Eucalypt Woodland Research Articles

State of knowledge on the effectiveness of management interventions to restore degraded eucalypt woodlands

To support the persistence of Australian eucalypt woodlands, conservation of remnant vegetation must be augmented with ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems. Certainty about the effectiveness of restoration interventions is urgently required to consistently transition degraded woodlands to reference states. The aim of this meta‐analysis was to quantify the effectiveness of restoration interventions to improve plant and edaphic attributes in degraded temperate and semiarid woodlands of Australia. Our structured literature search retrieved 35 studies that were suitable for analysis, which enabled assessment of six types of restoration interventions and 11 ecosystem response metrics. Effectiveness was quantified using estimates of the probability and magnitude of responses generated from Bayesian multi‐level models. We found consistent increases with varying average levels for carbon (via sugar) addition (43%) and burning (27%) on native plants, burning on cryptogams (91%), and woody debris addition on soil moisture (35%) and carbon (21%). Native plants had a low probability of benefitting from slashing (0.33) or herbicide application (0.09). Slashing had a high probability of increasing introduced plants (0.83). Planting almost always failed to achieve reference levels for native plant communities, introduced plants, or soil phosphorus. A very high level of uncertainty was evident for the outcomes of herbicide and sugar addition on introduced plants. Overall, we found a paucity of adequate studies, including insufficient quantitative information on combinations of interventions, and a lack of effectiveness in common interventions. Our results indicate an urgent need for experiments to be embedded in restoration programs to improve certainty in restoration effectiveness.

Ordinal‐Level Resilience of Invertebrates After Fire Events in Eucalypt Woodlands of South‐Eastern Australia

ABSTRACTFire disturbance is an integral part of many ecosystems. However, some taxa may not be resilient to the increasing size, intensity, and frequency of fire events due to climate change. We investigated how terrestrial invertebrate Ordinal‐level community structure and the abundance of six Orders (Acarina, Araneae, Coleoptera, Collembola, Diptera, Hymenoptera: Formicidae) changed following three natural fire events over two decades (2007–2022) in Kangaroo Island and mainland South Australia. We collected invertebrates using two methods (pitfall traps and sweep nets) at four sites (two burnt and two unburnt) every 6 months, before and after three fire events (2007, 2019, 2021). Ordinal‐level community structure generally showed signs of recovery nearing pre‐fire conditions within 20–22 months post‐fire. The pitfall samples showed increased abundance in Coleoptera, Diptera and Hymenoptera (Formicidae) following fire, and no change in Acarina abundance. The sweep net samples showed no recovery to pre‐fire conditions on mainland South Australia, but recovery to baseline after 20–22 months on Kangaroo Island. There were significant shifts in invertebrate community structure across time‐since‐fire with a return to pre‐fire conditions at burnt sites after 20–22 months. These findings demonstrate the apparent ordinal‐level resilience of invertebrates in South Australian eucalypt woodlands, particularly of ground‐dwelling species, but also point to Order specific differences that warrant future study.

Aboveground-belowground linkages across vegetation degradation gradients differ among native eucalypt communities.

Native vegetation degradation impacts soil communities and their functions. However, these impacts are often studied by comparing soil biotic attributes across qualitatively defined, discrete degradation levels within a single plant community at a specific location. Direct quantification of the relationships between vegetation and soil attributes across continuous degradation gradients and at larger scales is rare but holds greater potential to reveal robust patterns in aboveground-belowground linkages that may apply across different plant communities. We investigated how native vegetation attributes relate to soil communities and their functions across a degradation gradient within three native temperate eucalypt woodland and forest communities that differed in soil nutrient availabilities. Across remnant patches of native vegetation in the Sydney Basin bioregion, we established plots representing different levels of decline in their vegetation quality (i.e., increased exotics and canopy changes) compared to relevant reference communities. In those plots, we assessed soil community groups (microbes and fauna), carbon (C) and nutrient cycling (litter decomposition, enzyme activity, and phosphate and nitrate accumulation rates), soil pH, texture and vegetation attributes (composition, structure, and function). Our unique study design revealed that the relationships between vegetation degradation and soil biota across the food web (i.e., AM fungi, Fungi:bacteria ratio, Gram-positive bacteria, total nematodes) were highly dependent on the plant community. However, the degradation impacts on soil functions (i.e., total enzyme activity, and phosphate availability) were mostly consistent, suggesting their potential as belowground indicators of ecosystem degradation, with a notable positive association observed in phosphate availability rates. Additionally, the effects of vegetation degradation on soil biota and their functions appeared stronger in the nutrient-poor plant communities, suggesting greater vulnerability of their belowground components. Our findings call for caution when generalizing belowground responses to degradation and for further research on how nutrient availability mediates the impacts of degradation on aboveground-belowground linkages.

