Population monitoring of a threatened gliding mammal in subtropical Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 413 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Darren McHugh ◽  
Jonathan L. Parkyn
Keyword(s):  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Imperfect Detection ◽  
North East ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Petaurus Australis ◽  
Subtropical Australia

Population monitoring is fundamental to the conservation of threatened species. This study aimed to develop an effective approach for long-term monitoring of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) in north-east New South Wales. We conducted repeat surveys to account for imperfect detection and used counts in abundance modelling to produce indices of abundance. We used simulations to explore refinements to our study design. Surveys over three consecutive years produced 195 detections with >95% of detections by call. The probability of detection varied across years and survey occasions, ranging from 0.22 to 0.71. Abundance estimates were remarkably constant across years, ranging from 2.3 ± 0.5 to 2.4 ± 0.6 individuals per site. Occupancy estimates were also constant across years (0.90–0.91). Simulations were run to investigate the influence of the number of surveys (2 or 3) and the number of survey sites (20, 40 or 50) on the probability of occupancy. The design that reduced bias and provided an adequate improvement to precision was that of three visits to 40 survey sites. This design should be adequate to detect a decline in population abundance. Further studies of this kind are needed to better understand the population dynamics of this species.

scholarly journals Horizontal or vertical? Camera trap orientations and recording modes for detecting potoroos, bandicoots and pademelons

2014 ◽  
Vol 36 (1) ◽  
pp. 60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Brendan D. Taylor ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
John M. Lindsay
Keyword(s):  
Detection Probability ◽  
New South ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Camera Trap ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
North East ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Detection Probabilities ◽  
The Stability

Camera traps can detect rare and cryptic species, and may enable description of the stability of populations of threatened species. We investigated the relative performance of cameras oriented horizontally or vertically, and recording mode (still and video) to detect the vulnerable long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) as a precursor to population monitoring. We established camera traps for periods of 13–21 days across 21 sites in Richmond Range National Park in north-east New South Wales. Each camera trap set consisted of three KeepGuard KG680V cameras directed at a bait container – one horizontal and one vertical camera in still mode and one horizontal camera in video mode. Potoroos and bandicoots (Perameles nasuta and Isoodon macrourus) were detected at 14 sites and pademelons (Thylogale stigmatica and T. thetis) were detected at 19 sites. We used program Presence to compare detection probabilities for each camera category. The detection probability for all three taxa groups was lowest for the vertical still and similar for the horizontal cameras. The detection probability (horizontal still) was highest for the potoroos (0.43) compared with the bandicoots (0.16) and pademelons (0.25). We estimate that the horizontal stills camera could achieve a 95% probability of detection of a potoroo within 6 days compared with 8 days using a vertical stills camera. This suggests that horizontal cameras in still mode have great potential for monitoring the dynamics of this potoroo population.

The characteristics of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) den trees in subtropical Australia

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Beyer ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David J. Sharpe
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Effective Management ◽  
Living Tree ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
North East ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Tree Hollow ◽  
Subtropical Australia

Effective management of tree-hollow-dependent wildlife requires a sound knowledge of the characteristics of the trees used for shelter or breeding. We used radio-tracking to identify the den trees of squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in south-east Queensland (Qld) and north-east New South Wales (NSW). Squirrel gliders used dead trees as well as 13 species of living tree for dens across the two locations. Dead trees accounted for a large percentage of dens (54% of 48 dens in Qld, and 50% of 18 dens in NSW) despite comprising only 3–10% of the forest (trees >20 cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) at each location. This preference is largely due to dead trees being more likely to contain hollows, accounting for 26–44% of available hollow-bearing trees. Mean den tree size (dbh) was 48.9 ± 2.4 cm in Qld and 62.8 ± 5.6 cm in NSW. Den entrance height averaged 6.8 ± 1.2 m in Qld and 11.9 ± 1.3 m in NSW. Fissures in the trunk and holes in branches were the most common of six hollow types used. At one location branch end hollows were ignored relative to their availability. Den entrances varied in size (2.5–12 cm wide) but most were ≤5 cm in diameter. Entrance size of hollows appears to be the hollow attribute of most importance to squirrel gliders. Monitoring of these den trees over several years revealed the collapse of three dead den trees at each location, which is equivalent to an annual loss of 3% of den trees. Further research is needed to determine whether this will lead to a future shortage of den trees.

