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From the President
Well 2020 has turned out to be quite the year so far hasn’t it? I hope that all of you have found a way to work through all that has happened these last 6 months. It’s not all bad though. I have enjoyed seeing more family’s out walking together as I walk my dog each day, and personally, working from home has been a breeze. I have been more productive and far less stressed, and it proves to most employers, that we really can have flexible workplaces, and for many jobs, we truly can work from anywhere.
As you would have seen or heard already, the AWMS committee made the decision to cancel this year’s conference in Dunedin. We had to make this decision quite early and it was the right one. The Australia-New Zealand “travel bubble” is still not a reality, and given the current outbreak in Victoria, is not likely to become one any time soon. So, this year we are going to attempt to run a virtual conference. We are hopeful that this is going to be beneficial for our sister organization SAWMA, who have indicated that they are likely to be able to fill a session with presentations from Southern Africa. This could be a great opportunity to enhance and strengthen our already firm relationship with SAWMA. I encourage all of you to consider submitting an abstract and participating in our virtual conference, and to attend sessions where possible, to support our presenters far and wide.
This year is my final year as President of AWMS and my term will come to an end at this year’s AGM. I encourage you to consider a position on the executive committee, either as President or as any one of the other positions that are up for nomination. The task is not an onerous one, but it does require some dedication of time over the year. Further information on nominations for positions will come out closer to the AGM, but now is the time to start thinking about it.
Finaly, I will be on leave for July and August so your Vice President, Tom Newsome, will be holding the fort while I am away. I look forward to catching up with you all virtually in December at our conference and AGM. Until then, stay safe. Tarnya.
AWMS 2019 Award recipientsCongratulations to all the AWMS 2019 Award recipients. In this section you will find more information about the awardees and their research projects.
Postgraduate Student Research Award
Increasing reintroduction success of greater bilbies (Macrotis lagotis)
Brianna Coulter
University of New South Wales
brianna.coulter@student.unsw.edu.au
About Brianna
Brianna is a PhD at the University of New South Wales in the Centre for Ecosystem Science. Her project focuses on understanding what factors affect the establishment outcomes of bilby translocations, including reintroductions and reinforcements, and understanding how bilby translocations affect the receiving environment. She previously worked in medical research but was drawn to the reintroduction biology field due to the widespread extirpation and ongoing threat of extinction faced by many endemic Australian species.
Introduction
Reintroductions of threatened species have become a popular conservation tool in Australia, and globally, to combat the growing number of species extinctions (Seddon et al., 2007; Short, 2009), with over 200 mammal reintroductions previously conducted in Australia (Short, 2009). Despite this, improvements in reintroduction outcomes and our understanding of what factors influence reintroduction success has been gradual due to retrospective examination of management outcomes dominating the reintroduction biology field, rather than experimental analysis (Armstrong and Seddon, 2008; Seddon et al., 2007; Taylor et al., 2017). The greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) is the fourth most reintroduced Australian species (Short, 2009), with reintroductions previously conducted across 14 sites and further releases planned. It is nationally listed as Vulnerable according to the EPBC Act (1999) and the IUCN (2015). They have also been extinct in NSW since 1912 (Troughton, 1932), are listed as Endangered in QLD and vulnerable in SA, WA and the NT. They have been the focus of many reintroductions due to their extinction risk, popularity as a flagship species and the important ecosystem services they provide as ecosystem engineers.
Many factors in the reintroduction process can influence the initial establishment success and the long-term viability of a reintroduced population (Letty et al., 2007). Establishment outcomes have been compared for captive vs wild sourced bilbies (Moseby et al., 2014), immediate release of bilbies vs release following an acclimatisation period (Moseby et al., 2014), and predator naïve vs predator exposed bilbies (Ross et al., 2019). There are many other factors that have not been tested in bilbies such as the effect of individual characteristics of release animals and mixture of source sites on establishment outcomes. Parentage outcomes of individual release animals has not been examined as an establishment outcome in bilbies which is a better indicator of contribution to genetic diversity than survival alone. Genetic diversity is becoming a focus of reintroduction planning as it is crucial to ensure the long-term viability of reintroduced populations. Methods to maximise the genetic diversity of reintroduced bilby populations and to improve the genetic diversity of established populations have not yet been explored in detail.
