1
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Newsome T, Cairncross R, Cunningham CX, Spencer EE, Barton PS, Ripple WJ, Wirsing AJ. Scavenging with invasive species. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:562-581. [PMID: 38148253 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 11/19/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
Carrion acts as a hotspot of animal activity within many ecosystems globally, attracting scavengers that rely on this food source. However, many scavengers are invasive species whose impacts on scavenging food webs and ecosystem processes linked to decomposition are poorly understood. Here, we use Australia as a case study to review the extent of scavenging by invasive species that have colonised the continent since European settlement, identify the factors that influence their use of carcasses, and highlight the lesser-known ecological effects of invasive scavengers. From 44 published studies we identified six invasive species from 48 vertebrates and four main groups of arthropods (beetles, flies, ants and wasps) that scavenge. Invasive red foxes (Vulpes vulpes), domestic dogs (Canis familiaris), feral pigs (Sus scrofa), black rats (Rattus rattus) and feral cats (Felis catus) were ranked as highly common vertebrate scavengers. Invasive European wasps (Vespula germanica) are also common scavengers where they occur. We found that the diversity of native vertebrate scavengers is lower when the proportion of invasive scavengers is higher. We highlight that the presence of large (apex) native vertebrate scavengers can decrease rates of scavenging by invasive species, but that invasive scavengers can monopolise carcass resources, outcompete native scavengers, predate other species around carcass resources and even facilitate invasion meltdowns that affect other species and ecological processes including altered decomposition rates and nutrient cycling. Such effects are likely to be widespread where invasive scavengers occur and suggest a need to determine whether excessive or readily available carcass loads are facilitating or exacerbating the impacts of invasive species on ecosystems globally.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Newsome
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Rhys Cairncross
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Calum X Cunningham
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, College of the Environment, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195-2100, USA
| | - Emma E Spencer
- School of Life and Environmental Science, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - Philip S Barton
- School of Life and Environmental Science, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - William J Ripple
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Aaron J Wirsing
- School of Environmental and Forest Sciences, University of Washington, College of the Environment, Box 352100, Seattle, WA, 98195-2100, USA
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2
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Brook BW, Sleightholme SR, Campbell CR, Jarić I, Buettel JC. Resolving when (and where) the Thylacine went extinct. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 877:162878. [PMID: 36934937 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 02/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
Like the Dodo and Passenger Pigeon before it, the predatory marsupial Thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus), or 'Tasmanian tiger', has become an iconic symbol of anthropogenic extinction. The last captive animal died in 1936, but even today reports of the Thylacine's possible ongoing survival in remote regions of Tasmania are newsworthy and capture the public's imagination. Extirpated from mainland Australia in the mid-Holocene, the island of Tasmania became the species' final stronghold. Following European settlement in the 1800s, the Thylacine was relentlessly persecuted and pushed to the margins of its range, although many sightings were reported thereafter-even well beyond the 1930s. To gain a new depth of insight into the extinction of the Thylacine, we assembled an exhaustive database of 1237 observational records from Tasmania (from 1910 onwards), quantified their uncertainty, and charted the patterns these revealed. We also developed a new method to visualize the species' 20th-century spatio-temporal dynamics, to map potential post-bounty refugia and pinpoint the most-likely location of the final persisting subpopulation. A direct reading of the high-quality records (confirmed kills and captures, in combination with sightings by past Thylacine hunters and trappers, wildlife professionals and experienced bushmen) implies a most-likely extinction date within four decades following the last capture (i.e., 1940s to 1970s). However, uncertainty modelling of the entire sighting record, where each observation is assigned a probability and the whole dataset is then subject to a sensitivity analysis, suggests that extinction might have been as recent as the late 1980s to early 2000s, with a small chance of persistence in the remote south-western wilderness areas. Beyond the intrinsically fascinating problem of reconstructing the final fate of the Thylacine, the new spatio-temporal mapping of extirpation developed herein would also be useful for conservation prioritization and search efforts for other rare taxa of uncertain status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barry W Brook
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia.
