Spatial and Temporal Variation in Declining Eastern Quoll (Dasyurus Viverrinus) Populations in Tasmania
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Felixer™ Grooming Trap Non-Target Safety Trial: Numbats July 2020
Felixer™ Grooming Trap Non-Target Safety Trial: Numbats July 2020 Brian Chambers, Judy Dunlop, Adrian Wayne Summary Felixer™ cat grooming traps are a novel and potential useful means for controlling feral cats that have proven difficult, or very expensive to control by other methods such as baiting, shooting and trapping. The South West Catchments Council (SWCC) and the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) plan to undertake a meso-scale trial of Felixer™ traps in the southern jarrah forest where numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) are present. Felixer™ traps have not previously been deployed in areas with numbat populations. We tested the ability of Felixer™ traps to identify numbats as a non-target species by setting the traps in camera only mode in pens with four numbats at Perth Zoo. The Felixer™ traps were triggered 793 times by numbats with all detections classified as non-targets. We conclude that the Felixer™ trap presents no risk to numbats as a non-target species. Acknowledgements We are grateful Peter Mawson, Cathy Lambert, Karen Cavanough, Jessica Morrison and Aimee Moore of Perth Zoo for facilitating access to the numbats for the trial. The trial was approved by the Perth Zoo Animal Ethics Committee (Project No. 2020-4). The Felixer™ traps used in this project were provided by Fortescue Metals Group Pty Ltd and Roy Hill Mining Pty Ltd. This trial was supported by the South West Catchments Council with funding through the Australian Government’s National Landcare Program. ii Felixer™ - Numbat Safety Trial -
Spatial Ecology of the Tasmanian Spotted-Tailed Quoll
Spatial Ecology of the Tasmanian Spotted-Tailed Quoll Shannon Nichole Troy Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science, Flinders University of South Australia Honours, Biological Science, Monash University Submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Biological Sciences University of Tasmania November 2014 Preface Author Declarations Declaration of Originality This thesis contains no material which has been accepted for a degree or diploma by the University or any other institution, except by way of background information and duly acknowledged in the thesis, and to the best of my knowledge and belief no material previously published or written by another person except where due acknowledgement is made in the text of the thesis, nor does the thesis contain any material that infringes copyright. November 2014 Shannon Troy Date Authority of Access This thesis may be made available for loan and limited copying and communication in accordance with the Copyright Act 1968. November 2014 Shannon Troy Date i Preface Author Declarations Statement of Ethical Conduct The research associated with this thesis abides by the international and Australian codes on human and animal experimentation, the guidelines by the Australian Government's Office of the Gene Technology Regulator and the rulings of the Safety, Ethics and Institutional Biosafety Committees of the University. November 2014 Shannon Troy Date ii Preface Acknowledgements Acknowledgements I am very fortunate to have been supervised by a group of outstanding ecologists and wonderful people. Thanks to my primary supervisor, Menna Jones, for the opportunity to undertake a PhD, allowing me to take it in my own direction, providing enthusiasm and support for my ideas, and lots of interesting discussions about predator ecology. -
Lindsay Masters
CHARACTERISATION OF EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED AND SPONTANEOUSLY OCCURRING DISEASE WITHIN CAPTIVE BRED DASYURIDS Scott Andrew Lindsay A thesis submitted in fulfillment of requirements for the postgraduate degree of Masters of Veterinary Science Faculty of Veterinary Science University of Sydney March 2014 STATEMENT OF ORIGINALITY Apart from assistance acknowledged, this thesis represents the unaided work of the author. The text of this thesis contains no material previously published or written unless due reference to this material is made. This work has neither been presented nor is currently being presented for any other degree. Scott Lindsay 30 March 2014. i SUMMARY Neosporosis is a disease of worldwide distribution resulting from infection by the obligate intracellular apicomplexan protozoan parasite Neospora caninum, which is a major cause of infectious bovine abortion and a significant economic burden to the cattle industry. Definitive hosts are canid and an extensive range of identified susceptible intermediate hosts now includes native Australian species. Pilot experiments demonstrated the high disease susceptibility and the unexpected observation of rapid and prolific cyst formation in the fat-tailed dunnart (Sminthopsis crassicaudata) following inoculation with N. caninum. These findings contrast those in the immunocompetent rodent models and have enormous implications for the role of the dunnart as an animal model to study the molecular host-parasite interactions contributing to cyst formation. An immunohistochemical investigation of the dunnart host cellular response to inoculation with N. caninum was undertaken to determine if a detectable alteration contributes to cyst formation, compared with the eutherian models. Selective cell labelling was observed using novel antibodies developed against Tasmanian devil proteins (CD4, CD8, IgG and IgM) as well as appropriate labelling with additional antibodies targeting T cells (CD3), B cells (CD79b, PAX5), granulocytes, and the monocyte-macrophage family (MAC387). -
