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Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is increasingly being used for the survey of vocalising wildlife species that are otherwise cryptic and difficult to survey. Our study aimed to develop PAM guidelines for detecting the Yellow-bellied Glider, a highly vocal arboreal marsupial that occurs in native Eucalyptus forests in eastern and south-eastern Australia. To achieve this, we considered the influence of background noise, weather conditions, lunar illumination, time since sunset and season on the probability of detecting vocalisations. We deployed Autonomous Recording Units (ARUs) at 43 sites in the Central Highlands of Victoria during two periods: spring/summer (October 2018 to January 2019), and autumn/winter (May to August 2019). ARUs were programmed to record for 11 hours from sunset for 14 consecutive days during each period. Background noise resulted from inclement weather (wind and rain) and masked vocalisations in spectrograms of the recordings, thus having the greatest influence on detection probability. Vocalisations were most common in the four hours after sunset. Rainfall negatively influenced detection probability, especially during the autumn/winter sampling period. Detection of Yellow-bellied Gliders with PAM requires deploying ARUs programmed to record for four hours after sunset, for a minimum of six nights with minimal inclement weather (light or no wind or rain). The survey period should be extended to 12 nights when rain or wind are forecast. Because PAM is less labour intensive than active surveys (i.e., spotlighting and call playbacks with multiple observers and several nights' survey per site), its use will facilitate broad-scale surveys for Yellow-bellied Gliders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary The type of attractant used in camera trap lures is recognised as an important methodological decision. We investigated whether the type of attractant in lures indirectly influences detectability of wildlife on cameras via differential attraction of invertebrates which themselves constitute prey of insectivorous animals. We indexed invertebrate abundance using pitfall and sticky‐traps at 36 camera stations deployed in a Latin Squares design for 5 days, with three lure options (peanut‐butter, tuna oil and control) in a coastal mosaic, at Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia. We classified vegetation types (habitat) as: low (no or sparse), medium (grass), and high (shrubs) from aerial imagery and estimated their percentage cover at each grid point (medium and high were uncorrelated and included as separate variables in models). We first examine if attractant types or the habitat influence invertebrate abundance and assemblage, and then examine whether invertebrate abundance influences vertebrate detectability on cameras. There was a trend for the composition of terrestrial invertebrate assemblages to be influenced by lure type (peanut‐butter, tuna oil and control attractants) and the proportional cover of medium height vegetation within 20 m; however, assemblage composition was clearly influenced by the proportional area of high vegetation cover within 20 m. The detection probability of insectivorous birds increased where medium‐sized (2.5–5 mm) flying invertebrates were present whereas insectivorous mammal detectability increased with terrestrial invertebrate species richness. Mammal detections are more likely associated with use of habitats that have more diverse invertebrate communities. This study provides some support to the hypothesis of the indirect mechanism whereby bird detections are influenced by invertebrate attraction to lures. Therefore, lure choice for camera traps is critical and the possibility of guild‐level biases in detection suggests that cautious interpretation of results is required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Management of overabundant native species is challenging at the best of times but is even more so when it involves an iconic species that is threatened in part of its range. Here, we examine koala overabundance, a situation that arises in some locations within the species' southern range. We consider the variable conservation status of the koala throughout its range, discuss where and why overabundance occurs, and its consequences. Programs to manage koala overabundance and impacts are generally ineffective, relying on costly and slow acting fertility control and translocation, and implemented only when a crisis already has occurred. A change in management approach is needed. Decisions should be based on an evidence‐based and transparent decision‐making framework that involves predicting where overabundance is likely, where damage costs will be high, and where proactive management is likely to be effective. With more than 65% of Australia's koala population occurring in the south and declining northern populations, a more considered approach to managing southern koalas for conservation of the species is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conservation of small mammal species relies on an understanding of their habitat use. We used trapping surveys and telemetry to examine habitat selection and use by the broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus mordicus) and the bush rat (Rattus fuscipes) in an alpine resort in Victoria. M. fuscus occurred at low numbers, nesting in subalpine wet heathland and foraging in that habitat as well as small patches of disturbed woodland. In contrast, R. fuscipes was more common and nested in woodlands. Although foraging primarily in woodlands, R. fuscipes also foraged in all other available habitats. Both species showed strong selection for woodland fragments within ski runs. Although highly disturbed, these habitats may provide important habitat and connectivity between less disturbed and larger habitat patches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the ability of koalas to