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Department of Parks and Wildlife Science and Conservation Division annual research report 2013–14 DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE There has been much change since we became the Department of Parks and Wildlife in July 2013, with renewed focus on conservation of Western Australia's unique plants and animals and our world- class network of parks, reserves and natural areas. Our Strategic Directions for 2013-14 recognised that science and research play a critical role in effective management of species and ecosystems. In October 2013 the Science Division was amalgamated with the Nature Conservation Division providing new opportunities for science to more directly inform conservation policy and management, and for management requirements and knowledge gaps to set research priorities. While much of our work supports the conservation priorities of the Wildlife corporate goal, we also provide scientific research and information to support delivery of the Parks, Fire, Managed Use and People corporate goals. The combined responsibilities of the divisions are focused around two main areas of Species conservation and Landscape conservation. Our work in species conservation involves activities, such as species and community recovery, wildlife protection and licensing, understanding species biology and taxonomy, while our landscape conservation work is focused on landscape and seascape management, development advice and liaison, understanding ecosystem processes and biological survey. Information systems and monitoring and evaluation link across both species and landscape conservation activities. Across all areas, effective exchange of knowledge and information to support legislation and policy is fundamental to effective delivery of wildlife management outcomes. Partnerships have always been an important means of achieving our outcomes. In delivering against the priorities encapsulated in the corporate goals we continue to work with other Divisions, particularly Forest and Ecosystem Management, Parks and Visitor Services, Regional and Fire Management Services and Public Information and Corporate Affairs. We also seek to engage with our partners, including other research institutions, industry, Aboriginal people, the community and other government agencies. In addition to broader structural change, there has been some internal restructure leading to several changes to science program structures and names, to reflect the broader context of the new Division. The Fauna Conservation and Flora Conservation and Herbarium programs are now known as the Animal Science Program and the Plant Science and Herbarium Programs, and the Landscape Conservation program is known as the Ecosystems Science Program. The Science Applications Program is now called the Ecoinformatics program due to its focus on informatics for ecological systems. The hydrology and recovery catchment work undertaken in the former Nature Conservation Division has been combined with the wetlands survey and monitoring undertaken in Science Division to form the Wetlands Conservation Program. Adrian Pinder was appointed as Program Leader and is developing an integrated approach to biological and hydrological wetland science. Revegetation systems research is winding down with the completion of the Future Farm Industries Co-operative Research Centre. The work in this area that was undertaken in the Natural Resources Branch in the former Nature Conservation Division has been integrated with other revegetation research undertaken in the Ecosystem Science Program. We decided to disband the Biodiversity and Climate change Unit, which was set up in 2008 as a cross program unit to provide a focus for climate change research. Climate change is now integrated into much of the research work across the programs and there is no longer a need to have a specific focus on it, as it is one of many threatening processes. There have also been more recent changes to programs since 2013-14 with Dr Lesley Gibson appointed as Program Leader of the Biogeography Program and Dr Alan Kendrick appointed as Program Leader of the Marine Science Program. Dr Stephen van Leeuwen has relinquished the Biogeography Program Leader role to focus on an expanded role as Partnerships Manager for the Science and Conservation Division. This includes a focus on engagement with Aboriginal people, particularly in the context of amendments to the CALM Act and the requirements for the department to enter into joint management arrangements. This report provides accountability for the research activity undertaken in the Science and Conservation Division and is based on a level of technical content to provide that accountability. We recognise the importance of effective communication of the outcomes of our research, particularly in ensuring the results inform conservation policy and wildlife and forest management practice. Therefore, this year we have also produced a series of non-technical publications that describe the science we are undertaking in each of the regions of the Department. These 'Science in the Regions' publications summarise the science activities we are undertaking to support conservation and wildlife management in each region. They are available on the website along with a copy of this report. I look forward to continuing to work effectively with all our partners in delivery of our core objectives to provide effective science to inform conservation and management of our plants, animals and ecosystems, and to support effective management of our parks and reserves, delivery of our fire program, managed use of our natural resources and science stories that inspire and engage people with our natural heritage. Dr Margaret Byrne Director Science and Conservation August 2014 2 CONTENTS SCIENCE DELIVERY STRUCTURE ..............................................................................................................7 PUBLICATIONS AND REPORTS .................................................................................................................8 CURRENT COLLABORATION WITH ACADEMIA (STUDENT PROJECTS) .......................................................... 16 EXTERNAL PARTNERSHIPS.................................................................................................................... 21 SUMMARY OF RESEARCH PROJECT LOCATIONS BY PROGRAM ................................................................. 28 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES ......................................................................................................................... 36 BIOGEOGRAPHY .................................................................................................................................. 36 South-Western Australia Transitional Transect (SWATT) ............................................................ 36 Western Australian flora surveys................................................................................................. 37 Western Australian terrestrial fauna surveys ............................................................................... 39 Western Australian wetland fauna surveys .................................................................................. 40 Development of ethically acceptable techniques for invertebrate wet-pit trapping ........................ 41 Biological survey of the Ravensthorpe Range ............................................................................. 42 Kimberley islands biological survey ............................................................................................. 42 Pilbara regional biological survey ................................................................................................ 43 Oligochaete taxonomy ................................................................................................................ 44 ANIMAL SCIENCE ................................................................................................................................. 46 Cat Eradication on Dirk Hartog Island ......................................................................................... 46 Improving the use of remote cameras as a survey and monitoring tool ........................................ 47 Decision support system for prioritising and implementing biosecurity on Western Australia's islands ................................................................................................................................ 48 Conservation and management of the bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the Pilbara ................................ 49 Genetic assessment for conservation of rare and threatened fauna ............................................ 50 Genetic approaches for evaluating the contribution of the reserve system to fauna conservation........................................................................................................................ 51 Barrow Island Threatened and Priority fauna species translocation program ............................... 52 Rangelands restoration: reintroduction of native mammals to Lorna Glen (Matuwa) .................... 53 Conservation of south coast threatened birds ............................................................................. 55 Ecology and management of the northern quoll in the Pilbara ..................................................... 56 Conservation of the graceful sun-moth ........................................................................................ 57 Identifying the cause(s) of the recent declines of woylies in south-west Western