A5032107048- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
- Ecology and Vegetation Dynamics Studies
- Rangeland and Wildlife Management
- Animal Ecology and Behavior Studies
- Rangeland Management and Livestock Ecology
- Human-Animal Interaction Studies
- Evolution and Paleontology Studies
- Ecology and biodiversity studies
- Species Distribution and Climate Change
- Plant and animal studies
- Animal Behavior and Reproduction
- Zoonotic diseases and public health
- Ruminant Nutrition and Digestive Physiology
- Genetic Mapping and Diversity in Plants and Animals
- Pasture and Agricultural Systems
- Plant responses to elevated CO2
- Insect and Arachnid Ecology and Behavior
- Insect and Pesticide Research
- Olfactory and Sensory Function Studies
- Forest ecology and management
- Botany and Plant Ecology Studies
- Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior
- Fire effects on ecosystems
- Conservation, Biodiversity, and Resource Management
- Oil Palm Production and Sustainability
Charles Sturt University
2022-2023
The University of Sydney
2012-2023
Bush Heritage Australia
2023
University of Potsdam
2022
University of Bonn
2022
University of Tasmania
2013-2021
Zoological Research Museum Alexander Koenig
2019-2021
University of Cologne
2016-2021
Australian Wildlife Conservancy
2014-2015
Department of Land Resource Management
2015
Grazing represents the most extensive use of land worldwide. Yet its impacts on ecosystem services remain uncertain because pervasive interactions between grazing pressure, climate, soil properties, and biodiversity may occur but have never been addressed simultaneously. Using a standardized survey at 98 sites across six continents, we show that soil, are critical to explain delivery fundamental drylands Increasing pressure reduced service in warmer species-poor drylands, whereas positive...
Abstract Aim A third of all modern (after 1500) mammal extinctions (24/77) are Australian species. These have been restricted to southern ustralia, predominantly in species ‘critical weight range’ (35–5500 g) drier climate zones. Introduced red foxes ( V ulpes vulpes ) that prey on this range often blamed. new wave declines is now affecting a globally significant proportion marsupial (19 species) the fox‐free northern tropics. We aim test plausible causes recent and determine if mechanisms...
Summary Small mammal species are declining across northern Australia. Predation by feral cats Felis sylvestris catus is one hypothesised cause. Most evidence of cat impacts on native prey comes from islands, where densities often high, but typically occur at low mainland We conducted a field experiment to measure the effect predation low‐density populations demography small mammal. established two 12·5‐ha enclosures in tropical savanna Northern Territory. Each enclosure was divided half,...
Recent studies at some sites in northern Australia have reported severe and rapid decline of native mammal species, notwithstanding an environmental context (small human population size, limited habitat loss, substantial reservation extent) that should provide relative conservation security. All the more speciose taxonomic groups mammals species for which status has been assessed as threatened, with 53% dasyurid, 46% macropod potoroid, 33% bandicoot bilby, possum, 31% rodent, 24% bat being...
Australia has experienced dramatic declines and extinctions of its native rodent species over the last 200 years, particularly in southern Australia. In tropical savanna northern significant have occurred only recent decades. The later onset these suggests that causes may differ from earlier south. We examine potential regional effects (northern versus Australia) on biological ecological correlates range decline Australian rodents. demonstrate been greater south than north, are strongly...
Context Feral cats are a major cause of mammal declines and extinctions in Australia. However, elusive obtaining reliable ecological data is challenging. Although camera traps increasingly being used to study feral cats, their successful use northern Australia has been limited. Aims We evaluated the efficacy camera-trap sampling designs for detecting tropical savanna aimed develop camera-trapping method that would yield detection probabilities adequate precise occupancy estimates. Methods...
Biodiversity conservation in rangeland environments is often addressed by removing livestock, but inconsistent responses biota mean that the efficacy of this form management hotly debated. Reasons for inconsistency include usually short duration and small spatial scale manipulations compared to area grazing properties, as well divergent amongst biota. In low‐productivity arid environments, pulse‐reserve dynamic also complicates outcome manipulations. Here, we tested extended these ideas a...
Non-lethal management of wildlife, both 'problem wildlife' and pest species, to protect crops threatened species is becoming increasingly important as non-human animals humans come into closer proximity. A particularly promising approach apply predator scents manipulate the cost/benefit ratio that influences behavioral decisions made by prey other predators about where forage or rest. However, such olfactory manipulations are not always successful. Using insights from size-structured food...