respond to changes in their environment is critical for conservation of the species and their habitat. We monitored the behavioural response of koalas to declining food resources in manna gum (Eucalyptus viminalis) woodland at Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia, from September 2011 to November 2013. Over this period, koala population density increased from 10.1 to 18.4 koalas.ha-1. As a result of the high browsing pressure of this population, manna gum canopy condition declined with 71.4% manna gum being completely or highly defoliated in September 2013. Despite declining food resources, radio collared koalas (N = 30) exhibited high fidelity to small ranges (0.4–1.2 ha). When trees became severely defoliated in September 2013, koalas moved relatively short distances from their former ranges (mean predicted change in range centroid = 144 m) and remained in areas of 0.9 to 1.0 ha. This was despite the high connectivity of most manna gum woodland, and close proximity of the study site (< 3 km) to the contiguous mixed forest of the Great Otway National Park. Limited movement had catastrophic consequences for koalas with 71% (15/21) of radio collared koalas dying from starvation or being euthanased due to their poor condition between September and November 2013. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat change due to resort development threatens rare and endemic fauna of alpine and subalpine regions. There is an urgent need to understand species persistence in such areas. The broad-toothed rat ( Mastacomys fuscus) is a rare, specialist species found in alpine and subalpine regions of Australia. We conducted fecal pellet surveys in an alpine resort to determine the species' distribution and habitat requirements. Eight individuals were radiotracked to investigate movement patterns and habitat use. Fecal pellets were found in areas of dense vegetation cover up to 1 m above ground. Home ranges were small (1,488-6,106 m2) and encompassed managed indigenous vegetation on or beside ski runs. Five individuals regularly crossed a narrow (3-5 m) cleared track. Two adult males dispersed (including traversing a wide grassy ski run) up to 1 km. The ability to cross modified areas and move throughout the landscape is proposed as a key factor facilitating the persistence of M. fuscus in the resort. Enhancing the capacity of species to move between habitat patches should be incorporated into alpine resort management plans. Such management will become increasingly important as anthropogenic disturbance increases in alpine regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective management of overabundant animal populations is a difficult challenge for wildlife managers around the globe. Translocation is often considered a viable management tool, whereby individual animals are removed from areas of high population density and released in areas where densities are lower. Typically, the success of a translocation program is measured at the population source, with little attention given to the fate of translocated individuals. Here we use a koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus) translocation program from southeastern Australia as a case study to investigate the effects of translocation on individual animals. The koala is an iconic species that occurs at high densities in some parts of its southern range, leading to numerous conservation and animal welfare issues. Between 1997 and 2007 over 3,000 koalas from a high-density island population were captured, surgically sterilized, and translocated to the mainland. Annual post-translocation surveys at release sites revealed densities of ≤0.4 koalas/ha, despite release densities of 1.0 koala/ha. Radiotracking studies indicate that low densities were because of both mortality and high dispersal of translocated individuals. We observed a mortality rate of 37.5% for translocated koalas in the first 12 months post-release. No deaths occurred among animals that were not sterilized and translocated. Translocated koalas moved greater distances than non-translocated animals. Monitoring of translocated individuals should be performed routinely during translocation programs for overabundant species. Due consideration must be given to what is an acceptable level of mortality for translocated individuals. Although often considered an ethically acceptable management technique (especially for iconic and charismatic species), translocation may not always be the best option from an animal welfare perspective. © 2012 The Wildlife Society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reproductive characteristics of a wildlife population are typically sensitive to changes in environmental conditions and intrinsic factors. Knowledge of these relationships is critical for understanding population dynamics and effective long-term management of a population. We examined temporal variation in reproductive parameters of an abundant, genetically compromised, and high-density population of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) on Kangaroo Island, South Australia, over 3 breeding seasons spanning 9 years: November--May of 1997--1998, 2005--2006, and 2006--2007. Timing of the breeding season was consistent between years, but fecundity, sex ratio of young, and the percentage of independent females (those not accompanying a lactating female) < 6 kg varied. Fecundity was lower than in other island populations, suggesting that the quality and distribution of food resources or inbreeding may be impacting the Kangaroo Island population. We did not test for Chlamydophila (synonym = Chlamydia), and clinical signs of this disease were not reported for any of the koalas in this study. However, historical evidence of Chlamydophila-infected koalas on Kangaroo Island exists, and the potential impact of this disease on fecundity warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Information on the spatial ecology of nonnative roof rats (Rattus rattus) is important for developing management strategies to reduce their impacts on native wildlife in riparian habitats. We determined home-range size and movement patterns of normative roof rats (Rattus rattus) in an old-growth riparian forest in California by radiotracking 12 individuals in August and September 2002. Males had larger home ranges than females. There was considerable overlap of ranges within and between sexes. Rats nested from 2 to 15 m high in trees, and used multiple nests that were sometimes shared simultaneously with other rats. Rats were most active at night, spending most of their time on, or close to the ground, and favoring areas of dense cover of blackberry and grape. