Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00858:body:0:p21
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2023L00858
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 56697–59749

impact of livestock grazing is its association with weed invasion (Martine & Alan 2005). Livestock grazing can exacerbate weed spread through seed dispersal, soil and vegetation disturbance, and nutrient enrichment (Martine & Alan 2005). Degradation caused by intensive grazing pressure may be exacerbated in small patches or along narrow strips of vegetation with little buffering to keep out the effects of prolonged drought.

Additionally, the impact of intense grazing by over-abundant macropods can cause similar impacts to domestic stock

Habitat loss caused by urban development and mining

Habitat loss caused by urban development such as housing estates and infrastructure threaten Black-breasted Button-quail. The continuing expansion of residential and resort development along the coast is of particular concern e.g., Hervey Bay. This affects areas of littoral habitat that, while possibly significant, occurs at scales too small to be mapped as remnant or as regrowth.

The abundance of resource extraction operations in southeast Queensland, including large coal mines and coal seam gas fields, overlaps considerably with the distribution of the Black-breasted Button-quail (Commonwealth of Australia 2019). The continued development of these operations threatens Black-breasted Button-quail habitat directly through clearing of potential habitat, as well as via drawdown effects to potentially groundwater-dependent mesic vine thickets and acacia scrublands, particularly those associated with Fassifern scrublands or situated on low-porosity sedimentary rocks.

Predation by cats and European Red Foxes

Ground-dwelling birds are particularly vulnerable to predation by cats and European Red Foxes. Although the impact of predation by cats and European Red Foxes on the Black-breasted Button-quail is not well known, it is likely that predation is a threat (Mathieson & Smith 2009; Centre for Invasive Species Solutions 2011). This may be particularly true if birds are forced to disperse through unsuitable habitat, or use habitat fragments adjacent to residential areas with high densities of pet cats. BBBQ have been recorded as a prey item of cats, and buttonquail in general are preferred prey items for cats (Woinarski et al 2017).

The threat of cats and European Red Foxes is also amplified by bushfires as those predators preferentially hunt in the open habitats created by fire (McGregor et al. 2015; McGregor et al. 2016; Hradsky et al. 2017; Hradsky 2020).

"Predation by feral cats" and "Predation by European red fox" are listed as a Key Threatening Processes under the EBPC Act, and detailed threat abatement plans have been prepared (Commonwealth of Australia 2008a, 2008b, 2015a, 2015b).

Predation and degradation of habitat by feral pigs

Feral pigs may consume eggs and chicks, disturb breeding birds, damage habitat through soil compaction, spread plant diseases, create tracks that provide predator access, and facilitate weed invasion that may bind soil or reduce foraging opportunities. By rooting in the leaf