Platypus Collins, L.R
AUSTRALIAN MAMMALS BIOLOGY AND CAPTIVE MANAGEMENT Stephen Jackson © CSIRO 2003 All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests. National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry Jackson, Stephen M. Australian mammals: Biology and captive management Bibliography. ISBN 0 643 06635 7. 1. Mammals – Australia. 2. Captive mammals. I. Title. 599.0994 Available from CSIRO PUBLISHING 150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139) Collingwood VIC 3066 Australia Telephone: +61 3 9662 7666 Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only) Fax: +61 3 9662 7555 Email: [email protected] Web site: www.publish.csiro.au Cover photos courtesy Stephen Jackson, Esther Beaton and Nick Alexander Set in Minion and Optima Cover and text design by James Kelly Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd Printed in Australia by Ligare REFERENCES reserved. Chapter 1 – Platypus Collins, L.R. (1973) Monotremes and Marsupials: A Reference for Zoological Institutions. Smithsonian Institution Press, rights Austin, M.A. (1997) A Practical Guide to the Successful Washington. All Handrearing of Tasmanian Marsupials. Regal Publications, Collins, G.H., Whittington, R.J. & Canfield, P.J. (1986) Melbourne. Theileria ornithorhynchi Mackerras, 1959 in the platypus, 2003. Beaven, M. (1997) Hand rearing of a juvenile platypus. Ornithorhynchus anatinus (Shaw). Journal of Wildlife Proceedings of the ASZK/ARAZPA Conference. 16–20 March. -
Northern Quoll ©
Species Fact Sheet: Northern quoll © V i e w f i n d e r Nothern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus The northern quoll is a medium-sized carnivorous marsupial that lives in the savannas of northern Australia. It is found from south-eastern Queensland all the way to the northern parts of the Western Australian coast. Populations have declined across much of this range, particularly as a result of the spread of the cane toad. Recent translocations to islands in northern Australia free from feral animals have had some success in increasing populations on islands Conservation status The World Conservation Union (IUCN) Redlist of Threatened Species: Lower risk – near threatened Australian Government - Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 : Endangered Did you know? Western Australia. They have been associated with the de - mise of a number of native species. • Although they are marsupials, female northern quolls do not have a pouch. At the start of the Conservation action breeding season the area around the nipples becomes enlarged and partially surrounded by a Communities, scientists and governments are working flap of skin. The young (usually six in a litter) live together to coordinate the research and management here for the first eight to 10 weeks of their lives. effort. The Threatened Species Network, a community- • Almost all male northern quolls die at about one based program of the Australian Government and WWF- year old, not long after mating. Australia, recently provided funding for Traditional Owners to survey Maria Island in the Northern Territory for northern Distribution and habitat quolls. On Groote Eylandt, the most significant island for northern quolls, a TSN Community Grant is providing funds Northern quolls live in a range of habitats but prefer rocky to help quarantine the island from hitch-hiking cane toads areas and eucalypt forests. -
The Hunter and Biodiversity in Tasmania
The Hunter and Biodiversity in Tasmania The Hunter takes place on Tasmania’s Central Plateau, where “One hundred and sixty-five million years ago potent forces had exploded, clashed, pushed the plateau hundreds of metres into the sky.” [a, 14] The story is about the hunt for the last Tasmanian tiger, described in the novel as: “that monster whose fabulous jaw gapes 120 degrees, the carnivorous marsupial which had so confused the early explorers — a ‘striped wolf’, ‘marsupial wolf.’” [a, 16] Fig 1. Paperbark woodlands and button grass plains near Derwent Bridge, Central Tasmania. Source: J. Stadler, 2010. Biodiversity “Biodiversity”, or biological diversity, refers to variety in all forms of life—all plants and animals, their genes, and the ecosystems they live in. [b] It is important because all living things are connected with each other. For example, humans depend on living things in the environment for clean air to breathe, food to eat, and clean water to drink. Biodiversity is one of the underlying themes in The Hunter, a Tasmanian film directed by David Nettheim in 2011 and based on Julia Leigh’s 1999 novel about the hunt for the last Tasmanian Tiger. The film and the novel showcase problems that arise from loss of species, loss of habitat, and contested ideas about land use. The story is set in the Central Plateau Conservation Area and much of the film is shot just south of that area near Derwent Bridge and in the Florentine Valley. In Tasmania, land clearing is widely considered to be the biggest threat to biodiversity [c, d]. -
MORNINGTON PENINSULA BIODIVERSITY: SURVEY and RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Design and Editing: Linda Bester, Universal Ecology Services
