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Domestic dogs and water-availability effects on non-volant mammals in a protected area, south-eastern Brazil Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2021-02-22 Priscila Stéfani Monteiro-Alves; Atilla Colombo Ferreguetti; Marina Mello Allemand; Juliane Pereira-Ribeiro; Maja Kajin; Carlos Frederico Duarte Rocha; Helena Godoy Bergallo
Context: Urbanisation and human population growth can generate conflicts, threatening biodiversity. Resource availability and vegetation complexity owing to human influence may increase the potential that a habitat would lose its species. Conservation biology aims to understand how to soften human influence and maintain viable in situ populations. Aims: We evaluated the non-volant mammal’s richness
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How quoll-ified are northern and spotted-tailed quoll detection dogs? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2021-02-15 La Toya J. Jamieson; Amanda L. Hancock; Greg S. Baxter; Peter J. Murray
Context: Wildlife detection dogs have been used globally in environmental monitoring. However, their effectiveness in the Australian context has been only minimally researched. Increased understanding of detection dog accuracy and efficacy is required for their inclusion in survey guidelines used by proponents of referred actions potentially impacting Australia’s threatened mammals. Evaluation of new
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Lowland tapir exposure to pesticides and metals in the Brazilian Cerrado Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2021-02-15 Emília P. Medici; Renata Carolina Fernandes-Santos; Caroline Testa-José; Antonio Francisco Godinho; Anne-Fleur Brand
Context: The Cerrado is a Global Biodiversity Hotspot as well as Brazil’s main frontier for large-scale agriculture and livestock production, making it one of the most threatened biomes in the country. Brazil is one of the biggest consumers of pesticides in the world and allows the use of chemicals that are banned in many other countries due to their adverse health effects in a wide range of species
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Lethal control of eutherian predators via aerial baiting does not negatively affect female spotted-tailed quolls (Dasyurus maculatus maculatus) and their pouch young Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Andrew W. Claridge; Guy Ballard; Gerhard Körtner; Peter J. S. Fleming; Trent Forge; Abby Hine
Context: Outside its breeding season, the marsupial carnivore the spotted-tailed quoll (Dasyurus maculatus) is apparently largely unaffected by aerial baiting for dingoes and other wild dogs (Canis familiaris). However, the potential impact of aerial baiting during spring on female spotted-tailed quolls carrying and weaning young remains unquantified. Aim: The survivorship of female quolls and their
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Density and activity patterns of Pallas’s cats, Otocolobus manul, in central Mongolia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2021-02-02 Stefano Anile; Claudio Augugliaro; Bariushaa Munkhtsog; Fabio Dartora; Andrea Vendramin; Giovanni Bombieri; Clayton K. Nielsen
Context. The ranges of many small, at-risk felid species occur almost entirely in unprotected areas, where research efforts are minimal; hence data on their density and activity patterns are scare. Aims. We estimated density and activity patterns of Pallas’s cats on unprotected lands in central Mongolia during two periods (May–August and September–November) in 2019. Methods. We used spatially explicit
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Minimising mortalities in capturing wildlife: refinement of helicopter darting of chital deer (Axis axis) in Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-12-23 Jordan O. Hampton; Matthew Amos; Anthony Pople; Michael Brennan; David M. Forsyth
Context: Helicopter darting has been used to capture wild deer, but this method has never been used for chital deer (Axis axis). Aim: The aims of this study were to develop, assess and refine a helicopter darting technique for wild chital deer in northern Australia by quantifying: (1) reliable pharmacological doses for immobilisation; (2) the efficacy of the technique (including the duration of procedures);
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Comparison of morphological and molecular methods to identify the diet of a generalist omnivore Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-12-08 Stuart Dawson; Natasha Tay; Telleasha Greay; Alexander Gofton; Charlotte Oskam; Patricia A. Fleming
Context: Ecologists need robust and effective methods to quantify the diet of animals. However, assessing dietary composition can be challenging because most animals are seldom observed eating, especially when studying rare or cryptic species. Aims: Morphological analysis of scats has been extensively used previously, and recent advances in the accessibility of DNA barcoding techniques have also made
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Small mammal diversity is higher in infrequently compared with frequently burnt rainforest–savanna mosaics in the north Kimberley, Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-27 Stefania Ondei; Lynda D. Prior; Hugh W. McGregor; Angela M. Reid; Chris N. Johnson; Tom Vigilante; Catherine Goonack; Desmond Williams; David M. J. S. Bowman