Estimating vegetation structure and aboveground carbon storage in Western Australia using GEDI LiDAR, Landsat and Sentinel data

Abstract Worsening climate change impacts are amplifying the need for accurate estimates of vegetation structure and aboveground biomass density (AGBD) to assess changes in biodiversity and carbon storage. In Australia, increasing wildfire frequency and interest in the role of forests in the carbon cycle necessitates biomass mapping across large geographic extents to monitor forest change. The availability of spaceborne Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) optimised for vegetation structure mapping through the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI) provides an opportunity for large-scale forest AGBD estimates of higher accuracy. This study assessed the use of the GEDI canopy height product to predict woody AGBD across five vegetation types in Western Australia: tall eucalypt forests, eucalypt open‒woodlands, low-lying heathland, tropical eucalypt savannas, and tussock and hummock grasslands. Canopy height models were developed using random forest regressions trained on GEDI canopy height discrete point data. Predictor variables included spectral bands and vegetation indices derived from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) Sentinel‒1 data, and multispectral Landsat and Sentinel‒2 data. AGBD was subsequently estimated using power-law models derived by relating the predicted canopy heights to field AGBD plots. Mapping was conducted for 2020 and 2021. The accuracy of canopy height predictions varied with height quantiles; models underestimated the height of taller trees and overestimated the height of smaller trees. A similar underestimation and overestimation trend was observed for the AGBD estimates. The mean carbon stock was estimated at 69.0 ±12.0 MgCha-1 in the tall eucalypt forests of the Warren region; 33.8 ± 5.0 MgCha-1 for the open eucalypt woodlands in the South Jarrah region; 7.1 ± 1.4 MgCha-1 for the heathland and shrublands in the Geraldton Sandplains region; 43.9 ± 4.9 MgCha-1 for the Kimberley eucalypt savanna; and 3.9 ± 1.0 MgCha-1 for the Kimberley savanna grasslands. This approach provides a useful framework for the future development of this process for fire management, and habitat health monitoring.

Nutritional Composition of Forage Available to the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat.

Access to adequate nutrition supports an animal's chance of survival and reproduction; thus, it is particularly important for threatened species. The nutritional quality of forage available to the critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii; NHW) has not been assessed for two decades. The NHW Recovery Action Plan 2022 highlighted a need to investigate the effects of invasive buffel grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) on the species' diet - reassessing the relative nutritional quality of highly abundant buffel grass will assist this investigation. This study assessed the nutritional composition of NHW food items, including buffel grass. Comparisons of the nutritional composition were made between two geographically distanced sites (both eucalyptus woodland and savannah with highly abundant buffel grass), seasons and plant genera. The nitrogen, gross energy, acid detergent fibre, neutral detergent fibre, ash and mineral content of plants and their relationship to scats, as faecal nitrogen is a good predictor of palatability of grass and nutritional status, were assessed. The nutritional content of plants varied significantly between sites, seasons and genera. Total forage nutritional quality was greatest during spring 2020 at Epping Forest National Park, during summer 2020/21 and autumn 2021 at Richard Underwood Nature Refuge and poorest during winter at both sites. Buffel grass may be a nutritionally valuable food item of the NHW during winter at both sites. There was no significant relationship between the N and gross energy in forage and scats. The findings of this study will inform management if there is a need to reduce invasive buffel grass, based on enhanced knowledge of the NHW nutritional requirements, by determining whether the species has access to suitable dietary items and meeting their nutritional requirements, particularly when forage quality is poorest or promotion of nutritionally valuable forage items is required. The study will also inform management of nutritional requirements at future translocation sites for the NHW.

The initial impact of a predator exclosure sanctuary on small vertebrates in semi‐arid Western Australia

AbstractPredator exclosure reserves have become pivotal to conserving some threatened Australian mammalian fauna. However, the impact of predator exclosure reserves on resident (non‐target) small vertebrates is less understood. Given the potential ecological consequences of fencing, and the contribution of small vertebrates to ecosystem processes, we investigated species' occupancy, and site colonization and extinction dynamics, inside and outside of a predator exclosure fenced area for nine small vertebrates (six reptile, three mammal). We conducted vertebrate surveying 4 years (2011–2014) pre‐ and 2 years (2015–2016) post‐fence construction at the Australian Wildlife Conservancy Mt Gibson Sanctuary, in the semi‐arid, critically endangered Wheatbelt Eucalypt Woodlands of Western Australia, to assess spatial and temporal trends in small mammal and reptile populations. Of nine species modelled, one reptile (Diplodactylus pulcher) decreased in occupancy inside of the fence following construction. We detected no negative impact of the predator exclosure fence on the remaining eight species. One native reptile species (Lerista kingi) and an introduced rodent (Mus musculus) increased occupancy inside (but not outside) the fenced area. Spatial and temporal occupancy inside and outside of the fenced area for all other modelled species was stable. Biotic (habitat) factors and stochastic interannual detectability were the most significant drivers of species' occupancy. Species‐specific habitat associations were partially determined by site‐based presence and absence probabilities. This suggests that the predator exclosure sanctuary either benefitted or had minimal impact on all but one modelled species. These results may be a useful reference for future fencing projects aimed at both conservation and land management.