| | | | | | - Ivan Jarić
- Biology Centre of the Czech Academy of Sciences, Institute of Hydrobiology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Science, Department of Ecosystem Biology, České Budějovice, Czech Republic; Université Paris-Saclay, CNRS, AgroParisTech, Ecologie Systématique Evolution, Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Jessie C Buettel
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia; ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), Australia
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3
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Feigin C, Frankenberg S, Pask A. A Chromosome-Scale Hybrid Genome Assembly of the Extinct Tasmanian Tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus). Genome Biol Evol 2022; 14:evac048. [PMID: 35349647 PMCID: PMC9007325 DOI: 10.1093/gbe/evac048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The extinct Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was a large marsupial carnivore native to Australia. Once ranging across parts of the mainland, the species remained only on the island of Tasmania by the time of European colonization. It was driven to extinction in the early 20th century and is an emblem of native species loss in Australia. The thylacine was a striking example of convergent evolution with placental canids, with which it shared a similar skull morphology. Consequently, it has been the subject of extensive study. While the original thylacine assemblies published in 2018 enabled the first exploration of the species' genome biology, further progress is hindered by the lack of high-quality genomic resources. Here, we present a new chromosome-scale hybrid genome assembly for the thylacine, which compares favorably with many recent de novo marsupial genomes. In addition, we provide homology-based gene annotations, characterize the repeat content of the thylacine genome, and show that consistent with demographic decline, the species possessed a low rate of heterozygosity even compared to extant, threatened marsupials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Feigin
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, New Jersey, USA
| | - Stephen Frankenberg
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Pask
- School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Sciences, Museums Victoria, Carlton, Victoria, Australia
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4
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The multicausal twilight of South American native mammalian predators (Metatheria, Sparassodonta). Sci Rep 2022; 12:1224. [PMID: 35075186 PMCID: PMC8786871 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-05266-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Sparassodonts were the apex mammalian predators of South America throughout most of the Cenozoic, diversifying into a wide array of niches including fox-like and even saber-toothed forms. Their extinction is still controversial, with different authors suggesting competition with other predators (placental carnivorans, terror birds, and carnivorous opossums), extinction of prey, and climate change as causal explanations. Here, we analyse these hypotheses using a novel approach implicating Bayesian analyses. We find that speciation and extinction rates of sparassodonts can be correlated with (i) intrinsic biotic factors such as changes in body mass and diversity of sparassodonts, (ii) extrinsic biotic factors such as potential prey diversity, and iii) extrinsic abiotic factors like the atmospheric CO2, sea level, temperature, and uplift of the Andes. Thus, sparassodonts are a good example of a multilevel mixed model of evolution, where various factors drove the evolutionary history of this clade in a pluralistic way. There is no evidence for competition between Sparassodonta and others predators, and the effect of competition in the face of extinctions of fossil species should be tested and not assumed. Furthermore, we propose a novel approach for evaluating the fossil record when performing macroevolutionary analyses.
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5
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Croft DB, Witte I. The Perils of Being Populous: Control and Conservation of Abundant Kangaroo Species. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11061753. [PMID: 34208227 PMCID: PMC8230889 DOI: 10.3390/ani11061753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2021] [Revised: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia's first people managed landscapes for kangaroo species as important elements of their diet, accoutrements and ceremony. This developed and persisted for about 65,000 years. The second wave of colonists from the United Kingdom, Ireland and many subsequent countries introduced familiar domesticated livestock and they have imposed their agricultural practices on the same landscapes since 1788. This heralded an ongoing era of management of kangaroos that are perceived as competitors to livestock and unwanted consumers of crops. Even so, a kangaroo image remains the iconic identifier of Australia. Kangaroo management is shrouded in dogma and propaganda and creates a tension along a loose rural-city divide. This divide is further dissected by the promotion of the consumption of kangaroo products as an ecological good marred by valid concerns about hygiene and animal welfare. In the last decade, the fervour to suppress and micro-manage populations of some kangaroo species has mounted. This includes suppression within protected areas that have generally been considered as safe havens. This review explores these tensions between the conservation of iconic and yet abundant wildlife, and conflict with people and the various interfaces at which they meet kangaroos.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Benjamin Croft
- School of Biological Earth & Environmental Sciences, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - Ingrid Witte
- Rooseach@Rootourism, Adelaide River, NT 0846, Australia;
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6
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Bradshaw CJ, Johnson CN, Llewelyn J, Weisbecker V, Strona G, Saltré F. Relative demographic susceptibility does not explain the extinction chronology of Sahul's megafauna. eLife 2021; 10:63870. [PMID: 33783356 PMCID: PMC8043753 DOI: 10.7554/elife.63870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The causes of Sahul’s megafauna extinctions remain uncertain, although several interacting factors were likely responsible. To examine the relative support for hypotheses regarding plausible ecological mechanisms underlying these extinctions, we constructed the first stochastic, age-structured models for 13 extinct megafauna species from five functional/taxonomic groups, as well as 8 extant species within these groups for comparison. Perturbing specific demographic rates individually, we tested which species were more demographically susceptible to extinction, and then compared these relative sensitivities to the fossil-derived extinction chronology. Our models show that the macropodiformes were the least demographically susceptible to extinction, followed by carnivores, monotremes, vombatiform herbivores, and large birds. Five of the eight extant species were as or more susceptible than the extinct species. There was no clear relationship between extinction susceptibility and the extinction chronology for any perturbation scenario, while body mass and generation length explained much of the variation in relative risk. Our results reveal that the actual mechanisms leading to the observed extinction chronology were unlikely related to variation in demographic susceptibility per se, but were possibly driven instead by finer-scale variation in climate change and/or human prey choice and relative hunting success.
