DOCSLIB.ORG

Staving Off Extinction – More Than Luck and Fate

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Staving Off Extinction – More Than Luck and Fate Copyright by the Ecological Society of America. Lindenmayer, D. B., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Legge, S. M., & Garnett, S. T. (2017). Staving off extinction – more than luck and fate. Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment, 15(8), 429- 430. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/fee.1533 WRITE BACK WRITE BACK WRITE BACK From these two cases, we recognize public profile and therefore a broad 429 four factors that may influence the constituency pushing for its conserva- Staving off extinction – degree of management response: tion. The stick insect’s range hap- more than luck and fate pened to lie within a conservation (1) The risk of imminent extinction Adrian Burton regularly writes a fasci- reserve staffed by committed conserva- needs to be explicitly assessed and that nating column in Frontiers, and his tion officers, and its quirky rediscovery risk then used to prioritize manage- article from December 2016 (“Staving by extreme adventurers climbing an ment response. There are many appro- off extinction”) discusses two isolated oceanic rock spire prompted Australian species: the Bramble Cay priate risk assessment procedures, such as Population Viability Analysis and media attention and fostered interest melomys (Melomys rubicola) and the and diverse community support from Lord Howe Island stick insect IUCN Red List assessment. In these two cases, no numerical assessment of schoolchildren to politicians. The (Dryococelus australis). However, we extinction risk was undertaken. But in Bramble Cay melomys, on the other suggest the article misses a key and a less formalized process for the stick hand, had no champions. It lived on a generalizable point about their fates insect, several factors led managers to small, remote, and uninhabited island (extinction and to- date successful appreciate the species’ proximity to visited by few people; even researchers conservation, respectively) as well as extinction: it had disappeared from all paid it scant attention. In contrast to the factors that led to those fates. of its previously known range, a the normal order of things, in this That is, the Lord Howe Island stick well-defined threat (introduced preda- case, the invertebrate had charisma insect survives today not simply tors) still operated, and its newly dis- whereas the mammal was a “lacklus- because of luck but because conserva- covered population comprised only a ter” rodent. We suggest there is a need tion managers intervened rapidly, handful of individuals. Managers were to raise the public profile of species effectively, and decisively (Priddel more complacent about risks to the more in line with extinction risk and et al. 2003). Consequently, there are Bramble Cay melomys, because it had ensure that any need for emergency now captive colonies around the long persisted in its (very small) range response (without which extinction world and staged plans for an eventual and the limited monitoring data indi- will almost certainly occur) is widely reintroduction to Lord Howe Island cated only gradual decline. Neverthe- communicated to a broad constitu- (Priddel and Carlile 2010). Although less, the low-lying island on which it ency within society. However, this is a its future in the wild is not yet secured, occurred was at risk of inundation. Its complex issue because many conserva- the stick insect is a remarkable story susceptibility to catastrophic habitat tionists have long used charismatic of conservation success. Conversely, loss and hence high extinction risk species (sometimes with relatively low the Bramble Cay melomys was ren- should have prompted policy and man- extinction risk) to attract public inter- dered extinct in large part because of agement response, but sadly did not. est and to rightly build the support management inaction and disregard. needed to influence policy makers. As Burton noted, this was a species (2) Effective advocacy is critical; poli- living on a knife- edge: it should have ticians, policy makers, resource man- (3) Managers are more likely to invest been evident to any person or agency agers, and human societies per se are in a conservation response if there is a with any responsibility for its survival more likely to respond if a species has a strategic, detailed, and objectives-based that it needed help. Its extinction could readily have been averted – and should have been – through simple and appropriate conservation actions (Woinarski et al. 2017). Many species are now on the edge of oblivion (Maxwell et al. 2016). In response, international policy such as the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals explicitly commit governments to “prevent the extinction of threat- ened species”. What can these two case studies tell us about the mismatch