis, L. rheocola and Nyctimystes dayi) were absent from most upland sites south of the Daintree River, but were common at lowland sites and at all sites north of the Daintree River. Aspects of water chemistry, including inorganic ions, heavy metals, and pesticide residues, were analysed for many sites. These analyses failed to identify any abnormalities that might have contributed to frog declines. Declines appear to be unrelated to the history of forestry or mining at sites, or to low rainfall in wet seasons. Levels of habitat disturbance by feral pigs appear to have increased at some sites in recent years and, either by this disturbance or through direct predation, feral pigs may have contributed to declines in some populations. However, pigs are unlikely to be the sole cause of frog population declines. Once declines have occurred, fragmentation of rainforest habitats may prevent recolonization from adjacent sites. Until causal agents associated with declines can be identified, management strategies to ensure the long-term survival of these species must involve protection of the riparian habitats in which they occur.
What is in this issue?
Authors: Moritz Craig
Published: May 2016

Welcome to the second issue of Pacific Conservation Biology. The offerings are, again, diverse. They include a thought-provoking essay on the potential conflicts between western conservation and the needs of indigenous peoples and reviews on the lessons of biogeography for the future of anthropogenically fragmented rainforests, on ways of determining whether parasites or pathogens are responsible for population declines, and on potential uses of morphological asymmetries as indicators of stress in natural populations. The research papers also cover a wide range of topics from biogeography to demographic and genetic studies on threatened species.
Management for the conservation of Leadbeater's Possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) - a reply
Authors: A. MacFarlane M. , H. Loyn R.
Published: May 2016

We welcome the opportunity to respond to Lindenmayer and Norton (1993) on behalf of those involved in management of the endangered Leadbeater's Possum. We agree that much can be learned from overseas experience, including work on the Northern Spotted Owl in USA. However, we do not share those authors' jaundiced and negative views about our developing management strategies and believe that comparisons with proposed conservation measures for the Northern Spotted Owl, as presented, are misleading. Their paper is particularly disappointing in view of the substantial achievements made towards conserving Leadbeater's Possum during the past two years.
The application of fluctuating asymmetry in the monitoring of animal populations
Authors: Sarre Stephen , M. Dearn John , Georges Arthur
Published: May 2016

The maintenance of fitness levels is an important part of the management of animal populations. Unfortunately, measuring fitness and determining the relative contributions of genetic and environmental components to that fitness represent considerable problems for management. The simple and inexpensive method of measuring non directional asymmetry (fluctuating asymmetry) in bilateral morphological characters may provide a useful contribution to this problem. The relationship of levels of fluctuating asymmetry to fitness has been explored at considerable length in the scientific literature but this knowledge has yet to be used effectively by wildlife managers. We examine the potential of fluctuating asymmetry as a management tool and show by use of a case study of island and mainland populations of lizards, how it may be used as a comparative tool in which to determine populations that require management priority.
"Conservation through sustainable use of wildlife" Conference Report
Authors: Hale Peter
Published: May 2016

Sustainable use of wildlife was the topic of a resolution adopted unanimously by the 18th Congress of the IUCN in Perth in December 1990. The Congress resolved that " ... ethical, wise and sustainable use of some wildlife can provide an alternative or supplementary means of productive land use, and can be consistent with and encourage conservation, where such use is in accordance with adequate safeguards, namely: a. sound, scientifically-based monitoring mechanisms to ensure that such use is maintained at levels which can be sustained by the wild populations ... ; b. compliance with national and international legal obligations and policies; c. provision for the protection of wild animals from avoidable cruelty and suffering; d. conformity with the IUCN guidelines based on scientific, socioeconomic and traditional knowledge, the principle of equitable allocation of resources and distribution of benefits ... ".
Conservation: a starfish without a central disk?
Authors: L. Craig John , M. Stewart Anne
Published: May 2016

