Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635:reg:1:p10
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2016L00635
Segment Type: reg
Provision Reference: reg 1 (pt 10/23)
Character Range: 29665–32722

the loss of genetic diversity. Population bottlenecks, where a population's size is reduced for at least one generation, can significantly reduce genetic diversity through genetic drift (random changes in the gene frequencies of a population from generation to generation). A small population size can also lead to inbreeding depression, where the biological fitness (survival and fertility) of the population is reduced due to mating between related individuals.

4.2.2  Habitat loss and fragmentation
Ongoing clearing of woodland and forest containing the key eucalypt species preferred by regent honeyeaters is a major threat. The historical clearance of foraging and nesting habitat has been extensive and dramatic in many areas, reducing the available nesting and foraging habitat to small remnants of what previously existed. These remnants are continuing to decline in area through residential, agricultural and industrial developments.
The widespread loss of mature paddock trees throughout agricultural areas of the regent honeyeater's range also affects the species. Many records of the species are from areas of scattered paddock trees or stands (Webster and Menkhorst, 1992; Recovery Team, unpublished data), and loss of these from the landscape represents an ongoing loss of habitat and will likely impact the ability of the birds to disperse widely.
A result of ongoing habitat loss is that much of the regent honeyeater's habitat is now fragmented, or altered to the point where it is no longer suitable for the species' use. It is known from bird banding studies that regent honeyeaters are able to move considerable distances within south-east Australia, with the long-distance record being a movement of approximately 580 km (Recovery Team, unpublished data). However, the means by which they move between remnant patches is not well understood, and it is possible there are not enough interconnected patches of habitat to allow unhindered movement. Even if there are enough stands of remnant vegetation, and they are in a suitable matrix across the landscape to support the underlying ecological requirements of the species, the quality of these remnants may not be sufficient to support regent honeyeaters or sustain them during large-scale movements. Many remnants are degraded and likely missing important ecological features, such as large trees and/or high quality nectar flows. Fragmentation may also expose breeding populations of regent honeyeaters to greater predation pressure and increased harassment from other aggressive honeyeaters.

4.2.3  Habitat degradation
Remaining regent honeyeater habitat faces ongoing degradation and loss of quality, particularly on agricultural land in central and north-east Victoria and on the western slopes and northern tablelands of New South Wales. Loss of mature trees occurs through senescence, eucalypt dieback, harvesting for fence posts or firewood, or drought-induced stress. Grazing of livestock and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), and the associated soil compaction, simplifies the