between this clear policy commit- ment and its realization? Obviously, they suggest that the fate of such spe- cies will increasingly depend upon I Bell/Queensland Dept of Environment and Heritage Protection whether (and how) managers and the Figure 1. The Bramble Cay melomys (Melomys rubicola) was lost because nobody community respond to imperilment. intervened to save it. © The Ecological Society of America www.frontiersinecology.org Write Back 430 process or plan for recovery with organizational processes (Woinarski Garnett ST and Lindenmayer DB. 2011. well-articulated priorities for action et al. 2017). Conservation science must engender hope to succeed. Trends Ecol Evol 26: and a clearly justified budget. In the Conservation biology needs fewer 59–60. case of the stick insect, the recovery failures and more success stories to Maxwell S, Fuller RA, Brooks T, and pathway – captive breeding, threat engender greater support from the Watson J. 2016. Biodiversity: the rav- reduction, and reintroduction – was general public about the importance ages of guns, nets and bulldozers. clear and practical. The recovery plan of the science and management of Nature 536: 143–45. Priddel D and Carlile N. 2010. Return of prepared for the Bramble Cay melomys preserving biodiversity (Garnett and the Lord Howe Island phasmid to Lord provided a comparatively opaque and Lindenmayer 2011). The contrast Howe Island, Australia. In: Soorae PS insufficient pathway to recovery. between the stories of failure for the (Ed). Global re-introduction perspec- Bramble Cay melomys and of success tives: additional case-studies from (4) As per international goals, gov- for the Lord Howe Island stick insect around the globe. Abu Dhabi, UAE: ernments should strive to prevent all IUCN/SSC Re-introduction Specialist is stark and illustrates the difference Group. avoidable extinctions. To allow – that informed action can make. through neglect, ineptitude, commu- Priddel D, Carlile N, Humphrey M, et al. 1 2003. Rediscovery of the extinct Lord nity disinterest, or deliberate choice David B Lindenmayer *, John CZ Howe Island stick-insect (Dryococelus 2 1 – “saveable” species to become extinct Woinarski , Sarah M Legge , and australis [Montrouzier]) (Phasmatodea) is to abrogate responsibility and to Stephen T Garnett2 and recommendations for its con- open a door to ever-increasing disre- 1 servation. Biodivers Conserv 12: 1391– National Environmental Science 403. gard for extinctions. We recognize Programme Threatened Species Recovery Woinarski JCZ, Garnett ST, Legge SM, that this objective will be challenging Hub, Fenner School of Environment and and Lindenmayer DB. 2017. The con- to meet but not to do so is likely to Society, The Australian National tribution of policy, law, management, result in more cases of avoidable University, Canberra, Australia research and advocacy failings to the recent extinctions of three Australian extinction. Of course, government *([email protected]); 2 vertebrate species. Conserv Biol 31: commitments alone do not ensure National Environmental Science 13–23. action or success. Commitments Programme Threatened Species Recovery need to be more firmly based in law Hub, Charles Darwin University, and implemented effectively through Casuarina, Australia doi:10.1002/fee.1533 Executive Director Washington, DC The Ecological Society of America (ESA) – the largest community of professional ecologists in the world – invites nominations and applications for the position of Executive Director. Following more than two decades of dedicated leadership from outgoing Executive Director, Katherine McCarter, ESA is poised to enter a new era of service to its members and to society. With 9,000 members globally, ESA is the flagship organization for one of the youngest, most energetic scientific fields today, with an extremely broad disciplinary scope and important policy relevance. The Society connects scientists across multi-faceted disciplines and promotes ecological science through high-quality publications, events, and educational programs. It works to infuse ecological knowledge into national dialogue and to garner federal support for ecological research. The Executive Director oversees a staff of 26 and an operating budget of $5.4 million. The position calls for a dynamic leader and spokesperson who brings proven managerial and organizational leadership skills and outstanding abilities in communication, collaboration, and customer service. While scientific credentials and/ or professional experience in ecology would be an asset, ESA is open to strong candidates from a range of professional backgrounds. Informed passion for ecology and the role of science in society is essential. An eight-member search committee has been established to conduct this search on behalf of ESA’s Governing Board. The search committee is assisted by Isaacson, Miller, Inc., a national executive search firm. Additional information, including a full position profile, can be found at www.imsearch.com/634 The Ecological Society of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We seek and welcome a diverse pool of candidates in this search. Applications received by November 1, 2017, will be assured full consideration. www.frontiersinecology.org © The Ecological Society of America.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Between Australia and New Guinea-Ecological and Cultural
