Ecological attributes and conservation of dasyurid marsupials in New South Wales, Australia

2001 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 124 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Dickman ◽  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Research Management ◽  
Small Species ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Single Region ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatening Processes

This paper outlines the status of dasyurid marsupials in New South Wales, Australia, and then compares the ecological attributes of threatened and non-threatened species. Of the 21 species recorded in the state since European settlement, eight are protected but not threatened, 10 are listed or proposed for listing as vulnerable or endangered, and three are presumed extinct. Status was not related to diet, habit or habitat. However, species weighing <35 g are less likely to be threatened than heavier species, while species occupying a single region are more likely to be threatened than species occurring in two or more regions. All vulnerable and endangered species occur at least partly in reserves and other areas of protected land, but are likely to be affected by one or more threatening processes. These processes differ regionally, with larger species (=175 g) being affected by a greater range of threats than very small species (<15 g). We propose a programme of survey, research, management and education to promote and sustain recoveries.

Ecological attributes of the threatened fauna of New South Wales

1997 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Lunney ◽  
A. L. Curtin ◽  
D. Fisher ◽  
D. Ayers ◽  
C. R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Conservation Status ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Northeastern Region ◽  
Ecological Attributes ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Threatened Fauna

The aims of this study were to identify common ecological patterns among threatened fauna in New South Wales, and to identify priority areas for research and management by determining which regions and habitats contain high numbers of threatened fauna. Threatened and non-threatened fauna were taken from the listings of Lunney et al. (1996, 1997). Species were categorized into weight classes, diet groups, habitats and regions and by level of knowledge available about them. All regions and habitats of the State contain threatened species. The northeastern region of New South Wales contains the greatest number of threatened species but the western region has suffered the most extinctions, especially of mammals. Species that historically inhabited a greater number of regions are less likely to be currently threatened or to be extinct than those with restricted distributions, and large species are more likely to be threatened than smaller species. The best predictors of a threatened mammals species were seeds and vegetation in the diet, heavier body weight, and ground-dwelling, burrowing, and rock pile/cave-dwelling habits. The Critical Weight Range (35?5 500g), although strongly associated with extinction of non-volant mammals, was not the most important predictor. Lord Howe Island held the highest proportion of threatened and extinct birds. Factors showing the strongest associations for threatened birds were carnivory, large size, and distribution in the southeastern region. The most poorly-known region for birds was the north-east, and the least known habitat was shrubland (including mallee, heath and chenopod shrubland). The status of reptiles was poorly known in all regions, especially the western region. Frogs were also poorly known in all regions. Frogs were most at risk if they were large, inhabited closed forest or occurred in the central or northeastern region. The study further revealed little association between particular ecological attributes and conservation status. This indicates that there are complex and pervasive threats affecting the status of New South Wales fauna. Research and management priority status could be argued for all regions and most habitats in the State, but the western or northeastern regions may face the most problems depending on the criteria used (e.g., past extinctions, number vs proportion of threatened species). Further, the conservation status of birds, reptiles and frogs is in particular need of attention from researchers.

Ecological attributes and conservation of native rodents in New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 347 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christopher R. Dickman ◽  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Endangered Species ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
New South ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Fire Regimes ◽  
Research Management ◽  
North East ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales

In New South Wales, at least 28 species of native rodents have been recorded since European settlement. Four of these are extinct nationally, six are extinct in the State, six are vulnerable and four are endangered; only eight remain non-threatened. Declines and losses have been greatest in central and western New South Wales and least in the State’s north-east. Neither body weight nor habit are associated with status, but taxa such as Rattus species with broad diets and habitat preferences remain generally less threatened than ecological specialists. Threatening processes affect all vulnerable and endangered species, with predation from introduced carnivores, grazing from livestock, clearance of vegetation and changed fire regimes being among the most severe. No species occur entirely on reserved land, while two endangered species have no secure land tenure. A program of survey, research, management and education is proposed to help achieve recovery.

