Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712:body:0:p21
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L01712
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 59628–62704

provide the resources and impetus to conduct surveys in
  very remote areas and such surveys have contributed significant information to our knowledge of where Tjakura occur. Construction of new roads through habitat may also assist with fire management.

Other Threats - Weeds
 A likely indirect impact of increased disturbance to Tjakura habitat, even if it is only temporary such as during establishment of a gas pipeline, is the risk of spreading weeds such as buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris, Cenchrus setiger) through the habitat. Encroachment of the fast-growing, ecosystem transforming buffel grass into Tjakura habitats would allow more frequent fires, leaving Tjakura exposed to predators more often. A change in the dominant vegetation from spinifex to buffel grass would also alter food availability.

Other threats – Feral Herbivores
 Feral camels occur across the range of the Tjakura. On the APY Lands, where high numbers of camels have been recorded around the Watarru population,
 Anangu have expressed concern about Tjakura burrows being abandoned after being trampled by camels and requested that camel control activities target Tjakura sites (Partridge 2008). As a preliminary measure, Rangers built stick fences around a small number of burrows to protect them from the impacts of camel trampling. Pastoralism, primarily cattle grazing can
 also impact Tjakura habitat and populations through overgrazing, trampling of burrows and soil compaction.

 Rabbits also occur at some Tjakura sites, particularly in the salt lake country (Sangsters Bore, Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary Wildlife), UKTNP and in the
 APY Lands. Anangu Rangers at Watarru observed rabbits colonising a Tjakura burrow (Partridge 2008). The presence of rabbits at sites may also bolster predator populations.

Other Threats - Overharvesting
 Where cats and fire have already combined to fragment Tjakura subpopulations to tiny remnants, any extra pressures can result in local extinctions. Traditional harvesting is one such pressure that could potentially extinguish a small remnant subpopulation of Tjakura.
 The issue of whether harvesting is sustainable at any particular site is a delicate issue that needs to be discussed with communities who are still eating Tjakura. Having a robust monitoring program can provide useful information for these discussions.

Other Threats – Climate Change
 Climate warming has been suggested as a cause of recent local extinctions of various reptile species including the Tjakura (Sinervo et al. 2010) due to direct effects of exposure to temperature extremes, and restricted opportunities for activity in suitable ambient temperatures. However, investigation of the thermal constraints of Tjakura revealed climate warming was unlikely to cause extinctions of subpopulations because the deep burrow systems provide an extremely effective buffer against temperature extremes and desiccation, and warmer outside temperatures provide more rather than less opportunities for surface activity (Moore et al. 2017).

 Other impacts of climate change may