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Affiliation(s)
- Corey Ja Bradshaw
- Global Ecology Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tarndanya (Adelaide), Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Christopher N Johnson
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, Australia.,Dynamics of Eco-Evolutionary Pattern, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - John Llewelyn
- Global Ecology Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tarndanya (Adelaide), Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, Australia
| | - Vera Weisbecker
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, Australia.,College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Adelaide, Australia
| | - Giovanni Strona
- Faculty of Biological and Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Frédérik Saltré
- Global Ecology Partuyarta Ngadluku Wardli Kuu, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, Tarndanya (Adelaide), Australia.,ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Wollongong, Australia
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7
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Fordham DA, Jackson ST, Brown SC, Huntley B, Brook BW, Dahl-Jensen D, Gilbert MTP, Otto-Bliesner BL, Svensson A, Theodoridis S, Wilmshurst JM, Buettel JC, Canteri E, McDowell M, Orlando L, Pilowsky J, Rahbek C, Nogues-Bravo D. Using paleo-archives to safeguard biodiversity under climate change. Science 2020; 369:369/6507/eabc5654. [PMID: 32855310 DOI: 10.1126/science.abc5654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Strategies for 21st-century environmental management and conservation under global change require a strong understanding of the biological mechanisms that mediate responses to climate- and human-driven change to successfully mitigate range contractions, extinctions, and the degradation of ecosystem services. Biodiversity responses to past rapid warming events can be followed in situ and over extended periods, using cross-disciplinary approaches that provide cost-effective and scalable information for species' conservation and the maintenance of resilient ecosystems in many bioregions. Beyond the intrinsic knowledge gain such integrative research will increasingly provide the context, tools, and relevant case studies to assist in mitigating climate-driven biodiversity losses in the 21st century and beyond.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damien A Fordham
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia. .,Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Stephen T Jackson
- Southwest and South Central Climate Adaptation Science Centers, U.S. Geological Survey, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.,Department of Geosciences and School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Stuart C Brown
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Brian Huntley
- Department of Biosciences, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE, UK
| | - Barry W Brook
- School of Natural Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Dorthe Dahl-Jensen
- Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.,Centre for Earth Observation Science, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg MB R3T 2N2, Canada
| | - M Thomas P Gilbert
- Center for Evolutionary Hologenomics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.,University Museum, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Bette L Otto-Bliesner
- Climate and Global Dynamics Laboratory, National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO 80307-3000, USA
| | - Anders Svensson
- Centre for Ice and Climate, Niels Bohr Institute, University of Copenhagen, Juliane Maries Vej 30, 2100 Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Spyros Theodoridis
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Janet M Wilmshurst
- Long-Term Ecology Laboratory, Manaaki Whenua-Landcare Research, Lincoln 7640, New Zealand.,School of Environment, The University of Auckland, Auckland 1142, New Zealand
| | - Jessie C Buettel
- School of Natural Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Elisabetta Canteri
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.,Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Matthew McDowell
- School of Natural Sciences and ARC Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Ludovic Orlando
- Laboratoire d'Anthropobiologie Moléculaire et d'Imagerie de Synthèse UMR 5288, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, Université Paul Sabatier, France.,Section for GeoGenetics, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Julia Pilowsky
- The Environment Institute and School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia.,Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
| | - Carsten Rahbek
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark.,Department of Life Sciences, Imperial College London, Ascot SL5 7PY, UK.,Danish Institute for Advanced Study, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark.,Institute of Ecology, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China
| | - David Nogues-Bravo
- Center for Macroecology, Evolution, and Climate, GLOBE Institute, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen Ø 2100, Denmark
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8
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Cunningham CX, Johnson CN, Jones ME. A native apex predator limits an invasive mesopredator and protects native prey: Tasmanian devils protecting bandicoots from cats. Ecol Lett 2020; 23:711-721. [DOI: 10.1111/ele.13473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Calum X. Cunningham
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Christopher N. Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
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9
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Tatler J, Prowse TAA, Roshier DA, Allen BL, Cassey P. Resource pulses affect prey selection and reduce dietary diversity of dingoes in arid Australia. Mamm Rev 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/mam.12157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jack Tatler
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Thomas A. A. Prowse
- School of Mathematical SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - David A. Roshier