    Geographical Review of Japan Vol. 59 (Ser. B), No. 2, 69-82, 1986 Between Australia and New Guinea-Ecological and Cultural Diversity in the Torres Strait with Special Reference to the Use of Marine Resources- George OHSHIMA* The region between lowland Papua and the northern tip of the Australian continent presents a fascinating panorama of ecological, cultural and socio-economic diversity. In lowland Papua and on its associated small islands such as Saibai, Boigu and Parama, a combination of coastal forests and muddy shores dominates the scene, whereas the Torres Strait Islands of volcanic and limestone origin, together with raised coral islands and their associated reef systems present a range of island ecosystems scattered over a broad territory some 800km in extent. Coralline habitats extend south wards to the Cape York Peninsula and some parts of Arnhem Land. Coupled with those ecological diversities within a relatively small compass across the Torres Strait, the region has evoked important questions concerning the archaeological and historical dichotomy between Australian hunter-gatherers and Melanesian horticulturalists. This notion is also reflectd in terms of its complex linguistic, ethnic and political composition. In summarizing the present day cultural diversity of the region, at least three major components emerge: hunter-gatherers in the Australian Northern Territory, Australian islanders and tribal Papuans. Historically, these groups have interacted in complex ways and this has resulted in an intricate intermingling of cultures and societies. Such acculturation processes operating over thousands of years make it difficult to isolate meaning ful trends in terms of "core-periphery" components of the individual cultures.
    [Show full text]
  • Net Primary Productivity, Global Climate Change and Biodiversity In
    This file is part of the following reference: Fuentes, Mariana Menezes Prata Bezerra (2010) Vulnerability of sea turtles to climate change: a case study within the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle population. PhD thesis, James Cook University. Access to this file is available from: http://eprints.jcu.edu.au/11730 Vulnerability of sea turtles to climate change: A case study with the northern Great Barrier Reef green turtle population PhD thesis submitted by Mariana Menezes Prata Bezerra FUENTES (BSc Hons) February 2010 For the degree of Doctor of Philosophy School of Earth and Environmental Sciences James Cook University Townsville, Queensland 4811 Australia “The process of learning is often more important than what is being learned” ii Statement of access I, the undersigned, author of this work, understand that James Cook University will make this thesis available for use within the University Library, via the Australian Theses Network, or by other means allow access to users in other approved libraries. I understand that as an unpublished work, a thesis has significant protection under the Copyright Act and beyond this, I do not wish to place any restriction access to this thesis. _______________________ ____________________ Signature, Mariana Fuentes Date iii Statement of sources declaration I declare that this thesis is my own work and has not been submitted in any form for another degree or diploma at any university or other institution of tertiary education. Information derived from the published or unpublished work of others has been duly acknowledged in the text and a list of references is given. ________________________ _____________________ Signature, Mariana Fuentes Date iv Statement of contribution of others Research funding: .
    [Show full text]
  • Land & Sea Management Strategy
    LAND & SEA MANAGEMENT STRATEGY for TORRES STRAIT Funded under the Natural Heritage Trust LAND & SEA MANAGEMENT STRATEGY for TORRES STRAIT Torres Strait NRM Reference Group with the assistance of Miya Isherwood, Michelle Pollock, Kate Eden and Steve Jackson November 2005 An initiative funded under the Natural Heritage Trust program of the Australian Government with support from: the Queensland Department of Natural Resources & Mines the Australian Government Department of the Environment and Heritage and the Torres Strait Regional Authority. Prepared by: Bessen Consulting Services FOREWORD The Torres Strait region is of enormous significance from a land and sea management perspective. It is a geographically and ecologically unique region, which is home to a culturally distinct society, comprised of over 20 different communities, extending from the south-western coast of Papua New Guinea (PNG) to the northern tip of Cape York Peninsula. The Torres Strait is also a very politically complex area, with an international border and a Treaty governance regime that poses unique challenges for coordinating land and sea management initiatives. Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal people, both within and outside of the region, have strong and abiding connections with their land and sea country. While formal recognition of this relationship has been achieved through native title and other legal processes, peoples’ aspirations to sustainably manage their land and sea country have been more difficult to realise. The implementation of this Strategy, with funding from the Australian Government’s Natural Heritage Trust initiative, presents us with an opportunity to progress community-based management in our unique region, through identifying the important land and sea assets, issues, information, and potential mechanisms for supporting Torres Strait communities to sustainably manage their natural resources.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Knowing Is Half the Battle
    FALL 2018/WINTER 2019 NEWSLETTER 4600 N. Fairfax Dr. 7th Floor Arlington, VA 22203 We Protect Species Adirondack Mountains | Photo by Kenable2 Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), NatureServe Global Status: Secure (G5), Range: North America Knowing Is Population Data Source: USFWS Figure shows number of breeding pairs Half the Battle Protecting populations of plants and animals while they are healthy is preferable to Effective conservation always begins with sound information. What desperate, last-ditch efforts to rescue species James Brumm species and habitats are there? Where do they occur? How are they from the brink of extinction. Unfortunately Chair doing and what can we do about it? NatureServe is the authoritative many species are already in dire trouble—for source of comprehensive biodiversity data and analyses that can these species we need the Endangered Species Board of answer these questions. I’m proud to support NatureServe because Pairs Breeding Act (ESA). Without the ESA, many iconic animals our information empowers better stewardship of our shared lands and and plants would likely have disappeared Directors waters. forever from America’s natural landscape. As the newly appointed Chair of the Board of Directors, I’m thrilled Did you know that NatureServe data is critical to begin my tenure alongside NatureServe’s President & CEO, Sean to protecting species through the Endangered T. O’Brien, Ph.D. His passion for conserving the Earth’s vast variety of Species Act? NatureServe data provide plants, animals, and ecosystems is evident, and he has already made objective and unbiased scientific assessments great strides for NatureServe. I’m confident that he will continue of a species’ risk of extinction.
    [Show full text]
  • Recovery Plan for the Bramble Cay Melomys Melomys Rubicola Prepared by Peter Latch
    Recovery Plan for the Bramble Cay Melomys Melomys rubicola Prepared by Peter Latch Title: Recovery Plan for the Bramble Cay Melomys Melomys rubicola Prepared by: Peter Latch © The State of Queensland, Environmental Protection Agency, 2008 Copyright protects this publication. Except for purposes permitted by the Copyright Act, reproduction by whatever means is prohibited without the prior written knowledge of the Environmental Protection Agency. Inquiries should be addressed to PO Box 15155, CITY EAST QLD 4002. Copies may be obtained from the: Executive Director Conservation Services Environmental Protection Agency PO Box 15155 CITY EAST Qld 4002 Disclaimer: The Australian Government, in partnership with the Environmental Protection Agency facilitates the publication of recovery plans to detail the actions needed for the conservation of threatened native wildlife. The attainment of objectives and the provision of funds may be subject to budgetary and other constraints affecting the parties involved, and may also be constrained by the need to address other conservation priorities. Approved recovery actions may be subject to modification due to changes in knowledge and changes in conservation status. Publication reference: Latch, P. 2008.Recovery Plan for the Bramble Cay Melomys Melomys rubicola. Report to Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts, Canberra. Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane. 2 Contents Page No. Executive Summary 4 1. General information 5 Conservation status 5 International obligations 5 Affected interests 5 Consultation with Indigenous people 5 Benefits to other species or communities 5 Social and economic impacts 5 2. Biological information 5 Species description 5 Life history and ecology 7 Description of habitat 7 Distribution and habitat critical to the survival of the species 9 3.
    [Show full text]
  • Autonomy Rights in Torres Strait: from Whom, for Whom, for Or Over What?
