Loss of terrestrial biodiversity in Australia: Magnitude, causation, and response

Science, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 381(6658), P. 622 - 631

Published: Aug. 10, 2023

Australia’s biota is species rich, with high rates of endemism. This natural legacy has rapidly diminished since European colonization. The impacts invasive species, habitat loss, altered fire regimes, and changed water flows are now compounded by climate change, particularly through extreme drought, heat, wildfire, flooding. Extinction rates, already far exceeding the global average for mammals, predicted to escalate across all taxa, ecosystems collapsing. These losses symptomatic shortcomings in resourcing, law, policy, management. Informed examples advances conservation practice from control, Indigenous land management, citizen science, we describe interventions needed enhance future resilience. Many characteristics Australian biodiversity loss globally relevant, recovery requiring society reframe its relationship environment.

Language: Английский

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Trends and patterns in the extinction risk of Australia’s birds over three decades

Emu - Austral Ornithology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 124(1), P. 55 - 67

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Australia recently committed through the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) to halt human-induced extinction of known threatened species and reduce risk significantly by 2030. We review recent trends in Australian birds provide context for current future conservation efforts. calculate Red List Index (RLI) all as well subsets based on geography, habitat taxonomy. Over period 2010 2020, number taxa reassigned lower categories (n = 20; 1.5% included) was greatly outweighed moved higher owing deteriorating status 93; 7%). This resulted steepest decadal decline RLI since data were first compiled 1990. It chiefly driven rapid population declines migratory shorebirds, loss suitable affected wildfire 2019–2020 and, a lesser extent, abundance upland rainforest birds. To small these losses counterbalanced improvements some bird resulting from local eradication invasive mammals, primarily Macquarie Island. For meet commitments adopted GBF, interventions (and hence funding) will need be scaled up substantially. The is placed monitoring progress towards GBF targets communicating national avifaunas.

Language: Английский

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Dancing with the devil: Could native predators inside ‘predator‐free’ havens be good for the conservation of threatened native prey species?

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 6, 2025

Abstract As invasive predators continue to drive global biodiversity loss, predator‐free havens are rapidly being established recover threatened fauna. An unintended consequence of these efforts is that havened populations can lose anti‐predator traits, making them poorly suited for reintroduction into landscapes contain predators. One approach showing promise in preventing the loss critical responses from situ predator exposure. Here we evaluate this via experimental translocations determine whether predation pressure a native mesopredator (chuditch; Dasyurus geoffroii ) effective retaining behavioural and morphological traits Endangered woylie ( Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi ). We conducted replicated reintroductions semi‐havened (free but exposed chuditch) non‐havened (control) woylies vacant bushland containing chuditch, feral foxes Vulpes vulpes cats Felis catus monitored survival, reproduction, physiology (faecal glucocorticoid metabolites, fGCM), proxies before 10 months after their release. found no effects source population on weight, pes length, agitation behaviour or fGCM. Survival probability was higher males, individuals with fGCM levels, could not attribute differences survival they originated haven. These findings suggest sustained chuditch inside haven has been maintaining supporting faced novel Synthesis Applications . In exposure be valuable tool preserving populations. However, it will crucial understand thresholds across contexts fauna withstand recommending broad‐scale adoption strategy.

Language: Английский

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Bucking the Trend - Recovery from Near Continent-Wide Extinction by a Marsupial Micro-Predator During Drought

Published: Jan. 1, 2025

Language: Английский

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The best of both worlds: Why antipredator traits are lost in predator-free havens and how to keep them

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 307, P. 111178 - 111178

Published: April 29, 2025

Language: Английский

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The quick and the dead: Behavioral plasticity of anti‐predator responses in an Endangered mammal

Conservation Science and Practice, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: March 24, 2025

Abstract Populations isolated from predation inside predator‐free havens often exhibit a reduction in anti‐predator traits. The loss of such traits has critical bearing on strategic conservation management, and so it is important to understand the basis trait shift how may be retained or restored. We explored plasticity behaviors an Endangered mammal, woylie ( Bettongia penicillata ogilbyi ) at both individual population level. quantified responses woylies sourced either haven (havened) indigenous wild (non‐havened) before after translocation site with low densities introduced predators, providing first experimental test corresponding survival consequences this species. Initially, havened had weak (lower agitation) compared non‐havened animals. After exposure apparent was lower cohort cohort. Those individuals that did survive, however, stronger end study, approaching level response shown by their counterparts. This within‐individual behavior provides evidence for behavioral particular trait, suggesting some aspects regained following predators flexibility can advantageous. At same time, previously indicates fixed differences other remain likely also contribute survival. discuss implications these findings management.

