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Pacifici M, Rondinini C, Rhodes JR, Burbidge AA, Cristiano A, Watson JEM, Woinarski JCZ, Di Marco M. Global correlates of range contractions and expansions in terrestrial mammals. Nat Commun 2020; 11:2840. [PMID: 32504033 PMCID: PMC7275054 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16684-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2019] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding changes in species distributions is essential to disentangle the mechanisms that drive their responses to anthropogenic habitat modification. Here we analyse the past (1970s) and current (2017) distribution of 204 species of terrestrial non-volant mammals to identify drivers of recent contraction and expansion in their range. We find 106 species lost part of their past range, and 40 of them declined by >50%. The key correlates of this contraction are large body mass, increase in air temperature, loss of natural land, and high human population density. At the same time, 44 species have some expansion in their range, which correlates with small body size, generalist diet, and high reproductive rates. Our findings clearly show that human activity and life history interact to influence range changes in mammals. While the former plays a major role in determining contraction in species’ distribution, the latter is important for both contraction and expansion. Understanding why many species ranges are contracting while others are stable or expanding is important to inform conservation in an increasingly human-modified world. Here, Pacifici and colleagues investigate changes in the ranges of 204 mammals, showing that human factors mostly explain range contractions while life history explains both contraction and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Pacifici
- Global Mammal Assessment programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale dell'Università 32, I-00185, Rome, Italy.
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Global Mammal Assessment programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale dell'Università 32, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - Jonathan R Rhodes
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | | | - Andrea Cristiano
- Global Mammal Assessment programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Viale dell'Università 32, I-00185, Rome, Italy
| | - James E M Watson
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Wildlife Conservation Society, Global Conservation Program, Bronx, New York, NY, USA
| | - John C Z Woinarski
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, 4072, Australia.,Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, I-00185, Italy.,CSIRO Land and Water, EcoSciences Precinct, 4102, Brisbane, Australia
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Pacifici M, Cristiano A, Burbidge AA, Woinarski JCZ, Di Marco M, Rondinini C. Geographic distribution ranges of terrestrial mammal species in the 1970s. Ecology 2019; 100:e02747. [PMID: 31116881 DOI: 10.1002/ecy.2747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Here we provide geographic distribution ranges for 205 species of terrestrial non-volant mammals in the 1970s. We selected terrestrial non-volant mammals because they are among the most studied groups, have greater availability of historical distribution data for the 1970s decade, and also show the largest range contractions compared to other taxonomic groups. Species belong to 52 families and 16 orders. Range maps were extracted from scientific literature including published papers, books, and action plans. For Australian species, due to the absence of published maps, we collated occurrence data from individual data sets (maintained by museums and government agencies) and converted these into polygonal range maps. Taxonomic and geographic biases towards more studied (charismatic) species are inevitably present. Among the most abundant orders, the highest percentage representation is for Carnivora (55 species, corresponding to 21% of species in the order), Cetartiodactyla (24 species, 10% of the order), and Perissodactyla (six species, 38% of the order). In contrast, the percentage representation is low for Rodentia (66 species, 3% of species in the order), Primates (19 species, 4%), and Eulipotyphla (6 species, 1%). The proportional representation of less speciose orders is highly variable. The data set offers the opportunity to measure the recent (1970-2019) change in the distribution of terrestrial mammal species, and test ecological and biogeographical hypotheses about such change. It also allows us to identify areas where changes in species distribution were largest. No copyright or proprietary restrictions are associated with the use of this data set other than citation of this Data Paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Pacifici
- Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin,", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Cristiano
- Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin,", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
| | | | - John C Z Woinarski
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub of the National Environment Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin,", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy.,CSIRO Land & Water, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Carlo Rondinini
- Global Mammal Assessment Programme, Dipartimento di Biologia e Biotecnologie "Charles Darwin,", Sapienza Università di Roma, Rome, Italy