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 Leopard Panthera pardus fusca Density in the Seasonally Dry, Subtropical Forest in the Bhabhar of Terai Arc, Nepal

2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kanchan Thapa ◽  
Rinjan Shrestha ◽  
Jhamak Karki ◽  
Gokarna Jung Thapa ◽  
Naresh Subedi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Winter Season ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Panthera Pardus ◽  
Density Estimates ◽  
Seasonally Dry ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Capture Recapture ◽  
Modelling Techniques ◽  
Wildlife Reserve

We estimated leopard (Panthera pardus fusca) abundance and density in the Bhabhar physiographic region in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. The camera trap grid, covering sampling area of 289 km2 with 88 locations, accumulated 1,342 trap nights in 64 days in the winter season of 2008-2009 and photographed 19 individual leopards. Using models incorporating heterogeneity, we estimated 28 (±SE 6.07) and 29.58 (±SE 10.44) leopards in Programs CAPTURE and MARK. Density estimates via 1/2 MMDM methods were 5.61 (±SE 1.30) and 5.93 (±SE 2.15) leopards per 100 km2 using abundance estimates from CAPTURE and MARK, respectively. Spatially explicit capture recapture (SECR) models resulted in lower density estimates, 3.78 (±SE 0.85) and 3.48 (±SE 0.83) leopards per 100 km2, in likelihood based program DENSITY and Bayesian based program SPACECAP, respectively. The 1/2 MMDM methods have been known to provide much higher density estimates than SECR modelling techniques. However, our SECR models resulted in high leopard density comparable to areas considered better habitat in Nepal indicating a potentially dense population compared to other sites. We provide the first density estimates for leopards in the Bhabhar and a baseline for long term population monitoring of leopards in Parsa Wildlife Reserve and across the Terai Arc.

Aerial and ground survey of sap trees of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis reginae) near Atherton, North Queensland

1999 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 723 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. G. Bradford ◽  
G. N. Harrington
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Aerial Survey ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Ground Survey ◽  
Sap Feeding ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Petaurus Australis ◽  
Prime Source

Sap-feed trees of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis reginae) were located in a 1600-ha site in north Queensland by aerial survey and ground survey. The ground survey located 77 active sap-feed trees, of which only seven were seen from the air.Thus we conclude that aerial survey is not a reliable means of censusing yellow-bellied glider populations. Sap-feeding scars made by gliders were found only on Eucalyptus resinifera even though four other species of Eucalyptus, which are used for sap-feeding in New South Wales, were also present in the area.In addition to the active feed trees, we found 156 trees with old sap-feeding scars, giving a total of 233 scarred trees in all.All but two of these were located within 500 m of mature E. grandis trees, which are believed to be the prime source of glider dens.Of the E. resinifera trees with diameter at breast height greater than 40 cm in the study area 1.06% were scarred and 0.35% were in active use by the gliders.The sap-feed trees had significantly fewer other trees in their immediate vicinity than the mean for all E. resinifera trees in the study area.The early stages of rainforest invasion investigated here did not indicate a reduction in use for sap-feeding by gliders.However, in the long-term E. resinifera is unable to thrive or reproduce within a rainforest, suggesting that the gliders’ habitat will be reduced as the E. resinifera trees die out.

scholarly journals Monarch butterfly declines reported in Boyle et al. (2019) are biased by unexamined changes in museum collections over time

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyson Wepprich
Keyword(s):  
Species Interactions ◽  
Danaus Plexippus ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Monarch Butterfly ◽  
Sampling Effort ◽  
World Population ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Collection Data ◽  
Over Time

AbstractMuseum records provide an underutilized source of information for documenting long-term changes in phenology, species interactions, and trait evolution. However, non-systematic collection data must be treated carefully if they are to approximate abundance, as trends may be confounded with spatial or temporal changes in sampling effort. Boyle et al. (2019b) argue that the relative abundance of Eastern North American Monarch butterflies (Danaus plexippus) has been in a long-term decline since the mid-20th century, following a similar decline in milkweed (Asclepias spp.) herbarium records. I demonstrate that this reported abundance trend is biased by the choice to standardize Monarch records as a proportion of all Lepidoptera collected. The sampling of Lepidoptera has changed systematically over time to favor moths, causing the apparent trend in Monarch records. With the data standardized more appropriately, I show that the trend in Monarch records shows no mid-century decline and increases over recent decades. As the trend in Monarch museum specimens contradicts the recent trend in Monarch abundance documented from systematic population monitoring, I argue that these records are unreliable for abundance estimates. The conclusion in Boyle et al. (2019b) that Monarch declines started in the mid-20th century is unwarranted both because the trend is biased by sampling changes in museum records and because the trend in Monarch records, when corrected, does not correspond with real-world population abundance.