MORNINGTON PENINSULA BIODIVERSITY: SURVEY AND RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTS Design and editing: Linda Bester, Universal Ecology Services. General review: Sarah Caulton. Project manager: Garrique Pergl, Mornington Peninsula Shire. Photographs: Matthew Dell, Linda Bester, Malcolm Legg, Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI), Mornington Peninsula Shire, Russell Mawson, Bruce Fuhrer, Save Tootgarook Swamp, and Celine Yap. Maps: Mornington Peninsula Shire, Arthur Rylah Institute (ARI), and Practical Ecology. Further acknowledgements: This report was produced with the assistance and input of a number of ecological consultants, state agencies and Mornington Peninsula Shire community groups. The Shire is grateful to the many people that participated in the consultations and surveys informing this report. Acknowledgement of Country: The Mornington Peninsula Shire acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders as the first Australians and recognises that they have a unique relationship with the land and water. The Shire also recognises the Mornington Peninsula is home to the Boonwurrung / Bunurong, members of the Kulin Nation, who have lived here for thousands of years and who have traditional connections and responsibilities to the land on which Council meets. Data sources - This booklet summarises the results of various biodiversity reports conducted for the Mornington Peninsula Shire: • Costen, A. and South, M. (2014) Tootgarook Wetland Ecological Character Description. Mornington Peninsula Shire. • Cook, D. (2013) Flora Survey and Weed Mapping at Tootgarook Swamp Bushland Reserve. Mornington Peninsula Shire. • Dell, M.D. and Bester L.R. (2006) Management and status of Leafy Greenhood (Pterostylis cucullata) populations within Mornington Peninsula Shire. Universal Ecology Services, Victoria. • Legg, M. (2014) Vertebrate fauna assessments of seven Mornington Peninsula Shire reserves located within Tootgarook Wetland. -
Factsheet: a Threatened Mammal Index for Australia
Science for Saving Species Research findings factsheet Project 3.1 Factsheet: A Threatened Mammal Index for Australia Research in brief How can the index be used? This project is developing a For the first time in Australia, an for threatened plants are currently Threatened Species Index (TSX) for index has been developed that being assembled. Australia which can assist policy- can provide reliable and rigorous These indices will allow Australian makers, conservation managers measures of trends across Australia’s governments, non-government and the public to understand how threatened species, or at least organisations, stakeholders and the some of the population trends a subset of them. In addition to community to better understand across Australia’s threatened communicating overall trends, the and report on which groups of species are changing over time. It indices can be interrogated and the threatened species are in decline by will inform policy and investment data downloaded via a web-app to bringing together monitoring data. decisions, and enable coherent allow trends for different taxonomic It will potentially enable us to better and transparent reporting on groups or regions to be explored relative changes in threatened understand the performance of and compared. So far, the index has species numbers at national, state high-level strategies and the return been populated with data for some and regional levels. Australia’s on investment in threatened species TSX is based on the Living Planet threatened and near-threatened birds recovery, and inform our priorities Index (www.livingplanetindex.org), and mammals, and monitoring data for investment. a method developed by World Wildlife Fund and the Zoological A Threatened Species Index for mammals in Australia Society of London. -
Impact of Fox Baiting on Tiger Quoll Populations Project ID: 00016505
Impact of fox baiting on tiger quoll populations Project ID: 00016505 Final Report to Environment Australia and The New South Wales National Parks and Wildlife Service Gerhard Körtner and Shaan Gresser Copyright G. Körtner Executive Summary: The NSW Threat Abatement Plan for Predation by the Red Fox (TAP) identifies foxes as a major threat to the survival of many native mammals. The plan recommends baiting with compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) because it appears to be the most effective fox control measure. However, the plan also recognises the risk for tiger quolls as a non-target species. Although the actual impact of 1080 fox baiting on tiger quoll populations has not been assessed, this assumed risk has resulted in restrictions on the use of 1080 which render fox baiting programs labour intensive and expensive and which may compromise the effectiveness of the fox control. The aim of this project is to determine whether these precautions are necessary by measuring tiger quoll mortality during fox baiting programs using 1080. The project has been identified as a priority action (Obj. 2, action 5) of the TAP. Three experiments were conducted in north-east NSW between June 2000 and December 2001. Overall 78 quolls were trapped and 56 of those were fitted with mortality radio-transmitters. Baiting procedure followed Best Practice Guidelines (TAP) except that there was no free-feeding and baits were only surface buried. These modifications aimed to increase the exposure of quolls to bait. 1080 baits (3 mg / bait; Foxoff®) incorporating the bait marker Rhodamine B were deployed for 10 days along existing trails. -
