bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A preliminary survey for avian pathogens in Columbiform birds on Socorro Island, Mexico.
Authors: Yanga Saturnino , Martinez-Gomez Juan E , Sehgal Ravinder N M , Escalante Patricia , Camacho Frank Carlos , Bell Douglas A
Published: May 2016

To assess the potential disease risks posed by resident Columbiformes to the reintroduction of the Socorro Dove
Zenaida graysoni to Socorro Island, Mexico, the endemic Socorro Ground Dove Columbina passerina socorrensis and
the recently arrived Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura, were screened for ecto- and endoparsites, haemosporidia,
Trichomonas gallinae, Chlamydophila psittaci and avian pox. All of the Mourning Doves and Socorro Ground Doves
sampled appeared healthy upon capture. We detected Haemoproteus spp. in 88% of Mourning Dove and 30% of Socorro
Ground Dove samples using microscopy. Two polymerase chain reaction (PCR) DNA amplification methods detected
either Haemoproteus spp. or Plasmodium spp. Pooling results from both tests yielded positives in 100% of the Mourning
Doves and 52% of the Socorro Ground Doves. A nested PCR detected Leucocytozoon spp. in 94% of the Mourning
Doves and 61% of the Socorro Ground Doves sampled. Thus, at least two genera of haemosporidia are present in
columbids of Socorro Island. Microscopy for T. gallinae yielded positives in 33% of Mourning Dove and 30% of Socorro
Ground Dove samples. C. psittaci was not detected using PCR on either cloacal swab samples or tissue samples
from tested Mourning Doves or Socorro Ground Doves. Necropsies revealed neither lesions indicative of the wet form
of avian pox, nor internal lesions associated with trichomoniasis. These results suggest that Socorro Doves selected
for reintroduction should be screened carefully to evaluate potential immunological challenges by native haemosporidians
and to avoid introduction of other diseases apparently absent from native Columbiformes on Socorro Island.
Early responses of bats to alternative silvicultural treatments in wet eucalypt forests of Tasmania.
Authors: Law Bradley S , Law Peter R
Published: May 2016

Bats are sensitive to forest management and different silvicultural treatments are likely to impact on species in
different ways. We compared the early responses of ultrasonic bat activity to alternative silvicultural treatments in the
Warra Long-term Ecological Research Site, in the tall wet eucalypt forests of Tasmania. We sampled 45 sites and
recorded 2424 bat passes early in the maternity season of 2008, which provides a base-line for future comparisons.
Total bat activity differed little between the silvicultural treatments, but locations within treatments did influence activity.
Pre-planned contrasts revealed significantly lower activity at the centre of clear-fell and dispersed retention coupes
than control coupes. However, there was no detectable difference between the centre of aggregate retention and control
coupes, indicating that this silvicultural treatment appears effective at ameliorating the impacts of logging on bat activity.
However, the retained aggregates themselves, both in their centre and along the edge, were seldom used by bats.
Activity on the coupe edge was similar to control treatments, and greater than the centre of clear-fell coupes, but not
the other treatments. Individual bat taxa responded to treatments consistent with predictions from ecomorphology. We
also compared species level activity at paired bat detectors on the ground and in the sub-canopy (20-37 m) along the
nearby Tahune airwalk. Activity was 4.5 times greater in the sub-canopy compared to ground detectors set in openings
within the understorey. Adjusting the ground activity by this factor in the tall forests of the control coupes suggests
that the logging impacts on bat activity are considerably greater than those described above. However, this conclusion
makes the assumption that all bats flying in the range of ground-based detectors within logged gaps and adjacent to
retained trees are recorded and require no adjustment.
The development of urchin barrens in seagrass meadows at Luscombe Bay, Western Australia from 1985 to 2004.
Authors: Langdon Mark W , Paling Eric I , Van Keulen Mike
Published: May 2016

Herbivore grazing is a well-documented cause of habitat decline in terrestrial systems, but marine examples from
seagrass meadows are rare. Here we present evidence that isolated urchin grazing events have caused further localized
losses to seagrass meadows already degraded by eutrophication or other anthropogenic disturbances. By 1992 a
substantial scar in Posidonia meadows at Luscombe Bay in Cockburn Sound, Western Australia, had been caused by
grazing urchins. When seagrass transplants were placed at the site more than a decade later most were grazed and
did not survive. GIS analyses on imagery from 1985 to 2004 indicated that rapid seagrass meadow decline coincided
with the presence of an unusually large aggregation of the grazing urchin Heliocidaris erythrogramma. Evidence of
some seagrass recovery after 1993 was also apparent after the manual removal of the urchins in late 1992. Restoration
efforts in seagrass meadows should consider the potential for grazing damage, as is commonplace in terrestrial systems.
Amphibian Biology, Volume 8.
Authors: Calver Mike
Published: May 2016