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy PO Box 8070 Subiaco East WA 6008 Australia
- Australia Centre for Ecosystem ScienceUniversity of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Benjamin L. Allen
- Institute for Life Sciences and the EnvironmentUniversity of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Queensland 4350 Australia
| | - Phillip Cassey
- School of Biological SciencesUniversity of Adelaide Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
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10
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Woods GM, Fox S, Flies AS, Tovar CD, Jones M, Hamede R, Pemberton D, Lyons AB, Bettiol SS. Two Decades of the Impact of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:1043-1054. [PMID: 30252058 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil, a marsupial carnivore, has been restricted to the island state of Tasmania since its extinction on the Australian mainland about 3000 years ago. In the past two decades, this species has experienced severe population decline due to the emergence of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer. During these 20 years, scientists have puzzled over the immunological and evolutionary responses by the Tasmanian devil to this transmissible cancer. Targeted strategies in population management and disease control have been developed as well as comparative processes to identify variation in tumor and host genetics. A multi-disciplinary approach with multi-institutional teams has produced considerable advances over the last decade. This has led to a greater understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and genomic classification of this cancer. New and promising developments in the Tasmanian devil's story include evidence that most immunized, and some wild devils, can produce an immune response to DFTD. Furthermore, epidemiology combined with genomic studies suggest a rapid evolution to the disease and that DFTD will become an endemic disease. Since 1998 there have been more than 350 publications, distributed over 37 Web of Science categories. A unique endemic island species has become an international curiosity that is in the spotlight of integrative and comparative biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Cesar D Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia.,School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - David Pemberton
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Silvana S Bettiol
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
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11
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White LC, Saltré F, Bradshaw CJA, Austin JJ. High-quality fossil dates support a synchronous, Late Holocene extinction of devils and thylacines in mainland Australia. Biol Lett 2018; 14:rsbl.2017.0642. [PMID: 29343562 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2017.0642] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The last large marsupial carnivores-the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilis harrisii) and thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus)-went extinct on mainland Australia during the mid-Holocene. Based on the youngest fossil dates (approx. 3500 years before present, BP), these extinctions are often considered synchronous and driven by a common cause. However, many published devil dates have recently been rejected as unreliable, shifting the youngest mainland fossil age to 25 500 years BP and challenging the synchronous-extinction hypothesis. Here we provide 24 and 20 new ages for devils and thylacines, respectively, and collate existing, reliable radiocarbon dates by quality-filtering available records. We use this new dataset to estimate an extinction time for both species by applying the Gaussian-resampled, inverse-weighted McInerney (GRIWM) method. Our new data and analysis definitively support the synchronous-extinction hypothesis, estimating that the mainland devil and thylacine extinctions occurred between 3179 and 3227 years BP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren C White
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia .,Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Leipzig 04103, Saxony, Germany
| | - Frédérik Saltré
- Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Corey J A Bradshaw
- Global Ecology, College of Science and Engineering, Flinders University, GPO Box 2100, Adelaide, South Australia 5001, Australia
| | - Jeremy J Austin
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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12
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Derham TT, Duncan RP, Johnson CN, Jones ME. Hope and caution: rewilding to mitigate the impacts of biological invasions. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2018; 373:rstb.2018.0127. [PMID: 30348875 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2018.0127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Rewilding is a novel approach to ecological restoration. Trophic rewilding in particular aims to reinstate ecological functions, especially trophic interactions, through the introduction of animals. We consider the potential for trophic rewilding to address biological invasions. In this broad review, we note some of the important conceptual and ethical foundations of rewilding, including a focus on ecosystem function rather than composition, reliance on animal agency, and an appeal to an ethic of coexistence. Second, we use theory from invasion biology to highlight pathways by which rewilding might prevent or mitigate the impacts of an invasion, including increasing biotic resistance. Third, we use a series of case studies to illustrate how reintroductions can mitigate the impacts of invasions. These include reintroductions and positive management of carnivores and herbivores including European pine martens (Martes martes), Eurasian otters (Lutra lutra), dingoes (Canis dingo), Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and tule elk (Cervus canadensis nannodes). Fourth, we consider the risk that rewilding may enable a biological invasion or aggravate its impacts. Lastly, we highlight lessons that rewilding science might take from invasion biology.This article is part of the theme issue 'Trophic rewilding: consequences for ecosystems under global change'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tristan T Derham