Language: Английский

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The Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in Queensland, Australia: Distribution, Trends, and Threats

Austral Ecology, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 50(4)

Published: April 1, 2025

ABSTRACT Medium‐sized Australian mammals have suffered major declines since colonisation, with many now extinct or surviving only in intensively managed, predator‐free fenced reserves on islands. The greater bilby ( Macrotis lagotis ) Queensland is an anomaly, persisting primarily grazed rangelands no targeted conservation management across most of its range. There has been limited field survey effort recent decades, and very little known about population trends impacts potential threats. We conducted surveys the range for first time 30 years, combining aerial over 48 000 km 2 415 2‐ha track plots surveyed between 2021 2023. investigated relative influence predation, competition, productivity presence using landscape variables multivariate binary logistic models. bilby's distribution, although greatly contracted European settlement, stabilised perhaps expanded 1990s, a current Extent Occurrence 901 . Temporal fluctuations were observed at 25% visited least three times, highlighting importance ongoing, standardised ground surveys. Within was negatively correlated distance to wooded alluvial land systems and, less strongly, effective water, positively greenness vegetation. effects sand dune residual not clear are likely be influenced by preference these habitats but inability persist them due elevated predator densities. Predator control systems, dunefields, residuals close populations may more important persistence study area than limiting spread artificial water sources grazing properties; however, work needed inform density landforms. Ongoing monitoring research distinguish inter‐annual from longer term better understand temporal spatial dynamics. Our results provide vital context status will underpin future management.

Language: Английский

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Population genomic diversity and structure in the golden bandicoot: a history of isolation, extirpation, and conservation

Heredity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 131(5-6), P. 374 - 386

Published: Oct. 8, 2023

Abstract Using genetic information to develop and implement conservation programs is vital for maintaining biodiversity ecosystem resilience. Evaluation of the variability within among remnant populations can inform management both natural translocated maximise species’ adaptive potential, mitigate negative impacts inbreeding, subsequently minimise risk extinction. Here we use reduced representation sequencing undertake a assessment golden bandicoot ( I s oodon auratus ), threatened marsupial endemic Australia. The currently recognised taxon consists three subspecies distributed multiple populations. After confirming distinctiveness I. from two closely related taxa, fusciventer macrourus , identified four clusters . These exhibited substantial differentiation (pairwise F ST values ranging 0.18 0.65, pairwise D XY 0.1 0.168), reflecting long-term isolation some on offshore islands influence drift. Mainland in Kimberley region had highest diversity largest contribution overall allelic gene compared island A population Guluwuru Island Northern Territory lowest diversity. Our data suggest that appear genetically unique due drift this needs be taken into account when considering efforts maintain species. We effectively demonstrate how genomic guide practical planning, especially declining species are represented by isolated

Language: Английский

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Australian threatened birds for which the risk of extinction declined between 1990 and 2020

Emu - Austral Ornithology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 124(1), P. 68 - 82

Published: Jan. 2, 2024

Reducing extinction risk is a common aim of threatened species management. However, over the period 1990 to 2020, was recently assessed as having declined in only 25 out 199 Australian bird taxa eligible for assessment. Here we analyse patterns that emerge from these taxa. Some improvements may be temporary; three increased after it had initially declined. Invasive predator control on islands conservation intervention with greatest impact, benefitting 13 (with nine Macquarie Island). For four taxa, intensive management primary driver reduced risk. Another benefited habitat protection and one law enforcement. seven actions no discernible effect; two albatrosses shift fishing have bycatch, one, losses mainland meant most birds now persist stable island population and, reasons changes trend are unknown. Never there at least five drivers. Island geographic cluster taxa; little overlap among other Although number small, our results demonstrate can achieved right combination targeted some cases, serendipity. due insufficient data, ability predict accurately drivers of, or in, remains poor.

Language: Английский

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Havens are a pathway, not an endpoint, for species recovery: A response to Woinarski et al. (2023)

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 285, P. 110212 - 110212

Published: Aug. 5, 2023

Language: Английский

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