We will study factors that might influence the survival and reproductive outcomes of bilbies reintroduced to two sites, Sturt National Park and Mallee Cliffs National Park, in collaboration with UNSW’s Wild Deserts project and the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, respectively. These reintroductions are both part of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment’s Reintroduction of Locally Extinct Mammals project. The factors we will examine will include individual characteristics of the release animals, release group source sites and post-release behaviour. Improving our understanding of what factors influence not only the survival but also the reproductive outcomes of release animals will enable us to make recommendations for future reintroductions of bilbies and other similar species to support the best possible reintroduction outcomes and maximise genetic diversity.
Methods
The individual characteristics (morphometrics, life history traits and behaviour) of all bilbies reintroduced to two predator-free fenced exclosures (Mallee Cliffs National Park and Wild Deserts in Sturt National Park) will be measured and recorded before their release. All the release animals will be microchipped to monitor long-term survival outcomes and tissue samples will be collected from each animal. The release animals will be fitted with VHF transmitters with a mortality signal to monitor their survival for up to three months following their release using radiotelemetry. Radiotelemetry will also be used to monitor the movements of the bilbies post-release to assess their post-release habitat, shelter, and conspecific interaction behaviour. Trapping will be conducted at 3-, 6- and 12-months post-release to monitor the survival and condition of the release animals, assess the reproductive condition of the female animals and to collect tissue samples from offspring. Parentage analysis using single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) generated through a next generation sequencing method will be conducted to assign parents to the offspring and to examine the reproductive outcomes of the release animals. The effect of source site, individual characteristics, and post-release behaviour of release animals on establishment outcomes including, survival and reproductive success, will be examined.
Progress so far
In October 2019, bilbies (n = 50) sourced from three different sites (Thistle Island, Scotia Sanctuary and the Zoo and Aquarium Association) were reintroduced to Mallee Cliffs National Park, coordinated by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy and the post-release radiotelemetry was conducted by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy. The 3- and 6-months post-release trapping have been conducted and tissue samples have been collected from 26 progeny. The bilby reintroduction at the Wild Deserts’ project site in Sturt National Park was initially planned for April 2020 but due to the ongoing drought, this could not occur. The site received significant rainfall in March, with follow up rainfall in April and May which has improved conditions at the release site to enable the reintroduction to take place in September 2020. The tissue samples collected so far, in addition to further tissue samples which will be collected at 12-months post-release and those collected from the progeny following the Wild Deserts reintroduction, will be used to conduct genetic parentage analysis.
Funding from the Australian Wildlife Management Society allows us to conduct the DNA sequencing to be used for the genetic parentage analysis. While the survival of the individual release animals is important for establishment success, parentage outcomes provide more detail about the establishment outcomes of the individuals and will help us determine what factors influence their establishment success. The genetic analysis of samples collected from Mallee Cliffs National Park is scheduled to be completed by November 2020, while the genetic analysis of samples collected from Wild Deserts is scheduled to be completed by October 2021.
Best Student Presentation
The effects of fire on insectivorous bats and their resources in Cape York Peninsula, Australia
Julie Broken-Brow
School of Agriculture and Food Science, University of Queensland
julie.brokenbrow@uqconnect.edu.au
About Julie
Julie Broken-Brow currently works at the University of Queensland and Titley Scientific. Julie does research on bat and fire ecology in northern Australia. Her PhD project is entitled 'The effect of fire on insectivorous bats and their resources in Cape York Peninsula'. She also studies ecoacoustics and their ecological applications including novel approaches to soundscape analysis. Previous work includes radiotracking and ecology studies of Saccolaimus spp. in Cape York and NSW, and habitat use of mangroves by microbats.