Context: Populations of native mammals are declining at an alarming rate in many parts of tropical northern Australia. Fire regimes are considered a contributing factor, but this hypothesis is difficult to test because of the ubiquity of fire. Aims: This preliminary study investigated relative abundance and richness of small mammals on a gradient of fire regimes in the Uunguu Indigenous Protected Area
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When do predator exclusion fences work best? A spatially explicit modelling approach Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-27 C. Pacioni; M. S. Kennedy; D. S. L. Ramsey
Context: Exclusion fences are increasingly used to prevent interactions between predators (introduced and native) and assets such as endangered species or livestock. However, challenges remain in identifying when exclusion fences are an optimal investment and the intended outcome is likely to be achieved. The level of association with complementary methods of control that is needed is also unclear
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Seasonal movements and site utilisation by Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) in tropical savannas and floodplains of northern Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-24 Hamish A. Campbell; David A. Loewensteiner; Brett P. Murphy; Stewart Pittard; Clive R. McMahon
Context: The Asian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) is an introduced herbivore of the savannas and floodplains of northern Australia. Despite the significant environmental damage caused by water buffalo, important cultural and commercial stakeholders request this species is managed rather than eradicated. However, gaps in knowledge of buffalo ecology limit effective policy and planning. Aims: To better
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Red deer allocate vigilance differently in response to spatio-temporal patterns of risk from human hunters and wolves Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-11 Nathan J. Proudman; Marcin Churski; Jakub W. Bubnicki; Jan-Åke Nilsson; Dries P. J. Kuijper
Context: Ungulate prey can use increased vigilance to reduce their risk of predation, but little is known of the combined and interactive risk effects from humans and wolves in determining ungulate behaviour across time and space. Understanding the interplay between these risk effects is increasingly important, considering the recolonisation of several large carnivores to more human-dominated landscapes
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Damage to silo bags by mammals in agroecosystems: a contribution for mitigating human–wildlife conflicts Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-11 Emmanuel Zufiaurre; Agustín M. Abba; David Bilenca
Context: Damage to harvest storage systems by mammals and associated postharvest losses generate human–wildlife conflicts. Silo bags have been widely adopted worldwide as a type of temporary harvest storage for agricultural crops. The basis of silo-bag technology is the hermetic condition of the plastic lining. Breaks in this silo-bag lining by mammals generate damage of stored content and are a serious
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The relationships between land use and amphibian assemblages in a traditional agricultural area, the Sun Moon Lake, of Taiwan Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-11-06 Chau-Ren Jung; Sheng-Hai Wu
Context: Understanding the relationships between land use and anuran habitat selection would help make conservation-management and habitat-restoration decisions. However, only a few studies have investigated all the available amphibian habitats in terrestrial and aquatic environments. Aims: The objective of the present study is to assess the associations between different land-use types and individual
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Harvesting predators: simulation of population recovery and controlled harvest of saltwater crocodiles Crocodylus porosus Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-28 Yusuke Fukuda; Grahame Webb; Glenn Edwards; Keith Saalfeld; Peter Whitehead
Context: The population of saltwater crocodiles, Crocodylus porosus, in the Northern Territory, Australia, has been recovering from a period of intensive, unregulated harvest (1945–1971) since protection in 1971. Consequently, the management goal is shifting from restoring a seriously depleted population to managing an abundant population through controlled harvests for both commercial purposes and
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Cat-dependent diseases cost Australia AU$6 billion per year through impacts on human health and livestock production Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-16 Sarah Legge; Pat L. Taggart; Chris R. Dickman; John L. Read; John C. Z. Woinarski
Context: Cats are the definitive or primary host for pathogens that cause diseases in people and livestock. These cat-dependent diseases would not occur in Australia if cats had not been introduced, and their ongoing persistence depends on contacts with cats. Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite that cycles between cats and any other warm-blooded animals. People infected by T. gondii may appear
