Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales

Goldingay, Ross L.; Dobner, Barbara

doi:10.1071/am12049

Cited by 36 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(40 reference statements)

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“…Greater gliders could not be surveyed by ARUs because they do not make loud calls (Henry, 1984 ). Koalas occupy fixed home ranges (Ellis et al, 2002 ; Goldingay & Dobner, 2014 ; Kavanagh et al, 2007 ; White, 1999 ) so the detection of calls will indicate whether resident individuals are present in an area (Hagens et al, 2018 ; Law et al, 2017 ). We installed one ARU (SM3 or SM4; Wildlife Acoustics) midway along each existing transect during October and December, the breeding season, and concurrent with our spotlight surveys.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Our species are long‐lived and produce no more than one young per year (Martin, 1985 ; Smith, 1969 ). They will be resident over multiple years (e.g., Goldingay & Dobner, 2014 ; Henry, 1984 ; Mitchell, 1990 ) so recruitment should occur slowly. We constructed detection histories of all survey occasions (i.e., secondary samples) for all sites to reflect whether each species was detected (1) or not (0), or if a site was not surveyed (–).…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Multiyear monitoring of threatened iconic arboreal mammals in a mid‐elevation conservation reserve in eastern Australia

Goldingay

McHugh

Parkyn

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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Multiyear investigations of population dynamics are fundamental to threatened species conservation. We used multiseason occupancy based on spotlight surveys to investigate dynamic occupancy of the koala and the greater glider over an 8‐year period that encompassed a severe drought in year 6. We combined our occupancy estimates with literature estimates of density to estimate the population sizes of these species within the focal conservation reserve. Both species showed substantial yearly variation in the probability of detection (koala: 0.13–0.24; greater glider: 0.12–0.36). Detection of the koala did not follow any obvious pattern. Low detection of the greater glider coincided with the drought and two subsequent years. We suggest the low detection reflected a decline in abundance. The probability of occupancy of the koala was estimated to be 0.88 (95% CI: 0.75–1.0) in year 8. Autonomous recording units were also used in year 8, enabling an independent occupancy estimate of 0.80 (0.64–0.90). We found no evidence of a drought‐induced decline in the koala. Habitat variables had a weak influence on koala occupancy probabilities. The probability of occupancy of the greater glider changed little over time, from 0.52 (95% CI: 0.24–0.81) to 0.63 (0.42–0.85) in year 8. Modeling suggested that the probability of colonization was positively influenced by the percentage cover of rainforest. Increased cover of these nonbrowse trees may reflect thermal buffering, site productivity, or soil moisture. We estimate that our study reserve is likely to contain >900 adult koalas and >2400 adult greater gliders. These are among some of the first reserve‐wide estimates for these species. Our study reserve can play an important role in the conservation of both species.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Multiyear monitoring of threatened iconic arboreal mammals in a mid‐elevation conservation reserve in eastern Australia

Goldingay

McHugh

Parkyn

2022

Ecology and Evolution

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“…Setting aside data for koalas that left the study site or for which tag failure could be attributed to 'operator error' (failure to properly attach and counterbalance the tag), approximately ten fixes per day, of which almost 70% will be more accurate than 50 m, can be expected using the Moovement system with koalas. Many studies of spatial dynamics of koalas have relied on a single daily location (Ellis et al 1990;Lassau et al 2008;Ellis et al 2009;de Oliveira et al 2014;Goldingay and Dobner 2014;Matthews et al 2016;Barth et al 2020) and the LoRa system we trialled can produce data of similar quality and quantity. The current tags are light and small and were easily modified for attachment to koala collars.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of low-power wide-area network GPS to koala monitoring

et al. 2021

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We evaluated long range antennae and associated solar-powered global positioning system (GPS) ear tags designed for use with domestic cattle, as a novel system for monitoring ranging behaviour of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). The mean location error of our GPS tags was 33.9 m (s.e. ¼ 0.46). The tags were relatively light (30 g), reported eight locations per day when attached to koala radio-collars and had an operating life that exceeded our study period (8 months). Deployed as a stand-alone, solar powered, remote system, this technology can provide a viable option for wildlife tracking projects.

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“…Despite all 3 study locations containing climatically suitable home ranges for koalas, their populations are experiencing a steep decrease, and many are admitted into clinical care[6]. This can be attributed to increased spatial competition between koalas and humans with anthropogenic activity resulting in reduction and fragmentation of suitable koala habitat[14, 15]. In particular, according to the NSW Government, regional areas such as Lismore are more susceptible to habitat fragmentation, as they have experienced an influx of tourists due to excellent tourism infrastructure, facilities, and proximity to the natural environment.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A 29-year retrospective analysis of koala rescues in New South Wales, Australia

Charalambous

Narayan

2020

Preprint

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The koala (Phascolactos cinereus) is currently listed by both the IUCN and the Australian Governments’ Threatened Species Scientific Committee as vulnerable to extinction with a decreasing population trend. This listing can be attributed to climate change and its impact on ecosystems, and anthropomorphic environmental change due to extensive land clearing and habitat fragmentation. These have both been proven to induce stress, which influences the onset of disease. This novel study performed a retrospective analysis whereby records for 12,543 wild, rescued koalas in New South Wales (NSW), Australia were studied in order to determine trends in koala sightings, clinical admissions and injury diagnoses over a period of 29 years (1989-2018). Results indicated that between all three study locations (Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Lismore), the most common reason koalas were admitted into care was because of disease, the most common disease diagnosed was signs of chlamydia, and the most common outcome for koalas admitted into care was released. At Port Stephens, mature and female koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while juvenile and male koalas were released (back into the wild) more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were fewer koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Port Stephens as each year progressed. At Port Macquarie, mature and male koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while juvenile and female koalas were released more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were more koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Port Macquarie as each year progressed. At Lismore, adult and female koalas were diagnosed with a disease more than any other age or sex, while joey and male koalas were released more than any other age or sex. Additionally, there were more koalas with a disease and fewer koalas released in Lismore as each year progressed. Determining trends in clinical admissions and diagnosis over such a substantial period of time is an important factor in preventing the continuing decline of koalas throughout Australia, and in particular NSW. It is important to note that there are cultural differences between koala rescue groups in the three study locations (Port Stephens, Port Macquarie and Lismore). These differences may be reflected in the outcomes of koala patients as each group are driven by their own management team. It is essential that any further decline of koala populations is prevented, however this can only be achieved through informed recommendations through research studies such as these. These recommendations should lead to government legislation which can provide stronger protection to koala habitat.

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Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales

Cited by 36 publications

References 38 publications

Multiyear monitoring of threatened iconic arboreal mammals in a mid‐elevation conservation reserve in eastern Australia

Multiyear monitoring of threatened iconic arboreal mammals in a mid‐elevation conservation reserve in eastern Australia

Application of low-power wide-area network GPS to koala monitoring

A 29-year retrospective analysis of koala rescues in New South Wales, Australia

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