Abstract
Fire is a significant ecological force in Australia, causing a wide range of ecosystem effects from immediate wildlife mortality to long-term habitat changes. There is mounting evidence that inappropriate fire regimes are a key process driving the decline of small mammals in northern Australia. In Cape York Peninsula there are 27 species of insectivorous bats, several of which are threatened, yet little is known about how fire affects these bats. In this study, we examine the short-term response of bats and their insect prey to fire, as well as the effects of different fire regimes, including intensity and return-interval on bats and their habitat. We’ve used a range of methods including passive acoustic monitoring, habitat assessments, and insect trapping, in before-after-control-impact (BACI) experiments, and randomized
block experiments to critically determine the effects of fire on bats and their resources. Our results show
that fire can have a significant impact on bats and their resources, and that differing fire regimes are likely
to have varied impacts. We’ve also demonstrated that site-specific characteristics can drastically influence
ecological responses to fire. The findings from this study can be used to improve conservation
management strategies in northern Australia, and can aid in the interpretation of results from other fire
and bat studies globally.
Best Student Presentation (runner up)
Applying Viral Metagenomics to Ecology and Wildlife Management
Rebecca French
University of Sydney
rebecca.french@sydney.edu.au
About Rebecca
Rebecca is a PhD student at the University of Sydney studying viral ecology. The aim of her PhD is to use metagenomic approaches to reveal the drivers of viral abundance and diversity, and examine the processes that govern the flow of viruses between host species in different communities and ecosystems. Prior to starting this PhD she did an MSc in conservation biology working with yellow-eyed penguins and a postgraduate diploma in wildlife management. She has also worked as a wildlife manager with sea lions in the NZ subantarctic islands, fur seals in Kaikoura, and been a wildlife guide in the Antarctic Peninsula.”
Abstract
Viral disease is an important threat to wildlife, particularly small populations and those with low genetic diversity. Despite this, little is known about the role viruses pay in ecosystems and how the ecology of hosts impacts viral diversity. Prior to recent genomic advances, the techniques used to study viruses were labour-intensive and expensive, and often relied on some prior knowledge of the viral types present. The development of metagenomics in theory allows the entire virome of a sample to be sequenced in an unbiased manner, so that the extent and diversity of viruses can be explored in ways they were previously impossible. This will bring a new understanding of viruses at the ecosystem scale along with important and direct implications for wildlife management. In this talk, we show how viral metagenomics can be applied to ecology and wildlife management, and give examples of the ways in which viruses alter interactions between host individuals, populations and ecosystems, and how host ecology in turn impacts viral abundance and diversity.
Best student poster
Red fox movements in the Pilbara, Western Australia
John-Michael Stuart
Murdoch University
J.Stuart@murdoch.edu.au
About John
John is a PhD student and also an associate researcher at Murdoch University. His PhD project and thesis is on Ecology and behaviour of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) adjacent to a flatback turtle (Natator depressus) rookery on the Pilbara Coast of Western Australia
Abstract
Since the introduction of the European red fox (Vulpes vulpes) into Australia, foxes have been largely implicated as a major contributing factor to the decline of native wildlife and damage to livestock. This in part can be attributed to successful spread of the red fox in Australia as well as large plasticity in terms of diets and habitats in which they can occupy. Today foxes inhabit a large proportion of Australia, but remain absent from some offshore Islands and the tropical north of the continent. Recent research suggests that for foxes, a space use gradient exists with foxes utilising larger areas with increasing aridity of habitats and decreasing resource availability. We investigated the home ranges and habitat use of foxes in the semi-arid Pilbara region of Western Australia, an area nearing the northern edges of the red fox distribution in Australia. GPS/Iridium collars (Telemetry Solutions, USA) were fitted to 14 foxes (7 females, 7 males) at Mundabullangana Station (60 km south-west of Port Hedland) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. This was used to calculate home ranges and understand resource use by foxes in this area. Data indicated strong evidence of exclusive territories, with minimal overlap within the sexes. Home range areas (95% core AKDEc) averaged 23.48 ± 16.19 km 2 for females and 30.81 ± 53.92 km 2 for males. These areas are some of the largest recorded for red foxes, which likely reflects the aridity of the study site. Understanding movement patterns and resource use will help to develop location-specific strategies for fox control.
