JournalTOCs School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK Email: journaltocs@hw.ac.uk Tel: +00 44 (0)131 4513762  Your IP address: 3.239.56.184 |
JournalTOCs School of Mathematical and Computer Sciences Heriot-Watt University Edinburgh, EH14 4AS, UK Email: journaltocs@hw.ac.uk Tel: +00 44 (0)131 4513762 Your IP address: 3.239.56.184 |
Hybrid journal (It can contain Open Access articles)
Human–elephant conflict (HEC) threatens the long-term survival of Asian elephants. The present study described unique scars incurred by elephants during HEC incidents adjacent to a protected area in Sri Lanka, and we described differences in scar patterns on the basis of age, sex, and body condition. These results illustrated the need for adaptive conservation strategies to address HEC in Sri Lanka and elsewhere, and these scar patterns may be useful for monitoring HEC in this elephant population. Photograph by Chase LaDue.
Tidally inundated habitats are challenging environments for invasive rat eradication. We investigated black rat population biology as well as rodenticide availability in mangrove forests and showed that although mangroves are an important reservoir for rats, large bait blocks on the ground and ‘bait bolas’ may be effective bait delivery options. We suggest practitioners consider these alternative methods to adapt current eradication best practices. Photograph by James Russell.
Shooting and darting of wildlife are techniques that rely on ballistics and impose animal-welfare risks. The present study reviews assessment methods suitable for animal welfare testing of new ballistic technology and the consequences of forgoing testing. We make recommendations for how to assess ballistic techniques before widespread use. Photograph by Richard Barnsley.
Species translocations are an important conservation tool, but they may negatively affect source populations. We tested whether the timing of harvest can be altered to reduce impact on a fluctuating source population of Mallee Emu-wrens, Stipiturus mallee in south-eastern Australia. Harvest timing (i.e. prevailing population trajectory) was an important determinant of harvest impact and we recommend harvesting Mallee emu-wrens after high-rainfall years, when source populations are likely to have increasing trajectories. Photograph by Tom Hunt.
Threatened Gouldian finches are obligate tree-hollow nesters and are, therefore, susceptible to fire regimes that can influence abundance of hollows. We found that late dry-season fire frequency, and not total fire frequency, has the greatest influence on hollow availability. We recommend fire management of finch breeding habitat not to exclude fire, but to use patchy early dry-season burning to reduce the incidence of late-season wildfires that are detrimental to finch breeding habitat. Photograph by David Bettini.
Multiple rotations of timber harvesting affect coarse woody debris and use by fauna. We found significantly greater volume of medium-sized pieces in sites harvested three times versus unharvested sites. Camera trapping found that fauna used a variety of logs, including large and small logs in various states of decay. No relationships were found between fauna and frequency of timber harvesting. Photograph by Caragh Threlfall.
The northern quoll has contracted to rocky refugia on mainland Australia. However, on island refuges they persist in savanna woodland. Here, we assess diet and stable isotopic niche width to investigate one aspect of habitat quality. Quolls from savanna woodland had good body condition and a wider isotopic niche width than did quolls from rocky escarpment. We suggest that savanna woodlands are important for the persistence of this endangered species. Photograph by Skye Cameron.
There has long been concern about the number of unreported animal–vehicle collisions (AVC). We developed a method to calculate a correction factor to correct traditional AVC road survey data and account for unreported AVCs. In our case study, applying the correction factor increased the number of road sections where road mitigation is cost effective. Photograph by Gerry Smith.
This article supported the premise that demographic variables are related to the publics’ cognitions and emotions. However, (1) not all demographics were related to all cognitions, (2) the strength of the relationships were often small, and (3) interaction effects must be considered. By understanding the demographics, natural resource managers can target the most appropriate message for a given stakeholder group. Photograph by Laura Barisonzi.
The conservation strategy of widely distributed endangered species depends on the definition of population units with relative evolutionary independence. However, controversies may appear when the identification of evolutionarily significant units is in conflict with current taxonomic subdivisions. The present study has re-evaluated genetic evidence to characterise conservation units of American manatee (Trichechus manatus) and compare it to the current conservation management strategies adopted for this species. We suggest that conservation priorities should ensure the maintenance of historical population structure and dynamics, even if they are contradictory to traditional taxonomic subdivisions that are not fully supported by evolutionary evidence.
Some prey species can shift their daily activity patterns to reduce predation risk. We tested whether European rabbits can adapt their activity depending on predation risk by mesocarnivores in areas with different activity of mesocarnivores. We conclude that rabbits adapt their daily activity patterns by being more nocturnal in the fenced plot where the risk of mongoose (diurnal) predation is higher. Photograph by Jorge Tobajas.
Control of foxes in cities is vital to protect native species; however, it faces multiple challenges because of the proximity to humans. We assessed the safety of the canid-pest ejector as a potential method of fox control in cities. We provide recommendations for fox control using ejectors in urban areas, including safe places to use the ejector and the effect of distance from habitation. Photograph by Margarita Gil-Fernandez (from camera traps).