Conservation is for people and depends on public support for its success yet public perceptions of the value of conservation are highly variable. A lack of a strong commitment from the majority of the public may relate to problems determining priorities for research and management. There is ample evidence in the literature and in public opinion that there is a need to address these issues. An image of a starfish lacking co-ordination among its arms is offered as a metaphor of the problems in worldwide conservation today. There appears to be miscommunication between scientists and managers, lack of balance among research activities, a misunderstanding of how to manage the views of all stakeholders and an overall lack of agreement on direction and priorities in a normal situation of limited resources. We offer suggestions on how to increase effectiveness by negotiating a strategic direction that accommodates the views of all stakeholders and that links research to management.
Landscape ecology and conservation: moving from description to application
Authors: J. Hobbs Richard
Published: May 2016

The focus of conservation biology has been predominantly the study of single species, and conservation management and legislation has been directed mostly at the species level. Increasingly, however, there has been a recognition that ecosystems and landscapes need to be considered, since they form the physical and biotic context within which species exist. Increased emphasis on the landscape scale suggests that the emerging discipline of landscape ecology might have much to offer conservation biology. Landscape ecology is still a young science with no well-defined theoretical framework and little rigorous quantitative methodology. It aims to study patterns, processes and changes at the scale of hectares to square kilometers. Its focus on the pattern and dynamics of ecosystems or patches within a landscape offers much which is of relevance to conservation biology. Topics such as disturbance, patch dynamics, metapopulation dynamics, landscape flows, connectivity and fragmentation all have relevance to the conservation of biodiversity in natural, altered and rapidly changing systems. The papers in this issue provide a cross section of Australian research into landscape ecology which is of relevance to conservation biology. Methodological, theoretical and practical aspects are covered. I suggest that effective conservation of biodiversity will be achieved only if the landscape context is taken into account.
The utility to birds and mammals of remnant riparian vegetation and associated windbreaks in the tropical Queensland uplands
Authors: Crome Francis , Isaacs Jodi , Moore Les
Published: May 2016

Birds and mammals were censused in a ribbon of remnant vegetation along a stream connecting two rainforest fragments on a farm on the Atherton Tablelands of North Queensland. The vegetation consisted of two larger (6.5 and 19.6 ha) and one smaller forest remnant (1.1 ha) and numerous tiny disconnected patches scattered across the property and along the creek. These were classified into five types ? "Forest", "Regeneration", "Copse", "Lantana" and "Tobacco Bush". Censuses were also done in four windbreak plantings. Sixty-four species of birds were recorded in systematic censuses in the patches along the creek and in the windbreaks. Along the creek, "Forest" patches had the most species and the most rainforest species followed by "Copse" and "Regeneration" sites. "Lantana" patches were surprisingly rich in species; a total of 32 were recorded including nine rainforest species. The fewest bird species were recorded in the windbreaks which were particularly poor in rainforest species. Small mammals were live trapped in the three larger patches, in the ribbon and in one windbreak. Eleven species were captured ? six rainforest, three grassland and two introduced. The grassland species were not caught in the larger forest patches and two rainforest rodents were not caught along the creek. Nothing was caught in the windbreak but grassland species were caught in an adjoining abandoned orchard. Three species of arboreal mammals were recorded by spotlighting ? Lumholtz' Tree-kangaroo Dendrolagus lumholtzi, Coppery Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii and Green Ringtail Possum Pseudocheirus archeri. All occurred in the stream vegetation as well as the larger forest patches. None were seen in any of the four windbreaks. It is concluded that the creek vegetation is valuable wildlife habitat. The windbreaks were less so but were still useful to the fauna on the study area.
Variation in flower production of nine grassland species with time since fire, and implications for grassland management and restoration
Authors: D. Lunt Ian
Published: May 2016

