Context. There are few cases where a species has been removed from a list of threatened species as a result of conservation efforts. One such example is the woylie (also known as the brush-tailed bettong), Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi, which was removed from state (Western Australian), national (Australian) and international lists in 1996, following the successful implementation of the species’ recovery plan. Since downgrading of its conservation status, the woylie has been considered conservation dependent. Conservation efforts continued in the form of toxic baiting to control the species’ principal predator, monitoring to identify trends in distribution and abundance, and translocation to help restore ecosystem function and further secure the conservation status of the species. Recent observations of a decline in abundance of the species have prompted a review of its conservation status. Aims. To assess the conservation status of the woylie in 2006 against IUCN criteria and to investigate the value of continued conservation efforts following the delisting of the species. Methods. Monitoring data were collated and parameters required to assess the conservation status of the woylie against IUCN criteria were investigated. The various processes associated with conserving the species, such as translocation and monitoring, were also assessed. Key results. The species underwent a rapid decline between 2001 and 2006, reducing the population by ~75% to an estimated 10 000 individuals. The decline has not been consistent across occurrences and of particular concern are the declines observed at Perup/Lake Muir, Dryandra and Batalling, which were previously considered amongst the largest and most stable occurrences. In 2006, the species qualified for listing as Endangered using IUCN criteria. The resources allocated to translocation and monitoring the delisted woylie have ultimately resulted in managers being in a much better position to understand and act when an unforeseeable population decline occurred. Conclusion. Conservation efforts and population monitoring of delisted species must continue at a level where changes in distribution or abundance, which are significant enough to support relisting, can be detected. Implications. Threatened species lists should not be the primary consideration in allocation of resources to conservation efforts.
The rapid expansion of urban areas worldwide is leading to native habitat loss and ecosystem fragmentation and degradation. Although the study of urbanisation’s impact on biodiversity is gaining increasing interest globally, there is still a disconnect between research recommendations and urbanisation strategies. Expansion of the Perth metropolitan area on the Swan Coastal Plain in south-western Australia, one of the world’s thirty-six biodiversity hotspots, continues to affect the Banksia Woodlands (BWs) ecosystem, a federally listed Threatened Ecological Community (TEC). Here, we utilise the framework of a 1989 review of the state of knowledge of BWs ecology and conservation to examine scientific advances made in understanding the composition, processes and functions of BWs and BWs’ species over the last 30 years. We highlight key advances in our understanding of the ecological function and role of mechanisms in BWs that are critical to the management of this ecosystem. The most encouraging change since 1989 is the integration of research between historically disparate ecological disciplines. We outline remaining ecological knowledge gaps and identify key research priorities to improve conservation efforts for this TEC. We promote a holistic consideration of BWs with our review providing a comprehensive document that researchers, planners and managers may reference. To effectively conserve ecosystems threatened by urban expansion, a range of stakeholders must be involved in the development and implementation of best practices to conserve and maintain both biodiversity and human wellbeing.
The conservation of highly mobile species presents challenges to managers for assessment of threats to survival, given the difficulties in locating and observing such species. Here we evaluate satellite telemetry, DNA faecal metabarcoding and traditional field observations as three complementary techniques to acquire critical management information for an endangered species, Carnaby's Cockatoo Calyptorhynchus latirostris. Satellite telemetry of 23 birds resulted in 6026 location fixes accurate to within 500 m, and combined with extensive field observations and DNA faecal metabarcoding resulted in a more detailed understanding of how this species survives in an urbanized landscape. We identified 168 night roosts, 75% of which were previously unknown, which will contribute towards a more accurate population size estimate based on annual counts of roosting birds. We also determined the scale of daily movements (morning 5.4 ± 3.4 km from roost, afternoon 5.5 ± 3.3 km to roost; maximum distance between consecutive roosts 69.7 km) and the size of foraging areas around roosts (range 17–276 km2), and identified dependence on a variety of native and exotic food sources. Field observations identified 11 food‐plant families, but combined with DNA faecal metabarcoding this was extended to 21 food‐plant families. The three techniques were compared to assess their individual and collective values. By combining spatial ecology information from satellite telemetry with ecological knowledge from field observation and DNA faecal analysis, we gained deeper insights into the ecology of the species than would have been possible from any one technique alone. This information will lead to more strategic conservation planning to allow this species to persist within a rapidly expanding urban environment.
Conclusion:The tracking devices were a suitable choice for black cockatoos and for the purpose of this study. They posed minimal snag risk, were of suitable dimensions for tail attachment and they enabled data to be collected even if birds dispersed long distances. The main limitations that must be considered when assessing their suitability for future research projects are the errors associated with location fixes, limited retention time in relation to moulting of tail feathers and limited battery life. Implications:The development of a method for successfully attaching tracking devices to black cockatoos opens the possibility to study aspects of the ecology of black cockatoos and other highly mobile species that was not previously possible.
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