Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01397:body:0:p19
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L01397
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 65115–70157

will support Action 2.3 and priorities should be decided based on the risk assessment process in Action 2.1 and the population impact assessments in Action 1.1.                                                                                                                                    1–3 years
This action complements some of the actions included in the recovery plans for each amphibian species listed under the EPBC Act.

Action 3.6: Determine the trigger points required for the implementation of management actions that prevent extinction of a population or species (links to Action 2.3)                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 High priority  Risk factors for extinction or drastic reduction in vulnerable populations and species are determined.
Investigate why apparently "secure" populations occur within infected areas (while others have been extirpated) and whether they may become vulnerable due to shifts in factors associated with their persistence, including habitat, climate, reservoir hosts, immunity and pathogen virulence.                                                                                                                                                        1–5 years      Trigger points for management actions to prevent extinctions are determined.
Investigate vulnerable "edge of range" populations and assess the risks to these populations under various climate change scenarios.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   Trigger Action Response Plan is developed.
Determine trigger points for establishing a genetically-stable captive breeding program to prevent potential extinctions, based on risk of extinction, population trajectories, or population size.
 Develop a Trigger Action Response Plan.
Action 3.7: Understanding chytrid fungus in the environment and the effects of environment/habitat modification                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Med priority   Diagnostic capability is improved and the field application of a rapid test is determined.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        1–5 years      Environmental factors affecting chytrid fungus are identified and their manipulation is evaluated for feasibility and effectiveness in abating the threat.
Continue research to improve diagnostic capability, particularly rapid diagnostic in-field tests (Phalen et al., 2011), for detecting the presence of the chytrid fungus on hosts and in environmental water samples. Various options should be investigated including further testing of the Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) test.                                                                                                                      Transmission via vectors and hosts is better understood.

Research is required to provide further insight into pathogenesis including the factors affecting the virulence of chytrid fungus under various environmental conditions. Research should continue to build on work already undertaken in south-east Australia (Scheele et al., 2014) into how these factors could be manipulated to abate the threat.

Undertake research to answer high priority questions about chytrid fungus in the environment, particularly relating to transmission, possible amphibian and non-amphibian vectors (including natural and unnatural movements), and amphibian and non-amphibian carriers/hosts (e.g. freshwater crayfish). The levels of background chemicals in the environment and toxicology of affected amphibians also should be investigated.

Objective 4: Build scientific capacity and promote communication among stakeholders
Building coordination and communication between key stakeholders and researchers is expected to improve the likelihood of the success of this TAP. In particular, this will assist by facilitating access to data and alerting stakeholders to new sites of infection, as