Niche separation of three species of tree-rat (black-footed tree-rat, M. gouldii, golden-backed tree-rat, Mesembriomys macrurus, and brush-tailed rabbit-rat, Conilurus penicillatus) on the Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia

Context Distribution and abundance of the three northern Australian tree-rat species, Conilurus penicillatus, Mesembriomys macrurus and M. gouldii, have contracted significantly since European settlement. All three species were recorded from the Mitchell Plateau, Western Australia, in the 1980s, enabling their niche separation to be assessed. Despite this study being conducted in 1987, the results remain relevant for conservation strategies for these species. Aims To determine the ecological separation among three tropical tree-rat species by documenting habitat preferences, habitat use and diet. Methods Live-trapping, radiotracking and spotlighting were used to assess relative abundance, habitat preference and movements of each species at nine sites on the Mitchell Plateau. Diet was determined using scat analysis; vegetation communities were described and characterised by pattern analysis. Key results C. penicillatus (number of individuals trapped (n) = 24) was most abundant, followed by M. macrurus (n = 8) and M. gouldii (n = 2). Mature open forest with a well-developed understorey was preferred by the predominantly arboreal M. gouldii (1 site), M. macrurus occupied more varied habitats (four sites), especially ecotones between vine thicket and open eucalypt forest and the boulder edges of the plateau, and C. penicillatus occupied the greatest variety of habitats (four sites) in open eucalypt woodland with a diverse shrub layer and ground cover almost absent to very dense, tall grass. Diet analysis identified M. gouldii as a frugivore (fruits, some flowers), M. macrurus as an omnivore (seeds, fruits, flowers, termites, other invertebrates), and C. penicillatus as a generalist (monocot and dicot leaves, seeds, flowers, fruits, some arthropods). Conclusions The largest of the species, M. gouldii, appeared to have the narrowest ecological niche, preferring more stable, structurally diverse, mature open forest that is infrequently burnt. The mid-sized M. macrurus occupies a broader range of habitats, particularly ecotones between vine thickets and eucalypt forest/woodland and woodland. C. penicillatus preferred open eucalypt woodland with a variable understorey. Implications With a changing climate, increased fire frequency, habitat degradation by introduced herbivores and predation by cats across the tropical savanna distribution of these threatened tree-rats, this study provides data to underpin actions that may ensure their survival.

Arbuscular mycorrhizal communities respond to nutrient enrichment and plant invasion in phosphorus‐limited eucalypt woodlands

Abstract Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) facilitate ecosystem functioning through provision of plant hosts with phosphorus (P), especially where soil P is limiting. Changes in soil nutrient regimes are expected to impact AMF, but the direction of the impact may depend on context. We predicted that nitrogen (N)‐only enrichment promotes plant invasions and exacerbates their P limitation, increasing the utility of AMF and promoting AMF diversity. We expected that enrichment with N, P and other nutrients similarly promotes plant invasions, but decreases the benefit and diversity of AMF because P is readily available for both native and exotic plants. We tested these hypotheses in eucalypt woodlands of south‐western Australia, that occur on soils naturally low in P. We evaluated AMF communities within three modified ground‐layer states representing different types of nutrient enrichment and associated plant invasions. We compared these modified states to near‐natural reference woodlands. AMF richness varied across ground‐layer states. The moderately invaded/N‐enriched state showed the highest AMF richness, while the highly invaded/NP‐enriched state showed the lowest AMF richness. The reference state and the weakly invaded/enriched state were intermediate. AMF richness and colonisation were higher in roots of exotic than native plant species. AMF community composition differed among ground‐layer states, with the highly invaded/NP‐enriched state being most distinct. Distinctions among states were often driven by family‐level patterns. Reference and moderately invaded/N‐enriched states each supported distinct groups of zero‐radius operational taxonomic units (zOTUs) in Acaulosporaceae, Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae, whereas Gigasporaceae and Glomeraceae were nearly absent from the highly invaded/NP‐enriched state. Further, Diversisporaceae and Glomeraceae were most diverse in the moderately invaded/N‐enriched state. Synthesis. Both the nature of soil nutrient enrichment and plant provenance matter for AMF. N‐only enrichment of low‐P soils increased AMF richness, likely due to the introduction of AMF‐dependent exotic plant species and exacerbation of their P limitation. In contrast, multi‐nutrient enrichment, decreased AMF richness potentially due to a decrease in host dependence on AMF, regardless of host provenance. The changes in AMF community composition with nutrient enrichment and plant invasion warrant further research into predicting the functional implications of these changes.

