The critical value of long-term field studies and datasets: an editorial perspective

Lunney, Daniel; Dickman, Chris R.; Predavec, Martin

doi:10.7882/az.2018.045

Cited by 5 publications

(1 citation statement)

References 15 publications

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“…This is true with respect to protecting the conservation status of native species as well as managing any negative impacts from introduced species. The critical value of long-term datasets in Australia is recognised for conservation of native species (Lunney et al 2018). Such studies are relatively common for game species in other parts of the world (e.g.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bayesian modelling reveals differences in long-term trends in the harvest of native and introduced species by recreational hunters in Australia

Moloney

Gormley

Toop³

et al. 2022

Wildlife Res.

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Context Little is known about wildlife harvesting by licensed recreational hunters in Australia, where both native and introduced species are hunted. It is important to understand harvest trends to assess sustainability for native species and implications for population control of introduced species. Aim The aim of this study was to analyse trends in hunter participation, activity and efficiency, and wildlife harvest, including effects of climate, in Victoria, Australia, for three game species groups: introduced deer, native waterfowl (ducks) and one native grassland species, stubble quail (Coturnix pectoralis). Methods Telephone surveys of a random sample of licenced Victorian hunters were performed annually from 2009 to 2019. Hunters were asked to quantify their hunting effort and the number of animals harvested. The respondents’ answers were analysed to estimate measures of hunter success, activity and efficiency. Bayesian modelling was applied to these data, accounting for changes over time, differences between survey periods for all licence types, and random effects for over-dispersion. The effect of climate on game bird hunter activity and harvest was estimated, as measured by the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO). Results Over 11 years, annual deer harvest (all species) increased exponentially, at a mean annual rate of 17% (95% credible interval: 14–21%), and the number of deer hunters increased at 8% (5–11%). In contrast, for ducks and stubble quail, hunter numbers remained relatively unchanged, with no evidence of consistent change to total harvests over time, unrelated to changes in environmental conditions or regulations. The annual duck harvest was influenced by ENSO and hunting regulations. The annual stubble quail harvest exhibited ‘boom-and-bust’ dynamics, with an exceptionally large harvest immediately after a La Niña season. Conclusions Long-term monitoring of harvest trends in south-eastern Australia revealed stark differences between introduced deer and native birds: harvest of deer increased rapidly whereas equivalent rates for game birds were either stable or declining. Seasonal effects had a strong influence on game bird harvest. Environmental and regulatory conditions were influential for harvest outcomes for ducks and stubble quail. Implications This study filled a key knowledge gap around managing harvesting of game species, but increased scrutiny is warranted in this field.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bayesian modelling reveals differences in long-term trends in the harvest of native and introduced species by recreational hunters in Australia

Moloney

Gormley

Toop³

et al. 2022

Wildlife Res.

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A 6-year study of mitigating koala roadkill during an upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Lindsay’s cutting, Coffs Harbour New South Wales

Lunney

Moon²,

Sonawane

et al. 2022

Aust. Mammal.

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This 6-year study aimed to monitor a local koala population and koala protection/mitigation measures before, during and after a major upgrade to the Pacific Highway at Lindsay’s cutting near Coffs Harbour in northern coastal New South Wales. This represents the scale of the individual koala interacting with traffic on a primary road within a well-studied Local Government Area for koalas. We also collected records of koala road injury and death from local wildlife carers. The principal findings were that, before the upgrade or any mitigation provisions, koalas were regularly killed on this 1 km stretch of highway flanked by primary koala habitat (26 records 1991–97). Koala exclusion fences largely eliminated the roadkill here, but the benefits were highly localised. Koalas made occasional use of a wildlife underpass below the highway. Two problems were identified: a farm gate left open in the fence allowed koalas onto the highway, and koalas could walk around the fence ends onto the highway. On the positive side, we have shown the value of local-scale research and mitigation, such as koala exclusion fences, and the value of examining the koala population of the surrounding area to assess the effectiveness of this mitigation at a larger scale.

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An analysis of the long-term trends in the records of Friends of the Koala in north-east New South Wales: II. Post-release survival

Lunney

Cope

Sonawane

et al. 2022

Pacific Conserv. Biol.

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Context Post-release monitoring of rehabilitated koalas is lacking, meaning that the long-term success rate is unknown. Aims We addressed the question: will a koala released from rehabilitation re-join the wild population and survive for months, if not years? Methods Using ear tag records as unique identifiers of individual koalas, we sifted the 31-year set of 5051 koala admission records (1989–2020) of a koala rehabilitation group, Friends of the Koala, in Lismore, north-east New South Wales for records of koalas that had returned to rehabilitation for a second, third or fourth time. Key results Of the 1771 koalas that were released, most (80%) had a coloured ear tag with a unique number. Of these koalas, 270 were admitted to rehabilitation two or more times and therefore represented an opportunity for post-release monitoring. Re-admission figures mostly fitted the pattern of first admissions, meaning that the released koalas had become part of the local koala population. Of the 270 koalas that were re-admitted into rehabilitation, 66% remained for more than 6 months in the wild, and 33% remained in the wild for more than 2 years. Conclusions We conclude that rehabilitated and released koalas can survive in the wild long-term, even though some koalas were re-admitted after a very brief period post-release. Implications The success of rehabilitation and release, as judged by re-admitted tagged koalas, is a more robust view of success for koala survival after rehabilitation than simply the proportion of released versus non-released koalas.

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The critical value of long-term field studies and datasets: an editorial perspective

Cited by 5 publications

References 15 publications

Bayesian modelling reveals differences in long-term trends in the harvest of native and introduced species by recreational hunters in Australia

Bayesian modelling reveals differences in long-term trends in the harvest of native and introduced species by recreational hunters in Australia

A 6-year study of mitigating koala roadkill during an upgrade of the Pacific Highway at Lindsay’s cutting, Coffs Harbour New South Wales

An analysis of the long-term trends in the records of Friends of the Koala in north-east New South Wales: II. Post-release survival

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