Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095:body:0:p36
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L01095
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Character Range: 94677–97640

in climate (Boyle and Hone 2012). Analysis of monitoring data indicates a significant, positive effect of winter rainfall on Malleefowl breeding behaviour to the extent that it can be considered a surrogate for population trend (Benshemesh et al. 2007; Benshemesh and Southwell et al. 2020). Thus, declines in winter rainfall, as predicted under climate change in regions occupied by Malleefowl (Hughes 2003) are considered likely to have negative ramifications on Malleefowl populations.

Malleefowl movement can be expected to be directly affected by changes to the climate (Stenhouse and Moseby, 2023). Models using GPS tracking data from Malleefowl indicated a decrease in movement with increasing temperatures, with the strongest effect observed in the breeding season: daily distances travelled fell from approximately 1.3 km a day at 25°C to 0.9 km at 45°C. In non-breeding Malleefowl, the relationship was non-linear with the strongest declines observed over 30°C (1.2 km at 35 and 0.9 km at 45°C). The presence of rain improved daily distances travelled by about 100 m but only in the non-breeding season. It may be possible to identify areas that may act as refugia for Malleefowl under a changing climate. However, the uncertainty associated with such models, the need to maintain Malleefowl occupancy and the reliance on local conservation partners to implement conservation actions indicate that a number of factors must be considered when determining the location of conservation actions. Such modelling may be relevant when considering options for habitat restoration or improving habitat connectivity.
4.2.10 Disease
There is no information on disease in wild Malleefowl populations, although the species is susceptible to a range of common diseases in captive situations and may also be susceptible to exotic diseases, especially those found in other Galliformes (R Woods pers. comm. cited in Benshemesh 2007b). The risk of spreading disease should thus be considered in programs where Malleefowl are released following a period in captivity, especially in a zoo situation, and also where domestic fowl and pheasant farms are located near areas occupied by Malleefowl. No blood parasites could be detected in a preliminary investigation of blood smears of seven trapped Malleefowl on the Eyre Peninsula (Stenhouse P., unpublished data).
4.2.11 Chemical exposure
There is no evidence that agrochemicals are currently a threat to Malleefowl (see Ryan-Colton et al. 2011), although the increased exposure of Malleefowl to such chemicals in fragmented landscapes warrants further investigation.

5 Objectives and Performance Criteria

Under the EPBC Act, this recovery plan is required to maximise the long-term survival of the Malleefowl in the wild. The species' chances of long-term survival in the wild are affected by the extent, quality and connectivity of habitat as well as the species' levels of mortality at different life stages, longevity