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Integrating feral cat (Felis catus) control into landscape-scale introduced predator management to improve conservation prospects for threatened fauna: a case study from the south coast of Western Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-13 S. Comer; L. Clausen; S. Cowen; J. Pinder; A. Thomas; A. H. Burbidge; C. Tiller; D. Algar; P. Speldewinde
Context: Feral cat predation has had a significant impact on native Australian fauna in the past 200 years. In the early 2000s, population monitoring of the western ground parrot showed a dramatic decline from the pre-2000 range, with one of three meta-populations declining to very low levels and a second becoming locally extinct. We review 8 years of integrated introduced predator control, which trialled
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Calling behaviour in the invasive Asian house gecko (Hemidactylus frenatus) and implications for early detection Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-14 Jaimie M. Hopkins; Megan Higgie; Conrad J. Hoskin
Context: Acoustic communication is common in some animal groups, with an underlying function typically associated with mating or territoriality. Resolving the function of calls is valuable both in terms of understanding the fundamental biology of the species and, potentially, for applied reasons such as detection. Early detection is a key step in exclusion and eradication of invasive species, and calling
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Flooding-induced mortality of loggerhead sea turtle eggs Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Colin J. Limpus; Jeffrey D. Miller; Joseph B. Pfaller
Context: Marine turtle eggs incubate in dynamic beaches, where they are vulnerable to both saltwater and freshwater flooding. Understanding the capacity for marine turtle eggs to tolerate flooding will aid management efforts to predict and mitigate the impacts of climate change, including sea-level rise and increases in coastal flooding. Aims: Evaluate the interactive effects of flooding duration and
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Lost at sea: determining geographic origins of illegally traded green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas) rescued on Hainan Island, China Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Daniel Gaillard; Frederick C. Yeh; Liu Lin; Huai-Qing Chen; Ting Zhang; Shu-Jin Luo; Hai-Tao Shi
Context: Green sea turtles are threatened by exploitation for food and medicine markets, with Asian populations facing the heaviest pressures. Sea turtle confiscations that happen out at sea can give a general area that poachers are targeting, but it can be difficult to determine the impact on specific nesting rookeries. Previous studies circumvented this difficulty by using genetic markers to identify
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Optimising deployment time of remote cameras to estimate abundance of female bighorn sheep Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-28 Jace C. Taylor; Steven B. Bates; Jericho C. Whiting; Brock R. McMillan; Randy T. Larsen
Context: Wildlife biologists accumulate large quantities of images from remote cameras, which can be time- and cost-prohibitive to archive and analyse. Remote-camera projects would benefit from not setting cameras longer than needed and not analysing more images than needed; however, there is a lack of information about optimal deployment time required for remote-camera surveys to estimate ungulate
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Beliefs, perceived risks and acceptability of lethal management of wild pigs Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-25 Jerry J. Vaske; Craig A. Miller; Hailey E. McLean; Lauren M. Jaebker
Context: Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a non-native, invasive species that can cause significant damage to agricultural crops, and native flora and fauna. In the United States, damage and control costs have been estimated at 1.5 billion USD. A combination of early sexual maturity, high fecundity, opportunistic eating and well established populations forces managers to control wild pig densities and resulting
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Options for shorebird-exclusion devices for pitfall traps on sandy shores Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-15 M. Evans-Clay; N. Porch; G. S. Maguire; M. A. Weston
Context: Pitfall trapping is a standard technique for indexing surface active invertebrates on beaches, and underpins the study of sandy shore ecology. However, pitfall traps may pose a risk to the flightless young of beach-nesting birds, which may fall into such traps and potentially die. Aim: The aim of the present study was to compare the invertebrates captured in standard pitfall traps with those
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Goat movement patterns inform management of feral goat populations in semiarid rangelands Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-16 K. E. Moseby; J. L. Read; G. E. Andersen