AS Stankey and Allan explain in their concise but
informative introduction, “Adaptive management is
characterized by both a compelling and intuitive
simplicity (we learn by doing) as well as a growing
sophisticated and elegant theoretical discourse.” It
offers the promise of using policy implementation to
improve understanding of natural systems and
thereby to direct future changes to policy and
practice. The challenge for managers is to identify
the operational practicalities that lie between the
attractive concept and the theory. The aim of this
book is to examine that challenge through case
studies of the real-world application of adaptive
management in a range of settings, including
examples relevant to managers, policy makers and
environmental scientists. The approach is not
prescriptive, but rather to reflect on experience as a
guide to future practice.
Dry Times Blueprint for a Red Land.
Authors: Sommer Bea
Published: May 2016

RESOURCE depletion, pollution, climate change,
species extinctions, etc. have opened most people’s
eyes to the fact that the future of humanity is
irrefutably linked with the life support systems of our
environment. Yet, particularly in urban Australian
society, cheap clean water from ever-declining
aquifers still flows freely from our taps; easily
recyclable goods are collected weekly in oversized
wheely-bins and dumped out of sight as landfill; our
energy consumption from the burning of fossil fuels
is enormous, even though Australia is blessed with
practically unlimited supply of solar and wind energy.
Anyone who has ever spent time travelling through
outback Australia will know that our ingrained urban
habits, interestingly, quickly change in the face of
scarcity and uncertainty. A good example is how
careful we become of not wasting a single drop of
water. Suddenly it is possible to survive without
electrical lighting, and other modcoms. So, we are
obviously capable of changing our ways, and what
Mark Stafford and Julian Cribb postulate, is that by
listening to the knowledge of the desert we may have
a roadmap to survival in the 21st century.
Space Perspectives.
Authors: Fulton Graham R
Published: May 2016

STEPHEN Hawking recently advised that we
ought not to make contact with intelligent
aliens, because they would be so much more
advanced than us. He states, “I think the
outcome would be much as when Christopher
Columbus first landed in America, which didn’t
turn out very well for the Native Americans”
(Hawking 2010). He suggests that aliens might
simply raid the Earth for its resources and then
move on. I speculate that they may use us as
they would any other resource with as little
respect as we have shown to other life forms
with which we currently share a planet. Or
perhaps they would see us as an out-of-control
species of pest and, with the kindness and
ethical values of an advanced species, promptly
weed us from the “Gaia-garden” that we call
Earth (Gaia hypothesis see Lovelock 2000).
They could effectively save millions of species
and restore the “Gaia-balance” for the loss of
one species, plus a few others dependent on
humans –– various body lice and some microscopic
gut flora.
Extinction & Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds.
Authors: Recher Harry F
Published: May 2016

ALTHOUGH Steadman’s book was published in
2006, it has lost none of its value. Without question,
Extinction & Biogeography of Tropical Pacific Birds is one
of the most interesting and informative books
published on the birds of the Pacific Region in the
last 100 years. It ranks in importance with Ernst
Mayr’s Birds of the Southwest Pacific (1945) and should
be read by everyone with an interest in the ecology
and history of the Pacific islands.
The impact of humans on the fauna of the Pacific
is well known, but I doubt many of us appreciated
either the scale of that impact or the speed at which
it occurred, much less who was responsible. The
Pacific islands were among the last lands colonized
by the world’s ever expanding human population
(and some may be the first to be de-populated as sea
levels rise with global warming). Some islands, such
as New Zealand, may only have been colonized
within the last 600–800 years. For others, such as
New Britain, people arrived ~30-35,000 BP. In all
instances, bar the large continental islands, and
regardless of island size and isolation, the impact of
humans on birds was the same — rapid extinction
of almost all species. Because many, if not most,
islands had evolved endemic species of flightless
rails, the total number of extinctions estimated by
Steadman is between 1000 and 2000 species (p.319),
of which the number of extinct rails lies between 500
and 1600 (p.316). The birds that survived are a
vestige of a much richer and diverse avifauna. This
is what makes Steadman’s account so important.
Introduced species in New Zealand ? Their impacts on a biodiversity hotspot
Authors: N. H. Seabrook-Davision Mark , H. Brunton Dianne
Published: May 2016

The issue of naturalization of introduced species to New Zealand was raised in an article in Nature (Ritchie 1922a Thompson 1922) 88 years ago. Here, we take the opportunity to assess the impacts of introduced species to the islands of New Zealand, one of the only entire countries, such as Madagascar, Japan, Philippines and New Caledonia to be described as a biodiversity hotspot (Reid 1998; Abbitt et al. 2000; Smith et al. 2001; Mittermeier et al. 2004). Between 1769 and 1919, 1170 species were recorded as being introduced to New Zealand (Thompson 1922) (Table 1). Ritchie (1922) reviewed the publication of Thompson?s inventory and warned against the introduction of exotic species without proper planning and assessment of the impacts on the existing biota. The warning was given because of New Zealand?s biodiversity had evolved in the absence of mammalian predators. Many bird, reptile and invertebrate species had limited defences against mammal species such as rats Rattus spp, mustelids (Stoat Mustela erminea, Ferret Mustela furo and Weasel Mustela nivalis vulgari), Brushtail Possum Trichosurus vulpectula and Cat Felis cattus. At the beginning of the 20th century, most of New Zealand?s large land vertebrates were extinct or threatened with extinction. The rapid expansion of mustelids, rats and Cat had caused considerable contractions in the distribution of large ground birds such as Kakapo Strigops habroptilus, South Island Takahe Porphyrio mantelli hochstetteri and species of waterfowl.
Ecosystem-based adaptation in marine ecosystems of tropical Oceania in response to climate change.
Authors: Grantham H S , McLeod E , Brooks A , Jupiter S D , Hardcastle J , Richardson A J , Poloczanska E S , Hills T , Mieszkowska N , Klein C J , Watson J E M
Published: May 2016