Practical Management Award winner
David Worsley
AWI wild dog coordinator NENSW, Maryland Nullamanna
Dave.worsley@wool.com
Abstract
The impact of independent facilitation to develop wild dog control programs and engage with all stakeholders. Working with Local Land Services, National Parks, State Forests and private landholders to unite the Northern Tablelands region in effective control.
Wild dog predation has been driving producers out of sheep and rendering much of the region unviable to sheep production, threatening the industry’s future and that of future generations on the land. In 2014, 2121 head of livestock were reported killed to Northern Tablelands Local Land Services. Native animals including the spotted-tailed quoll and brush-tailed rock-wallaby were also threatened by predation.
The facilitation project commenced in May 2015 through AWI to bring about change and harness community capacity to develop a more functional regional control program. The project was to bring together scientific research principles and practitioners with landholders in a strategic framework to increase on-ground capacity through education, engagement and development of open communication and management plans to create real outcomes.
Personal engagement and relationship development between stakeholders was necessary to reignite dysfunctional wild dog management groups, create new relationships for plans in areas where wild dogs had not been an issue for many years and reduce livestock losses. Improvements in mental health and environmental benefits, while important and expected, were not included as measurable outcomes.
How management has been developed using proactive control, backed by reactive triggers giving landholders confidence in their future and government agencies a consistent approach. Working together on a landscape level to achieve best practice control.
The learning and outcomes of the project. What has been achieved to date, changes 2014 to 2018 and the future.
Improvements to the process As a result of my project, from 2015 to
2017 all groups from the Hunter Valley, the North West, the Northern
Tablelands, the North Coast, back into the Northern Tablelands up to the Qld
border and the Southern Downs Shire Council synchronized their annual aerial
baiting giving a massive broadscale, coordinated program. The aerial baiting
program also acts as the trigger for associated ground baiting and other
activities.
29 groups are now incorporated, allowing
Local Land Services to enter into funding agreements to a value of $80,000 per
annum.
I have encouraged all my groups to report
all activity through the Feralscan app. All data links to the mapped group
areas for reporting and planning, and give direct alerts of wild dog activity to
group members and LLS staff.
Each year, I navigate and edit all aerial
bait lines in the helicopter and provide feedback to groups. This builds trust,
enables efficiencies to be implemented and incorporated into revised plans and increases
compliance. The mapping system for navigation and crew safety has been modified
and upgraded and a video camera system and lights have been installed in the helicopter
to improve compliance, safety and confidence.
Pest management has become an annual
calendar event in a similar fashion to when the bulls go out or shearing. A
pest animal control calendar for all species with trigger dates will be
published for the 2020 year.
My clientele continues to grow and plans
for formation of additional groups within my region, plus groups in the Hunter
Valley, North West, North Coast, Central Tablelands and Southern Qld are in
place.
The major challenge is to maintain
engagement with an ever-increasing client base and continue to support and
develop new areas and groups.
Braysher Management Award winner
Mark Kohler
School of Psychology, The University of Adelaide S.Dawson@murdoch.edu.au
About Mark
Mark’s research focuses on cognitive and
behavioural development and psychophysiology. He has specific expertise in the
areas of child sleep and cognition, sleep disorders, memory, as well as the
interaction of child health, lifestyle factors and well-being. Mark moved to
Psychology at the University of Adelaide in 2018, after working as Senior
Lecturer and Program Director for Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of
South Australia since 2010. Prior to this, he completed a post-doctoral
research position in Paediatrics and the University of Adelaide
Abstract
Engagement with nature has multiple
reported physical, mental and social benefits, as well as improves conservation
behaviour amongst children and their broader family. The Australian school
system provides a unique context whereby the use of outdoor engagement with
nature as a learning tool can provide a vehicle for positive change. The
project supported by the Braysher Management Award is surveying parents and
teachers of primary school children in South Australia to assess the
relationship between nature-based learning, resilience and wellbeing, and
academic outcomes. The funding has also allowed for assessment of conservation
behaviour and nature connectedness in children as an additional outcome. So far
we have responses for around 50 children, and preliminary results show a strong
mediating effect of resilience on the relationship between nature-based
learning and wellbeing and school outcomes. This suggests that engagement with
nature promotes resilience in children, which in turn leads to improved mental
health and school performance. Although the progress of the project halted due
to the outbreak of Covid-19, schools have resumed in South Australia, and the
aim is to complete the work during the remainder of this year.