    Autonomy rights in Torres Strait: From whom, for whom, for or over what? W.G. Sanders and W.S. Arthur No. 215/2001 ISSN 1036-1774 ISBN 0 7315 2650 3 Will Sanders is a Fellow and Bill Arthur a Research Fellow at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research, The Australian National University. CENTRE FOR ABORIGINAL ECONOMIC POLICY RESEARCH DISCUSSION PAPER NO. 215 iii Table of contents Abbreviations and acronyms ...............................................................................iv Summary .............................................................................................................v Acknowledgments ................................................................................................v Introduction ........................................................................................................ 1 Calls for autonomy, and existing and proposed governance structures ................ 4 From whom? ....................................................................................................... 8 For whom? .......................................................................................................... 9 For or over what? .............................................................................................. 12 Autonomy, Australian federalism, and regional ethnic diversity: A concluding comment ...................................................................................... 15 Notes................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Determination 2016 (No 2)
    Australian Capital Territory Public Place Names (Throsby) Determination 2016 (No 2) Disallowable instrument DI2016-211 made under the Public Place Names Act 1989, s 3 (Minister to determine names) 1 Name of instrument This instrument is the Public Place Names (Throsby) Determination 2016 (No 2). 2 Commencement This instrument commences on the day after notification. 3 Determination of Place Names I determine the names listed in the schedule as the names of the corresponding public places indicated in the associated plan in the schedule. Dorte Ekelund Delegate of the Minister 24 August 2016 Authorised by the ACT Parliamentary Counsel—also accessible at www.legislation.act.gov.au SCHEDULE See section 3 of the Public Place Names (Throsby) Determination 2016 (No 2) Division of Throsby – Native Fauna The location of the public places with the following names is indicated on the associated plan. NAME ORIGIN SIGNIFICANCE Kaigas Street Kaigas On Mabuiag Island in the Torres Strait the word ‘Kaigas’ has the Traditional languages meaning of ‘Shovelnose shark’ in the of the Torres Strait English language. Islands. Kunapalari Kunapalari Frog Amphibian; frog Street Neobatrachus The Kunapalari Frog is a common kunapalari species in the southwest and central zones of Western Australia. The frog (Wheatbelt Frog) is usually found on clay soils. It is a moderate-sized robust species with relatively short limbs and protruding eyes. The Kunapalari Frog breeds after autumn or winter rain. It mates in milky pools where the resulting tadpoles are usually hidden from view. The call is a distinctive long, low trill. Melomys Circuit Bramble Cay melomys Mammal, native rodent Melomys rubicola A small, nocturnal native rodent unique to Bramble Cay, the most (Mosaic-tailed rat) northern island of the Great Barrier Reef in the northern Torres Strait.
    [Show full text]
  • Climate Change and Australia's Wildlife: Is Time Running Out?
    A JOINT REPORT PRODUCED BY WWF-AUSTRALIA & CLIMATE COUNCIL REPORT 2019 Climate change and Australia’s wildlife: Is time running out? CLIMATE CHANGE AND AUSTRALIA’S WILDLIFE: IS TIME RUNNING OUT? CLIMATE CHANGE For so long the major threats to Australia’s wildlife were known and well understood - habitat loss and fragmentation, feral predators such as foxes and cats, or IS HERE AND IT’S inappropriate fire regimes, especially in northern Australia. We’ve always known that HAVING GRAVE the impacts of climate change were looming, but it was a problem to be addressed in IMPACTS ON OUR 10, 20 or even 50 years. However, this latest Australian summer has shown us that climate change is here PRECIOUS WILDLIFE and it’s having grave impacts on our precious wildlife now. We can no longer think of NOW climate change as an issue for the future, for the next generation to deal with. We know that climate change is making our weather hotter and, in many areas, drier. Severe heatwaves are the new normal and droughts are longer and harsher. When it does rain, the downpours are becoming more intense, causing flooding such as we have recently witnessed in Townsville. A hotter, drier climate primes the bush for wildfires of increasing intensity and extent, with ecosystems such as Queensland’s rainforests and ancient Tasmanian forests suddenly now vulnerable. Marine heatwaves along Australia’s coasts are now regular events that result in extensive coral bleaching, such as we have witnessed in the summers in 2016 and 2017 on the Great Barrier Reef.