Tropical Oceania, including Melanesia, Polynesia, Micronesia and northern Australia, is one of the most biodiverse
regions of the world. Climate change impacts have already occurred in the region and will become one of the greatest
threats to biodiversity and people. Climate projections indicate that sea levels will rise in many places but not uniformly.
Islands will warm and annual rainfall will increase and exhibit strong decadal variations. Increases in global atmospheric
CO2 concentration are causing ocean acidification, compromising the ability of organisms such as corals to maintain
their calcium carbonate skeletons. We discuss these climate threats and their implications for the biodiversity of several
ecosystems (coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves) in the region. We highlight current adaptation approaches designed
to address these threats, including efforts to integrate ecosystem and community-based approaches. Finally, we identify
guiding principles for developing effective ecosystem-based adaptation strategies. Despite broad differences in
governance and social systems within the region, particularly between Australia and the rest of the Pacific, threats
and planning objectives are similar. Ensuring community awareness and participation are essential everywhere. The
science underpinning ecosystem-based adaptation strategies is in its infancy but there is great opportunity for
communicating approaches and lessons learnt between developing and developed nations in tropical Oceania.
Climate Change in Oceania – A synthesis of biodiversity impacts and adaptations.
Authors: Kingsford Richard T , Watson James E M
Published: May 2016

Climate change is already affecting many of the world’s ecosystems with far-reaching impacts. In this special
issue, contributors focus on the current and projected impacts of climate change across different geographical regions
of Oceania (Australia, Pacific Islands and New Zealand). In this synthesis, we examine how climate change is affecting
the three main realms: terrestrial, freshwater (broadly including estuarine and inland saline systems) and marine. Within
this context, we also examine general strategies for climate adaptation including reducing other threats (e.g., habitat
loss and degradation), expanding protected areas, increasing connectivity, restoring habitat and translocations. We
show that many of these general strategies will not overcome all the threats caused by climate change and specific
solutions are likely to be necessary. Beyond the implementation of these strategies, there are significant future challenges
which will hamper effective adaptation that need to be overcome by the scientific community. Our current understanding
of the impacts of climate change on biodiversity remains poor; this is particularly true for poor nations in the region.
There is also considerable uncertainty in forecasts of climate change, particularly at the local scale, and this uncertainty
impacts pro-active planning. This makes effective implementation particularly challenging. Considerable focus is needed
into ecosystem-based adaptation where local communities are integrally involved, allied with more active and
accountable management of conservation, through adaptive management processes. The world is experiencing far
reaching and long-term changes to ecosystems with major impacts on human communities, particularly in relation to
ecosystem services. Our ability to develop effective adaptation strategies from the broad scale policy (e.g., emissions
control) to local scale management (e.g., building resilience in ecosystems) will be significantly tested but the world
is in an important period and scientists and practitioners need to keep trying different approaches and reporting their
successes and failures to the wider community.
Long-term Research
Authors: Fulton Graham R
Published: May 2016

IN earlier issues Broad-Spectrum-Academics’
Essays have covered Cane Toads (Bufo marinus),
squirrels, the media and the universe. Rick
Shine wrote as a herpetologist and as a leader
in ecological field-research while Fred Watson
wrote as an astronomer engaging us with rocket
science, telescopes and a squirrel living in an
Arizonan mountain-top. Both these luminaries
have one obvious thing in common with the
author in this issue: they have been doing it for
a long time.
Now that we have our pest-proof fence, are we safe or trapped?
Authors: Parks Heather , Clifton Kyle , Best Lauren , Johnson Bridget
Published: May 2016

PEST-PROOF (exclusion) fences are
designed to prevent non-native,
predatory and pest species from
repopulating an area set aside to
protect vulnerable native plant and
animal species. Pest-proof fencing
provides security from invasive
species, but can isolate the native
species enclosed within. On one
hand, some rare native species exist
on the mainland due to the pest-free
status achieved through the use of
exclusion fences. On the other hand,
these reintroduced populations are
now isolated a situation where they
would not be found naturally
(Jamieson et al. 2006). Exclusion
fences must be constantly
maintained or the sanctuary risks reinvasion.
An important question for
conservation biologists and
managers to answer is therefore —
when is exclusion fencing the best
option for protecting native species
from introduced pests? We have
drawn our examples from New
Zealand and Australia where
progress has been made with regard
to the design and utilization of
exclusion fences.
The North West Cape, Western Australia: A Potential Hotspot for Indo-Pacific Humpback Dolphins Sousa chinensis?
Authors: Isaac Jo
Published: May 2016