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Population monitoring is a valuable component to managing invasive rodent populations. Indices can be efficient methods for monitoring rodent populations, as more labor-intensive density estimation procedures often are impractical or invalid to apply. Many monitoring objectives can be couched in an indexing framework. Indexing procedures obtain maximal utility if they exhibit key characteristics, including being practical to apply, being sensitive to population changes or differences in the target species, having an inherent variance formula to estimate precision of index values, and relying on as few assumptions as possible. Here, a general indexing paradigm that promotes the characteristics that make indices most useful is specifically applied to rodent monitoring scenarios. Observations are made at stations located throughout the area of interest. Stations can take many forms, depending on the observations, and range from points for visual counts to tracking plots (or tiles), bait blocks, chew cards, camera stations, trap lines and many others. Thus, a wide variety of observation methods for many animal species can fit into this format. Observations are made at each station on multiple occasions for each indexing session. Collection of geographic location data for each station is encouraged. No assumptions of independence are made among stations or observation occasions, and measurements made at each station are required to be continuous or unboundedly discrete. The formula for a general index is presented along with a derived variance formula. Issues relevant to the application of this methodology to rodent populations, and indices in general, are discussed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrots Amazona vittata are one of the rarest birds in the world. Several exotic mammal species capable of preying on Puerto Rican parrots cohabit the Caribbean National Forest with the only wild population of these parrots. We used tracking plates, monitoring blocks and trapping to index black rats, small Indian mongooses and feral cats in parrot habitat and in public-use areas in the same habitat type. We had high trap success for black rats at all sites (42% of all sites combined), among the highest reported in the world. Rat response to monitoring (non-toxic bait) blocks was universally high, regardless of ground or tree placement. Mongooses were present at all sites, with a greater proportion of plates tracked within the forest than at public-use sites. Cats were present at all forest sites and one of the public-use sites. Presence of the three species did not appear to be linked to human disturbance. Because only 30-40 Puerto Rican parrots survive in the wild, with as few as three pairs nesting in 2002, we concluded that the abundance and pervasiveness of exotic mammalian predators poses a greater threat to the parrots than has been generally acknowledged. This is evidenced by mammalian predation during recent parrot breeding seasons, including six fledglings taken by mongooses and one nest failure from rats during 2000-2003. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The native range for muskrats (Ondatra zibethicus) includes much of North America, but they also have been introduced beyond their native range, including into the Fall River, California, where they have come into conflict with human interests. An easily applied method to assess their abundance is an important need for their management. We developed a muskrat visual index (MVI) to provide the information necessary to address this need. Observations were made at randomly located sites along the river. The number of muskrats observed during a 45 min period was recorded during the late afternoon peak activity time at each site on multiple days. The mean number observed over sites was calculated for each day. The index was the mean of the daily means. These design and measurement methods present valuable advantages over most traditional muskrat indexing methods in this environment. Traditional methods usually involve counting burrows or houses. However, in a relatively stable environment such as along the Fall River, muskat burrows and houses tend to be long-lasting structures, making acute changes in population difficult to detect by these methods. Examining these structures for activity can be time-consuming and labor-intensive. Of particular importance, the statistical properties inherent to the MVI data structure permit calculation of standard errors, confidence intervals and statistical tests allowing quantitative comparisons among MVI values. Development of a management program for muskrats on the Fall River will require understanding of muskrat population fluctuations and densities, as well as knowledge of the effectiveness (short- and long-term) of control strategies. Here we develop a useful method, derive its statistical properties, and present baseline information for managing muskrats along the Fall River. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Discusses a study which focused on the impacts of Belding's ground squirrels on alfala fields in areas of northeastern California. Effects of the ground squirrels on the production yield of alfala fields; Study area; Methods; Results; Discussion.