- School of Natural Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Richard P Duncan
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia
| | - Christopher N Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences and Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage (CABAH), University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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13
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Balme J, O'Connor S, Fallon S. New dates on dingo bones from Madura Cave provide oldest firm evidence for arrival of the species in Australia. Sci Rep 2018; 8:9933. [PMID: 30026564 PMCID: PMC6053400 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-28324-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The dingo is the only placental land mammal aside from murids and bats to have made the water crossings to reach Australia prior to European arrival. It is thought that they arrived as a commensal animal with people, some time in the mid Holocene. However, the timing of their arrival is still a subject of major debate with published age estimates varying widely. This is largely because the age estimates for dingo arrival are based on archaeological deposit dates and genetic divergence estimates, rather than on the dingo bones themselves. Currently, estimates vary from between 5000–4000 years ago, for finds from archaeological contexts, and as much as 18,000 based on DNA age estimates. The timing of dingo arrival is important as post arrival they transformed Indigenous societies across mainland Australia and have been implicated in the extinction of a number of animals including the Tasmanian tiger. Here we present the results of direct dating of dingo bones from their oldest known archaeological context, Madura Cave on the Nullarbor Plain. These dates demonstrate that dingoes were in southern Australia by between 3348 and 3081 years ago. We suggest that following their introduction the dingo may have spread extremely rapidly throughout mainland Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jane Balme
- Archaeology, School of Social Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, 6009, Australia.
| | - Sue O'Connor
- Department of Archaeology and Natural History, College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia.,Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
| | - Stewart Fallon
- Research School of Earth Sciences, College of Science, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT, 0200, Australia
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14
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Newton AH, Spoutil F, Prochazka J, Black JR, Medlock K, Paddle RN, Knitlova M, Hipsley CA, Pask AJ. Letting the 'cat' out of the bag: pouch young development of the extinct Tasmanian tiger revealed by X-ray computed tomography. ROYAL SOCIETY OPEN SCIENCE 2018; 5:171914. [PMID: 29515893 PMCID: PMC5830782 DOI: 10.1098/rsos.171914] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 03/14/2024]
Abstract
The Tasmanian tiger or thylacine (Thylacinus cynocephalus) was an iconic Australian marsupial predator that was hunted to extinction in the early 1900s. Despite sharing striking similarities with canids, they failed to evolve many of the specialized anatomical features that characterize carnivorous placental mammals. These evolutionary limitations are thought to arise from functional constraints associated with the marsupial mode of reproduction, in which otherwise highly altricial young use their well-developed forelimbs to climb to the pouch and mouth to suckle. Here we present the first three-dimensional digital developmental series of the thylacine throughout its pouch life using X-ray computed tomography on all known ethanol-preserved specimens. Based on detailed skeletal measurements, we refine the species growth curve to improve age estimates for the individuals. Comparison of allometric growth trends in the appendicular skeleton (fore- and hindlimbs) with that of other placental and marsupial mammals revealed that despite their unique adult morphologies, thylacines retained a generalized early marsupial ontogeny. Our approach also revealed mislabelled specimens that possessed large epipubic bones (vestigial in thylacine) and differing vertebral numbers. All of our generated CT models are publicly available, preserving their developmental morphology and providing a novel digital resource for future studies of this unique marsupial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Axel H. Newton
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Museum, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Frantisek Spoutil
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Prague, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jan Prochazka
- Czech Centre for Phenogenomics, Institute of Molecular Genetics of the Czech Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Prague, Vestec, Czech Republic
| | - Jay R. Black
- School of Earth Sciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Robert N. Paddle
- School of Psychology, Australian Catholic University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | | | - Christy A. Hipsley
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Museum, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew J. Pask
- School of BioSciences, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Melbourne Museum, Museums Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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15