SAVING A Million Species is an emotive title for a
book, and immediately raises a number of questions,
including “Are a million species really at risk from
climate change?”, “Which species are they?” and “How
can we save them?”.
This book attempts to tackle these critical questions,
and more. Organized into six key parts, and with 20
chapters authored by many of the pre-eminent
researchers in climate change and biodiversity science,
Saving A Million Species is an ambitious book that
addresses the most significant conservation crisis of
our time.
As a reference and a starting point for further
chapters, Part I begins by introducing and dissecting
the well-known paper by Thomas et al., “Extinction
Risk from Climate Change”, published in Nature in
2004. Chris Thomas returns to arguably the most
important paper of his career, and scrutinizes the
methodologies and limitations of that first analysis.
Chapter 3 goes on to discuss the implications and
fallout from the paper, including subsequent changes
in policy around the world and the incorporation of
extinction risk from climate change into threatened
species listings.
Factors influencing early restoration progress of a Eucalyptus tereticornis open forest on former
agricultural land.
Authors: Lewis Tom , Taylor David , Swift Scott , Debuse Valerie
Published: May 2016

We monitored an area that was revegetated with the goal of restoring a Eucalyptus tereticornis open forest on
former agricultural land in central, eastern Queensland. Revegetation involved: (1) planting 60 ha of previously cleared
and heavily grazed land with eight local trees species; and (2) removing cattle grazing to encourage natural regeneration
in areas where some mature trees remained. We compared the revegetation site to native pasture that had also been
previously cleared, with only scattered paddock trees remaining, and continued to be managed for livestock production
(an area similar to the revegetation site, prior to planting) and a remnant forest (reference area). Nine years since
revegetation began there was some evidence that the revegetated site was diverging from pasture in terms of
understorey plant composition, sapling density and topsoil C and N. There was little divergence in terms of plant species
richness (native, introduced, grass, forb and woody plant richness), herbaceous biomass and woody plant regeneration.
Some monitoring plots were subject to fire (prescribed fire and or wildfire) over the period of monitoring. With increasing
time since fire, the richness of native species, introduced species and grass species (both native and introduced)
declined, and forb and grass species richness declined with increasing litter biomass, suggesting that the occurrence
of fire and the associated removal of litter biomass has a positive influence on herbaceous diversity in this ecosystem.
Woody plant regeneration persisted through lignotubers at the revegetation site and at the pasture, but this regeneration
was stunted at the pasture presumably due to livestock grazing. Hence areas of former E. tereticornis forest showed
promising regenerative capacity where mature trees remained and where livestock grazing was removed.
Predicting trends in humpback whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) abundance using citizen science
Authors: Tonachella Nicolo , Nastasi Aurora , Kaufman Gregory , Maldini Daniela , Rankin Robert William
Published: May 2016

The Great Whale Count (GWC) is an annual citizen science event that monitors changes in humpback whale
(Megaptera novaeangliae) sightings in Maui County during the breeding season. The study includes 15 years of
observations (1995–1996 and 1999–2011) with over 11 000 whale sightings. We provide a critical examination of the
utility of the citizen science data given the challenges of observer-, site- and year-specific biases in counts, as well as
an immeasurable and imperfect detection process. We estimate an annual increase of 5.16% per year (±2.76%), which
closely resembles earlier trend estimates for Hawai’i. We demonstrate how uncertainty estimates in citizen science
data can be strongly influenced by sampling processes, especially observer effects. Although such effects are now
widely recognized in ecological studies, citizen science data often predate the mainstreaming of sampling protocols
which measure and adjust for imperfect detectability. Here, we propose random effect models to minimize such effects
in lieu of detectability techniques, and urge citizen science programs to adapt their protocols to handle observer
processes at the planning and data collection stage.
Invertebrate conservation in Australia: problems in policy and practice.
Authors: New T R , Yen A L
Published: May 2016

UNDERTAKING programmes for
invertebrate conservation in Australia
has always been difficult because of
(1) lack of information about the
target taxa, (2) the small number of
relevant invertebrate specialists, and
(3) competition with the better known
plants and animals for limited
resources to conduct these programmes.
The task of invertebrate
conservation is both formidable and
increasingly urgent, and must be
undertaken with very inadequate
taxonomic and biological knowledge.
The history of insect conservation
interest in Australia (summarized by
New and Yen 2012) demonstrates
many of the problems that may be
even greater amongst lesser-known
invertebrates.
Reviews (New 1984; Yen and
Butcher 1997; Hutchings and Ponder
1999; Sands and New 2002; Clarke
and Spier 2003), conferences
(primarily the series of Invertebrate
Biodiversity and Conservation Conferences,
or IBCC, that have been
conducted every two years since
1993), numerous workshops, and
interest groups (such as the Conservation
Committee of the Australian
Entomological Society), and establishment
of recovery teams have
collectively publicized invertebrate
conservation issues, from basic study
and inventory to practical management.
They have sought the widest
possible inputs to ensure progress and
explore the various impediments
that retard effective conservation of
invertebrates.
The conservation value of private property; a case study of the birds of Woopenatty, Arrino, in the northern wheatbelt of Western Australia, 1987–2002.
Authors: Saunders Denis A , McAleer A J
Published: May 2016