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Garnett ST, Butchart SHM, Baker GB, Bayraktarov E, Buchanan KL, Burbidge AA, Chauvenet ALM, Christidis L, Ehmke G, Grace M, Hoccom DG, Legge SM, Leiper I, Lindenmayer DB, Loyn RH, Maron M, McDonald P, Menkhorst P, Possingham HP, Radford J, Reside AE, Watson DM, Watson JEM, Wintle B, Woinarski JCZ, Geyle HM. Metrics of progress in the understanding and management of threats to Australian birds. Conserv Biol 2019; 33:456-468. [PMID: 30465331 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2017] [Revised: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Although evidence-based approaches have become commonplace for determining the success of conservation measures for the management of threatened taxa, there are no standard metrics for assessing progress in research or management. We developed 5 metrics to meet this need for threatened taxa and to quantify the need for further action and effective alleviation of threats. These metrics (research need, research achievement, management need, management achievement, and percent threat reduction) can be aggregated to examine trends for an individual taxon or for threats across multiple taxa. We tested the utility of these metrics by applying them to Australian threatened birds, which appears to be the first time that progress in research and management of threats has been assessed for all threatened taxa in a faunal group at a continental scale. Some research has been conducted on nearly three-quarters of known threats to taxa, and there is a clear understanding of how to alleviate nearly half of the threats with the highest impact. Some management has been attempted on nearly half the threats. Management outcomes ranged from successful trials to complete mitigation of the threat, including for one-third of high-impact threats. Progress in both research and management tended to be greater for taxa that were monitored or occurred on oceanic islands. Predation by cats had the highest potential threat score. However, there has been some success reducing the impact of cat predation, so climate change (particularly drought), now poses the greatest threat to Australian threatened birds. Our results demonstrate the potential for the proposed metrics to encapsulate the major trends in research and management of both threats and threatened taxa and provide a basis for international comparisons of evidence-based conservation science.
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Affiliation(s)
- S T Garnett
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - S H M Butchart
- BirdLife International, David Attenborough Building, Pembroke Street, Cambridge, CB2 3QZ, U.K
- Department of Zoology, The University of Cambridge, Downing Street, Cambridge, CB2 3EJ, U.K
| | - G B Baker
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, The University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, 7005, Australia
| | - E Bayraktarov
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - K L Buchanan
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, 75 Pigdons Road, Geelong, Victoria, 3216, Australia
| | - A A Burbidge
- 87 Rosedale Street, Floreat, Western Australia, 6014, Australia
| | - A L M Chauvenet
- School of Environment and Science & Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Gold Coast, Queensland, 4222, Australia
| | - L Christidis
- National Marine Science Centre, Southern Cross University, Lismore, New South Wales, 2480, Australia
| | - G Ehmke
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- BirdLife Australia, Carlton, Victoria, 3053, Australia
| | - M Grace
- Department of Zoology, The University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PS, U.K
| | - D G Hoccom
- Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Bedfordshire, SG 19 2DL, U.K
| | - S M Legge
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - I Leiper
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - D B Lindenmayer
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, 2601, Australia
| | - R H Loyn
- The Centre for Freshwater Ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, La Trobe University, Wodonga, Victoria, 3690, Australia
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, 2640, Australia
- Eco Insights, Beechworth, Victoria, 3747, Australia
| | - M Maron
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
| | - P McDonald
- Zoology, School of Environmental and Rural Science, University of New England, Armidale, New South Wales, 2351, Australia
| | - P Menkhorst
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria, 3084, Australia
| | - H P Possingham
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, VA, 22203-1606, U.S.A
| | - J Radford
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - A E Reside
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
| | - D M Watson
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, 2640, Australia
| | - J E M Watson
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Qld, 4072, Australia
- School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, 4072, Australia
- Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, NY, 10460-1068, U.S.A
| | - B Wintle
- School of Bioscience, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, 3010, Australia
| | - J C Z Woinarski
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
| | - H M Geyle
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub, National Environmental Science Program, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Northern Territory, 0909, Australia
