Factors affecting the trappability of red foxes in Kosciusko National Park

1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 199 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tania Bubela ◽  
Robert Bartell ◽  
Warren Müller
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Age Classes ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Foraging Patterns ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Ski Resorts ◽  
South Wales

The factors that affect the trappability of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes L.) in alpine and subalpine New South Wales were examined by means of treadle snares. Trapping (1) on animal tracks without the use of a bait or lure, and (2) by setting snares around a bait, led to the capture of individuals of both sexes and all age-classes. A greater number of foxes was captured per number of snares set in winter than in other seasons because of the commensal foraging patterns of foxes at this time. Foxes were more likely to be caught within 100 m of their home-range boundaries during snow-free months and outside their home ranges while foraging at ski resorts in winter. Snares were found to be difficult to set, and foxes were captured in only 50% of sprung snares. Treadle snares caused no apparent long-term injuries to 40 red foxes that were radio- tracked and observed for 1–24 months after capture.

Movements and Home Ranges of Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park, New South Wales.

1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (6) ◽  
pp. 711 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales

The movements of a subalpine population of feral pigs were examined at Kosciusko National Park in southeastern New South Wales. Sufficient data were collected to estimate the home-range area of 20 pigs on the basis of 782 telemetry and trap locations. Mean (+/- s.d.) home-range size (minimum convex polygon method) for males (35.0 t 22.2 km*2) was significantly greater than that for females (1 1.1 +/- 5.2 km*2). Use of capture-recapture distances to estimate home-range size was considered inappropriate. A test for nomadism suggests that, although home ranges of pigs in this environment were larger than those reported for other pigs in Australia, the pigs were essentially sedentary. Management implications for this population are discussed.

scholarly journals WildCountry

2002 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 221 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harry F. Recher
Keyword(s):  
Nature Conservation ◽  
National Parks ◽  
National Park ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Reserve System

REGARDLESS of the merits and values of individual national parks and nature reserves, Australia's conservation reserves do not ensure the survival of the continent's biota. There are many reasons for this. Reserves, even the largest, are too small and vulnerable to broad area disturbance. Consider that, in January 2003, fires burnt more than two-thirds of Kosciuszko National Park, which at 690 000 ha is the largest park in New South Wales and one of the largest in Australia. This shows how even the largest conservation reserves are at risk of catastrophic disturbance. The much smaller Nadgee Nature Reserve (21 000 ha) in southeastern New South Wales has burnt almost in its entirety twice in the 35 years I have worked there. The Nadgee fires and those in Kosciuszko were started by lightning and were the result of prolonged drought, events common across the continent. When small size is coupled with isolation, the long-term survival of populations and the exchange of propagules within the reserve system becomes problematical. Small size and isolation do not leave much scope for plants and animals to adapt to long-term climate change, either through dispersal or by evolution. Even reserving 10 or 15% of land for nature conservation, as recommended by some international conservation agencies, will be inadequate; a target of 30% would have better ecological credentials, but even this could prove inadequate unless the nature conservation reserve system was designed to allow for long-term evolutionary change, which it is not (see Archer 2002; Recher 2002a,b).

Home Ranges of Sympatric Red Kangaroos Macropus-Rufus, and Western Grey Kangaroos Macropus-Fuliginosus, in Western New-South-Wales

1988 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Priddel ◽  
N Shepherd ◽  
G Wellard
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Feeding Sites ◽  
Resting Sites ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Macropus Rufus ◽  
Over Time

Home ranges of sympatric red kangaroos, Macropus rufus, and western grey kangaroos, M. fuliginosus, were determined by radiotracking 48 individuals over 20 months. More than 90% of individuals of each species remained within home ranges of less than 10 km2 (mean � SE, 7.74 � 0.90, reds; 6.92 � 0.77, western greys). At no time did any individual disperse far, the longest movement being 13 km. Based on diurnal locations (resting sites) only, home ranges of red kangaroos were larger than those of western greys (P<O.001), and those of kangaroos on Kinchega National Park smaller than those on the adjacent pastoral leasehold (P<O.05). Home ranges calculated from nocturnal and diurnal locations (feeding sites and resting sites) were no different in size for either species, sex or location, but reds, males, and kangaroos on Tandou sometimes moved further between nights and between seasons than did western greys, females, and kangaroos on Kinchega, respectively. Size of quarterly home ranges of red kangaroos changed over time, being positively correlated with minimum temperature (r=0.96; P<O.O5), solar radiation (r=0.99; P<0.05) and evaporation (r=0.99; P<O.O5). Home-range size for western greys did not change significantly over the duration of the study.