Woopenatty was a 7,293 ha wheat-sheep property in the Geraldton Sandplains biogeographic region of the northern
wheatbelt of Western Australia. Data were collected on the presence of bird species seen on a weekly basis on the
property from October 1987 until the end of 2002. A total of 133 species was recorded from the property during this
period with 52 species of resident, 16 species of regular visitor, 15 species of irregular visitor and 50 vagrant species.
The avifauna of the property was compared with records collated from 1904 from eight locations within a radius of 110
km of the property and from records within a radius of 50 km of the property from two Birds Australia atlases (1977–
1981 and 1997–2002). Seventy-four percent of the species, including many dependent on remnant native vegetation,
recorded from the other localities were recorded on Woopenatty. The property was clearly of importance for conservation
of the avifauna of the Geraldton Sandplains. This study illustrates the importance of publishing descriptions of regional
biota in order to assess changes over time and the significance of remnant native vegetation on private property to
conservation. Suggestions for setting priorities for conservation and management of such remnant native vegetation
are made.
Northernmost record of Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) – a morphological and genetic description from a stranding from Shark Bay, Western Australia.
Authors: Holyoake Carly , Holley David , Spencer Peter B S , Salgado-Kent Chandra , Coughran Douglas , Bejder Lars
Published: May 2016

Shepherd’s beaked whale (Tasmacetus shepherdi) is one of the least known cetaceans. Based on the location of
45 strandings and two at-sea sightings, T. shepherdi is thought to have a circumpolar distribution in the temperate
waters of the Southern Hemisphere between latitudes 33°S and 50°S. On 10 November 2008, a female T. shepherdi
was found dead on a beach in Shark Bay, Western Australia, at 113° 16’E, 26° 20’S. DNA sequencing was used to
verify the identification of the specimen, which is the northern most record for this species. The age of the specimen
was estimated to be between 12 and 15 years, based on counting dentine growth layer groups in two teeth, assuming
an annual rate of deposition.
The distribution of the Fiji frogs, Platymantis spp.: New records and ramifications.
Authors: Osborne Tamara , Naikatini Alivereti , Morrison Clare , Thomas Nunia
Published: May 2016

The present study reports new records of the distribution of Fiji frogs from extensive geographic sampling on islands
where both species were previously reported to persist. Platymantis vitianus is found in populations of varying sizes
on six islands (Viwa, Ovalau, Taveuni, Gau, Vanua Levu and Viti Levu). Its congener, P. vitiensis has extant populations
on the two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. Based on these recent surveys, our findings suggest that the
current IUCN Red List status for P. vitiensis needs to be reclassified from ‘near threatened’ (NT) to ‘vulnerable’ (VU
B1b[i]c[ii]). The discovery of a much wider geographic distribution for P. vitianus in recent surveys than recorded in the
latter half of the 20th century is encouraging and reveals the need to re-examine known conservation threats.
Recommendations for frog conservation in Fiji, with regard to current land-use practices are discussed.
Exploring the final frontiers: Cruise tourism in polar regions.
Authors: Tulloch Ayesha
Published: May 2016

CRUISE ship tourism is expanding rapidly in both
the Arctic and Antarctic, with increased numbers and
types of vessels, more demanding routes, and yearround
activity as the final frontiers are opened to all
types of visitors. The increase in access and in cruise
activities, risks of accidents and negative impacts, and
the effects of the large numbers of tourists in the
polar regions bring significant management
challenges for sustainable use of polar regions. In
this timely context, Lück, Maher and Stewart have
collected a range of discussions and viewpoints of the
environmental and social sustainability issues
concerning the cruise industry in polar regions.
The Action Plan for Australian Birds 2010.
Authors: Recher Harry F
Published: May 2016

THIS is the third Action Plan for Australian Birds
produced since 1992 by Stephen Garnett and his
colleagues. Each reviews the conservation
(threatened) status of the 1266 indigenous bird taxa
(species and distinct populations; excluding vagrants)
found in Australia and its territories. Threats,
important habitats, and gaps in information are
given for each taxon listed. Twenty-seven taxa are
extinct, with 20 critically endangered, 60
endangered, 68 vulnerable, and 63 near threatened.
One-thousand and twenty-eight are taxa of “least
concern” and are not listed. For each threatened
taxon the reasons for listing are explained, the
taxon’s past and present distribution and abundance
given, and the threats the taxon faces summarized.
There is also a brief account of each taxon’s ecology
and a bibliography of relevant publications.
Recommendations are made for conservation action,
including research, with the aim of minimizing
threats and ensuring the taxon’s survival. Status is
assessed using the criteria of the International Union
of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List.
The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating.
Authors: Fulton Graham R
Published: May 2016