Conference call for abstracts 2020The AWMS2020 conference will be coming to you!
Given the COVID-19 situation the Australasian
Wildlife Management Society (AWMS) will be holding its 33rd annual conference
as a virtual conference, free to attend for all.
The Call for Abstracts for AWMS2020 is now open,
and we welcome the submission of abstracts on any wildlife management research
or topic.
Abstracts must be submitted by 31 August 2020 and can be uploaded using the online submission form
Presentations will have 12 minutes speaking time
plus additional time for questions. Speakers will be notified of acceptance by
15 September 2020. For more information visit https://www.awms.org.au/2020-conference or send us an email conference@awms.org.au
awms awards 2020
AWMS Awards are now open for application! AWMS has a wide range of awards available for its members. All applications close 31 August 2020. Head to our website for more information Practitioner Award - to recognise those practitioners implementing outstanding wildlife management in their field D.W.Cooper Student Thesis Award - for a thesis of excellence within the field of scientifically-based wildlife management research Postgraduate Research Award - to facilitate postgraduate student (Masters and PhD) research associated with the scientific management of wildlife Honours and Undergraduate Travel Award - to facilitate tertiary (undergraduate and Honours) student involvement in the range of fields associated with the scientific management of wildlife Braysher Management Fund - to support studies and other initiatives that address practical (rather than theoretical) wildlife management problems where community involvement is fundamental to the success of the programme. Best Student Presentation and Poster - At the annual AWMS conference all students can be judged in the 'Best Student Presentation and Poster'. Entry is not compulsory.
Conference Sponsors AWMS 2020
Your support will help us improve the quality and breadth of the virtual conference, and help us to continue to provide awards and grants to wildlife managers and related research projects. We developed a specific sponsorship package for our virtual conference. For more information please contact conference@awms.org.au
committee POSITIONS available
This year a number of Committee positions will open for nomination. While an official call for nominations will come out in the next newsletter and via email, the AWMS Committee encourages members to consider supporting their Society by nominating for a position. Anyone considering a position on the Committee will require a member to nominate them and an additional member to second that nomination. Full details will be provided closer to the conference. All positions are two year terms and current holders of the positions can re-nominate. Positions up for nomination are:
Networking
We received two requests from students for a possible internship and a research enquiry: Caitlin Ford
School of Earth and Environmental Science University of Queensland
c.ford@uq.net.au Research enquiry
Caitlin is a PhD student at the University of Queensland working in the field of animal behaviour and conservation translocation programmes, with a specific focus on primates. She would like to get in contact with experts in the field of either animal behaviour or conservation translocation programmes, and would like to talk further about her research with AWMS members. Her particular area of interest takes the perspective of keepers and/or animal carers, so if you are in touch with any zoos or wildlife organisations that you think wouldn’t mind Caitlin getting in touch with them to discuss research please let her know.
Michelle Jongenelen
michelle.jongenelen1996@gmail.com Possible internship
Michelle is a Master's degree in Ecology & Evolution student in the Netherlands. This year she has mainly focused on fundamental ecological research, but as of September she will do a Science Business & Policy track within Ecology that will allow her to do a half year (paid) internship in a non-academic institution starting in January 2021. Michelle's research focus is on the interaction between humans and nature. She would like to contribute to allow people to have the benefits of nature while limiting the negative impacts humans can have on ecosystems and biodiversity.
In her previous job, she gained experience on working with different stakeholders and creating real world solutions based on scientific research. She is currently looking for an internship in Australia or NZ in an institution where she can work with people who share the same values. If you think you can help, please get in touch with Michelle. What's new...Check the new section Award Winners in the AWMS website. If you were an award recipient and would like to share your photo(s) to be uploaded in this section, send us an email to newsletter@awms.org.au
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