Discusses a study which evaluated the potential of using elevated bait stations for California ground squirrel control in endangered kangaroo rat habitat. Information on the problems encountered with ground squirrels in areas that support population of endangered kangaroos; Methods; Results; Discussion.

At the continental scale, ecological research effort is not spatially uniform. We used a century-long bibliometric database of the journal Emu – Austral Ornithology to index the spatial patterns in bird research in Australia (from articles with explicit study locations). Studies have been concentrated in Tasmania and the southwest, southeast and coastal parts of the mainland. Large spatial gaps exist in ornithological study, which are similar to those identified by Arnold Robert McGill in his 1948 review paper (McGill 1948). Pre-1948 only 9.4% of articles [n = 2,107] fell within the gaps mapped by McGill in 1948, indicating that his mapping was largely accurate. These gaps have largely persisted; only 11.2% of the 1,498 articles published since 1948 came from within those gaps. We present a complementary spatial gap analysis, which focuses on studies of areas with broadly similar biogeographies (Interim Biogeographical Regions of Australia (IBRAs)). Of 85 mainland IBRAs (of 89 defined), five have no bird studies from within them (368,380 km2; 4.9% of Australia), and 34 have less than 10 studies (3,335,498 km2; 43.9%). We intersect IBRAs with McGill's gaps and show that some IBRAs within McGill's gaps are now better-studied, but 64.8% of the area within the McGill gaps boundaries comprises IBRAs where there have been no post-1948 studies in Emu. We also present an updated map of key geographical gaps in the study of Australian birds, which apparently remain extensive 60 years after they were first identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, primarily because of their conversion to production landscapes. Animals occupying modified landscapes may need to expand their ranges and move longer distances between remnant forest patches to find resources. The establishment of plantations in fragmented landscapes, however, may provide complementary habitat for wildlife and improve connectivity, reducing the amount of movement required. Our objective was to determine the influence of plantations on koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) habitat use and test 2 competing hypotheses on the relationship between plantations and range size. We deployed global positioning system and very high frequency collars on 40 koalas in 2 landscapes (plantation and non‐plantation) in Victoria, Australia. From 68,216 tracking points collected over an 8‐month period, we calculated and compared seasonal home range size and habitat use between landscapes. There was no difference in range size, the size and number of core use areas, or the distance between core use areas between plantation and non‐plantation landscapes. Plantations extend existing koala habitat and facilitate koala movement through a landscape; however, remnant native vegetation is still more frequently used. Consequently, native vegetation (even fragmented, linear roadside vegetation) is of high conservation importance for the persistence of koalas in modified landscapes. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Koalas use blue gum plantations, but seasonal ranges remained similar to those of koalas in a non‐plantation landscape. Plantations extend existing koala habitat and facilitate koala movement through a landscape; however, remnant native vegetation is still preferred. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of domestic dogs (Canis familiaris) in natural areas is controversial and more effective policy and management is required. We examine the occurrence and space use by dogs on southern Australian sandy beaches in different dog-leashing zones. We observed the people and dogs, and compliance with regulations. GPS loggers determined the space use by dogs (n = 161). Existing dog-leashing zones had no influence on the space use by dogs, and this related to poor compliance with dog-leashing rules (69.7% of 188 dogs observed at "on-leash" beaches were "off-leash"). Dogs moved up to 33 km, at maximum speeds of up to 19 km h−1, during beach visits. Larger dogs occupied slightly more space. Overall, off-leash dogs were frequent regardless of prevailing dog-leashing regulations and these did not constrain the space use by dogs. Current regulations appear ineffective, and alternatives such as "no-dog" zones to replace "leash-only" zones warrant investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, more resources are required for the conservation of threatened species than are made available. Australia, the home to many unique mammalian species, has been identified as one of the top seven countries worldwide with the highest biodiversity loss and lowest amount of funding dedicated to conservation. Conservation action is generally determined by what we perceive to be the most significant conservation problems; therefore, identifying potential biases in research effort is crucial for prioritising research actions for effective conservation outcomes.We reviewed the published literature on the koala Phascolarctos cinereus, a vulnerable arboreal marsupial. Our aim was to assess and quantify research efforts (number of publications) and research coverage (diversity of subject areas) of koala‐related research. We then focused on the research effort of threats to identify primary threats and fields requiring further research.Using a combination of key words, journal name, study title, and methods, we reviewed and categorised 714 publications to identify the focus of research efforts. We investigated subject area, geographic and temporal publication patterns, and the extent to which primary threats have been addressed.We found a trend of increasing number of publications with a diversification of threat‐based studies, and