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Ringma J, Legge S, Woinarski JC, Radford JQ, Wintle B, Bentley J, Burbidge AA, Copley P, Dexter N, Dickman CR, Gillespie GR, Hill B, Johnson CN, Kanowski J, Letnic M, Manning A, Menkhorst P, Mitchell N, Morris K, Moseby K, Page M, Palmer R, Bode M. Systematic planning can rapidly close the protection gap in Australian mammal havens. Conserv Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Ringma
- School of Global, Urban and Social Sciences RMIT Melbourne VIC 3000 Australia
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland St Lucia Qld 4072 Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland St Lucia Qld 4072 Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Casuarina Northern Territory 0909 Australia
| | - John C.Z. Woinarski
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Casuarina Northern Territory 0909 Australia
| | - James Q. Radford
- Bush Heritage Australia Melbourne Victoria 8009 Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
| | - Brendan Wintle
- The University of Melbourne, School of Biosciences University of Melbourne Parkville VIC 3052 Australia
| | - Joss Bentley
- Ecosystems and Threatened Species NSW Office of Environment and Heritage joss
| | | | - Peter Copley
- Conservation and Land Management Branch Department of Environment Water and Natural Resources Adelaide SA 5001 Australia
| | | | - Chris R. Dickman
- Desert Ecology Research Group School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW 2006 Australia
| | - Graeme R. Gillespie
- Flora and Fauna Division Department of Environment and Natural Resources Northern Territory 0828 Australia
| | - Brydie Hill
- Flora and Fauna Division Department of Environment and Natural Resources Northern Territory 0828 Australia
| | - Chris N. Johnson
- School of Natural Sciences & Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Australian Biodiversity and Heritage University of Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7005 Australia
| | - John Kanowski
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy Subiaco East WA 6008 Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science University of New South Wales Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Adrian Manning
- Fenner School of Environment and Society Australian National University Canberra ACT 2601 Australia
| | - Peter Menkhorst
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment Land Water and Planning Heidelberg Victoria 3084 Australia
| | - Nicola Mitchell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia Crawley WA 6009 Australia
| | - Keith Morris
- Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Australia
| | - Katherine Moseby
- Arid Recovery Roxby Downs 5725 Australia
- University of NSW Sydney NSW 2052 Australia
| | - Manda Page
- Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Bentley Delivery Centre WA 6983 Australia
| | - Russell Palmer
- Department of Biodiversity Conservation and Attractions Woodvale WA 6026 Australia
| | - Michael Bode
- School of Mathematical Sciences Queensland University of Technology Brisbane QLD 4000 Australia
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Radford JQ, Woinarski JCZ, Legge S, Baseler M, Bentley J, Burbidge AA, Bode M, Copley P, Dexter N, Dickman CR, Gillespie G, Hill B, Johnson CN, Kanowski J, Latch P, Letnic M, Manning A, Menkhorst P, Mitchell N, Morris K, Moseby K, Page M, Ringma J. Degrees of population-level susceptibility of Australian terrestrial non-volant mammal species to predation by the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus). Wildl Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/wr18008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
Over the last 230 years, the Australian terrestrial mammal fauna has suffered a very high rate of decline and extinction relative to other continents. Predation by the introduced red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus) is implicated in many of these extinctions, and in the ongoing decline of many extant species.
Aims
To assess the degree to which Australian terrestrial non-volant mammal species are susceptible at the population level to predation by the red fox and feral cat, and to allocate each species to a category of predator susceptibility.
Methods
We collated the available evidence and complemented this with expert opinion to categorise each Australian terrestrial non-volant mammal species (extinct and extant) into one of four classes of population-level susceptibility to introduced predators (i.e. ‘extreme’, ‘high’, ‘low’ or ‘not susceptible’). We then compared predator susceptibility with conservation status, body size and extent of arboreality; and assessed changes in the occurrence of species in different predator-susceptibility categories between 1788 and 2017.
Key results
Of 246 Australian terrestrial non-volant mammal species (including extinct species), we conclude that 37 species are (or were) extremely predator-susceptible; 52 species are highly predator-susceptible; 112 species are of low susceptibility; and 42 species are not susceptible to predators. Confidence in assigning species to predator-susceptibility categories was strongest for extant threatened mammal species and for extremely predator-susceptible species. Extinct and threatened mammal species are more likely to be predator-susceptible than Least Concern species; arboreal species are less predator-susceptible than ground-dwelling species; and medium-sized species (35 g–3.5kg) are more predator-susceptible than smaller or larger species.