THIS is not the typical textbook analysed for its
usefulness to conservation biology usually presented
in these pages. It is that occasional and unexpected
book with the potential to inform and encourage
conservation biology. In reviewing this book I was
excited to see if it could achieve one of the aims it
clearly sets out to achieve – to bring readers closer
to snails and malacology. I am always searching for
avenues of writing that can simultaneously enliven
specialists and generalists in any area of biology and
conservation. This book clearly falls under this
criterion and with this in mind I asked can it show
the way for conservation biologists to write along
similar lines to broaden the reading base that can
be informed by our discipline. Can we learn
something from reading it that we can communicate
to others?
The Water Dreamers: The Remarkable History of Our Dry Continent.
Authors: Fulton Graham R
Published: May 2016

MICHAEL Cathcart was born in Melbourne. He
teaches Australian History at the University of
Melbourne and has presented various shows on ABC
radio and television. I have spent many mornings
listening to him on Radio National where he brings
knowledge and fairness to his interviews, furthering
my belief that academics need more media exposure–
–all credit to him. He has published broadly
including an abridgement of Manning Clark’s epic
A History of Australia and an anthology of Australian
Speeches.
From biodiversity to bioperversity: from good science to poor environmental policy
Authors: Lindenmayer David
Published: May 2016

While Australia is one of the world leaders in conservation biology, it is not in conservation policy. Proposed socalled
policy “reforms” in environmental policy will undermine many of the important gains made in conservation
management. Here I outline four retrogressive policy changes proposed or currently taking place in eastern Australian
states. These range from branding climate research as “post-normal” science through to grazing of alpine environments
to reduce “blazing” despite overwhelming evidence that it has no such effect. Conservation scientists will need to work
extremely hard to communicate their science and underscore the need for scientific data to underpin truly evidencebased
conservation policy and evidence-based conservation management. The consequences of failing to do so will
be an ongoing decline in the quality of environmental policies and impaired environmental and conservation outcomes.
From Botany Bay to Breathing Planet: an Australian perspective on plant diversity and global sustainability
Authors: Hopper Stephen D
Published: May 2016

With a special focus on Australia, this paper proposes that plant diversity is fundamentally important for sustainable
living at a time of unprecedented global change. The establishment of Australia as a nation is intimately linked with
Botany Bay, named by Captain James Cook following the enthusiasm for novel botanical discoveries made by Joseph
Banks and Daniel Solander on the Endeavour’s first Australian landfall in 1770. On returning to England, Banks was
introduced to King George III, and they became firm friends, the King inviting Banks to become honorary Director of
the Royal Gardens at Kew in west London. Today, Kew is the world’s largest botanical garden, with the most diverse
scientific collections of plants on Earth, leading research, and conservation projects like the Millennium Seed Bank
Partnership. Plant diversity has never been more important than now to help with solutions towards sustainable
livelihoods. This paper touches upon global plant diversity patterns, ongoing scientific discovery, and strategies that
have helped and will help towards humans living with and sustainably using plant diversity. Such approaches are
embraced in the Breathing Planet Programme, Kew’s strategy with partners for inspiring and delivering science-based
plant conservation worldwide, aimed at enhancing the quality of life at a time of unprecedented global change. Today’s
plant science and cross-cultural learning with Australia’s Aboriginal people are also helping better understand the
astounding place that Banks first stepped onto at Botany Bay, and demonstrating that Australia has much to teach the
world about plant diversity and human enrichment on ancient landscapes. OCBIL Theory is explored briefly to exemplify
this contention; OCBIL is an acronym for ‘old, climatically buffered, infertile landscapes’.
Conservation of waterbirds in Australia
Authors: Kingsford R T
Published: May 2016

There are 93 species of Australian waterbirds, predominantly dependent on freshwater, inland saline or estuarine
ecosystems. They include diverse species predominantly from six major groups: grebes (Podicipediformes); ducks,
geese and swans (Anseriformes); pelicans and cormorants (Pelecaniformes); egrets, ibises, spoonbills (Ciconniiformes);
cranes, rails and crakes (Gruiiformes) and shorebirds (Charadriiformes). I analysed the content of 382 publications on
Australian waterbirds in relation to life history and threats. There were 4.08 publications per species, with most
publications biased towards the Anseriformes (6.95 publications per species). There were relatively few publications
on Gruiformes (1.13 per species) or Podicipediformes (0.33 per species). There is reasonably good knowledge of
distribution, abundance, diet and foraging and habitat use, but there were generally few examples of integration of
these data into population modelling, a particularly useful tool for conservation of species. Significant gaps exist in
the understanding of basic life history and movement patterns, critical for conservation; these are particularly
accentuated for cryptic species. Opportunities exist to collection basic information, directed towards modelling
population dynamics. As with most of the world’s organisms, habitat loss and degradation remain the major threat to
waterbirds in Australia. The ongoing pressure on water resources and developments of estuaries continue to cause
decline of waterbirds, exacerbated by secondary threats including climate change, disease, hunting, pollution and
disturbance. Hunting continues to have an impact, but it is relatively poorly modelled, requiring more investment by
governments charged with its management. Effective conservation of Australian waterbirds and their wetland habitats
depends on mitigating habitat loss and degradation, primarily dependent on political will not knowledge.
Conservation lessons from the Pacific Islands
Authors: Kingsford Richard T , Jupiter Stacy D
Published: May 2016