Citizen science data are increasingly being integrated with professional science, allowing the collection of data at unprecedented spatial and temporal scales. This review outlines the history of the global citizen science platform iNaturalist from an Australian perspective, and summarises Australian biodiversity data contributed to the platform. We discuss important future directions both to better understand how iNaturalist contributes to biodiversity research in Australia, and to maximise the usefulness of Australian iNaturalist data for research and conservation. Photograph by Phil Malin.
The effectiveness of education-based, non-invasive shark mitigation campaigns depends on an understanding of shark habitat use near swimming beaches. This study characterised the vertical habitat use of white sharks off Cape Cod, Massachusetts, a popular vacation destination, and determined that sharks spent almost half of their time at shallow depths where they may overlap with recreational water users. Our results can be used to better understand the risk posed to humans at this emerging white shark aggregation site and to inform public safety practices. Photograph by Wayne Davis.
When aircraft strike wildlife, substantive economic and safety costs are realised. We show that the composition of species struck by aircraft can differ between airports, even between nearby airports, with similar habitat and species. Photograph by M. A. Weston.
The collection of data on species presence is a key step in wildlife monitoring and management. We assessed how the sharing of species presence data among protected areas may influence the reliability of habitat suitability models in various situations. We showed that data-sharing is usually the winning option, notably when sampling effort is limited.
Current koala translocation policies lack an appropriate spatial framework to guide conservation actions. Herein, we outline a framework based on knowledge of population genetic structure and associated dispersal parameters estimated from molecular data. Application of the proposed framework would improve site selection for the release of translocated animals and should underpin the development of translocation strategies to support the demographic and genetic recovery of bushfire-affected koala populations and koala management more broadly. Photograph by Holger Detje (from Pixabay).
Changes to forest fire regimes under climate change will impact birds, so reliable and efficient methods of assessing and monitoring avian responses are required. This study aimed to optimise survey of bird assemblages using autonomous acoustic recorders, and found that using five 20-min post-dawn samples on each of 2 days was satisfactory for many types of studies. This method provides an effective option for surveying birds in montane dry sclerophyll forests. Photograph by M. Franklin.
Determining the most efficient detection method for a target species is key for successful wildlife monitoring and management. This study compared driven transects, sign surveys and camera trapping for detecting numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) in the Upper Warren region, Western Australia. Sign surveys were more successful and had the lowest cost per detection. We recommend sign surveys with occupancy modelling for long-term monitoring of numbats in the Upper Warren. Photograph by Anke Seidlitz.
Capture of shorebirds on their nests is standard practice used by research and conservation organisations across the world. We aimed to assess if the capture of adult masked lapwings on the nest and associated techniques (ringing, flagging and blood sampling) adversely affects hatching success. Trapping incubating lapwings using our current protocols does not compromise the hatching success of eggs, at least where foxes are absent. We urge that studies involving the capture of adult shorebirds on the nest to frequently analyse any potential adverse effects of their methods, especially where foxes are present. Photograph by Daniel Lees.
The American red squirrel and northern flying squirrel disappear when clearcut harvesting leaves essentially no forested habitat. We tested the hypothesis that abundance, reproduction and body mass of these tree squirrel populations would be greater in large than small patches of retention forest on new clearcuts. Our results were short-term but habitat quality, although variable, was apparently sufficient to maintain the occurrence of both species across patch sizes ranging from 0.3 to 20.0 ha. Photograph by Druscilla Sullivan.
Avian predators play a key role in rodent pest ecology but are limited by the availability of nesting resources. This study aimed to design a suitable pole-mounted nesting box for eastern barn owls on remote, house mouse-affected crops in southern Australia, and found that the prototype was successful for barn owl reproduction and observation. This design promotes barn owl welfare and breeding while maximising minimally invasive monitoring techniques for future research. Photograph by Kelly Meaney (Scoutguard Trail Camera).
Our results indicate that the negative impact of domestic dog generates changes in the composition and local distribution of the species. Management action in this protected area must initiate control of domestic dogs to minimise their impact. Photograph by Atilla Ferreguetti.
Voracious pesticide consumption is a serious threat to the rich biodiversity of the Brazilian Cerrado, the country’s main frontier for large-scale agriculture and livestock production. This study aimed to assess the exposure of the lowland tapir – a threatened, large herbivorous mammal – to these chemicals in this area. This is the first dataset of synthetic pesticide and metal concentrations in wild lowland tapirs, with some reported values raising concern over potential adverse health effects. Photograph by Emília P. Medici.
Determining species presence and distribution is crucial for effective population management, particularly in the assessment of environmental impacts of proposed actions on threatened species. In Australia, environmental referral guidelines require evaluation of new survey methods (e.g. wildlife detection dogs) before their inclusion. Evaluation of new methods is also important for advancing population monitoring, particularly for threatened species. This study determined quoll detection dogs were an accurate and effective survey method, and a beneficial complimentary method for detecting quoll population presence. Photograph by Ivell Whyte.
