A community-based survey of the koala Phascolarctos cinereus in the Lismore region of north-eastern New South Wales.

2003 ◽  
Vol 25 (2) ◽  
pp. 155 ◽  
Author(s):  
JM Harris ◽  
RL Goldingay

A community-based survey was undertaken in the Lismore Local Government Area (LGA) of north-eastern New South Wales to provide a basis for the development of a Shire-wide koala management plan. A questionnaire and maps were distributed to identify community attitudes towards P. cinereus conservation and management, as well as to document locations of sightings. There were 1121 surveys returned from 23,751 distributed (4.7% returned) across 18,000 ratepayers (6.2% response). Respondents indicated the frequency with which P. cinereus were seen in different suburbs, whether they had young or were sick, and provided 840 map-based records. Ten percent of respondents saw P. cinereus on at least a weekly basis, highlighting the importance of this LGA for the conservation of this species. More than 80% of respondents considered that roving dogs, land clearing, road traffic and housing development were serious threats to long-term P. cinereus survival. More than 90% of respondents supported restrictions on dogs, tree-planting programs, as well as planning activities to protect P. cinereus habitat while 85% approved of protection zones to control development within P. cinereus habitat. These results if representative of the entire community suggest strong support for the development of conservation options for P. cinereus. The study also confirms the usefulness of conducting such community-wide surveys for conspicuous threatened species.

1997 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 111 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Carol Esson ◽  
Chris Moon ◽  
Murray Ellis ◽  
Alison Matthews

A community-based postal survey (questionnaire and map) was undertaken in the Eden region of south-eastern New South Wales in 1991–92 to help determine the local distribution of koalas and to obtain information on which to base a regional plan of management for koalas. The 1198 replies from the II 600 households in the region represented all parts of the area surveyed. The survey responses suggest that koalas are rare in the Eden region, and that the number of koalas has been constantly low for the last four decades. The records are scattered both chronologically and geographically. National Parks and Nature Reserves have never been the stronghold of local koala populations, and freehold land, particularly farmland, is not a major reservoir of koalas. Most koalas reported were in, or adjacent to, State Forests, particularly Murrah–Berrnagui and Tantawangalo–Glenbog–Yurammie. These areas appear to contain the core of the surviving koala population of the region. An assessment of the vegetation where koalas were sighted indicated that dry forest is the preferred habitat. The once abundant and widespread local koala population of late last century has been reduced by habitat loss and fragmentation to a few small, isolated populations. This regional survey, which was undertaken by use of a carefully constructed questionnaire, revealed an invaluable source of records and contributed 70% of the records in the database used for this study. This study also laid a basis for assessing koala management options in south-eastern New South Wales.


2016 ◽  
Vol 64 (6) ◽  
pp. 402 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Dennison ◽  
G. J. Frankham ◽  
L. E. Neaves ◽  
C. Flanagan ◽  
S. FitzGibbon ◽  
...  

Habitat loss and fragmentation are key threats to local koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations. Broad-scale management is suboptimal for koalas because distribution models are not easily generalised across regions. Therefore, it is imperative that data relevant to local management bodies are available. Genetic data provides important information on gene flow and potential habitat barriers, including anthropogenic disturbances. Little genetic data are available for nationally significant koala populations in north-eastern New South Wales, despite reported declines due to urbanisation and habitat loss. In this study, we develop 14 novel microsatellite loci to investigate koala populations in north-eastern New South Wales (Port Macquarie, Coffs Harbour, Tyagarah, Ballina) and south-eastern Queensland (Coomera). All locations were significantly differentiated (FST = 0.096–0.213; FʹST = 0.282–0.582), and this pattern was not consistent with isolation by distance (R2 = 0.228, P = 0.058). Population assignment clustered the more northern populations (Ballina, Tyagarah and Coomera), suggesting contemporary gene flow among these sites. For all locations, low molecular variation among (16%) rather than within (84%) sites suggests historical connectivity. These results suggest that koala populations in north-eastern New South Wales and south-eastern Queensland are experiencing contemporary impediments to gene flow, and highlight the importance of maintaining habitat connectivity across this region.


2002 ◽  
Vol 106 (1) ◽  
pp. 57-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
R.L Pressey ◽  
G.L Whish ◽  
T.W Barrett ◽  
M.E Watts

2010 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 1378-1399 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clement E. Akumu ◽  
Sumith Pathirana ◽  
Serwan Baban ◽  
Daniel Bucher

2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (3) ◽  
pp. 313 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. C. Catling ◽  
R. J. Burt ◽  
R. I. Forrester

Statistical models are presented of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in eucalypt forests in relation to environmental variables within an area of approximately 24 000 km2 in north-eastern New South Wales. Environmental variables are defined as climatic or topographic variables that may be useful to map the distribution of fauna. The environmental variables examined were season, temperature, rainfall, elevation, lithology, steepness of slope, position on slope, aspect and landform profile. The probability of recording some species was higher in spring than autumn and many species were in highest abundance in areas of low temperature (high elevation). Although aspect was a significant variable in a number of models, no species was absent from any aspect category. Mid-slopes down to and including creeks and drainage lines were particularly important for many species, as were areas with flatter terrain. Although we have modelled environmental variables only there will no doubt be longer-term interactions between habitat and environmental variables. Fundamentally, environmental variables will determine the type of habitat present at a site, and the distribution of canopy communities, at least, can be predicted from environmental variables. However, other studies have shown for ground-dwelling mammals that environmental variables contribute little and it is the state of the habitat locally, and particularly the understorey, that determines their presence and abundance at a site. The results are discussed in relation to similar models using habitat variables and in relation to the use of such models in the management of ground-dwelling fauna in forests.


1982 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
AH Arthington ◽  
JAL Watson

The Odonata and physicochemical properties of freshwater streams, lakes, ponds and bogs in the sand-dune systems of Fraser, Moreton and North Stradbroke Islands and Cooloola, Queensland: and Wooli, New South Wales, are described. The odonate faunas of these dune masses show some differences from those of nearby areas, and there are close associations between some species and particular types of dune fresh water. Although no physicochemical characteristics were identified that might limit these dune dragonflies to their specific habitats, the lake-dwellers in particular may be useful indicators of environmental change.


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