Abstract Ecosystems across the world, and biodiversity they support, are experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressure, many will not persist without intervention. Given their complexity, I nternational U nion for C onservation of N ature has adopted an international standard ecosystem risk assessment that builds on strengths species‐based R ed L ist criteria. We applied this protocol to relatively understudied G eorgina gidgee woodland ecosystem, which a patchy but widespread distribution...
Arid grasslands are used worldwide for grazing by domestic livestock, generating debate about how this pastoral enterprise may influence native desert biota. One approach to resolving question is experimentally reduce livestock numbers and measure the effects. However, a key challenge in doing that historical impacts likely be cumulative therefore confound comparisons of short-term responses biota changes stocking levels. areas also subject infrequent flooding rainfalls drive productivity...
Herbivore exclusion is implemented globally to recover ecosystems from grazing by introduced and native herbivores, but evidence for large-scale biodiversity benefits inconsistent in arid ecosystems. We examined the effects of livestock on dryland plant richness reproductive capacity. collected data species seeding (reproductive capacity), rainfall, vegetation productivity cover, soil strength herbivore intensity 68 sites across 6500 km2 Georgina gidgee (Acacia georginae) woodlands central...
The activities of livestock in arid environments typically centre on watering points, with grazing impacts often predicted to decrease uniformly, as radial piospheres, distance from water. In patchy desert environments, however, the spatial distribution is more difficult predict. this study sightings and dung transects are used identify preferred cattle habitats heterogeneous dune system Simpson Desert, central Australia. importance points foci for activity was confirmed it shown that...
Abstract The challenges to which plants are exposed in urban environments represent, miniature, the face as a result of global environmental change. Hence, habitats provide unique opportunity assess whether processes local adaptation taking place despite short temporal and geographical scales that characterize Anthropocene. We quantified ecological diversity hosting Arabidopsis thaliana populations. Using plant community indicators, we show these patches differ their levels soil nutrient...
Introduced predators have a global reputation for causing declines and extinctions of native species. Native prey naiveté towards novel is thought to be key reason predator impacts. However, not necessarily forever: where coexistence establishes, it likely that will reduced through adaptation, the once alien eventually become recognised by prey. For example, marsupial bandicoots in Sydney avoid backyards with domestic dogs (C. lupus familiaris), but cats (Felis catus), even though were both...
Abstract Context Invasive predators are a key threat to biodiversity worldwide. In Australia, feral cats likely be responsible for many extinctions of native mammal species in the south and centre continent. Aims Here we examine effect on rodent populations second two translocation experiments. Methods wild-to-wild translocation, introduced pale field rats, Rattus tunneyi, whose declining wild, into pairs enclosures where accessibility by was manipulated. Key results Individual rats...
Global agreements like the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Achi Biodiversity Targets (ABTs) aim to secure human well-being protect biodiversity, but little progress has been made in reaching these aims. The key role of biodiversity securing is rarely considered a priority – instead short-term economic profits benefiting few are prioritized. Particularly where local livelihoods rely on resources protected areas for immediate survival, top-down enforced conservation often increases...
Removing cattle as a management tool to conserve biodiversity may not necessarily alter grazing impacts on vegetation if other introduced or native herbivores move in and replace the after removal. This study investigated whether there was difference abundance of red kangaroos (Osphranter (Macropus) rufus) feral camels (Camelus dromedarius) arid rangelands where had been recently removed compared with remained. Activity measured by clearing weighing dung, counting animal sightings. Kangaroos...
Abstract The challenges to which plants are exposed in urban environments represent, miniature, the face as a result of global environmental change. Hence, habitats provide unique opportunity assess whether processes local adaptation taking place despite short temporal and geographical scales that characterize Anthropocene. We quantified ecological diversity hosting A. thaliana populations. Using plant community indicators, we show these patches differ their levels soil nutrient content...
ANTHROPOGENIC change to Australian habitats accelerated rapidly during the late 1800s as sheep grazing spread across continent. In particular, intensive in arid and semi-arid regions is believed have vastly altered vegetation communities, triggered extensive soil erosion, reduced shelter available small mammals, thus increasing their vulnerability predation (Morton 1990). It not surprising, then, that since European settlement 32 species (42%) of mammals inhabiting zone Australia become...
Abstract The recent commentary by Woinarski (2014, Global Ecology and Biogeography , doi: 10.1111/geb.12165) disagreed with our conclusions on the correlates of decline in marsupials tropical A ustralia (Fisher et al., 2014, 23 181–190). We compared traits species that were associated range southern northern ustralia. found habitat structure, climate body size correlated decline. In north, declines most severe savanna moderate rainfall. south, ranges open very low rainfall have declined...