Aspects of the Ecology of the Common Wombat, Vombatus ursinus II. Methods for Estimating Population Numbers

Mcilroy, JC

doi:10.1071/wr9770223

Cited by 42 publications

(81 citation statements)

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“…Applications involving individual identification have also been successful using both hairs and faeces of wombats, animals that are particularly difficult to enumerate by traditional means (McIlroy 1977;Taylor et al 1998). The size of a population of common wombats (Vombatus ursinus) in suburban Melbourne parkland was estimated with very narrow confidence limits from faecal DNA (Banks et al 2002a).…”

Section: What Can Molecular Genetic Analysis Add?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Piggott¹,

Taylor²

2003

Wildl. Res.

155

127

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Abstract.Obtaining useful information about elusive or endangered species can be logistically difficult, particularly if relying entirely on field signs such as hair, feathers or faeces. However, recent developments in molecular technology add substantially to the utility of such 'non-invasive' samples, which provide a source of DNA that can be used to identify not only species but also individuals and their gender. This provides great potential to improve the accuracy of abundance estimates and determine behavioural parameters, such as home-range size, individual habitat and dietary preferences, and even some forms of social interaction. Non-invasive samples can also be a useful alternative to blood or tissue samples (the collection of which traditionally has required trapping of animals) as genetic material for applications such as relatedness, population genetic and phylogenetic analyses. Despite the huge potential of non-invasive genetic sampling, the current technology does have limitations. The low quantity and quality of DNA often obtained from such sources results in an increased risk of genotyping errors, which may lead to incorrect inferences, particularly false identification of individuals. Appropriate precautions and pilot studies are required to minimise these risks, and in some cases it may be wise to employ traditional methods when they are adequate.

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Section: What Can Molecular Genetic Analysis Add?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Piggott¹,

Taylor²

2003

Wildl. Res.

155

127

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In agricultural riparian landscapes, wombats often occur in high density populations (McIlroy, 1973;Skerratt et al, 2004;Taylor, 1993). In these environments wombats use the sloping streambanks for burrow sites, with adjoining agricultural pastures providing an abundant food source (McIlroy, 1973;Skerratt et al, 2004;Taylor, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In these environments wombats use the sloping streambanks for burrow sites, with adjoining agricultural pastures providing an abundant food source (McIlroy, 1973;Skerratt et al, 2004;Taylor, 1993).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Habitat requirements for wombats in remnant riparian forests that extend through agricultural landscapes have been rarely quantified, nor have models been developed. However, several ecological studies undertaken throughout the distributional range of wombats (Buchan and Goldney, 1998;Catling and Burt, 1995;Lunney and O'Connell, 1988;McIlroy, 1973;Murray, 2001;Taylor, 1993) provide important evidence as to which ecological factors might predict habitat quality for the species.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Wombats are typically associated with eucalypt forests (Catling and Burt, 1995;Lunney and O'Connell, 1988;McIlroy, 1973). In the narrow riparian forests that extend through agricultural land, however, lower canopy cover may be an important determinant of abundance, as it also appears to be for burrow site selection (Borchard et al,. In Press).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Using Camera – Trap Data to Model Habitat Use by Wombats and Cattle in Australian Riparian Ecosystems

Borchard¹

2013

Appl Ecol Env Res

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Abstract. Common Wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are an enigmatic south east Australian agricultural riparian species which may improve riparian landscape heterogeneity via their burrowing activity. At the same time they are often accused of causing soil erosion. As populations of wombats in other landscapes are under threat due to habitat disturbance, road mortality and disease, knowledge of the factors determining their distribution and abundance are important for their conservation and management. Since the European colonization of Australia, riparian areas have been utilized by domestic cattle (Bos taurus) usually resulting in a decline in biodiversity. Camera trap data was used to investigate the habitat use by wombats and cattle in Eastern Riverine Forests. The relationship between camera trapping and ecological and meteorological variables was investigated using logistic regression modelling. Wombats and cattle were the most common mammals recorded across all sites with 468 photographs of wombats and 106 of cattle recorded. The meteorological and ecological variables that had a significant effect on the observation of a wombat or a cow were time of day, humidity, lower storey canopy cover and the summer season. This study highlights the usefulness of camera trapping as a tool of conservation and management in an agricultural riparian landscape.

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Abundance and population growth estimates for bare‐nosed wombats

Knoblauch,

Carver,

Driessen

et al. 2023

Ecology and Evolution

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Wildlife managers often rely on population estimates, but estimates can be challenging to obtain for geographically widespread species. Spotlight surveys provide abundance data for many species and, when conducted over wide spatial scales, have potential to provide population estimates of geographically widespread species. The bare‐nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) has a broad geographical range and is subject to spotlight surveys. We used 19 years (2002–2020) of annual spotlight surveys to provide the first estimates of population abundance for two of the three extant bare‐nosed wombat subspecies: V. u. ursinus on Flinders Island; and V. u. tasmaniensis on the Tasmanian mainland. Using distance sampling methods, we estimated annual rates of change and 2020 population sizes for both subspecies. Tasmanian mainland surveys included habitat data, which allowed us to also look for evidence of habitat associations for V. u. tasmaniensis. The average wombat density estimate was higher on Flinders Island (0.42 ha−1, 95% CI = 0.25–0.79) than on the Tasmanian mainland (0.11 ha−1, CI = 0.07–0.19) and both wombat subspecies increased over the 19‐year survey period with an estimated annual growth rate of 2.90% (CI = −1.7 to 7.3) on Flinders Island and 1.20% (CI = −1.1 to 2.9) on mainland Tasmania. Habitat associations for V. u. tasmaniensis were weak, possibly owing to survey design; however, we detected regional variation in density for this subspecies. We estimated the population size of V. u. ursinus to be 71,826 (CI = 43,913–136,761) on Flinders Island, which when combined with a previously published estimate of 2599 (CI = 2254–2858) from Maria Island, where the subspecies was introduced, provides a total population estimate. We also estimated 840,665 (CI = 531,104–1,201,547) V. u. tasmaniensis on mainland Tasmania. These estimates may be conservative, owing to individual heterogeneity in when wombats emerge from burrows. Although these two subspecies are not currently threatened, our population estimates provide an important reference when assessing their population status in the future, and demonstrate how spotlight surveys can be valuable to inform management of geographically widespread species.

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Aspects of the Ecology of the Common Wombat, Vombatus ursinus II. Methods for Estimating Population Numbers

Cited by 42 publications

References 0 publications

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Remote collection of animal DNA and its applications in conservation management and understanding the population biology of rare and cryptic species

Using Camera – Trap Data to Model Habitat Use by Wombats and Cattle in Australian Riparian Ecosystems

Abundance and population growth estimates for bare‐nosed wombats

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