THE Pacific Islands have long been at the vanguard of the battle for our planet’s ecological sustainability, including biodiversity in this time of the Anthropocene. It was on these islands that the world began to understand the devastating impacts of invasive species, direct or indirect passengers on our invasion waves, on endemic animals, maladapted to avoid
predation (Elton 1958). Devastating statistics on island extinctions are the frontispiece of any textbook on conservation biology. Further, the standout general rule for ecology, the relationship between biodiversity and natural habitat area, the species’ area curve, was underpinned by our understanding of the bird communities of Pacific Islands (Diamond and
Mayr 1976). These are the conservation lessons of the past, an ever present reminder of the legacy of the impact of our species on natural environments and the other organisms with which we share this earth. Ultimately we all depend on the ecosystem services provided by our environments. Today, conservation in the Pacific Islands continues to teach us important
lessons for focussing scientific research, implementing best practice management, disseminating educational material, and developing legislative and policy mechanisms. These are tied to ongoing acute and chronic threats, burgeoning human populations and the relatively poor capacity, compared to wealthy nations, to apply available conservation tools for effective change.
Principles for integrated island management in the tropical Pacific
Authors: Jupiter Stacy D , Jenkins Aaron P , Lee Long Warren J , Maxwell Sean L , Carruthers Tim J B , Hodge Kate B , Govan Hugh , Tamelander Jerker , Watson James E M
Published: May 2016

We propose a new approach for island-wide planning and implementation of ecosystem management in the Pacific,
recognizing a lack of replicability, sustainability and cost-effectiveness in other approaches. ʻIntegrated island managementʼ
(IIM) operates through coordinated networks of institutions and communities focused on sustainable and adaptive
management of natural resources. IIM enables simultaneous and cost-effective achievement of ecosystem-based
management, climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction while conserving biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem
services and securing human health and well-being. We present ten guiding principles for IIM, and then use these to
evaluate 36 case studies from the Pacific islands. Most case studies were pilot or demonstration projects with little
evidence of planning to ensure long-term financial and human capacity needs were sustained, beyond the life of the
projects, or could be replicated at significant scales. Management outcomes in the Pacific will be enhanced by: (1)
building on foundations of customary management practice and social networks; (2) working holistically across relevant
ecological and governance scales, through coordinated but decentralized and nested institutions; (3) empowering local
communities to participate in integrated planning and implementation; and (4) embedding IIM practice into national
systems for long-term sustainability and replication. These also ultimately depend on the context and externalities, beyond
the control of practitioners. Cost-effectiveness and appropriateness are also critical for successful IIM in the Pacific
islands but ultimately there is little alternative for effective biodiversity conservation.
Do Koalas Phascolarctos cinereus use trees planted on farms? A case study from north-west New South Wales, Australia.
Authors: Rhind Susan G. , Ellis Murray V. , Smith Martin , Lunney Daniel
Published: May 2016

Biodiversity benefits are routinely cited as an outcome of planting trees on farms but there has been too little
information to properly substantiate such claims. This study is among the first to examine the use of plantings by
arboreal mammals. We examined an important inland koala population and its use of farm revegetation to determine:
(1) if koalas use planted trees; (2) patch characteristics correlated with use/non-use by koalas; and, (3) contextual
characteristics correlated with use/non-use.
Surveys of koala dung, also known as scats or faecal pellets, were conducted under trees in 19 plantings. Fourteen
showed signs of koalas and their pellets were recorded under 16 of the 25 tree taxa examined. All sizes and ages of
trees were used, including the youngest plantings (six years). Considerable koala activity occurred in the various
Eucalyptus species, but some tree species were not used. Koalas made substantial use of inland ironbark species,
which are not listed as ‘koala food trees’ in government policy documents. Proximity to potential source populations of
koalas was the strongest predictor of a planting being used, but this was further improved by including the age of the
planting.
There is extensive public funding available for restoration and land care activities. This study demonstrates that
certain trees rapidly provide koala habitat when planted on farms and that the first priority should be restoring sites in
close proximity to known koala populations. Tree species used should include local recognized food trees, as well as
ironbarks and non-eucalyptus species that offer shelter.
Risks to soil biodiversity on the islands of the South Pacific.
Authors: Leo Flame , Wong Ken K.Y. , Tauati Seuseu J.
Published: May 2016

Soil biota provide valuable ecosystem service, and their genetic resources have the potential to evolve and adapt
to environmental changes. However, the rate and extent of climate change may be beyond the adaptive capability of
many biological systems. Knowing the status of soil biodiversity is therefore vital for devising strategies to stabilize
ecosystems by regulating nutrient, carbon and water cycles. However, there is currently little information on soil
biodiversity in the South Pacific and its potential to respond to climate change and other environmental stresses.
Globally, Europe has taken the lead to extensively study and collate information on soil biodiversity and its functions,
and devise relevant policies and strategies.
The development of a soil biodiversity inventory for the South Pacific would help determine the predominant soil
organisms present and establish baseline data. The selection of a few indicator species groups to serve as standards
could allow financially limited researchers to contribute to the monitoring of environmental impacts. This information
would help identify appropriate soil management technologies to build resilience in agricultural systems, thus contributing
to ensure food security. Other research areas for consideration include biological functions of soil biota, soil ecosystem
services, traditional cultivation methods and genetic potential. Judicial use of current knowledge on the importance
of mangrove forests in the carbon cycle, biosphere reserves in biodiversity conservation, and soil management
technologies could increase soil organic matter and nutrients and reduce soil erosion and habitat loss.
Australia's wetlands – learning from the past to manage for the future
Authors: Bino G. , Kingsford R. T. , Brandis K.
Published: May 2016