Abundance, site fidelity and range patterns of Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) in two Australian subtropical estuaries

2008 ◽  
Vol 59 (11) ◽  
pp. 1015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christine A. Fury ◽  
Peter L. Harrison
Keyword(s):  
Site Fidelity ◽  
Bottlenose Dolphins ◽  
River Mouth ◽  
Published Data ◽  
Term Survival ◽  
Tursiops Aduncus ◽  
Marine Habitats ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Abundance Estimates

Bottlenose dolphins are widely studied in marine habitats, but information on estuarine populations is very limited. The present study provides the first published data on bottlenose dolphins in Australian estuaries. Abundance estimates, site fidelity and individual ranging patterns were examined over a 3-year period for Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops aduncus) inhabiting the Clarence River (CR) and Richmond River (RR) estuaries in northern New South Wales, Australia. Mark–recapture analyses estimated 71 (62–81 95% CI) dolphins utilised the CR whereas 34 (19–49 95% CI) used the RR. Differences in site fidelity were observed between the estuaries, with 60% and 37% of identified dolphins determined as residents, 26% and 21% as occasional visitors and 14% and 42% as transients for the CR and RR respectively. Resource partitioning was apparent in both estuaries with the mean distance resident dolphins were found upstream from the river mouth being greater than occasional visitors and transients. The Clarence River sustains a larger, predominantly resident dolphin community compared with the Richmond River, which supports a relatively small dolphin community with lower site fidelity. Management of future increased anthropogenic disturbances is needed to ensure the long-term survival of these dolphin populations.

scholarly journals Monitoring abundance of aggregated animals (Florida manatees) using an unmanned aerial system (UAS)

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly H. Edwards ◽  
Jeffrey A. Hostetler ◽  
Bradley M. Stith ◽  
Julien Martin
Keyword(s):  
New Technologies ◽  
Probability Of Detection ◽  
Unmanned Aerial Systems ◽  
Imperfect Detection ◽  
Trichechus Manatus Latirostris ◽  
Abundance Estimates ◽  
Survey Costs ◽  
Abundance And Distribution ◽  
Aerial Systems ◽  
Over Time

AbstractImperfect detection is an important problem when counting wildlife, but new technologies such as unmanned aerial systems (UAS) can help overcome this obstacle. We used data collected by a UAS and a Bayesian closed capture-mark-recapture model to estimate abundance and distribution while accounting for imperfect detection of aggregated Florida manatees (Trichechus manatus latirostris) at thermal refuges to assess use of current and new warmwater sources in winter. Our UAS hovered for 10 min and recorded 4 K video over sites in Collier County, FL. Open-source software was used to create recapture histories for 10- and 6-min time periods. Mean estimates of probability of detection for 1-min intervals at each canal varied by survey and ranged between 0.05 and 0.92. Overall, detection probability for sites varied between 0.62 and 1.00 across surveys and length of video (6 and 10 min). Abundance varied by survey and location, and estimates indicated that distribution changed over time, with use of the novel source of warmwater increasing over time. The highest cumulative estimate occurred in the coldest winter, 2018 (N = 158, CI 141–190). Methods here reduced survey costs, increased safety and obtained rigorous abundance estimates at aggregation sites previously too difficult to monitor.

Using Long-Term Population Monitoring Data to Prioritize Conservation Action among Rare Plant Species

2019 ◽  
Vol 39 (2) ◽  
pp. 169 ◽  
Author(s):  
Holly L. Bernardo ◽  
Pati Vitt ◽  
Rachel Goad ◽  
Susanne Masi ◽  
Tiffany M. Knight
Keyword(s):  
Plant Species ◽  
Population Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Data ◽  
Rare Plant ◽  
Conservation Action ◽  
Rare Plant Species

Socioeconomic Challenges faced by Basin’s People in India

Think India ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (2) ◽  
pp. 296-304
Author(s):  
Biplab Tripathy ◽  
Tanmoy Mondal
Keyword(s):  
River Basin ◽  
High Tide ◽  
North East ◽  
The People ◽  
Term Basis ◽  
Major River ◽  
River Ganga ◽  
Basin Region ◽  
Basin Area

India is a subcontinent, there huge no of people lived in river basin area. In India there more or less 80% of people directly or indirectly depend on River. Ganga, Brahamputra in North and North East and Mahanadi, Govabori, Krishna, Kaveri, Narmoda, Tapti, Mahi in South are the major river basin in India. There each year due to flood and high tide lots of people are suffered in river basin region in India. These problems destroy the socio economic peace and hope of the people in river basin. There peoples are continuously suffered by lots of difficulties in sort or in long term basis. Few basin regions are always in high alert at the time of monsoon seasons. Sometime due to over migration from basin area, it becomes empty and creates an ultimate loss of resources in India and causes a dis-balance situation in this area.

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