Habitat use and density of numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) reintroduced in an area of mallee vegetation, New South Wales

2007 ◽  
Vol 29 (1) ◽  
pp. 17 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.M. Vieira ◽  
G.R. Finlayson ◽  
C.R. Dickman
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Survey Period ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Transect Sampling ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Future Management

The distribution of the numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) has been dramatically reduced since European settlement, with remnant populations now occurring naturally only in the south west of Western Australia. In recent years a number of reintroductions have led to the reestablishment of this species in parts of its former range. In this study we investigated the density and habitat use of the numbat within a 4,000 ha feral - free site on Scotia Sanctuary in western New South Wales. Numbats had been reintroduced to this site in 1999 and 2000. During transect sampling 500 km were driven and 10 numbats were observed. An additional 14 sightings were made incidentally during the survey period. We estimated the density of numbats at Scotia to be 1.24 individuals/100 ha (SE = 0.56). Numbats were located randomly throughout the four major vegetation communities within the reintroduction site. At a finer scale, numbats selected for areas with less spinifex and less bare ground, although visibility using this sampling technique in areas with less spinifex cover may be increased. This study provides information on the habitats used and selected for by numbats at a local scale, and suggests that the species is capable of re-inhabiting areas within its former range where essential resources such as food and shelter are still available at adequate levels, and introduced predators are absent. This, in turn, has implications for future management decisions about how and where to reintroduce this species to other parts of its former range.

The genetic diversity and distinctiveness of the Yellow-footed Rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus (Gray, 1854) in New South Wales

1998 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 164 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa C. Pope ◽  
Andy Sharp ◽  
Craig Moritz
Keyword(s):  
Genetic Diversity ◽  
Threatened Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Habitat Disturbance ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Feral Animals ◽  
Species Being

Yellow-footed Rock-wallabies (YFRW) Petrogale xanthopus have declined in numbers since European settlement from past hunting for skins, habitat disturbance and predation and competition with feral animals (Gordon et al. 1978, 1993; Copley 1983; Henzell 1990). This has led to the species being classed as potentially vulnerable to extinction in Australia (Kennedy 1992), and endangered in New South Wales (Schedule 1, Threatened Species Conservation Act, 1995).

The status of Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales

1995 ◽  
Vol 22 (5) ◽  
pp. 601 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Carlile ◽  
C Davey ◽  
P Fullagar
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Breeding Population ◽  
Tree Island ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status ◽  
Marginal Improvement ◽  
Main Population ◽  
Cabbage Tree

Gould's petrel, Pterodroma leucoptera leucoptera, breeds only on Cabbage Tree Island, New South Wales. Annual surveys to estimate the size of the breeding population and the reproductive output were conducted between 1989 and 1992. Annual estimates of the total number of pairs breeding in the two gullies containing the main population were between 122 +/- 20 (s.e.) and 202 +/- 26. Breeding success was less than 20% between 1989 and 1991, but rose to 24.7% in 1992. This marginal improvement may be the result of management action undertaken to reduce mortality of breeding adults and fledglings. The total population is estimated to have declined from 2004 (95% confidence limits: 1464,3185) in 1970 to 1479 (1250,1815) in 1992, a decline of 26% in 22 years. The reasons for this decline are unclear.

The status of myxomatosis at Urana, New South Wales, from 1968 until 1971

1972 ◽  
Vol 20 (4) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
RT Williams ◽  
I Parer
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Great Majority ◽  
Latent Virus ◽  
Rabbit Population ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Status