Context: Feral goats (Capra hircus) are a significant pest species throughout southern Australia. They threaten rare plants, contribute to soil erosion, compete with domestic stock, and are implicated in the decline of several native herbivores. Feral goats are a declared pest and control is often implemented. Aims: We fitted feral goats with GPS collars in semiarid South Australia to determine whether
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Are red-tailed phascogales (Phascogale calura) at risk from Eradicat ® cat baits? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-22 J. Anthony Friend; Robert Hill; Brian Macmahon; Louisa Bell; Tim Button; Corey Mosen; Stephanie Hill
Context: Feral cats have benefitted from effective control of foxes in south-western Australia and, consequently, their impact on some threatened mammal species has increased. Control of feral cats in the region can be enhanced by use of the Eradicat® cat bait, but its impact on non-target animal populations requires investigation before widespread use. Aims: The aim of the present study was to determine
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A novel modelling framework to explicitly simulate predator interaction with poison baits Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-09 C. Pacioni; D. S. L. Ramsey; Nathan H. Schumaker; Tracey Kreplins; M. S. Kennedy
Context: Management of human–wildlife conflicts is of critical importance for both wildlife conservation and agricultural production. Population models are commonly used to simulate population dynamics and their responses to management actions. However, it is essential that this class of models captures the drivers and mechanisms necessary to reliably forecast future system dynamics. Aims: We aimed
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Is cat hunting by Indigenous tracking experts an effective way to reduce cat impacts on threatened species? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Rachel Paltridge; Nolia Napangati Ward; John Tjupurrula West; Kate Crossing
Context: Feral cat is a favoured food item in some Australian Indigenous communities. We describe how cats are hunted and whether cat hunting can contribute to the persistence of threatened species. Aims: To determine whether cat hunting by expert trackers has the potential to be an effective method of managing predation impacts on threatened species at key sites. Methods: We recorded all cats captured
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Satellite and telecommunication alert system for foot-hold trapping Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Paul D. Meek; Guy Ballard; Heath Milne; Simon Croft; Geoff Lawson; Peter J. S. Fleming
Context: Improving the welfare outcomes for captured animals is critically important and should underpin ‘best-practice’ trapping. Most Australian States and Territories have regulations and guidelines that form a legal framework for the maximum number of hours an animal can be restrained in a trap. Because servicing all traps within preferred time frames (less than 24 h) can be logistically difficult
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Species in the faeces: DNA metabarcoding as a method to determine the diet of the endangered yellow-eyed penguin Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Melanie J. Young; Ludovic Dutoit; Fiona Robertson; Yolanda van Heezik; Philip J. Seddon; Bruce C. Robertson
Context. Diet variability is a significant driver of seabird decline; however, data on seabird diet composition and trends have been affected by changes in precision and resolution owing to the evolution of different sampling methods over time. We investigated the effectiveness of applying a passive molecular diet method using faeces obtained from the endangered yellow-eyed penguin. Aims. To assess
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Management of invasive mesopredators in the Flinders Ranges, South Australia: effectiveness and implications Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Alyson M. Stobo-Wilson; Robert Brandle; Christopher N. Johnson; Menna E. Jones
Context: Significant resources have been devoted to the control of introduced mesopredators in Australia. However, the control or removal of one pest species, such as, for example, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes), may inadvertently benefit other invasive species, namely feral cats (Felis catus) and rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), potentially jeopardising native-species recovery. Aims: To (1) investigate
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Defining separation zones for coastal birds at a wetland of global importance Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-03 Chevonne Reynolds; Dominic A. W. Henry; Donovan R. C. Tye; Nicholas D. Tye
Context: The disruption of normal activities by humans (i.e. ‘anthropogenic disturbance’) can have important behavioural, physiological and population effects on coastal birds. These negative effects include increased vigilance, increased energy expenditure and reduced nesting success. To overcome this, separation distances (e.g. buffers and setbacks) are often used to separate threatening stimuli
