The impact of fire and dogs on Koalas at Port Stephens, New South Wales, using population viability analysis

Lunney, Daniel; Gresser, Shaan; O’Neill, Lisa; Matthews, Alison; Rhodes, Jonathan R.

doi:10.1071/pc070189

Cited by 87 publications

(64 citation statements)

References 32 publications

(49 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…Our models identified that, between 1995 and 2005, the landscape matrix progressively became more hostile to koalas moving between fragments. Slight increases in the death rate of adult breeding females can have a major impact on population survival, as has been shown in other NSW coastal populations (Lunney et al , 2007. Given this finding, it becomes increasingly important to manage mortality factors on individual koalas, such as from dogs, cars and fire.…”

Section: Land-use Change In the Eden Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Extinction in Eden: identifying the role of climate change in the decline of the koala in south-eastern NSW

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context. Reviews of climate change in Australia have identified that it is imposing additional stresses on biodiversity, which is already under threat from multiple human impacts.Aims. The present study aimed to determine the contributions of several factors to the demise of the koala in the Eden region in south-eastern New South Wales and, in particular, to establish to what extent climate change may have exacerbated the decline.Methods. The study built on several community-based koala surveys in the Eden region since 1986, verified through interviews with survey respondents. Historical records as far back as the late 19th century, wildlife databases and field-based surveys were used to independently validate the community survey data and form a reliable picture of changes in the Eden koala population. Analysis of the community survey data used a logistic model to assess the contribution of known threats to koalas, including habitat loss measured as changes in foliage projective cover, fire, increases in the human population and climate change in the form of changes in temperature and rainfall, to the regional decline of this species.Key results. We found a marked, long-term shrinkage in the distribution of the koala across the Eden region. Our modelling demonstrated that a succession of multiple threats to koalas from land use (human population growth and habitat loss) and environmental change (temperature increase and drought) were significant contributors to this decline.Conclusions. Climate change, particularly drought and rising temperatures, has been a hitherto hidden factor that has been a major driver of the decline of the koala in the Eden region.Implications. Development of strategies to help fauna adapt to the changing climate is of paramount importance, particularly at a local scale.

show abstract

Section: Land-use Change In the Eden Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Household density represents the density of human population in the region and has an indirect impact on koala populations because it is associated with the density of domestic dogs and road traffic, which directly threatens koala populations (Melzer et al 2000;Lunney et al 2007; Commonwealth of Australia 2009).…”

Section: Climate and Land-use Changementioning

confidence: 99%

Extinction in Eden: identifying the role of climate change in the decline of the koala in south-eastern NSW

et al. 2014

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Koalas are considered a vulnerable species in parts of Australia due to rapid population decline. Whilst the contraction of populations is primarily attributed to the impacts of urbanization (Lunney et al, 2007;de Oliveira et al, 2014), disease from pathogens such as Chlamydia pecorum may play an important role .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of unusual Chlamydia pecorum genotypes in Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and clinical variables associated with infection

Legione

Patterson

Whiteley

et al. 2016

Journal of Medical Microbiology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Local koala populations face several threats, including loss and fragmentation of habitat (Melzer et al 2000;McAlpine et al 2006a;McAlpine et al 2006b), car strikes and dog attacks (Dique et al 2003;Lunney et al 2007), and disease, which can lead either to death or infertility (Gordon et al 1990;Hanger and Loader 2009). Koalas are susceptible to climatic extremes, particularly heatwaves and droughts, which also affect the quality of nutrients and moisture available in their diet (Cork and Braithwaite 1996;Moore and Foley 2000).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drought-driven change in wildlife distribution and numbers: a case study of koalas in south west Queensland

et al. 2011

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Context. Global climate change will lead to increased climate variability, including more frequent drought and heatwaves, in many areas of the world. This will affect the distribution and numbers of wildlife populations. In south-west Queensland, anecdotal reports indicated that a low density but significant koala population had been impacted by drought from [2001][2002][2003][2004][2005][2006][2007][2008][2009], in accord with the predicted effects of climate change.Aims. The study aimed to compare koala distribution and numbers in south-west Queensland in 2009 with pre-drought estimates from 1995-1997.Methods. Community surveys and faecal pellet surveys were used to assess koala distribution. Population densities were estimated using the Faecal Standing Crop Method. From these densities, koala abundance in 10 habitat units was interpolated across the study region. Bootstrapping was used to estimate standard error. Climate data and land clearing were examined as possible explanations for changes in koala distribution and numbers between the two time periods.Key results. Although there was only a minor change in distribution, there was an 80% decline in koala numbers across the study region, from a mean population of 59 000 in 1995 to 11 600 in 2009. Most summers between 2002 and 2007 were hotter and drier than average. Vegetation clearance was greatest in the eastern third of the study region, with the majority of clearing being in mixed eucalypt/acacia ecosystems and vegetation on elevated residuals.Conclusions. Changes in the area of occupancy and numbers of koalas allowed us to conclude that drought significantly reduced koala populations and that they contracted to critical riparian habitats. Land clearing in the eastern part of the region may reduce the ability of koalas to move between habitats.Implications. The increase in hotter and drier conditions expected with climate change will adversely affect koala populations in south-west Queensland and may be similar in other wildlife species in arid and semiarid regions. The effect of climate change on trailing edge populations may interact with habitat loss and fragmentation to increase extinction risks. Monitoring wildlife population dynamics at the margins of their geographic ranges will help to manage the impacts of climate change.

show abstract

The impact of fire and dogs on Koalas at Port Stephens, New South Wales, using population viability analysis

Cited by 87 publications

References 32 publications

Extinction in Eden: identifying the role of climate change in the decline of the koala in south-eastern NSW

Extinction in Eden: identifying the role of climate change in the decline of the koala in south-eastern NSW

Identification of unusual Chlamydia pecorum genotypes in Victorian koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) and clinical variables associated with infection

Drought-driven change in wildlife distribution and numbers: a case study of koalas in south west Queensland

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About