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Pacioni C, Kennedy MS, Berry O, Stephens D, Schumaker NH. Spatially-explicit model for assessing wild dog control strategies in Western Australia. Ecol Modell 2018; 368:246-256. [PMID: 29456284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolmodel.2017.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Large predators can significantly impact livestock industries. In Australia, wild dogs (Canis lupus familiaris, Canis lupus dingo, and hybrids) cause economic losses of more than AUD$40M annually. Landscape-scale exclusion fencing coupled with lethal techniques is a widely practiced control method. In Western Australia, the State Barrier Fence encompasses approximately 260,000km2 of predominantly agricultural land, but its effectiveness in preventing wild dogs from entering the agricultural region is difficult to evaluate. We conducted a management strategy evaluation (MSE) based on spatially-explicit population models to forecast the effects of upgrades to the Western Australian State Barrier Fence and several control scenarios varying in intensity and spatial extent on wild dog populations in southwest Western Australia. The model results indicate that populations of wild dogs on both sides of the State Barrier Fence are self-sustaining and current control practices are not sufficient to effectively reduce their abundance in the agricultural region. Only when a combination of control techniques is applied on a large scale, intensively and continuously are wild dog numbers effectively controlled. This study identifies the requirement for addressing extant populations of predators within fenced areas to meet the objective of preventing wild dog expansion. This objective is only achieved when control is applied to the whole area where wild dogs are currently present within the fence plus an additional buffer of ~20 km. Our modelling focused on the use of baiting, trapping and shooting; however, we acknowledge that additional tools may also be applied. Finally, we recommend that a cost-benefit analysis be performed to evaluate the economic viability of an integrated control strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Pacioni
- Helix Molecular Solutions, School of Animal Biology, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, Australia
- Department of Agriculture and Food, Biosecurity and Regulation, Western Australia, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Malcolm S Kennedy
- Department of Agriculture and Food, Biosecurity and Regulation, Western Australia, South Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Oliver Berry
- CSIRO Environomics Future Science Platform, Indian Ocean marine Research Centre, The University of Western Australia, Crawley, Western Australia, 6009, Australia
| | | | - Nathan H Schumaker
- US Environmental Protection Agency, 200 SW 35th Street, Corvallis, Oregon, USA
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16
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Cairns KM, Brown SK, Sacks BN, Ballard JWO. Conservation implications for dingoes from the maternal and paternal genome: Multiple populations, dog introgression, and demography. Ecol Evol 2017; 7:9787-9807. [PMID: 29188009 PMCID: PMC5696388 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.3487] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2017] [Revised: 09/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/04/2017] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
It is increasingly common for apex predators to face a multitude of complex conservation issues. In Australia, dingoes are the mainland apex predator and play an important role in ecological functioning. Currently, however, they are threatened by hybridization with modern domestic dogs in the wild. As a consequence, we explore how increasing our understanding of the evolutionary history of dingoes can inform management and conservation decisions. Previous research on whole mitochondrial genome and nuclear data from five geographical populations showed evidence of two distinct lineages of dingo. Here, we present data from a broader survey of dingoes around Australia using both mitochondrial and Y chromosome markers and investigate the timing of demographic expansions. Biogeographic data corroborate the presence of at least two geographically subdivided genetic populations, southeastern and northwestern. Demographic modeling suggests that dingoes have undergone population expansion in the last 5,000 years. It is not clear whether this stems from expansion into vacant niches after the extinction of thylacines on the mainland or indicates the arrival date of dingoes. Male dispersal is much more common than female, evidenced by more diffuse Y haplogroup distributions. There is also evidence of likely historical male biased introgression from domestic dogs into dingoes, predominately within southeastern Australia. These findings have critical practical implications for the management and conservation of dingoes in Australia; particularly a focus must be placed upon the threatened southeastern dingo population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kylie M Cairns
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
| | - Sarah K Brown
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit Veterinary Genetics Laboratory School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis CA USA
| | - Benjamin N Sacks
- Mammalian Ecology and Conservation Unit Veterinary Genetics Laboratory School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis CA USA.,Department of Population, Health and Reproduction School of Veterinary Medicine University of California Davis CA USA
| | - J William O Ballard
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Sciences University of New South Wales Sydney NSW Australia
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17
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Rose RK, Pemberton DA, Mooney NJ, Jones ME. Sarcophilus harrisii (Dasyuromorphia: Dasyuridae). ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2017. [DOI: 10.1093/mspecies/sex001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
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18
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Johnson CN, Alroy J, Beeton NJ, Bird MI, Brook BW, Cooper A, Gillespie R, Herrando-Pérez S, Jacobs Z, Miller GH, Prideaux GJ, Roberts RG, Rodríguez-Rey M, Saltré F, Turney CSM, Bradshaw CJA. What caused extinction of the Pleistocene megafauna of Sahul? Proc Biol Sci 2017; 283:rspb.2015.2399. [PMID: 26865301 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2015.2399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
