Australian rangelands and climate change – invasive animals Citation Pavey CR and Bastin G (2014) Australian rangelands and climate change – invasive animals. Ninti One Limited and CSIRO, Alice Springs. Copyright © Ninti One Limited 2014. Information contained in this publication may be copied or reproduced for study, research, information or educational purposes, subject to inclusion of an acknowledgement of the source. Disclaimer The views expressed herein are not necessarily the views of the Commonwealth of Australia, and the Commonwealth does not accept responsibility for any information or advice contained herein. ISBN: 978-1-74158-243-7 Front cover image credit: Hans Boessem Contents Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................................... 5 Key points ................................................................................................................................................................... 6 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 7 2. Approach and methods ........................................................................................................................................... 7 2.1 Approach .......................................................................................................................................................... 7 2.2 Summary of methods ........................................................................................................................................ 8 2.3 Distribution and abundance .............................................................................................................................. 8 3. Problem invasive animals in the Rangelands Cluster ................................................................................................ 9 3.1 Feral goat ......................................................................................................................................................... 9 3.1.1 Introduction ............................................................................................................................................. 9 3.1.2 Feral goats and climate change ................................................................................................................ 10 3.2 Feral one-humped camel ................................................................................................................................. 11 3.2.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 11 3.2.2 Feral camels and climate change ............................................................................................................. 12 3.3 Feral horse/brumby ........................................................................................................................................ 13 3.3.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 13 3.3.2 Feral horses/brumbies and climate change .............................................................................................. 13 3.4 Feral donkey ................................................................................................................................................... 13 3.4.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 13 3.4.2 Feral donkey and climate change ............................................................................................................. 13 3.5 Feral pig ......................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.5.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3.5.2 Feral pigs and climate change .................................................................................................................. 14 3.6 Red fox ........................................................................................................................................................... 14 3.6.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 14 3.6.2 Red fox and climate change ..................................................................................................................... 15 3.7 Feral domestic cat ........................................................................................................................................... 16 3.7.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 16 3.7.2 Feral cat and climate change ................................................................................................................... 16 3.8 Dingo ............................................................................................................................................................. 17 3.8.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 17 3.8.2 Dingo and climate change ....................................................................................................................... 18 Australian rangelands and climate change – invasive animals 2 3.9 European rabbit .............................................................................................................................................. 18 3.9.1 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................... 18 3.9.2 European rabbit and climate change ........................................................................................................ 19 3.10 Cane toad ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 3.10.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................................... 19 3.10.2 Cane toad and climate change ............................................................................................................... 20 3.11 Summary ...................................................................................................................................................... 21 4. Management responses ........................................................................................................................................ 21 Abbreviations ............................................................................................................................................................ 23 Glossary .................................................................................................................................................................... 24 References ................................................................................................................................................................ 26 List of Figures Figure 3.1 Average densities (km-2) of feral goats in half-degree blocks surveyed by fixed-wing aircraft across Queensland (1984–92, 2001), NSW (1993–2011), SA (1989–2011) and WA (1987–2011). ........................................... 9 Figure 3.2 Annual exponential rate of increase of feral goats in half-degree blocks surveyed by fixed-wing aircraft across Queensland (1984–92, 2001), NSW (1993–2011), SA (1989–2011) and WA (1987–2011). .................... 10 Figure 3.3 Estimated feral camel densities before (top) and at the end (bottom) of the Australian Feral Camel Management Project. ..................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 3.4 Occurrence, distribution and abundance of foxes ...................................................................................... 14 Figure 3.5 Projected change in suitable climate space of the red fox between 1990 and 2085. ................................... 15 Figure 3.6 Occurrence, distribution and abundance of feral cats ................................................................................ 16 Figure 3.7 Current wild dog distribution in Australia. ................................................................................................. 17 Figure 3.8 Projected change in suitable climate space of the dingo between 1990 and 2085. ..................................... 18 Figure 3.9 Known occurrence and potential distribution of the cane toad based on 2008 data. .................................. 19 Figure 3.10 Projected change in suitable climate space of the cane toad between 1990 and 2085.............................. 20 Australian rangelands and climate change – invasive animals 3 List of Tables Table 3.1 Estimated 2008 feral camel population