The challenge for koala conservation on private land: koala habitat use varies with season on a fragmented rural landscape

Dargan, Jessica R.; Moriyama, Mika; Mella, Valentina S. A.; Lunney, Daniel; Crowther, Mathew S.

doi:10.1111/acv.12487

Cited by 13 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 63 publications

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“…data), but these differences were accounted for in our modelling. Our results reinforce the importance of private land for koala conservation (Dargan et al, 2019;Lunney et al, 2009), especially given that approximately 50% of modelled koala habitat in north-east NSW occurs on private land, amounting to about 830,000 ha (Law et al, 2017).…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

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Mini‐acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in private native forests

Law

Kerr

Gonsalves

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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1. Forests on private land have a wide range of uses that span activities such as recreation, primary production and nature conservation. Traditionally, it has been difficult for researchers to access private land to undertake systematic surveys. We used mini-acoustic sensors (Audiomoth) mailed via the postal service to overcome landholder concerns about researchers accessing private property, with a focus on properties used for private native forestry.2. We surveyed koalas, an iconic threatened marsupial, in north-east New South Wales, Australia using passive acoustics, with repeat surveys over consecutive nights to account for imperfect detection in an occupancy modelling framework.3. Over 3 years, we surveyed 128 sites and recorded 2,560 male bellows. Detection probability over seven nights was high (>0.79), but varied substantially between years, due to use of different sensors, housings and weather conditions. After accounting for detection probability, modelling revealed that koalas commonly occupied private native forests of the study region (probability of occupancy = 0.58 ± 0.08).4. Occupancy was modelled against several covariates and it varied with the landscape extent of sealed roads (₋ve), NDVI (₋ve) and a habitat suitability model (+ve, but minor). There was no support for occupancy in private forests to be related to a range of other factors including extent of surrounding cleared land, timber harvesting history, fire and other measured habitat features. Synthesis and applications.We conclude that mini-acoustic recorders mailed to landholders were a highly effective method for assessing koala occupancy, after accounting for variable detection, and the approach could be deployed more widely for a range of species. Private native forests in partly cleared landscapes are commonly occupied by koalas, highlighting that this tenure is crucial for koala conservation and that practices seeking to balance conservation and production should be encouraged. In addition to sensitive habitat management in private forests, sealed road density is a major threat needing to be addressed.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 81%

“…was cleared in the landscape surrounding our sites. Patch area is known to be important to koalas (Dargan et al, 2019;McAlpine et al, 2006), although it is often hard to define in variegated landscapes and thresholds differ between regions (Rhodes et al, 2008).…”

Section: Koala Occupancy In Private Native Forestsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mini‐acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in private native forests

Law

Kerr

Gonsalves

et al. 2021

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Non-agonistic koala-cattle interactions were also reported (by at least two respondents) in the survey, in which cattle approached, sniffed, licked, followed or even chased koalas without actual aggression, consistent with cattle being inquisitive animals [20,22]. Furthermore, koalas are often found to be using eucalypt plantations on farms [35] or inhabiting grazing lands regularly as part of their natural habitat [36]. This implies that koalas and cattle naturally do not, at least not always, see each other as a threat.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 96%

Do Livestock Injure and Kill Koalas? Insights from Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Group Admissions and an Online Survey of Livestock–Koala Conflicts

Jiang

Tribe²,

Phillips

et al. 2021

Animals

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Koala populations in Australia are declining due to threats such as chlamydiosis, wild dog predation and vehicle collision. In the last decade, grazing livestock emerged anecdotally as a threat to koala survival in areas where koala habitat and livestock grazing land overlap. This is the first study investigating the significance of livestock-inflicted injuries and deaths in koala populations over a large spatial and temporal scale. We investigated the outcome, scale, and frequency of livestock–koala incidents via an online survey and analysed koala admission records in Queensland wildlife hospitals and a wildlife rescue group (Wildlife Victoria) in Victoria. The results provide evidence of both livestock-inflicted injuries and deaths to koalas, especially as these have been confirmed by witness statements. The outcomes for the koala victims of the incidents were severe with a 75% mortality rate. The reported frequency of livestock–koala incidents was low but increasing, with 72 cases (0.14% out of 50,873 admissions) in Queensland wildlife hospitals during 1997–2019, and 59 cases (0.8% of 7017 rescue records) in Wildlife Victoria during 2007–2019. These incidents were likely to be under-reported due to the remoteness of the incident location, possible mis-diagnoses by veterinarians and the possible reluctance of farmers to report them. Future research is encouraged to explore the mechanics and causes of livestock–koala incidents and to develop management strategies to minimise the livestock threat to koalas.

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“…Collection of leaves in winter (when rain was most abundant) had to be abandoned due to flooding. Individual trees sampled were restricted to those Eucalyptus species selected by koalas for food at the study site [46]: E . populnea (N = 22), E .…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Needing a drink: Rainfall and temperature drive the use of free water by a threatened arboreal folivore

et al. 2019

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Arboreal folivores are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of extreme climate change-driven heatwaves and droughts as they rely on leaf moisture to maintain hydration. During these increasingly frequent and intense weather events, leaf water content may not be enough to meet their moisture requirements, potentially leading to large-scale mortality due to dehydration. Water supplementation could be critical for the conservation of these animals. We tested artificial water stations for a threatened arboreal folivore, the koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ), as a potential mitigation measure during hot and dry weather in New South Wales, Australia. We provided ground and tree drinkers to koalas and investigated changes in use with season, environmental conditions and foliar moisture. Our study provides first evidence of the regular use of free water by koalas. Koalas used supplemented water extensively throughout the year, even during cooler months. Time spent drinking varied with season and depended on days since last rain and temperature. The more days without rain, the more time koalas spent drinking. When temperature was high, visits to water stations were more frequent, indicating that in hot weather koalas need regular access to free water. Our results suggest that future changes in rainfall regimes and temperature in Australia have the potential to critically affect koala populations. Our conclusions can be applied to many other arboreal folivorous mammals worldwide which rely on leaves for their nutritional and water requirements. Artificial water stations may facilitate the resilience of vulnerable arboreal folivores during heat and drought events and may help mitigate the effects of climate change.

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The challenge for koala conservation on private land: koala habitat use varies with season on a fragmented rural landscape

Cited by 13 publications

References 63 publications

Mini‐acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in private native forests

Mini‐acoustic sensors reveal occupancy and threats to koalas Phascolarctos cinereus in private native forests

Do Livestock Injure and Kill Koalas? Insights from Wildlife Hospital and Rescue Group Admissions and an Online Survey of Livestock–Koala Conflicts

Needing a drink: Rainfall and temperature drive the use of free water by a threatened arboreal folivore

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