identified both geographic and subject bias in research effort. Geographic bias in the volume of research indicates that the level of koala research between regions may be a response to the species' distribution, status and impact of threats. Research areas 'anatomy and physiology' and 'threats' received comparatively more research attention than other areas. We found a research bias between threats, with 'disease' representing a high percentage of all threat‐based publications. Areas that have been identified but are receiving little research attention include habitat selection and use, along with the effects of habitat loss, fragmentation, and degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surveying terrestrial species across diverse habitats is important for predicting species’ distributions and implementing conservation actions. For vocalising species, passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is increasing in popularity; however, survey design rarely considers the factors influencing the timing and occurrence of vocalisations and in turn, how they may influence detectability of the species. Here, we use the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a case study to show how PAM can be used to first examine the factors influencing vocalisations, and then use occupancy modelling to make recommendations on survey design for the species. We used automated recording units to monitor koala vocalisations at ten sites between August 2016 and January 2017. The timing of male koala vocalisations was linked to time of sunset with vocalisations increasing two hours prior to sunset and peaking at four hours after sunset. Vocalisations had a seasonal trend, increasing from the early to middle stage of the breeding season. Koala population density and stage of the breeding season had more influence on detection probability than daily sampling schedule. Where population density was low, and during the early stage of the breeding season, 7 survey nights (recording for 6 hours from 20:00h to 02:00h; i.e. the period of peak bellowing activity) were required to be 95% confident of a site-specific absence. Our study provides an approach for designing effective passive acoustic surveys for terrestrial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although non-linear phenomena are common in human and non-human animal vocalisations, their functional relevance remains poorly understood. One theory posits that non-linear phenomena generate unpredictability in vocalisations, which increases the auditory impact of vocal signals, and makes animals less likely to habituate to call repetition. Female koalas ( Phascolarctos cinereus) produce vocal signals when they reject male copulation attempts that contain relatively high levels of non-linear phenomena, and thus may function as attention grabbing vocal signals during the breeding season. To test this hypothesis, we used playback experiments: firstly, to determine whether female rejection calls induce heightened behavioural responses in free-ranging male koalas during the breeding season, and secondly, to examine how the relative amount of non-linear phenomena in rejection calls influences male behavioural response. The results show that male koalas look for longer towards speakers broadcasting playback sequences of male bellows followed by a series of female rejection calls than those broadcasting only male bellows. In addition, female rejection call sequences with more subharmonics, higher harmonics-to-noise ratios, and less biphonation produced the greatest male looking responses. Our findings support the hypothesis that female koala rejection calls function to grab male attention during the breeding season, and indicate that subharmonics are the main acoustic feature that increases the auditory impact of these vocal signals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An understanding of koala activity patterns is important for measuring the behavioral response of this species to environmental change, but to date has been limited by the logistical challenges of traditional field methodologies. We addressed this knowledge gap by using tri-axial accelerometer data loggers attached to VHF radio collars to examine activity patterns of adult male and female koalas in a high-density population at Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia. Data were obtained from 27 adult koalas over two 7-d periods during the breeding season: 12 in the early-breeding season in November 2010, and 15 in the late-breeding season in January 2011. Multiple 15 minute observation blocks on each animal were used for validation of activity patterns determined from the accelerometer data loggers. Accelerometry was effective in distinguishing between inactive (sleeping, resting) and active (grooming, feeding and moving) behaviors. Koalas were more active during the early-breeding season with a higher index of movement (overall dynamic body acceleration [ODBA]) for both males and females. Koalas showed a distinct temporal pattern of behavior, with most activity occurring from mid-afternoon to early morning. Accelerometry has potential for examining fine-scale behavior of a wide range of arboreal and terrestrial species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the use of formant frequencies in nonhuman animal vocal communication systems has received considerable recent interest, only a few studies have examined the importance of these acoustic cues to body size during intra-sexual competition between males. Here we used playback experiments to present free-ranging male koalas with re-synthesised bellow vocalisations in which the formants were shifted to simulate either a large or a small adult male. We found that male looking responses did not differ according to the size variant condition played back. In contrast, male koalas produced longer bellows and spent more time bellowing when they were presented with playbacks simulating larger rivals. In