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Comparison of three methods of estimating the population size of an arboreal mammal in a fragmented rural landscape Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-07 Mathew S. Crowther; Jessica R. Dargan; George Madani; Adrian I. Rus; Mark B. Krockenberger; Clare McArthur; Ben D. Moore; Daniel Lunney; Valentina S. A. Mella
Context: Precise and accurate estimates of animal numbers are often essential for population and epidemiological models, as well as for guidance for population management and conservation. This is particularly true for threatened species in landscapes facing multiple threats. Estimates can be derived by different methods, but the question remains as to whether these estimates are comparable. Aims:
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Adaptive monitoring: using citizen scientists to track wolf populations when winter-track counts become unreliable Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-07 Linas Balciauskas; Laima Balciauskiene; John A. Litvaitis; Eugenijus Tijušas
Context: In many countries, annual wolf surveys based on snow-track counts have become unreliable because of inconsistent snow coverage. We considered incidental observations by volunteers throughout the year as an alternative monitoring protocol. Aims: We recruited interested citizens throughout Lithuania, including hunters, foresters and farmers, to estimate wolf distribution, abundance, pack numbers
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Underlying beliefs linked to public opinion about gene drive and pest-specific toxin for pest control Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-08 Edith A. MacDonald; Eric Edwards; Jovana Balanovic; Fabien Medvecky
Context: Developing a new tool for wide-scale rat eradication is necessary for significant biodiversity gains. Underlying beliefs linked to public opinion can help guide policy makers to understand public concern and inform an effective discourse. Aims: We investigated underlying beliefs linked to levels of support for a potentially disruptive tool, gene drive, compared with a traditional stepwise
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Determining marine mammal detection functions for a stationary land-based survey site Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-08 Eric M. Keen; Janie Wray; Benjamin Hendricks; Éadin O Mahony; Chris R. Picard; Hussein Alidina
Context: The shore-based survey is a common, non-invasive, and low-cost method in marine mammal science, but its scientific applications are currently limited. Such studies typically target populations whose distributions are not random with respect to nearshore sites and involve repeated scans of the same area from single, stationary platforms. These circumstances prohibit the use of classic distance
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Parameter affecting the I 3 S algorithm reliability: how does correcting for body curvature affect individual recognition? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-09-08 Giacomo Rosa; Fanny Guillaud; Pauline Priol; Julien Renet
Context: In recent years, multiple computer algorithms, which allow us to perform photographic capture–recapture analysis, have been developed. Their massive application, also in wildlife demographic and ecological studies, is largely due to the fact that these tools are non-invasive and non-expensive. To maximise the performance of these programs, it is essential to have a good photo-standardisation
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Regional variation in habitat matrix determines movement metrics in Baudin’s cockatoos in southwest Western Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-08-07 Sam Rycken; Jill M. Shephard; Lian Yeap; Rebecca Vaughan-Higgins; Manda Page; Rick Dawson; Karen Smith; Peter R. Mawson; Kristin S. Warren
Context: The Baudin’s cockatoo is one of three black cockatoo species endemic to Western Australia and is listed as Endangered by state and federal governments. Although there is a Recovery Plan in place for this species, conservation efforts are hindered by gaps in knowledge regarding the species movement ecology. Aims: To identify key foraging and roosting habitat for Baudin’s cockatoos and to determine
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Small-mammal assemblages in piggeries in a developing country: relationships with management practices and habitat complexity Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-08-14 Daniela Paula Montes de Oca; Martín Neyen Lammel; Regino Cavia
Context: Pig production is increasing in developing countries and is increasing the coexistence of different production systems regarding management practices. Small mammals can cause major economic and sanitary problems on pig farms. The interactions among small mammals, production practices and habitat complexity have been sparsely studied. Aims: The aim was to compare small-mammal assemblages on
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Modelling the abundance and productivity distribution to understand the habitat–species relationship: the guanaco (Lama guanicoe) case study Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-08-14 Celina E. Flores; Laura M. Bellis; Schiavini Adrián