Factors Affecting Bait Uptake and Trapping Success for Feral Pigs (Sus Scrofa) in Kosciusko National Park.

1993 ◽  
Vol 20 (5) ◽  
pp. 653 ◽  
Author(s):  
G Saunders ◽  
B Kay ◽  
H Nicol
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Radio Telemetry ◽  
Cumulative Number ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Feral Pigs ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Population Reduction ◽  
Time Of Year ◽  
Bait Stations

An evaluation of the rate and extent of population reduction that can be achieved by trapping feral pigs was conducted in a subalpine area of Kosciusko National Park in south-eastern New South Wales. Movements of pigs during the programme were monitored by radio-telemetry. In total, 142 pigs, including 12-17 (71%) previously fitted with transmitters and known to be still on the study site, were captured over 330 trap-nights at a cost of $A104 per pig. A model fitted to the change in percentage of bait stations eaten per day relative to the cumulative number of pigs caught estimated a population reduction of 62% of animals exposed to traps and only 28% of the entire population. Determinants of trap success are discussed. During the trapping evaluation and in 2 preceding seasons, factors that influenced the rate at which bait stations were found and eaten were also examined. Both the locality characteristics of bait stations and the time of year were found to have significant effects on this rate.

Genetic affinities of a remnant population of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) in Mt Kaputar National Park, northern New South Wales

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 112
Author(s):  
Mark D. B. Eldridge ◽  
Linda E. Neaves ◽  
James Faris ◽  
Todd Soderquist
Keyword(s):  
Dna Sequences ◽  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
The North ◽  
South Wales ◽  
North Western ◽  
Remnant Population ◽  
Semiarid Conditions

The brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) is now extinct west of the Great Dividing Range, apart from remnant populations in the Warrumbungles and at Mt Kaputar. Previous genetic analysis has identified deep genetic subdivisions within P. penicillata, but samples from Mt Kaputar were not included. Mitochondrial DNA sequences obtained from Mt Kaputar and the Warrumbungles clustered within the Central ESU, extending its distribution north of the Hunter River onto the north-western slopes adjacent to populations of the Northern ESU. These highly threatened western populations are the only P. penicillata persisting in semiarid conditions. This makes them of particular value to the long-term survival of the species and their conservation should be a priority.

Population stability in the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) and a program for long-term monitoring

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (3) ◽  
pp. 214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gemma Quick ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Jonathan Parkyn ◽  
David A. Newell
Keyword(s):  
National Park ◽  
New South ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Population Stability ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Long Term Monitoring ◽  
Term Monitoring ◽  
Very High

In the wake of the global decline in amphibians there is a need for long-term population monitoring. Previous research suggested that the endangered Fleay’s barred frog (Mixophyes fleayi) had recovered after a severe decline. We aimed to determine whether this recovery has been sustained and to test an example of a monitoring program that could be employed at intervals of five or more years to assess long-term population stability. We conducted capture–mark–recapture five years after the last detailed census at Brindle Creek in Border Ranges National Park, New South Wales. Frogs were captured along a 200 m creek transect between September 2013 and February 2014. We used program Mark to estimate demographic parameters of adult male frogs using two modelling approaches: robust design (RD) and the POPAN formulation of the Jolly–Seber model. Abundance was estimated at 38.2 ± 0.5 (s.e.) (RD) and 46.0 ± 2.7 (POPAN). Abundance in 2008 was estimated at 53.2 ± 10.0 (POPAN) male frogs. Estimates of apparent monthly survival over our five-month-long study were very high (RD: 1.0 ± 0.0; POPAN: 1.0 ± 0.02). Recapture estimates were also high (RD: 0.40 ± 0.07 to 0.72 ± 0.05 per session; POPAN: 0.84 ± 0.05 per month). These data suggest that the Brindle Creek population has remained relatively stable over a period of ~10 years.

scholarly journals Numbat nirvana: conservation ecology of the endangered numbat (Myrmecobius fasciatus) (Marsupialia : Myrmecobiidae) reintroduced to Scotia and Yookamurra Sanctuaries, Australia

2015 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matt W. Hayward ◽  
Aline Si Lin Poh ◽  
Jennifer Cathcart ◽  
Chris Churcher ◽  
Jos Bentley ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
South Australia ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Red Foxes ◽  
Conservation Ecology ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Captive Populations ◽  
Introduced Predators ◽  
Founder Populations