The impact of time since fire on flower production was examined in a temperate Themeda triandra grassland in Gippsland, Victoria. Flower production by nine species (Arthropodium strictum, Bulbine bulbosa, Burchardia umbellata, Chrysocephalum apiculatum, Craspedia variabilis, Diuris punctata, Helichrysum scorpioides, Leptorhynchos squamatus and Pimelea humilis) was compared between areas burnt six months and two years previously. Thick grass in the area burnt two years previously inhibited flowering by most species. All species except C. apiculatum and D. punctata flowered most abundantly in the area burnt six months earlier, and flower production by B. bulbosa, A. strictum and C. variabilis was largely restricted to that area. There were over 100 times as many flowering plants of B. bulbosa in the most recently burnt area. C. apiculatum produced similar quantities of flowers in both zones, but D. punctata countered the general pattern for greater flower production in the most recently burnt area by flowering most abundantly in the area burnt two years previously. Some of the species studied form transient seed banks, so maximum recruitment may be attained by burning sites the year immediately after a season of high flower production, rather than delaying burning until later years, when little flowering occurs and few seeds are present for recruitment. Annual autumn burning could eliminate the threatened orchid, D. punctata.
New Zealand translocations: theory and practice
Authors: P. Armstong Doug , G. McLean Ian
Published: May 2016

One of the most common tools in New Zealand conservation is to translocate species to new locations. There have now been over 400 translocations done for conservation reasons, mainly involving terrestrial birds. Most translocations have been done strictly as management exercises, with little or no reference to theory. Nevertheless, translocations always involve some underlying theory, given that people must inevitably choose among a range of potential translocation strategies. We review theory relevant to translocations in the following areas: habitat requirements, susceptibility to predation, behavioural adaptation, population dynamics, genetics, metapopulation dynamics, and community ecology. For each area we review and evaluate the models that seem to underpin translocation strategies used in New Zealand. We report experiments testing some of these models, but note that theory underlying translocation strategies is largely untested despite a long history of translocations. We conclude by suggesting key areas for research, both theoretical and empirical. We particularly recommend that translocations be designed as experimental tests of hypotheses whenever possible.
Conservation of marine mammals in New Zealand
Authors: Slooten Elisabeth , M. Dawson Stephen
Published: May 2016

New Zealand has a diverse fauna of marine mammals, comprising 35 cetacean and six pinniped species. None of these is hunted within the 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone, but several species are killed incidentally in coastal or deep-water fisheries. Particularly affected are Hector's Dolphin, Hooker's Sea Lion, and the New Zealand Fur Seal. Detailed information on the nature and magnitude of incidental catches is patchy at best, and inadequate to assess nationally the impact on any one species. Other species are known to be caught, but a quantitative assessment of how many are caught per year is impossible. The impact of whale watching on sperm whales has attracted more attention, and impacts of tourism on other marine mammals are just beginning to be studied. We critically review the nature and management of the potential threats facing New Zealand marine mammals, including bycatch, entanglement in plastic debris, chemical pollution, and tourism. We discuss research needs and management recommendations for each conservation problem in turn.
The relative conservation value of remnant patches of native vegetation in the wheatbelt of Western Australia: I. Plant diversity
Authors: G. Brooker M. , R. Margules C.
Published: May 2016

Accurate assessment of the relative conservation value of remaining areas of native vegetation is of primary importance to both land planners and land managers wishing to conserve the biodiversity of an area. Selection procedures aimed at identifying sets of patches for nature reserve networks stress the importance of retaining beta diversity (or diversity of habitats). This paper describes a new procedure that incorporates a measure of relative alpha diversity (or within habitat diversity) of plant species, as well as beta diversity, using the Kellerberrin area of the Western Australian wheatbelt as an example. The inclusion of such an algorithm in selection procedures is justified since beta and alpha diversity, together with genetic diversity, determine the overall biotic heterogeneity of an area. A five-step ranking method is used to prioritize remnant patches of native vegetation with respect to plant diversity, both at regional and local scales. Ranking at a regional scale is important for state authorities able to deal with only a limited number of widely dispersed sites such as nature reserves; whereas ranking at the local scale provides a guideline for the conservation of biodiversity at a level where many land use and management decisions are made by local government and private citizens.
Broadening Environmental Management in Fiji
Authors: Weaver S.
Published: May 2016