Context: The conservation of large wild herbivores presents a challenge posed by the fact that their broad habitat requirements overlap with various human activities. Elucidating the factors that explain their distribution patterns provides us with a better understanding of habitat–species relationships and facilitates the design of effective management policies. Aims: Identify the natural (forage
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Long-term use of non-invasive sampling methods: does successful sampling of brown bears by hair snares and camera traps change over time? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-08-17 A. E. Lincoln; A. J. Wirsing; T. P. Quinn
Context: Non-invasive sampling methods are widely used by ecologists to collect animal hair, images, tissue or signs. Sampling devices are imperfect, and collection success may vary over time owing to behavioural changes in study organisms or other factors. If collection success decreases, the utility of non-invasive sampling devices for longitudinal studies that rely on consistency may be compromised
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A comparative study of survival, recruitment and population growth in two translocated populations of the threatened greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-11 Karleah K. Berris; Steven J. B. Cooper; William G. Breed; Joshua R. Berris; Susan M. Carthew
Context: Translocations have been widely used to re-establish populations of threatened Australian mammalian species. However, they are limited by the availability of sites where key threats can be effectively minimised or eliminated. Outside of ‘safe havens’, threats such as exotic predators, introduced herbivores and habitat degradation are often unable to be completely eliminated. Understanding
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Climatic correlates of migrant Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus natalensis) phenology in north-eastern South Africa Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-12 Mariëtte Pretorius; Hugh Broders; Ernest Seamark; Mark Keith
Context: For migratory animals, particularly those with long generation times, changing weather patterns may cause a mismatch between periods of expected and actual resource availability, termed phenological mismatch. The cave-dwelling Natal long-fingered bat (Miniopterus natalensis) is a regional migrant within South Africa for which the (hitherto unknown) phenology of migration may be affected by
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Living with the enemy: a threatened prey species coexisting with feral cats on a fox-free island Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-12 Vivianna Miritis; Anthony R. Rendall; Tim S. Doherty; Amy L. Coetsee; Euan G. Ritchie
Context: Feral domestic cats (Felis catus) have contributed to substantial loss of Australian wildlife, particularly small- and medium-sized terrestrial mammals. However, mitigating cat impacts remains challenging. Understanding the factors that facilitate coexistence between native prey and their alien predators could aid better pest management and conservation actions. Aims: We estimated feral cat
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Habitat selection in a peri-urban area by a large mammal indicates a low potential for human–wildlife conflict Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-15 Jeff Balland; Catherine A. Herbert; Justin A. Welbergen; John M. Martin
Context: In Australia, various species of macropods (family Macropodidae) are known to occur within peri-urban areas, where they can be a source of human–wildlife conflict. Some species, such as the eastern grey kangaroo (Macropus giganteus), have received considerable research attention over the past few years following demands from land managers for evidence-based management guidelines; however,
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Introduced cats eating a continental fauna: invertebrate consumption by feral cats (Felis catus) in Australia Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-16 Leigh-Ann Woolley; Brett P. Murphy; Hayley M. Geyle; Sarah M. Legge; Russell A. Palmer; Chris R. Dickman; Tim S. Doherty; Glenn P. Edwards; Joanna Riley; Jeff M. Turpin; John C. Z. Woinarski
Context: Recent global concern over invertebrate declines has drawn attention to the causes and consequences of this loss of biodiversity. Feral cats, Felis catus, pose a major threat to many vertebrate species in Australia, but their effect on invertebrates has not previously been assessed. Aims: The objectives of our study were to (1) assess the frequency of occurrence (FOO) of invertebrates in feral
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Cattle egrets regurgitate house mouse carcasses onto a mouse-free island: implications for rodent eradications Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-17 Aaron B. Shiels; Mele Khalsa; Doreen L. Griffin; Clay K. Chow; Patty Baiao; Sheri S. Mann; Antoinette J. Piaggio
Context: Eradication of invasive rodents on islands typically results in positive conservation gains, and maintaining a rodent-free island requires elevated biosecurity, including prevention of assisted rodent arrival via watercraft, aircraft and animals such as birds. Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis) are widespread, and often fly several kilometres daily to roost and forage. They frequently swallow insects