Conclusions
The effective control of foxes and cats over large areas is likely to assist the population-level recovery of ~63 species – the number of extant species with extreme or high predator susceptibility – which represents ~29% of the extant Australian terrestrial non-volant mammal fauna.
Implications
Categorisation of predator susceptibility is an important tool for conservation management, because the persistence of species with extreme susceptibility will require intensive management (e.g. predator-proof exclosures or predator-free islands), whereas species of lower predator susceptibility can be managed through effective landscape-level suppression of introduced predators.
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Legge S, Woinarski JCZ, Burbidge AA, Palmer R, Ringma J, Radford JQ, Mitchell N, Bode M, Wintle B, Baseler M, Bentley J, Copley P, Dexter N, Dickman CR, Gillespie GR, Hill B, Johnson CN, Latch P, Letnic M, Manning A, McCreless EE, Menkhorst P, Morris K, Moseby K, Page M, Pannell D, Tuft K. Havens for threatened Australian mammals: the contributions of fenced areas and offshore islands to the protection of mammal species susceptible to introduced predators. Wildl Res 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/wr17172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context Many Australian mammal species are highly susceptible to predation by introduced domestic cats (Felis catus) and European red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). These predators have caused many extinctions and have driven large distributional and population declines for many more species. The serendipitous occurrence of, and deliberate translocations of mammals to, ‘havens’ (cat- and fox-free offshore islands, and mainland fenced exclosures capable of excluding cats and foxes) has helped avoid further extinction. Aims The aim of this study was to conduct a stocktake of current island and fenced havens in Australia and assess the extent of their protection for threatened mammal taxa that are most susceptible to cat and fox predation. Methods Information was collated from diverse sources to document (1) the locations of havens and (2) the occurrence of populations of predator-susceptible threatened mammals (naturally occurring or translocated) in those havens. The list of predator-susceptible taxa (67 taxa, 52 species) was based on consensus opinion from >25 mammal experts. Key results Seventeen fenced and 101 island havens contain 188 populations of 38 predator-susceptible threatened mammal taxa (32 species). Island havens cover a larger cumulative area than fenced havens (2152km2 versus 346km2), and reach larger sizes (largest island 325km2, with another island of 628km2 becoming available from 2018; largest fence: 123km2). Islands and fenced havens contain similar numbers of taxa (27 each), because fenced havens usually contain more taxa per haven. Populations within fences are mostly translocated (43 of 49; 88%). Islands contain translocated populations (30 of 139; 22%); but also protect in situ (109) threatened mammal populations. Conclusions Havens are used increasingly to safeguard threatened predator-susceptible mammals. However, 15 such taxa occur in only one or two havens, and 29 such taxa (43%) are not represented in any havens. The taxon at greatest risk of extinction from predation, and in greatest need of a haven, is the central rock-rat (Zyzomys pedunculatus). Implications Future investment in havens should focus on locations that favour taxa with no (or low) existing haven representation. Although havens can be critical for avoiding extinctions in the short term, they cover a minute proportion of species’ former ranges. Improved options for controlling the impacts of cats and foxes at landscape scales must be developed and implemented.
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Burbidge AA. Did Zaglossus bruijnii occur in the Kimberley region of Western Australia? Aust Mammalogy 2018. [DOI: 10.1071/am17053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A 2012 paper reported the discovery of a specimen of Zaglossus bruijnii with a label attached that recorded that it had been collected at Mount Anderson, in the south-west Kimberley region of Western Australia, in 1901. Based on several lines of evidence, I argue that this distinctive long-beaked echidna is not, and has not been, part of the Kimberley region’s modern mammal fauna. The simplest and most plausible explanation is that the tag on the specimen came from another animal.