Epizootics of myxomatosis which occurred each year from 1968 until 1971 in a rabbit population inhabiting a 700-acre study site at Urana, N.S.W., were studied. Transmission was rapid in 1968 and 1969, Anopheles annulipes being the vector, and the peak of these epizootics occurred in early November. Transmission in 1970 was primarily by the flea Spilopsyllus cuniculi, and was slower, but the midpoint of the epizootic still occurred in early November. In 1971 the epizootic peaked in late December, transmission was rapid, and the vector was unknown. Each year, about 75% of the susceptible animals older than 3 months of age at the time of the epizootic contracted myxomatosis; of these, 60% recovered, and of the recoveries, 20% died between the time of recovery (early December) and 1 January. Fewer animals (16-55 %) under 3 months of age were seen with myxomatosis; of these, about 50% were seen to recover, and a large proportion (from 25 to 45%) of animals seen to recover died before 1 January each year. The great majority of animals not seen to contract myxomatosis probably died from other causes without being exposed to the disease. These data indicate that myxomatosis killed very few animals directly during these epizootics, and that other factors were responsible for the majority of deaths which occurred during the epizootic period. In 1968, 1969, and 1970, reactivation of latent virus in animals which had previously recovered from myxomatosis was probably the source of the virus which initiated the epizootics.

scholarly journals A Revision of the Genus Leptoconops, Skuse

1921 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-28 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry F. Carter
Keyword(s):  
Close Agreement ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Wing Venation ◽  
Small Species ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Family

The genus Leptoconops was erected in 1890 by the Australian dipterist Skuse for a minute black Chironomid fly which he captured at Woronora, near Sydney, New South Wales. This genus he placed in the last of the three sections into which he divided the family Chironomidae, namely, the Ceratopogonina. The fly greatly resembled a small species of Simulium in general facies, and presented certain peculiar characters which rendered it strikingly distinct from other members of the section. Indeed, certain authors (Mik 1894, Johannsen 1905) have since drawn attention to the marked similarity in the wing venation of an American species (L. torrens, Twns.) and Corynoneura, a genus of the subfamily Chironominae. Later (1907) Noé suggested the formation of an additional subfamily—Leptoconopinae—for the Australian and allied species (at that time classified in three genera), and Malloch (1915), although acknowledging that the genus Tersesthes, Twns. (a synonym of Leptoconops), was unknown to him, associated it with the Chironominae rather than with the Ceratopogoninae. Apart from the wing venation, however, Leptoconops shows no affinities with Corynoneura, but rather agrees with the Ceratopogonine midges, particularly in regard to the structure of the thorax and mouth-parts. Several species of Leptoconops have now been described, but owing to differences in the interpretation of, or slight variations in, some of the generic characters given by Skuse, as well as to subsequent descriptive errors, they have, in greater part, been referred to the genera Tersesthes, Twns., and Mycterotypus, Noé. As was to be expected, however, the close agreement exhibited in the diagnoses of these genera and of Leptoconops has caused several authors to suggest their identity; but indefinite or partial conclusion* only were reached, since the genotype of Leptoconops (L. stygius, Sk.) was not re-examined.

The contribution of the community to defining the distribution of a vulnerable species, the spotted-tailed quoll, Dasyurus maculatus

2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (5) ◽  
pp. 537 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Alison Matthews
Keyword(s):  
Field Survey ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Vulnerable Species ◽  
Community Based ◽  
Private Lands ◽  
Survey Techniques ◽  
European Settlement ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Port Stephens

Community-based wildlife postal surveys, which included the spotted-tailed quoll, were undertaken in Eden, Port Stephens, Bellingen and Iluka. This resulted in 68 records for spotted-tailed quolls for Eden, 40 for Port Stephens, 39 for Bellingen and 7 for Iluka. Such a high number of records from coastal New South Wales, with many on private lands, identifies postal surveys as a major source of previously overlooked sightings. Spotted-tailed quolls have declined in range by as much as 50–90% since European settlement, which has seen them listed as a nationally vulnerable species. There have been few surveys of spotted-tailed quolls in New South Wales due to their difficulty of detection using standard field survey techniques, such as cage trapping and hair tube sampling. Their unique appearance makes them an ideal species to include in community-based surveys. Future use of these surveys has the potential to contribute significantly to conservation programs of spotted-tailed quolls that involve private lands and local support.

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