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Topographic complexity potentially mediates cat predation risk for a critically endangered rodent Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-19 Peter J. McDonald; Alistair Stewart; Melissa A. Jensen; Hugh W. McGregor
Context: The niche reduction hypothesis (NRH) predicts that the realised niche of declining species is reduced by threats that are mediated by environmental, biotic and evolutionary processes, explaining why species decline in some locations but not others. The critically endangered central rock-rat (CRR) survives only in rugged mountain range habitat in central Australia and is highly vulnerable to
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Systematic review of equids and telemetry collars: implications for deployment and reporting Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-01 Jacob D. Hennig; J. Derek Scasta; Jeffrey L. Beck; Kathryn A. Schoenecker; Sarah R. B. King
Data from animals equipped with global positioning system collars have advanced our understanding of vertebrates, but this technology has rarely been employed to study feral equids. Hesitation to equip feral equids with telemetry collars in the USA can often be attributed to safety concerns stemming from one study from the 1980s, where injuries were sustained by feral horses (Equus ferus caballus)
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Efficacy and welfare assessment of an encapsulated para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) formulation as a bait-delivered toxicant for feral cats (Felis catus) Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-01 Michael Johnston; Dave Algar; Michael O'Donoghue; Jim Morris; Tony Buckmaster; Julie Quinn
Context: Feral cats are invasive predators of small and medium-sized fauna throughout Australia. The only broad-scale population-management technique for feral cats currently available in Australia is poison baiting. As poison baits for feral cats must be surface-laid, this can lead to the unintended exposure of non-target species consuming the baits. Encapsulation of a toxin within a robust, controlled-release
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Feral cat abundance, density and activity in tropical island rainforests Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-02 Tyrone H. Lavery; Masaafi Alabai; Piokera Holland; Cornelius Qaqara; Nelson Vatohi
Context: Introduced predators, especially cats, are a major cause of extinction globally. Accordingly, an extensive body of literature has focussed on the ecology and management of feral cats in continental and island systems alike. However, geographic and climatic gaps remain, with few studies focusing on rainforests or tropical islands of the south-western Pacific. Aims: We aimed to estimate cat
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Edge effects created by fenced conservation reserves benefit an invasive mesopredator Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-06 Hugh McGregor; John Read; Christopher N. Johnson; Sarah Legge; Brydie Hill; Katherine Moseby
Context: Fenced reserves from which invasive predators are removed are increasingly used as a conservation management tool, because they provide safe havens for susceptible threatened species, and create dense populations of native wildlife that could act as a source population for recolonising the surrounding landscape. However, the latter effect might also act as a food source, and promote high densities
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Black bear translocations in response to nuisance behaviour indicate increased effectiveness by translocation distance and landscape context Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-09 Javan M. Bauder; Nathan M. Roberts; David Ruid; Bruce Kohn; Maximilian L. Allen
Context: Translocation is a widely used non-lethal tool to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts, particularly for carnivores. Multiple intrinsic and extrinsic factors may influence translocation success, yet the influence of release-site landscape context on the success of translocations of wildlife involved in nuisance behaviour is poorly understood. Moreover, few studies of translocated wildlife involved
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Translocation is not a viable conflict-resolution tool for a large fossorial mammal, Lasiorhinus latifrons Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-10 Casey O'Brien; Elisa Sparrow; Ron Dibben; Bertram Ostendorf; David Taggart
Context: The translocation of southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons) has been suggested as a management tool to alleviate conflicts with the agricultural sector because of the damages caused by their burrowing activity. Translocation is widely used for removing problem animals from conflict areas, but its effectiveness is rarely adequately evaluated and often fails to resolve conflicts
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Linking nest microhabitat selection to nest survival within declining pheasant populations in the Central Valley of California Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-15 Ian A. Dwight; Jessica H. Vogt; Peter S. Coates; Joseph P. Fleskes; Daniel P. Connelly; Scott C. Gardner