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Abstract
We present a database of indigenous and non-indigenous terrestrial mammal records on Western Australian (WA) islands, updated from a database we published more than 20 years ago. The database includes records of 88 indigenous species on 155 islands, compared with 54 indigenous species on 141 WA islands in the paper by Abbott and Burbidge in CALMScience, Volume 1, pp. 259–324. The database also provides 266 records of 21 species of non-indigenous mammal species on 138 WA islands, more than double the number of records in the earlier review. Of the 33 threatened and near-threatened WA non-volant mammals, 16 occur naturally (and have persisted) on WA islands, five additional species occur on islands outside WA, 14 successful conservation translocations of 10 species have been undertaken to WA islands, and six species have been successfully translocated to 12 islands outside WA – two of which do not currently occur on WA islands. The house mouse now accounts for the largest number of extant records of non-indigenous species. Even with the increasing number of conservation translocations to mainland islands (fenced exclosures), WA islands remain essential for the effective conservation of several threatened and near-threatened mammals and many of the translocations to mainland islands have been sourced from islands.
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Ziembicki MR, Woinarski JCZ, Webb JK, Vanderduys E, Tuft K, Smith J, Ritchie EG, Reardon TB, Radford IJ, Preece N, Perry J, Murphy BP, McGregor H, Legge S, Leahy L, Lawes MJ, Kanowski J, Johnson CN, James A, Griffiths AD, Gillespie G, Frank AS, Fisher A, Burbidge AA. Stemming the tide: progress towards resolving the causes of decline and implementing management responses for the disappearing mammal fauna of northern Australia. Therya 2015. [DOI: 10.12933/therya-15-236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
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Greenslade P, Burbidge AA, Jasmyn A, Lynch J. Keeping Australia’s islands free of introduced rodents: the Barrow Island example. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013. [DOI: 10.1071/pc130284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Islands are important reservoirs of endemic and threatened species, but anthropogenic influences have impacted
their biotas. Australia has over 8000 islands, both continental and oceanic, but because of considerably increased traffic,
both tourist and commercial, many of these islands have been and are subject to increased threats from invasive species.
The invasive Black Rat Rattus rattus is of particular concern as it can negatively impact mammal, bird, reptile, invertebrate
and plant populations. Barrow Island, in northwest Western Australia, is an island requiring particular protection from
Black Rats as it is a Class A nature reserve with many unique and threatened taxa that is subject to major disturbances
from activities associated with oil extraction and a large liquefied natural gas processing plant. Strict quarantine is currently
imposed on all materials and persons being sent to the island and there is an intense on-island surveillance programme.
So far the protocols used have prevented Black Rats establishing on this island, but such a level of biosecurity is
clearly impossible for all islands. In this paper we discuss the effectiveness of quarantine inspections and surveillance
together and alone in protecting high-risk, high-value Australian islands against introduced rodents and we document
eradication costs for other islands. World-wide, it has only been possible so far to eradicate rats from relatively small
islands, mostly with no non-target indigenous mammals and larger islands only where there are no non-target indigenous
mammals. Models based largely on economic considerations have suggested it is more cost effective to use surveillance
alone without quarantine for Black Rats on Barrow Island and that if rats become widespread (an estimated 4% risk),
it may be more cost effective not to attempt eradication. Such models provide useful guidance for managers where
biodiversity values are relatively low or where there are no non-target species, but for Barrow island we argue for
continuation of quarantine as well as surveillance and an increased level of quarantine controls at the point of departure
on all people, vessels and aircraft visiting other vulnerable Australian islands.
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Martin TG, Nally S, Burbidge AA, Arnall S, Garnett ST, Hayward MW, Lumsden LF, Menkhorst P, McDonald-Madden E, Possingham HP. Acting fast helps avoid extinction. Conserv Lett 2012. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263x.2012.00239.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 235] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Burbidge AA, Abbott I, Comer S, Adams E, Berry O, Penwarden KE. Unforeseen consequences of a misidentified rodent: case study from the Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia. Aust Mammalogy 2012. [DOI: 10.1071/am11004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Since 1953, it has been assumed that Rattus rattus occurred on Woody Island, Archipelago of the Recherche, Western Australia, and that R. fuscipes was locally extinct. Recent trapping and identification, including sequencing of mitochondrial DNA, has confirmed the persistence of R. fuscipes. The apparent misidentification of the 1950 specimen and failure to collect vouchers since has led to unforeseen consequences, including a proposal to eradicate the Rattus population.