Australia has diverse wetlands with multiple threats. We reviewed knowledge about the extent of wetlands, representativeness, impacts and threats to integrity and options for effective conservation. Natural Australian wetlands cover an estimated 33 266 245 ha (4.4%), with 55% palustrine (floodplains and swamps), followed by 31% lakes, 10% estuarine systems, and 5% rivers and creeks. The Lake Eyre (1.1%), Murray–Darling (0.73%), Tanami–Timor Sea Coast (0.71%) and the Carpentaria Coast (0.55%) drainage divisions have more wetlands, also reflected in the distributions among states and territories. Ramsar sites and wetlands in protected areas were generally biased towards the southern continent. Overall representation of mapped wetlands was good for lacustrine (40.6%) and estuarine (34.4%), fair for riverine (16.8%), but inadequate for palustrine (10.8%) wetlands. Within drainage divisions, representation varied considerably, with shortfalls from the Aichi target of 17%. Agriculture, urbanisation, pollution and invasive species have degraded or destroyed wetlands, particularly in the developed south-east, south-west and north-east of the continent. Water resource developments, primarily the building of dams, diversion of water and development of floodplains, seriously threaten Australian wetlands, with all threats exacerbated by climate change impacts of rising sea levels and high temperatures. Management and policy for wetlands is dependent on data on distribution, type and extent of wetlands, a key national constraint. Some States are well advanced (e.g. Queensland) and others lack any comprehensive data on the distribution of wetlands. Mitigation of increasing development (e.g. northern Australia) will be critical for conservation, along with increased representativeness in protected areas and restoration, particularly with environmental flows.
Predictable effects of agricultural development on the long-term availability of hollows for animals: observations from the Western Australian wheatbelt
Authors: Abensperg-Traun Max , T. Smith Graeme
Published: May 2016

Australia lacks primary excavators of eucalypts (excluding wood-boring insects), and animals using hollows in trees for shelter or nesting are dependent on hollows created by termites (for processes of termite invasion of eucalypts, and hollow formation, see Mackowski 1984; Perry et al. 1985). The abundance of hollows of various sizes has been used to explain why Australia has the largest number of obligate hole-nesting birds, especially the parrots (Saunders et al. 1982). The importance of tree hollows to many small mammals is also well documented (e.g., Mackowski 1984; Dickman 1991). Once the hollowed tree has fallen, it represents an important shelter and bolt hole site for small mammals (e.g., Friend 1990; Abensperg-Traun 1991; Dickman 1991). Logs also provide many invertebrates (e.g., cockroaches, beetles, spiders, isopods) and lizards with shelter, breeding and feeding sites. However, the importance of this habitat for these species has not been documented.
Ecocolonialism and indigenous knowledge systems - comment
Authors: B. K. Baines G.
Published: May 2016

In the South Pacific islands it is unrealistic to approach biodiversity conservation without, at the same time, addressing the social and economic needs of those who have a customary association with the area concerned. Cox and Elmqvist (1993) have recognized this and pursued an innovative course of action for rainforest protection. Their disappointment at the loss of an opportunity for external assistance to Tafua villagers for rainforest conservation is understandable. It is important that the reasons for this missed opportunity be known and understood.
Modern conservation and indigenous peoples: in search of wisdom
Authors: D. Dwyer Peter
Published: May 2016

The resource management systems of indigenous people often have outcomes that are analogous to those desired by Western conservationists. They differ, however, in context, motive and conceptual underpinnings. To represent indigenous management systems as being well suited to the needs of modern conservation, or as founded in the same ethic, is both facile and wrong; it will not serve the interests of either modern conservation or disadvantaged indigenous peoples. It is argued that encounters between the interests of modern conservation and indigenous peoples must be resolved in favour of the latter.
A theme issue on landscape ecology
Authors: Moritz Craig
Published: May 2016

This issue introduces a new feature of Pacific Conservation Biology ? a theme issue. In this case the theme is "Landscape Ecology", a developing field in conservation biology which is strong in Australia and which, as these papers indicate, has considerable application to practical conservation. The papers are of high quality ? all were subject to critical review and revision ? and demonstrate the breadth of disciplines contributing to Landscape Ecology. A particularly pleasing feature is the range of organizations from which the authors come; Universities, CSIRO, State conservation agencies and the Royal Botanic Gardens in Sydney. This approaches the ideal we have set for the journal. The papers were submitted subsequent to a symposium on the topic at the 1993 meeting of the Ecological Society of Australia and were edited by Richard Hobbs; my thanks to him for the original suggestion and his extraordinary efficiency! I expect that we will have more such theme issues in the future, perhaps one a year, and I would welcome suggestions.