    [Show full text]
  • Nesting Green Turtles of Torres Strait
    Final Report Nesting green turtles of Torres Strait Mark Hamann, Justin Smith, Shane Preston and Mariana Fuentes Nesting green turtles of Torres Strait Final report Mark Hamann1, Justin Smith1, Shane Preston1 and Mariana Fuentes1 1 College of Marine and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University Supported by the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program Project 2.1 Marine turtles and dugongs of the Torres Strait © JCU National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry: 978-1-925088-62-5 This report should be cited as: Hamann, M., Smith, J. Preston S. and Fuentes, M.M.P.B. (2015) Nesting green turtles of Torres Strait. Report to the National Environmental Research Program. Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited, Cairns (15pp.). Published by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre on behalf of the Australian Government’s National Environmental Research Program (NERP) Tropical Ecosystems (TE) Hub. The Tropical Ecosystems Hub is part of the Australian Government’s Commonwealth National Environmental Research Program. The NERP TE Hub is administered in North Queensland by the Reef and Rainforest Research Centre Limited (RRRC). The NERP Tropical Ecosystem Hub addresses issues of concern for the management, conservation and sustainable use of the World Heritage listed Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and its catchments, tropical rainforests including the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area (WTWHA), and the terrestrial and marine assets underpinning resilient communities in the Torres Strait, through the generation and transfer of world-class research and shared knowledge. This publication is copyright. The Copyright Act 1968 permits fair dealing for study, research, information or educational purposes subject to inclusion of a sufficient acknowledgement of the source.
    [Show full text]
  • Potential Impacts of Projected Sea-Level Rise on Sea Turtle Rookeries
    AQUATIC CONSERVATION: MARINE AND FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS Aquatic Conserv: Mar. Freshw. Ecosyst. (2009) Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI: 10.1002/aqc.1088 Potential impacts of projected sea-level rise on sea turtle rookeries MMPB FUENTESa,Ã, CJ LIMPUSb, M HAMANNc and J DAWSON aSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Australia bQueensland Environmental Protection Agency, Brisbane, Australia cSchool of Earth and Environmental Sciences, James Cook University, Australia ABSTRACT 1. Projected sea-level rise (SLR) is expected to cause shoreline erosion, saline intrusion into the water table and inundation and flooding of beaches and coastal areas. Areas most vulnerable to these physical impacts include small, tropical low-lying islands, which are often key habitat for threatened and endemic species, such as sea turtles. 2. Successful conservation of threatened species relies upon the ability of managers to understand current threats and to quantify and mitigate future threats to these species. This study investigated how sea-level rise might affect key rookeries (nesting grounds) (n 5 8) for the northern Great Barrier Reef (nGBR) green turtle population, the largest green turtle population in the world. 3. 3-D elevation models were developed and applied to three SLR scenarios projected by the IPCC 2007 and an additional scenario that incorporates ice melting. Results indicate that up to 38% of available nesting area across all the rookeries may be inundated as a result of SLR. 4. Flooding, as a result of higher wave run-up during storms, will increase egg mortality at these rookeries affecting the overall reproductive success of the nGBR green turtle population.
    [Show full text]
  • Decline and Extinction of Australian Mammals Since European Settlement
    Ongoing unraveling of a continental fauna: Decline FEATURE ARTICLE and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement John C. Z. Woinarskia,b,1, Andrew A. Burbidgec, and Peter L. Harrisond aNorthern Australian Hub of National Environmental Research Program and bThreatened Species Recovery Hub of National Environmental Science Program, SEE COMMENTARY Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT 0909, Australia; cResearch Fellow, Department of Parks and Wildlife, Wanneroo, WA 6069, Australia; and dMarine Ecology Research Centre, School of Environment, Science and Engineering, Southern Cross University, Lismore, NSW 2480, Australia This Feature Article is part of a series identified by the Editorial Board as reporting findings of exceptional significance. Edited by William J. Bond, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa, and approved January 13, 2015 (received for review September 10, 2014) The highly distinctive and mostly endemic Australian land mam- than previously recognized and that many surviving Australian mal fauna has suffered an extraordinary rate of extinction (>10% native mammal species are in rapid decline, notwithstanding the of the 273 endemic terrestrial species) over the last ∼200 y: in generally low level in Australia of most of the threats that are comparison, only one native land mammal from continental North typically driving biodiversity decline elsewhere in the world. America became extinct since European settlement. A further 21% of Australian endemic land mammal species are now assessed to Earlier Losses be threatened, indicating that the rate of loss (of one to two European settlement at 1788 marks a particularly profound extinctions per decade) is likely to continue. Australia’s marine historical landmark for the Australian environment, the opening mammals have fared better overall, but status assessment for up of the continent to a diverse array of new factors, and an ap- them is seriously impeded by lack of information.
    [Show full text]