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Woinarski JCZ, Legge S, Fitzsimons JA, Traill BJ, Burbidge AA, Fisher A, Firth RSC, Gordon IJ, Griffiths AD, Johnson CN, McKenzie NL, Palmer C, Radford I, Rankmore B, Ritchie EG, Ward S, Ziembicki M. The disappearing mammal fauna of northern Australia: context, cause, and response. Conserv Lett 2011. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1755-263x.2011.00164.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 230] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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Burbidge AA, Byrne M, Coates D, Garnett ST, Harris S, Hatward MW, Martin TG, McDonald-Madden E, Mitchell NJ, Nally S, Setterfield SA. Is Australia ready for assisted colonization? Policy changes required to facilitate translocations under climate change. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011. [DOI: 10.1071/pc110259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Assisted Colonization (AC) has been proposed as one method of aiding species to adapt to the impacts of climate
change. AC is a form of translocation and translocation protocols for threatened species, mostly for reintroduction,
are well established in Australia. We evaluate the information available from implementation of translocations to
understand how existing policies and guidelines should be varied to plan, review and regulate AC. While the risks
associated with AC are potentially greater than those of reintroductions, AC is likely to be the only available method,
other than germplasm storage and establishment of captive populations, of conserving many taxa under future climate
change. AC may also be necessary to maintain ecosystem services, particularly where keystone species are affected.
Current policies and procedures for the preparation of Translocation Proposals will require modification and expansion
to deal with Assisted Colonization, particularly in relation to risk management, genetic management, success criteria,
moving associated species and community consultation. Further development of risk assessment processes, particularly
for invasiveness, and guidelines for genetic management to maintain evolutionary potential are particularly important
in the context of changing climate. Success criteria will need to respond to population establishment in the context
of new and evolving ecosystems, and to reflect requirements for any co-establishment of interdependent species.
Translocation Proposals should always be subjected to independent peer review before being considered by regulators.
We conclude that consistent approaches by regulators and multilateral agreements between jurisdictions are required
to minimize duplication, to ensure the risk of AC is adequately assessed and to ensure the potential benefits of AC
are realized.
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Nias RC, Burbidge AA, Ball D, Pressey RL. Island arks: the need for an Australian national island biosecurity initiative. Ecological Management & Restoration 2010. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1442-8903.2010.00545.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Burbidge AA, McKenzie NL, Brennan KEC, Woinarski JCZ, Dickman CR, Baynes A, Gordon G, Menkhorst PW, Robinson AC. Conservation status and biogeography of Australia's terrestrial mammals. AUST J ZOOL 2008. [DOI: 10.1071/zo08027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
This paper attempts to identify and explain patterns in the biogeography of Australia’s indigenous terrestrial mammals at the time of European settlement (before modern extinctions), and also compares species’ pre-European and current status by region. From subfossil, historical and contemporary sources, we compiled data on the past geographic range and present status of mammals for Australia’s 85 biogeographic regions. Of the 305 indigenous species originally present, 91 have disappeared from at least half of the bioregions in which they occurred before European settlement. Thirty-nine extant species ‘persist’ in less than 25% of their original bioregions; 28 of these are marsupials and 11 are rodents. Twenty-two of the original 305 species are extinct, a further eight became restricted to continental islands, and 100 have become extinct in at least one bioregion. Over the same period, 26 species of exotic mammals established wild populations and now occupy from one to 85 bioregions. When we classified the bioregions in terms of their original species composition, the 3-group level in the dendrogram approximated the Torresian, Eyrean and Bassian subregions proposed by Spencer in 1898, while the 4-group level separated southern semiarid Eyrean bioregions, including those in south-west Australia, from the arid Eyrean bioregions. The classification dendrogram showed geographically (and statistically) discrete clustering down to the 19-group level, suggesting that all four subregions can be further divided on the basis of their mammal faunas. Variation partitioning showed 66% of the biogeographical pattern can be explained by environmental factors (related to temperature and precipitation), the spatial position of each bioregion (a third-order polynomial of latitude and longitude), the area of each bioregion, and the richness of species in each bioregion. In addition to the marked distributional changes that indigenous mammals have experienced over the last 200 years, the 49% of variation explainable by temperature and precipitation implies further shifts with global climate change.
