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Keywords: Layered compounds / Thin films / Electronic structure / Thermoelectric materials / Charge transfer (SnSe) 1.2 TiSe 2 was found to self-assemble from a precursor containing modulated layers of Sn-Se and Ti-Se over a surprisingly large range of layer thicknesses and compositions. The constituent lattices form an alternating layer superstructure with rotational disorder present between the layers. This compound was found to have the highest Seebeck coefficient measured for analogous TiX 2 containing misfit layered compounds to date, suggesting potential for [a]83 low-temperature thermoelectric applications. Electrical characterization suggests that electrons transferred from SnSe to TiSe 2 are responsible for the higher carrier concentration observed relative to bulk TiSe 2 . The transfer of charge from one constituent to the other may provide a mechanism for doping layered dichalcogenides for various applications without negatively affecting carrier mobility.

Effective ecosystem-based management requires estimates of abundance and population trends of species of interest. Trend analyses are often limited due to sparse or short-term abundance estimates for populations that can be logistically difficult to monitor over time. Therefore it is critical to assess regularly the quality of the metrics in long-term monitoring programs. For a monitoring program to provide meaningful data and remain relevant, it needs to incorporate technological improvements and the changing requirements of stakeholders, while maintaining the integrity of the data. In this paper we critically examine the monitoring program for the Australian fur seal (AFS) Arctocephalus pusillus doriferus as an example of an ad-hoc monitoring program that was co-ordinated across multiple stakeholders as a range-wide census of live pups in the Austral summers of 2002, 2007 and 2013. This 5-yearly census, combined with historic counts at individual sites, successfully tracked increasing population trends as signs of population recovery up to 2007. The 2013 census identified the first reduction in AFS pup numbers (14,248 live pups, -4.2% change per annum since 2007), however we have limited information to understand this change. We analyse the trends at breeding colonies and perform a power analysis to critically examine the reliability of those trends. We then assess the gaps in the monitoring program and discuss how we may transition this surveillance style program to an adaptive monitoring program than can evolve over time and achieve its goals. The census results are used for ecosystem-based modelling for fisheries management and emergency response planning. The ultimate goal for this program is to obtain the data we need with minimal cost, effort and impact on the fur seals. In conclusion we identify the importance of power analyses for interpreting trends, the value of regularly assessing long-term monitoring programs and proper design so that adaptive monitoring principles can be applied.

Invasive rodent species have established on 80% of the world's islands causing significant damage to island environments. Insular ecosystems support proportionally more biodiversity than comparative mainland areas, highlighting them as critical for global biodiversity conservation. Few techniques currently exist to adequately detect, with high confidence, species that are trap-adverse such as the black rat, Rattus rattus, in high conservation priority areas where multiple non-target species persist. This study investigates the effectiveness of camera trapping for monitoring invasive rodents in high conservation areas, and the influence of habitat features and density of colonial-nesting seabirds on rodent relative activity levels to provide insights into their potential impacts. A total of 276 camera sites were established and left in situ for 8 days. Identified species were recorded in discrete 15 min intervals, referred to as ‘events’. In total, 19 804 events were recorded. From these, 31 species were identified comprising 25 native species and six introduced. Two introduced rodent species were detected: the black rat (90% of sites), and house mouse Mus musculus (56% of sites). Rodent activity of both black rats and house mice were positively associated with the structural density of habitats. Density of seabird burrows was not strongly associated with relative activity levels of rodents, yet rodents were still present in these areas. Camera trapping enabled a large number of rodents to be detected with confidence in site-specific absences and high resolution to quantify relative activity levels. This method enables detection of multiple species simultaneously with low impact (for both target and non-target individuals); an ideal strategy for monitoring trap-adverse invasive rodents in high conservation areas.

Imperfect detection methods make it difficult to tell whether an invasive species has been successfully eradicated. However, management cannot continue indefinitely when individuals are no longer detected -at some point, efforts must be reduced or ceased entirely. The risks of mistakenly inferring that an eradication attempt has been successful can be high: the species can bounce back and even expand its range, causing environmental and economic damage, and rendering the initial eradication campaign redundant. This decision problem, balancing the risks of declaring eradication prematurely with the costs of continued management, is currently being contemplated by managers of the fox eradication programme on Phillip Island, in Victoria, Australia. We used a Bayesian catch-effort model to analyse data on the number of foxes removed and sighted using different methods. We estimate that there were 11 foxes remaining on Phillip Island as of end of June 2012. Baiting was the most effective method for removing foxes per person-hour invested, and spotlighting was the most effective method for sighting foxes without removal. We then projected forward into the future, assuming management effort continues at current levels, but no further foxes are detected (removed or sighted). Under this scenario, the mean estimate for the number of foxes remaining drops below a single fox after three years with no detections, and the probability that eradication has been successful is 0.69. This is the optimal time to declare eradication, given our estimated cost of declaring eradication prematurely. This framework indicates the minimum number of years for which management of foxes on the island must continue and allows decision makers to assess the tradeoffs involved in any decision to declare eradication. bs_bs_banner Animal Conservation. Print