There is a pressing need for a social dimension to be built into environmental planning and management programmes in the Pacific, due to the fact that conservation occurs within the context of a social and cultural world, and that many environmental management failures are underwritten by social problems. The political strength of the environment sector in Fiji will determine the degree of central government support for environmental dimensions of national planning. Such strengthening can be facilitated through improving the social context of the practice of environmental management and planning. A social dimension is built into an environmental planning model which incorporates social as well as biological criteria for the selection of ecologically sensitive areas in need of environmental protection.
Does our lack of vision threaten the viability of the reconstruction of disturbed ecosystems?
Authors: A. Saunders Denis
Published: May 2016

There is widespread acceptance that in the extensive wheat-sheep zone of Australia, development for agriculture and associated changes to ecological processes have resulted in major problems of loss of species, land degradation and potential decreases in agricultural productivity. Present agricultural practices are not sustainable. There has been a range of responses to these changes, from community action through Landcare and revegetation projects, to legislative action. Unfortunately, these responses and the actions that follow, are usually carried out without any long-term context or any clear understanding of what we want our agricultural landscapes to look like in 150?200 years. While phrases such as "achieve the conservation of biological diversity through the adoption of ecologically sustainable agricultural practices" are being widely used, they will never become reality without the development of a vision of what we as a society want these landscapes to look like and how we want them to function. As a matter of urgency, we should develop a collective vision for the future of our agricultural landscapes and use that vision to provide the framework to integrate conservation of the biota with management for agricultural production, while addressing the environmental problems we face now or which may arise as we adapt management to changing environmental conditions.
Conservation and status of Lutra provocax in Chile
Authors: Medina Gonzalo
Published: May 2016

A survey was made of the Southern River Otter's (Lutra provocax Thomas) present distribution and its decline during the last century. North of 36�S the otter's decline began after 1880. Between 39�S and 43�S the decline is patchy. South of 43�S the decline began around 1930. The reasons for the decline are a combination of habitat destruction, disturbance and hunting. Between 39�S and 43�30'S otter populations were found in seven discrete regions. Re-establishment by the otter is unlikely owing to the separation of the basins and habitat destruction. Tourism and settlement in regions with permanent otter populations could have a significant impact if the density of vegetation cover on river and lake banks is not maintained. Conservation of river otters in Chile should involve three approaches; education, recovery and re-establishment.
The impact of planting for restoration of remnant bushland on its scientific and educational values: implications for conservation planning
Authors: McLoughlin Lynne
Published: May 2016

Large amounts of time and money are currently being expended in "restoring" damaged bushland in many parts of Australia, particularly those remnants in or near large centres of population such as Sydney. This paper argues that it is time to critically examine policies and practices of bushland conservation for the range of bushland values they are serving. Since the introduction of minimum intervention "bush regeneration" in Sydney in the 1960s "restoration" has developed to encompass a much broader range of disturbed areas from lightly weed invaded bush to totally cleared sites, and there has been a blurring of distinctions between regeneration and other restoration practices. In particular, both restoration and regeneration now include planting as widely accepted practice. Focusing on New South Wales, particularly the Sydney region, this paper reviews the role of values in current conservation planning and bushland management in New South Wales, the development of "regeneration", and "restoration" and the nature of scientific and educational values of remnant bushland, and examines how the practice of planting in bushland is degrading those values. Alternative methods to achieve natural regeneration, particularly the use of fire, are discussed. The paper concludes with an emphasis on the importance of developing a planning process for bushland conservation and management which establishes significance based on its specific values, and adopts integrated objectives and strategies, policies and practices, to protect that significance and ensure that restoration does not degrade the values for which the bushland is being preserved and restored.
Future of the fauna of western New South Wales
Authors: Oliver Damon
Published: May 2016