Despite a vigorous reintroduction program between 1985 and 2010, numbat populations in Western Australia are either static or declining. This study aimed to document the population ecology of numbats at two sites that are going against this trend: Scotia Sanctuary in far western New South Wales and Yookamurra Sanctuary in the riverland of South Australia. Scotia (64 659 ha) and Yookamurra (5026 ha) are conservation reserves owned and managed by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and where numbats were reintroduced in 1999 and 1993 respectively. Both sites have large conservation-fence-protected introduced-species-free areas where there are no cats (Felis catus) or red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). Numbats were sourced from both wild and captive populations. From small founder populations, the Scotia numbats are now estimated to number 169 (113–225) with 44 at Yookamurra. Radio-collared individuals at Scotia were active between 13 and 31°C. Females had home ranges of 28.3 ± 6.8 ha and males 96.6 ± 18.2 ha, which leads to an estimated sustainable population or carrying capacity of 413–502 at Scotia. Captive-bred animals from Perth Zoo had a high mortality rate upon reintroduction at Scotia due to predation by raptors and starvation. The habitat preferences for mallee with a shrub understorey appear to be driven by availability of termites, and other reintroduced ecosystem engineers appear to have been facilitators by creating new refuge burrows for numbats. This study shows that numbats can be successfully reintroduced into areas of their former range if protected from introduced predators, and illustrates the difficulties in monitoring such cryptic species.

Goat and Sheep Grazing in Shrub-Infested Semi-arid Woodlands of New South Wales.

1986 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 140 ◽  
Author(s):  
BH Downing
Keyword(s):  
Animal Species ◽  
New South ◽  
Economic Implications ◽  
Dietary Preferences ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Continuous Grazing ◽  
Local Observation ◽  
Grazing Systems ◽  
Western Division

Examination of data on dietary preferences of sheep, goats and cattle suggests that different grazing systems are desirable for each of the three major woodland types (belah-rosewood, mulga, poplar box) examined. Competition for herbs, frequently palatable to all animal species, indicates that goats and sheep are unsuitable for joint use either in heavily wooded country or where annual herbaceous production is less than 200 kg-ha. Supplementary feeding, fire and judicious stocking are proposed as a strategy for inducing goats to eat a proportion of unpalatable shrubs. The literature provides little helpful information on how rangelands in the Western Division should be managed. No reports are given on comparisons of grazing systems, such as rotational grazing, rotational resting, and continuous grazing. No guidance is given on grazing after burning of the rangeland. Recommendations are generally against the use of goats for control of woody plants, whereas local observation shows this to be an apparently effective practice. The recommendations are mostly based on experimental procedures which, although suitable for detecting animal dietary preferences in the short term, are less appropriate for investigation of the effects of grazing on range condition in the long term. Some suggestions are made towards a different approach for: investigating the effects of grazing by sheep and goats on rangeland condition, and the economic implications of this in terms of animal production.

Factors affecting post-fire seedling establishment of selected mallee understorey species

2000 ◽  
Vol 48 (1) ◽  
pp. 59 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Cohn ◽  
R. A. Bradstock
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
New South ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Acacia Species ◽  
Introduced Herbivores ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Rabbit Grazing ◽  
Seedling Germination

Factors affecting the survival of post-fire germinants in mallee communities, in central western New South Wales, were examined. Experiments compared the relative effects of native and introduced herbivores (kangaroos, goats, rabbits), after small- and large-scale fires (20–50 and > 10 000 ha, respectively), with particular emphasis on edge effects, seedling clustering, topography and eucalypt canopy presence. The experiments (1985–1997) focused on common understorey species Acacia rigens Cunn. ex Don, A. wilhelmiana F.Muell. and Triodia scariosa N.T.Burb. subsp. scariosa, in mallee dominated by Eucalyptus species. Following a large fire (1985), high spring rainfall and rabbit grazing on A. rigens only, survival of Acacia species and T. scariosa remained relatively high 4 years later (60–70%). After small burns (1987, 1988), low spring rainfall and grazing by rabbits and kangaroos, survival of Acacia species declined to between 0 and 30% of the germinants by the second summer. In most cases, local extinction had occurred within 8 years. After small burns (1988, 1989) and low spring rainfall, the survival of T. scariosa declined to between 0 and 35% of germinants by the second summer (effect of grazing unknown). No consistent effect of edge, topography and eucalypt canopy was found. Survival of clustered Acacia seedlings was between 10 and 20% lower than unclustered seedlings. Given the high frequency of low rainfall and its interaction with grazing, prescribed burning of mallee for wildfire control and nature conservation may require the local elimination of rabbits and a reduction in kangaroo numbers, especially in the first spring and summer following seedling germination.

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