Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p29
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 75882–78848

reasons for concern.

The effects of herbivores are twofold. Firstly, grazing and browsing denies Malleefowl food that may otherwise be available to them. Secondly, when maintained at high densities these herbivores may cause long-term change to the vegetation composition and structure due to supressed plant recruitment, compaction, changes in soil structure, and preferential browsing (Travers et al. 2019). This may make habitat structure less suitable for Malleefowl and, by making habitats more open, the birds may become more vulnerable to predators (Priddel et al. 2007). Heavy grazing may also reduce the soil-stored seed of many perennial and ephemeral species, and the diversity and abundance of invertebrates (another food source for Malleefowl), with potentially serious implications for the quality of Malleefowl habitats. These insidious effects of grazing are especially important after fire when vegetation is regenerating and has yet to reproduce, and where herbivore numbers are maintained at high levels by the provision of artificial water sources. By benefiting large grazing animals, such water sources may profoundly affect the distribution and abundance of native plants and animals for a radius of approximately 10km which includes most of the pastoral zone (Landsberg et al. 1997, Harrington 2002).

Feral goats and sheep are of particular concern for Malleefowl conservation in southern Australia as large tracts of mallee support goats or sheep. Some of the highest goat densities occur in reserves that support Malleefowl populations, particularly in large reserves and pastoral leases in NSW and eastern SA north of the Murray River. Sheep grazing for pastoral production continues on public land over large areas of Malleefowl habitat, particularly in WA and NSW. Feral deer appear to be an increasing problem in some Malleefowl habitats in more mesic areas, particularly in the Limestone Coast region in southeast SA where deer are common (T Rajic, pers. comm. 2020). The degree to which deer threaten Malleefowl is unclear but as selective feeders, deer can modify the composition and dynamics of plant communities even when not abundant (Cote et al. 2004). Additionally, deer have been recorded to destructively trample active Malleefowl mounds (V Natt pers. comm. 2020) and thus directly interfere with Malleefowl reproduction. There is little doubt that past and present grazing has damaged Malleefowl habitat and continued grazing by goats, sheep and perhaps in some cases kangaroos is keeping Malleefowl populations lower than would otherwise be the case. Much of the land most affected by grazing may be of relatively low quality for Malleefowl, but the large areas involved makes them of considerable value to Malleefowl conservation.

Feral goats in Malleefowl habitat (AMPE monitoring camera), Vic.

4.2.6 Predation
Predation is a cause of mortality of Malleefowl. Foxes, in particular, prey on Malleefowl at all stages of