This attractively presented and enlightening collection of 22 chapters written by biologists, government land managers and a pastoralist, was derived from a 1991 symposium of the same name organized by the Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. A third of the book deals with pre- and post-European land management practices that have drastically modified the western region of New South Wales. Another third is dedicated to the impact of these practices on habitat modification and the major vertebrate fauna groups, and for some of the invertebrates. Most of the chapters regarding the biology and ecology of the region paint a bleak picture of the negative impact on its faunal components. By presenting information in this manner, however, it is hoped that the problems will be actively addressed to ensure the future survival of native fauna. The chapters written by government land managers of National Parks, CALM and Landcare read more optimistically, and provide positive solutions to some of these problems. From reading these chapters, I now have a much better appreciation of the principles of reserve design and also how the Landcare network plays a vital role in the off-reserve conservation effort on farms.
Conservation priorities: myths and realities
Authors: F. Recher H.
Published: May 2016

Jim Davie's essay on integrating nature conservation with the economic, social and political realities of Indonesia is as relevant to Australia as it is to developing nations. Although Davie makes this clear, it is a message that most Australians might overlook or choose to ignore. For too long Western nations have pursued the myth of nature conservation through reserves. We know that Australia's system of conservation reserves in neither representative nor viable in the long term. Conserving the continent's biodiversity requires a system of reserves and the environmentally sensitive management of the matrix within which the reserve system is embedded. Yet, Landcare and growing efforts by State forestry authorities aside, there is little evidence of environmentally sensitive management directed at conserving biodiversity on the vast expanse of urban, forestry, agricultural and pastoral lands throughout Australia. Moreover, it is by no means clear what the end result of establishing a comprehensive, adequate, and representative system of forest reserves throughout Australia will be. One concern is that the relevant authorities will adhere to the message of the myth and decide that with an "adequate" reserve system, management of forest biodiversity outside the reserves is less important or even unnecessary. If this eventuates, then the creation of a reserve system will actually have a negative impact on forest conservation.
Managing bird populations: for whom and at what cost?
Authors: L. Craig John
Published: May 2016

Conservation is a necessary component of sustainable development. Human activities have had and continue to have a negative effect on natural ecosystems. There is a need to move to a more co-operative, effective and accountable management of "communal resources" including fauna and flora. Many issues negatively influence the ability of conservation managers to perform well and for all stakeholders. Society's underlying philosophic and economic attitudes are important. Most contemporary Southern Hemisphere societies see nature as separate from people and manage with a welfare mentality. Most financial incentives favour degraders of natural values and penalize those who conserve or behave sustainably. The other major issue which precludes effective management is the approach of government managers. Performance tends to be patchy, unaccountable and often based on simplistic single factor notions. There appears to be a general failure to provide diversified products to different stakeholders. These issues with suggestions for improvement are discussed with special reference to the management of rare bird populations and of fire.
National Biodiversity Council
Authors: F. Recher Harry
Published: May 2016

The NBC continues to increase its level of activity. Since the last report in Pacific Conservation Biology, among other actions, the Council has commented on the Commonwealth Governments "Native Title" legislation the "10 Point Plan" and made submissions on the proposed changes to Commonwealth Environment Legislation. Pierre Horwitz made a submission on behalf of the Council concerning the Western Australian Regional Forest Agreement process. Each submission received a high level of media attention with national coverage on the ABC for the Council's views on native title and on proposed new biodiversity legislation.
How Many People can the Earth Support?
Authors: Bootle Sondi
Published: May 2016

A much-heated debate has evolved over the past few decades regarding the future of human population growth and the number of humans that the planet Earth is able to sustain. Some claim that Earth has already reached its human carrying capacity, where others argue that the carrying capacity of the planet is limitless given modern technology. What is clear is that the carrying capacity of the Earth and the future of human population growth is a subject of much uncertainty.