Modelling strategies for the management of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) of northern Australia

Brook, Barry W.; Griffiths, Anthony D.; Puckey, Helen

doi:10.1006/jema.2002.0561

Cited by 4 publications

References 56 publications

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Home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch

Puckey¹,

Lewis²,

Hooper³

et al. 2004

Wildl. Res.

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Radio-telemetry was used to examine the home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch in the Gulf of Carpentaria hinterland over a 13-month period. Two home-range estimators were used in the study, (i) minimum convex polygon (MCP) and (ii) fixed Kernel (KL), the latter also being used to estimate core areas of activity. Based on a total sample size of 21 individuals, the mean MCP home range was 11 165 m2, similar to the mean KL home range of 10 687 m2. Core areas were, on average, 11.9% of the KL home-range estimate. There was no significant difference in the size of home range or core area of males and females. Juveniles had a significantly smaller home range than adults. Home ranges and, to a lesser degree, core areas were non-exclusive, with multiple areas of overlap (averaging 41% and 38% respectively) within and between all age and gender categories, but especially between males and between juveniles. Movement frequencies showed that animals made many short forays in a central area close to the arithmetic home-range mean and far fewer long forays of distances greater than 100 m from the central area. The spatial and temporal activity of Z. palatalis was concentrated in, but not confined to, the 'valley' and 'slope' habitats, with fewer movements of rats onto the surrounding 'plateau'. Resource selection analyses showed that Z. palatalis tended to prefer valley and slope habitats over the plateau and that the proportion of point locations was significantly higher for adults in the slope habitat and for juveniles in the valley habitat. Most home ranges were centred on the ecotone between these two habitat types. Although isolated and spatially limited, these habitat patches provide high-quality resources for dense populations of Z. palatalis. This study exemplifies a species' attempt to make efficient use of a limited resource in an otherwise hostile environment. Even small declines in habitat area or quality due to their vulnerability to fire would impact upon many animals.

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Home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch

Puckey¹,

Lewis²,

Hooper³

et al. 2004

Wildl. Res.

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How fire interacts with habitat loss and fragmentation

et al. 2021

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Biodiversity faces many threats and these can interact to produce outcomes that may not be predicted by considering their effects in isolation. Habitat loss and fragmentation (hereafter 'fragmentation') and altered fire regimes are important threats to biodiversity, but their interactions have not been systematically evaluated across the globe. In this comprehensive synthesis, including 162 papers which provided 274 cases, we offer a framework for understanding how fire interacts with fragmentation. Fire and fragmentation interact in three main ways: (i) fire influences fragmentation (59% of 274 cases), where fire either destroys and fragments habitat or creates and connects habitat; (ii) fragmentation influences fire (25% of cases) where, after habitat is reduced in area and fragmented, fire in the landscape is subsequently altered because people suppress or ignite fires, or there is increased edge flammability or increased obstruction to fire spread; and (iii) where the two do not influence each other, but fire interacts with fragmentation to affect responses like species richness, abundance and extinction risk (16% of cases). Where fire and fragmentation do influence each other, feedback loops are possible that can lead to ecosystem conversion (e.g. forest to grassland). This is a well-documented threat in the tropics but with potential also to be important elsewhere. Fire interacts with fragmentation through scale-specific mechanisms: fire creates edges and drives edge effects; fire alters patch quality; and fire alters landscape-scale connectivity. We found only 12 cases in which studies reported the four essential strata for testing a full interaction, which were fragmented and unfragmented landscapes that both span contrasting fire histories, such as recently burnt and long unburnt vegetation. Simulation and empirical studies show that fire and fragmentation can interact synergistically, multiplicatively, antagonistically or additively. These cases highlight a key reason why understanding interactions is so important: when fire and fragmentation act together they can cause

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Harvest and Conservation of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus Griseus) in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

Geary¹

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<p>Customary harvest of wildlife can be an important mechanism through which indigenous people maintain a connection with their environment. Observations built up during harvesting events are also a useful way of monitoring change over time. However, not all traditional societies have lived harmoniously with their environment. Wildlife populations can become depleted quickly if not managed sustainably. Using traditional knowledge interviews, empirical data from two island populations and population modelling, I examined the viability of two island sooty shearwater populations in the Marlborough Sounds and their resilience to resumed, low-level harvest. The biology of the sooty shearwater populations was found to closely resemble that of populations found at higher latitudes. Historic harvest by Marlborough Maori probably had an important influence on the size of present day Marlborough populations. Viability models demonstrated that these populations were experiencing very low or negative intrinsic rates of increase. Population sizes have likely been affected by previous harvest and are not at carrying capacity. The populations are therefore vulnerable to demographic stochasticity, environmental variability and extrinsic factors such as fisheries bycatch. The low and negative growth rates for populations at small sizes not at carrying capacity are of concern where harvesting is proposed. This study provides a basis for ongoing research into the population trajectories of each island population. Harvesting is possible in one population provided an appropriate monitoring regime is established prior to harvest being undertaken, to ensure the long-term viability of Marlborough Sounds' sooty shearwater populations.</p>

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Modelling strategies for the management of the critically endangered Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) of northern Australia

Cited by 4 publications

References 56 publications

Home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch

Home range, movement and habitat utilisation of the Carpentarian rock-rat (Zyzomys palatalis) in an isolated habitat patch

How fire interacts with habitat loss and fragmentation

Harvest and Conservation of Sooty Shearwaters (Puffinus Griseus) in the Marlborough Sounds, New Zealand

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