During the Pleistocene, Australia and New Guinea supported a rich assemblage of large vertebrates. Why these animals disappeared has been debated for more than a century and remains controversial. Previous synthetic reviews of this problem have typically focused heavily on particular types of evidence, such as the dating of extinction and human arrival, and have frequently ignored uncertainties and biases that can lead to misinterpretation of this evidence. Here, we review diverse evidence bearing on this issue and conclude that, although many knowledge gaps remain, multiple independent lines of evidence point to direct human impact as the most likely cause of extinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- C N Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - J Alroy
- Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University, New South Wales 2109, Australia
| | - N J Beeton
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - M I Bird
- Centre for Tropical Environmental and Sustainability Studies, College of Science Technology and Engineering, James Cook University, Cairns, Queensland 4878, Australia
| | - B W Brook
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - A Cooper
- Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - R Gillespie
- Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia Archaeology and Natural History, School of Culture, History and Language, Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory 0200, Australia
| | - S Herrando-Pérez
- The Environment Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia Department of Biogeography and Global Change, National Museum of Natural Sciences-Spanish Research Council (CSIC) c/ José Gutiérrez Abascal 2, 28006 Madrid, Spain
| | - Z Jacobs
- Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - G H Miller
- Institute of Arctic and Alpine Research, Geological Sciences, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309-0450, USA Environment and Agriculture, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia
| | - G J Prideaux
- School of Biological Sciences, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia 5042, Australia
| | - R G Roberts
- Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, New South Wales 2522, Australia
| | - M Rodríguez-Rey
- The Environment Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - F Saltré
- The Environment Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - C S M Turney
- Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales 2052, Australia
| | - C J A Bradshaw
- The Environment Institute, School of Biological Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia 5005, Australia
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19
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Tibby J, Barr C, McInerney FA, Henderson ACG, Leng MJ, Greenway M, Marshall JC, McGregor GB, Tyler JJ, McNeil V. Carbon isotope discrimination in leaves of the broad-leaved paperbark tree, Melaleuca quinquenervia, as a tool for quantifying past tropical and subtropical rainfall. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2016; 22:3474-3486. [PMID: 27090595 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.13277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Quantitative reconstructions of terrestrial climate are highly sought after but rare, particularly in Australia. Carbon isotope discrimination in plant leaves (Δleaf ) is an established indicator of past hydroclimate because the fractionation of carbon isotopes during photosynthesis is strongly influenced by water stress. Leaves of the evergreen tree Melaleuca quinquenervia have been recovered from the sediments of some perched lakes on North Stradbroke and Fraser Islands, south-east Queensland, eastern Australia. Here, we examine the potential for using M. quinquenervia ∆leaf as a tracer of past rainfall by analysing carbon isotope ratios (δ(13) C) of modern leaves. We firstly assess Δleaf variation at the leaf and stand scale and find no systematic pattern within leaves or between leaves due to their position on the tree. We then examine the relationships between climate and Δleaf for a 11-year time series of leaves collected in a litter tray. M. quinquenervia retains its leaves for 1-4 years; thus, cumulative average climate data are used. There is a significant relationship between annual mean ∆leaf and mean annual rainfall of the hydrological year for 1-4 years (i.e. 365-1460 days) prior to leaf fall (r(2) = 0.64, P = 0.003, n = 11). This relationship is marginally improved by accounting for the effect of pCO2 on discrimination (r(2) = 0.67, P = 0.002, n = 11). The correlation between rainfall and Δleaf , and the natural distribution of Melaleuca quinquenervia around wetlands of eastern Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Caledonia offers significant potential to infer past rainfall on a wide range of spatial and temporal scales.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Tibby
- Geography, Environment and Population, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Sprigg Geobiology Centre, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Cameron Barr
- Geography, Environment and Population, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Sprigg Geobiology Centre, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Francesca A McInerney
- Sprigg Geobiology Centre, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Andrew C G Henderson
- School of Geography, Politics & Sociology, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Melanie J Leng
- NERC Isotope Geosciences Facilities, British Geological Survey, Keyworth Nottingham, NG12 5GG, UK
- Centre for Environmental Geochemistry, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, NG7 2RD, UK
| | - Margaret Greenway
- Griffith School of Engineering, Environmental Engineering, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jonathan C Marshall
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Glenn B McGregor
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Jonathan J Tyler
- Sprigg Geobiology Centre, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA, Australia
| | - Vivienne McNeil
- Queensland Department of Science, Information Technology and Innovation, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
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20
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The need to overcome risks associated with combining inadequate paleozoological records and conservation biology. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E4757-8. [PMID: 27462114 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1609950113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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21