addition, males were significantly slower to respond to this class of playback stimuli than they were to bellows simulating small males. Our results indicate that male koalas invest more effort into their vocal responses when they are presented with bellows that have lower formants indicative of larger rivals, but also show that males are slower to engage in vocal exchanges with larger males that represent more dangerous rivals. By demonstrating that male koalas use formants to assess rivals during the breeding season we have provided evidence that male-male competition constitutes an important selection pressure for broadcasting and attending to size-related formant information in this species. Further empirical studies should investigate the extent to which the use of formants during intra-sexual competition is widespread throughout mammals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Animal-attached devices have transformed our understanding of vertebrate ecology. To minimize any associated harm, researchers have long advocated that tag masses should not exceed 3% of carrier body mass. However, this ignores tag forces resulting from animal movement. Using data from collar-attached accelerometers on 10 diverse free-ranging terrestrial species from koalas to cheetahs, we detail a tag-based acceleration method to clarify acceptable tag mass limits. We quantify animal athleticism in terms of fractions of animal movement time devoted to different collar-recorded accelerations and convert those accelerations to forces (acceleration × tag mass) to allow derivation of any defined force limits for specified fractions of any animal's active time. Specifying that tags should exert forces that are less than 3% of the gravitational force exerted on the animal's body for 95% of the time led to corrected tag masses that should constitute between 1.6% and 2.98% of carrier mass, depending on athleticism. Strikingly, in four carnivore species encompassing two orders of magnitude in mass (ca 2–200 kg), forces exerted by '3%' tags were equivalent to 4–19% of carrier body mass during moving, with a maximum of 54% in a hunting cheetah. This fundamentally changes how acceptable tag mass limits should be determined by ethics bodies, irrespective of the force and time limits specified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Autonomously triggered cameras are a common wildlife survey technique. The use of attractants and surrounding microhabitats is likely to influence detection probabilities and survey outcomes; however, few studies consider these factors. We compared three attractants (peanut butter‐based, tuna‐based and a control) in a Latin square design through a coastal shrubland with high microhabitat variability at Cape Otway, Victoria, Australia (38º50ʹS, 143º30ʹE). Deployments involved 36 cameras for four days in each of five years. The percentage cover of each vegetation structural type (low [no or sparse cover], moderate [grass] or high [shrubs]) within 20 m of each camera was calculated and reduced to a single variable using PCA. Dynamic occupancy modelling, with lure type and vegetation structure as covariates of detection probability, found that peanut butter attracted the greatest diversity of species (24 of 35 species, 69%) and yielded the greatest number of detections (50% of 319) when compared with tuna oil (66% and 24%, respectively) and the control (43% and 26%, respectively). Peanut butter attracted more Macropodidae (wallabies) and Muridae (rats and mice); however, vegetation structural variables were the greatest influence on Corvidae/Artamidae (raven/currawong) detections with higher detectability in more open areas. Vegetation structure also influenced Muridae detections. This study reinforces the critical choice of appropriate attractants and camera placement when investigating vertebrate groups and highlights the role of microhabitat in the detection of small mammals and birds. We suggest future large‐scale camera surveys consider different bait types and microhabitats in their designs, to control for any biases and enable future advice on 'optimal' methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Zoning is one approach to managing human occurrence and reducing deleterious interactions between humans and wildlife. We investigated the occurrence of humans, and the responses of eight waterbird species to humans, at a major wetland/treatment plant/birdwatching destination. Human occurrence in three zones ('open birdwatching', 'limited birdwatching' and 'restricted access') was monitored using GPS tracking of visitor vehicles, surveys, geotagged social media uploads and remotely triggered cameras (on primary and secondary roadways). A higher diversity (but not frequency) of vehicle types and more walkers, more social media uploads, and greater usage occurred in zones in which birdwatching was permitted. Vehicles were less common and diverse on secondary roads, suggesting accessibility influenced human occurrence. Bird responsiveness to humans was similar across zones, perhaps because people were ubiquitous or because birds were mobile. Wildlife disturbance studies which use space-experience substitution designs are cautioned to test their assumptions regarding patterns of human visitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The temporal partitioning of species' life history phases according to seasonal environmental variation is pervasive, yet most habitat selection studies have focused on breeding rather than non-breeding periods. Using remote-sensing data and previously collected information on occurrence, this study explores the habitat selection of a non-breeding, resident shorebird (the hooded plover Thinornis cucullatus) on southern hemisphere, high energy beaches exposed to the southern ocean (Victoria, Australia). While many beaches are used for breeding, non-breeding or both, some beaches are never used. These usage patterns may reflect site attributes, which could