Context: The ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus) has experienced considerable population declines in recent decades, especially in agricultural environments of the Central Valley of California. Although large-scale changes in land cover have been reported as an important driver of population dynamics, the effects of microhabitat conditions on specific demographic rates (e.g. nesting) are largely
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Leopard (Panthera pardus) density and diet in a forest corridor of Terai: implications for conservation and conflict management Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-21 Sagar Raj Kandel; Babu Ram Lamichhane; Naresh Subedi
Context: Increasing forest fragmentation and degradation has forced wildlife to live in close proximity to humans, increasing the chances of human–wildlife conflict. Leopard (Panthera pardus) typifies the problem faced by large carnivores. It is a threatened species with a wide distribution, with a large part of their range outside protected areas, leaving them vulnerable to human–leopard conflict
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Effects of unregulated visitor access on chick fledging mass and survival in yellow-eyed penguins Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-21 Gemma Bell; Melanie J. Young; Philip J. Seddon; Yolanda van Heezik
Context: Wildlife tourism is expanding and can detrimentally affect taxa such as penguins, if not managed carefully. The yellow-eyed penguin (Megadyptes antipodes) is an endangered species, with mainland populations projected to decline to extinction in the next 40 years, despite conservation interventions. Their nesting sites are exposed to increasing numbers of human visitors, which contributes to
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Understanding Australia’s national feral cat control effort Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-23 Georgia E. Garrard; Alexander M. Kusmanoff; Richard Faulkner; Chathuri L. Samarasekara; Ascelin Gordon; Alice Johnstone; Isaac R. Peterson; Nooshin Torabi; Yan Wang; Sarah A. Bekessy
Context. Feral cats (Felis catus) pose a significant threat to Australia’s native species and feral cat control is, therefore, an important component of threatened species management and policy. Australia’s Threatened Species Strategy articulates defined targets for feral cat control. Yet, currently, little is known about who is engaged in feral cat control in Australia, what motivates them, and at
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Searching for rare and secretive snakes: are camera-trap and box-trap methods interchangeable? Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-29 Dalton B. Neuharth; Wade A. Ryberg; Connor S. Adams; Toby J. Hibbitts; Danielle K. Walkup; Shelby L. Frizzell; Timothy E. Johnson; Brian L. Pierce; Josh B. Pierce; D. Craig Rudolph
Context: Advancements in camera-trap technology have provided wildlife researchers with a new technique to better understand their study species. This improved method may be especially useful for many conservation-reliant snake species that can be difficult to detect because of rarity and life histories with secretive behaviours. Aims: Here, we report the results of a 6-month camera-trapping study
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The future of private rhino ownership in South Africa Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-07-30 Laura A. Chapman; Piran C. L. White
Sustained poaching over the past decade has led to significant loss of black (Diceros bicornis) and southern white (Ceratotherium simum simum) rhinoceroses across South Africa. Whereas much research has focussed on the heavily targeted state-owned populations, there is little understanding of the trends and challenges faced by rhino populations held in the private sector. Private rhino ownership has
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Seed dispersal by Neotropical bats in human-disturbed landscapes Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-08-05 André Luis Regolin; Renata L. Muylaert; Ana Cristina Crestani; Wesley Dáttilo; Milton Cezar Ribeiro
In human-modified landscapes, where large bird and mammal species are often functionally extinct, bats are the main seed dispersers. However, the role of seed dispersal by bats for the maintenance of habitat dynamics in fragmented landscapes is still not understood, with information lacking on landscape-level effects of plant–bat interactions. We present some key topics related to spatial ecology of
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Distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in the Wet Tropics of north-eastern Australia, with a focus on the upland rainforest Wildlife Res. (IF 1.669) Pub Date : 2020-06-10 Jesse Rowland; Conrad J. Hoskin; Scott Burnett
Context: Feral cats have been identified as a key threat to Australia’s biodiversity, particularly in arid areas and tropical woodlands. Their presence, abundance and potential impacts in rainforest have received less attention. Aims: To investigate the distribution and diet of feral cats (Felis catus) in upland rainforest of the Wet Tropics. Methods: We collated available occurrence records from the
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