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An efficient protocol for the global sensitivity analysis of stochastic ecological models. Ecosphere 2016. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
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22
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Carthey AJR, Banks PB. Naiveté is not forever: responses of a vulnerable native rodent to its long term alien predators. OIKOS 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/oik.02723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra J. R. Carthey
- Dept of Environmental Sciences; Macquarie University; North Ryde NSW 2109 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Peter B. Banks
- School of Biological Sciences, Univ. of Sydney; Camperdown NSW 2006 Australia
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23
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Brüniche-Olsen A, Jones ME, Austin JJ, Burridge CP, Holland BR. Extensive population decline in the Tasmanian devil predates European settlement and devil facial tumour disease. Biol Lett 2015; 10:20140619. [PMID: 25376800 DOI: 10.1098/rsbl.2014.0619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) was widespread in Australia during the Late Pleistocene but is now endemic to the island of Tasmania. Low genetic diversity combined with the spread of devil facial tumour disease have raised concerns for the species' long-term survival. Here, we investigate the origin of low genetic diversity by inferring the species' demographic history using temporal sampling with summary statistics, full-likelihood and approximate Bayesian computation methods. Our results show extensive population declines across Tasmania correlating with environmental changes around the last glacial maximum and following unstable climate related to increased 'El Niño-Southern Oscillation' activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Brüniche-Olsen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001,Tasmania, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001,Tasmania, Australia
| | - Jeremy J Austin
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, South Australia 5005, Australia
| | - Christopher P Burridge
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart 7001,Tasmania, Australia
| | - Barbara R Holland
- School of Mathematics and Physics, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 37, Hobart 7001, Tasmania, Australia
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24
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Bowman DM, Perry GL, Marston J. Feedbacks and landscape-level vegetation dynamics. Trends Ecol Evol 2015; 30:255-60. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2015.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 03/04/2015] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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25
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Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2015; 112:4531-40. [PMID: 25675493 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1417301112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 414] [Impact Index Per Article: 46.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The highly distinctive and mostly endemic Australian land mammal fauna has suffered an extraordinary rate of extinction (>10% of the 273 endemic terrestrial species) over the last ∼200 y: in comparison, only one native land mammal from continental North America became extinct since European settlement. A further 21% of Australian endemic land mammal species are now assessed to be threatened, indicating that the rate of loss (of one to two extinctions per decade) is likely to continue. Australia's marine mammals have fared better overall, but status assessment for them is seriously impeded by lack of information. Much of the loss of Australian land mammal fauna (particularly in the vast deserts and tropical savannas) has been in areas that are remote from human population centers and recognized as relatively unmodified at global scale. In contrast to general patterns of extinction on other continents where the main cause is habitat loss, hunting, and impacts of human development, particularly in areas of high and increasing human population pressures, the loss of Australian land mammals is most likely due primarily to predation by introduced species, particularly the feral cat, Felis catus, and European red fox, Vulpes vulpes, and changed fire regimes.
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26
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Prowse TAA, Johnson CN, Cassey P, Bradshaw CJA, Brook BW. Ecological and economic benefits to cattle rangelands of restoring an apex predator. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. A. Prowse
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | | | - Phillip Cassey
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Corey J. A. Bradshaw
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Barry W. Brook
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
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27
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Prowse TAA, Correll RA, Johnson CN, Prideaux GJ, Brook BW. Empirical tests of harvest-induced body-size evolution along a geographic gradient in Australian macropods. J Anim Ecol 2014; 84:299-309. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2013] [Accepted: 07/04/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas A. A. Prowse
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
| | - Rachel A. Correll
- School of Biological Sciences; Flinders University; Bedford Park SA 5042 Australia
| | | | - Gavin J. Prideaux
- School of Biological Sciences; Flinders University; Bedford Park SA 5042 Australia
| | - Barry W. Brook
- The Environment Institute and School of Earth and Environmental Science; The University of Adelaide; Adelaide SA 5005 Australia
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28
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard G Roberts
- Centre for Archaeological Science, School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW 2522, Australia
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