The importance of forest area and configuration relative to local habitat factors for conserving forest mammals: A case study of koalas in Queensland, Australia

McAlpine, Clive; Rhodes, Jonathan R.; Callaghan, John; Bowen, Michiala; Lunney, Daniel; Mitchell, David L.; Pullar, David; Possingham, Hugh P.

doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.03.021

Cited by 173 publications

(170 citation statements)

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“…Surveys that count koalas through direct observation take many person hours and, although they are used in the more densely populated east coast koala populations and in smaller study areas (Gordon et al 1990;Melzer and Lamb 1996;Dique et al 2004), they are not practical for large areas with low-density populations (Sullivan et al 2002). Faecal pellet surveys are a well-established method of determining koala presence, and thus distribution and habitat selection (Phillips and Callaghan 2000;McAlpine et al 2006b). Koala faecal pellets are relatively long-lasting and easily distinguishable from the pellets of other mammals in the region, such as goats (Capra hircus) or common brushtail possums, either by external and internal appearance, or smell.…”

Section: Faecal Pellet Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…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%

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

et al. 2011

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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.

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Section: Faecal Pellet Surveysmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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

et al. 2011

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“…Exacerbation of the disease may be attributed to the koala retrovirus (Tarlinton et al 2005) and stress from habitat clearing and other anthropogenic impacts (Weigler et al 1988;Lee et al 2010;Brearley et al 2013). In addition to these threats, urban koalas face increased mortality from dog attacks and vehicle collisions (Smith and Smith 1990;Melzer et al 2000;Stratford et al 2000;Dique et al 2003b;McAlpine et al 2006). …”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ecology and movement of urban koalas adjacent to linear infrastructure in coastal south-east Queensland

Oliveira

Murray

Villiers³

et al. 2014

Aust. Mammalogy

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Abstract. In Redland City, koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are in rapid decline as they are exposed to anthropogenic threats such as habitat clearing, dog attacks, vehicle collisions and disease. This study investigated the influence of linear infrastructure on the movement and habitat use of urban koalas. Seven koalas were tracked for up to 28 weeks during the breeding season. Home ranges were calculated for 95% Minimum Convex Polygon (MCP95%) and 95% fixed Kernel Density (FK95%). Koalas responded to the landscape in different ways. Linear infrastructure did not restrict the movements of most koalas. Home ranges varied from 1.1 to 31.5 ha MCP95% and from 5 to 55 ha for FK95%. Koalas mainly used Eucalyptus tereticornis throughout the study site. A variety of non-regionally endemic and regionally endemic trees in urban and remnant vegetation areas were used, suggesting that all trees are potentially koala habitat. At the completion of the study, four koalas remained alive, two were killed by trains and one died from a dog attack. Despite the small sample size and short duration, our results suggest that koalas are able to navigate linear infrastructure; however, the high rates of mortality associated with these movements puts the long-term viability of urban koala populations in doubt.

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“…This requires a more detailed strategic approach than can be elucidated here but the objective should be to create larger patches of feed trees wherever possible. Indeed, McAlpine et al (2006) found that habitat patch size and proportion of food tree species in a patch had a positive influence on the occurrence of koalas, whilst the distance between forest patches and road density had a negative influence. The second key finding is that most koalas had to cross roads, often repeatedly, to access feed trees and, presumably, mates.…”

Section: Management Implicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales

Goldingay

Dobner

2014

Aust. Mammalogy

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Abstract. Conserving wildlife within urban areas requires knowledge of habitat requirements and population processes, and the management of threatening factors. The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is one species that is adversely affected by urban development. Sick and injured koalas in the Lismore urban area are regularly taken into care. We radio-tracked koalas released from care in order to estimate home-range areas and to determine their fate. Koalas were tracked for periods of 90-742 days; 7 of 10 survived for a period of at least one year. Home ranges defined by the minimum convex polygon (MCP100%) were large (mean AE s.e. = 37.4 AE 8.2 ha). Analysis using the 95% Fixed Kernel revealed home-range areas of 8.0 AE 1.7 ha. Analysis of the habitat composition of each MCP home range showed that they included 4.3 AE 0.9 ha of primary habitat (dominated by their primary food trees). These home ranges contained 27.6 AE 6.8 ha of non-habitat (cleared or developed land). Koalas crossed roads within their home ranges at least 5-53 times; one crossed the Bruxner Highway near a roundabout at least 32 times over his 2-year tracking period. Future management should include strategic food tree planting that enhances habitat connectivity and minimises the risk of car strike or dog attack.

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The importance of forest area and configuration relative to local habitat factors for conserving forest mammals: A case study of koalas in Queensland, Australia

Cited by 173 publications

References 38 publications

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

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

Ecology and movement of urban koalas adjacent to linear infrastructure in coastal south-east Queensland

Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales

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