effectively define non-breeding habitat for the species. We identified and described differences in beachscapes between four distinct types of non-breeding habitat occupation: 1) flocking sites, 2) year-round territories, 3) breeding season only territories, and 4) sites on beaches not occupied by hooded plovers ("no bird" sites). Potentially important habitat variables (36) were measured using a Geographic Information System (GIS) and analysed using multinomial regression following variable selection (Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator; LASSO). This enabled us to characterise the different site types. Flocking sites were characterised by having southerly aspects and were closer to the nearest breeding territory (hereafter 'nearest neighbour') than no bird sites, and year-round territories had closer nearest neighbours than no bird sites and typically were at southwest facing beaches. Breeding territories that were unoccupied during the non-breeding period had less available swash area, were further from nearest neighbours than year-round territories, and typically were southwest facing. No bird sites were further from nearest neighbours than occupied sites and typically were southeast facing. These differences are likely driven by social and ecological factors (i.e. foraging habitat and ecological productivity). This study has identified sites, beach types and habitat features that warrant priority protection from threats such as development, disturbance, marine pollution events and sea level rise. • Non-breeding habitat selection is rarely studied in southern hemisphere, beach dwelling shorebirds. • We identified and described differences in beachscapes between distinct types of non-breeding habitat occupation. • Beach aspect, nearest breeding territory, and swash area differed between site types. • Site/habitat selection may be driven by social and ecological factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim The koala is a widely distributed Australian marsupial with regional populations that are in rapid decline, are stable or have increased in size. This study examined whether it is possible to use expert elicitation to estimate abundance and trends of populations of this species. Diverse opinions exist about estimates of abundance and, consequently, the status of populations. Location Eastern and south-eastern Australia Methods Using a structured, four-step question format, a panel of 15 experts estimated population sizes of koalas and changes in those sizes for bioregions within four states. They provided their lowest plausible estimate, highest plausible estimate, best estimate and their degree of confidence that the true values were contained within these upper and lower estimates. We derived estimates of the mean population size of koalas and associated uncertainties for each bioregion and state. Results On the basis of estimates of mean population sizes for each bioregion and state, we estimated that the total number of koalas for Australia is 329,000 (range 144,000-605,000) with an estimated average decline of 24% over the past three generations and the next three generations. Estimated percentage of loss in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia was 53%, 26%, 14% and 3%, respectively. Main conclusions It was not necessary to achieve high levels of certainty or consensus among experts before making informed estimates. A quantitative, scientific method for deriving estimates of koala populations and trends was possible, in the absence of empirical data on abundances. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ), one of the world's most iconic faunal species, was recently listed under Australian government legislation as vulnerable in the northern states of Queensland and New South Wales and in the Australian Capital Territory, but not in the southern states of Victoria and South Australia. This review synthesises empirical evidence of regional koala population trends, their conservation outlook, and associated policy challenges. Population declines are common in the northern half of the koala's range, where habitat loss, hotter droughts, disease, dog attacks and vehicle collisions are the major threats. In contrast, some southern populations are locally overabundant and are now subject to managed declines. The koala presents the problem of managing a wide-ranging species that now primarily occurs in human-modified landscapes, some of which are rapidly urbanising or subject to large-scale agricultural and mining developments. Climate change is a major threat to both northern and southern populations. The implementation of policy to conserve remaining koala habitat and restore degraded habitat is critical to the success of koala conservation strategies, but habitat conservation alone will not resolve the issues of koala conservation. There needs to be concerted effort to reduce the incidence of dog attack and road-related mortality, disease prevalence and severity, and take into account new threats of climate change and mining. Many of the complex conservation and policy challenges identified here have broader significance for other species whose population trends, and the nature of the threatening processes, vary from region to region, and through time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A correction is presented to the article "Animal lifestyle affects acceptable mass limits for attached tags" which appeared in the 27 October 2021 issue.

The article presents research which evaluates the widespread applications of automated camera systems in detecting wild mammals and birds. The study used infrared (IR) remote camera traps positioned at the Greater Otway National Park in Victoria to monitor and capture high-quality images of the species for educational and conservation purposes. It found that active IR system showed effective images capturing for larger animals and established benchmarking strategies on day/night video system.