Ba3444 MAMMAL BOOKLET FINAL.Indd
Intot Obliv i The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia Compiled by James Fitzsimons Sarah Legge Barry Traill John Woinarski Into Oblivion? The disappearing native mammals of northern Australia 1 SUMMARY Since European settlement, the deepest loss of Australian biodiversity has been the spate of extinctions of endemic mammals. Historically, these losses occurred mostly in inland and in temperate parts of the country, and largely between 1890 and 1950. A new wave of extinctions is now threatening Australian mammals, this time in northern Australia. Many mammal species are in sharp decline across the north, even in extensive natural areas managed primarily for conservation. The main evidence of this decline comes consistently from two contrasting sources: robust scientifi c monitoring programs and more broad-scale Indigenous knowledge. The main drivers of the mammal decline in northern Australia include inappropriate fi re regimes (too much fi re) and predation by feral cats. Cane Toads are also implicated, particularly to the recent catastrophic decline of the Northern Quoll. Furthermore, some impacts are due to vegetation changes associated with the pastoral industry. Disease could also be a factor, but to date there is little evidence for or against it. Based on current trends, many native mammals will become extinct in northern Australia in the next 10-20 years, and even the largest and most iconic national parks in northern Australia will lose native mammal species. This problem needs to be solved. The fi rst step towards a solution is to recognise the problem, and this publication seeks to alert the Australian community and decision makers to this urgent issue. -
Spotted Tailed Quoll (Dasyurus Maculatus)
Husbandry Guidelines for the SPOTTED-TAILED QUOLL (Tiger Quoll) (Photo: J. Marten) Dasyurus maculatus (MAMMALIA: DASYURIDAE) Author: Julie Marten Date of Preparation: February 2013 – June 2014 Western Sydney Institute of TAFE, Richmond Course Name and Number: Captive Animals Certificate III (18913) Lecturers: Graeme Phipps, Jacki Salkeld, Brad Walker DISCLAIMER Please note that this information is just a guide. It is not a definitive set of rules on how the care of Spotted- Tailed Quolls must be conducted. Information provided may vary for: • Individual Spotted-Tailed Quolls • Spotted-Tailed Quolls from different regions of Australia • Spotted-Tailed Quolls kept in zoos versus Spotted-Tailed Quolls from the wild • Spotted-Tailed Quolls kept in different zoos Additionally different zoos have their own set of rules and guidelines on how to provide husbandry for their Spotted-Tailed Quolls. Even though I researched from many sources and consulted various people, there are zoos and individual keepers, researchers etc. that have more knowledge than myself and additional research should always be conducted before partaking any new activity. Legislations are regularly changing and therefore it is recommended to research policies set out by national and state government and associations such as ARAZPA, ZAA etc. Any incident resulting from the misuse of this document will not be recognised as the responsibility of the author. Please use at the participants discretion. Any enhancements to this document to increase animal care standards and husbandry techniques are appreciated. Otherwise I hope this manual provides some helpful information. Julie Marten Picture J.Marten 2 OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH AND SAFETY RISKS It is important before conducting any work that all hazards are identified. -
Relocating Eastern Quolls
Teacher Resource Eastern Quolls 1. What was the main point of the BTN story? Students will investigate a native 2. When were eastern quolls last seen on mainland Australia? animal that is a threatened species. 3. Quolls are… a. Monotremes b. Marsupials c. Amphibians 4. What are eastern quolls also known as? Science – Year 4 5. Which introduced predators drove quolls to extinction on mainland Living things have life cycles. Australia? Living things, including plants and 6. Which state are breeding quolls to move to NSW? animals, depend on each other and 7. How many quolls will be released in the national park? the environment to survive. 8. Why were quolls called the `farmers friend’? Science – Year 5 9. How will the quolls be monitored? Living things have structural features and adaptations that help them to 10. What did you learn watching the BTN story? survive in their environment. Science – Year 6 The growth and survival of living things are affected by the physical conditions of their environment Note Taking Students take notes while watching the BTN story. After watching the story, students reflect on and organise the information into three categories. What information about quolls was...? • Positive • Negative or • Interesting Class Discussion Discuss the BTN Eastern Quoll story as a class. What questions were raised in the discussion (what are the gaps in their knowledge)? The KWLH organiser provides students with a framework to explore their knowledge on this topic and consider what they would like to know and learn. What do I know? What do I want to know? What have I learnt? How will I find out? ©ABC 2017 Key Words Students will develop a glossary of words and terms that relate to threatened species.