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Langford D, Burbidge AA. Translocation Of Mala (Lagorchestes Hirsutus) From The Tanami Desert, Northern Territory To Trimouille Island, Western Australia. Aust Mammalogy 2001. [DOI: 10.1071/am01037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
In June 1998, 30 mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus undescribed central Australian subspecies) were
translocated from a semi-captive colony in the Tanami Desert, Northern Territory to
Trimouille Island, part of the Montebello Islands Conservation Park, off the Pilbara coast of
Western Australia. Mala are ?Extinct in the Wild? according to IUCN (1994, 2000) Red List
Categories and Criteria. The translocation was made possible by the eradication of black rats
(Rattus rattus) and confirmation of the absence of feral cats (Felis catus), which were
recorded on the island in the 1970s. Post-release monitoring up to October 2001 showed that
mala were breeding and expanding the area occupied.
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Browning AC, Burbidge AA, Hodgkins PR. Comparison of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate measured in the eye casualty department by the Seditainer method with an automated system. Eye (Lond) 1999; 13 ( Pt 6):754-7. [PMID: 10707139 DOI: 10.1038/eye.1999.222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To compare a new automated system for the measurement of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) with the established manual Seditainer method. METHODS Two hundred and twelve patients undergoing investigation for giant cell arteritis or other systemic vasculitides had ESR measurements by both the established manual Seditainer and the new laboratory-based automated system. The results were compared by correlation coefficient and mean difference. The limits of agreement with confidence intervals were also calculated. RESULTS Across the range of results from 1 to 120 mm/h, the correlation coefficient was 0.844. The automated method had a mean negative bias of -9.8 mm/h (95% confidence interval: -12.2 to -7.4 mm/h). The wide scatter of results produced limits of agreement (+/- 2 standard deviations) between the two methods of -45 to 26 mm/h. There were seven results that were underestimated by the automated system which were clinically significant. CONCLUSIONS There is a wide degree of scatter between the two sets of results. The automated system has a negative bias when compared with the manual method. There is a propensity for the automated system to sporadically underestimate the true result, sometimes to a degree that is clinically significant. The authors therefore cannot recommend replacement of the manual Seditainer system at the present time.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Browning
- Southampton Eye Unit, Southampton General Hospital, UK
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Abstract
Western swamp tortoise (Pseudemydura umbrina) was rediscovered in Western Australia in 1954. It is a relict species of a monotypic genus, of very restricted range and specialized habitat. Population was estimated to be 13 to 45 and decreasing at 1 of its 2 native reserves and to be 10 to 45 and static at the other reserve. It does not use permanent water, but lives and feeds in ephemeral winter swamps and spends the other 6 to 9 months of the year in refuges in leaf litter, under fallen branches or in holes in the ground, in contact with the soil. The tortoise is carnivorous and in the wild takes only live aquatic organisms. Captive adults will not take meat until they have starved for many months. Stomach of 1 female (Edward, pers. commun.) had aquatic crustaceans, chiefly Eulimnadia sp., with insects and insect larvae, mainly Coleoptera and Diptera. Study of faeces confirmed that observation had shown that small tadpoles and an aquatic earthworm (Eodrilus cornigravei) were eaten also. Reproduction, growth, activity relative to body and water temperature, and desiccation rate, were noted. One adult female tortoise was eaten by a fox. Foxes and bandicoots (Isoodon obesulus) eat eggs of other tortoises and would eat those of P. umbrina. Hatchlings may be eaten by large wading birds such as straw-necked ibis (Threskiornis spinicollis) and white-faced heron (Notophoyx novaehollandiae).
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