A new species of nightjar (Caprimulgus) from Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands, Wallacea

The nightjars of the Caprimulgus macrurus complex are distributed from Pakistan to Australia and comprise six morphologically similar but vocally distinct species. Fieldwork on Timor and Wetar, Lesser Sunda Islands, has resulted in the discovery of a seventh species in the complex, which we describe as a new species. This species has previously been confused with Caprimulgus macrurus, Caprimulgus celebensis and Caprimulgus manillensis but it differs from these and all other species in the complex by at least 13 vocal characters. Discriminant function analysis correctly classified all recordings in the complex to species. Caprimulgus ritae is known from five adult museum specimens, which are the smallest in the complex and which differ from other species in the complex in several morphological characters. A molecular phylogenetic analysis indicated that C. ritae is sister to C. meesi from Flores and Sumba, and that these species together are sister to C. macrurus. C. ritae is a tropical forest specialist occurring from sea level to at least 1500 m (probably mostly below 1000 m). Lowland and montane forests on Timor are threatened. Wetar is one of the least developed islands in Indonesia, and retains >95% natural vegetation, dominated by Eucalyptus woodlands, with tropical forests in river gorges and slopes in upland areas. Pressure for development is accelerating throughout the range of C. ritae, and a detailed assessment of its conservation status is urgently needed.

Multi-century times-since-fire and prior fire interval determine biomass carbon stocks in obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands

Multi-century times-since-fire and prior fire interval determine biomass carbon stocks in obligate-seeder eucalypt woodlands

Promoting Optimal Habitat Availability by Maintaining Fine-Grained Burn Mosaics: A Modelling Study in an Australian Semi-Arid Temperate Woodland

The pyrodiversity–biodiversity (P–B) hypothesis posits that spatiotemporally variable fire regimes increase wildlife habitat diversity, and that the fine-grained mosaics resulting from small patchy fires enhance biodiversity. This logic underpins the patch mosaic burning (PMB) paradigm and reinforces the benefits of Indigenous fire management, which tends to promote pyrodiversity. However, tests of the P–B hypothesis and PMB paradigm are few. One of the most comprehensive field evaluations—a snapshot study of pre-existing fire mosaics in south-east Australian semi-arid mallee eucalypt woodlands—found little support. To explore the longer-term effects of fire mosaic grain size on habitat availability and biodiversity, we combined published data from the mallee study with a simple fire simulation. We simulated 500 years of landscape burning under different fire sizes. In the resulting mosaics, we assessed the proportional mixture and patch configuration of successional habitat states, then summarised habitat availability through time using a composite index based on the published fire history responses of 22 vertebrate taxa from the mallee study. Small fires formed fine-grained mosaics with a stable habitat mixture and with habitat diversity occurring at fine scales. Large fires formed coarse-grained mosaics with the opposite properties. The fine-grained mosaics maintained optimal habitat availability for vertebrate diversity over 500 years, while the fluctuating habitat mixture in the coarse-grained mosaics was unlikely to maintain maximum vertebrate diversity. Broadly, our results support the P–B hypothesis and justify further field-testing and evaluation of PMB programs to manage both pyrodiversity and biodiversity in the mallee and other flammable landscapes.

Ants of Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park in arid Australia: Diversity, faunistic composition and habitat associations

Inland Australia supports by far the world's most diverse arid-adapted ant fauna, but there are no published studies of regional ant faunas from the central arid zone. Here we describe the ants collected by pitfall trapping at 22 sites in World Heritage-listed Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park (300 mm mean annual rainfall), representing all major vegetation types from spinifex grasslands to eucalypt woodlands. A total of 154 (mostly undescribed) ant species from 26 genera were recorded, with the richest genera being Melophorus (30 species), Monomorium (26), Iridomyrmex (18) and Camponotus (12). The pattern of species accumulation suggests that many more species remain to be collected from the Park, and we estimate that the total fauna consists of around 300 species. The most abundant ants were species of Iridomyrmex (collectively contributing 76% of all ants collected), as is the case throughout arid Australia. Species of Monomorium and Melophorus were also highly abundant. No exotic species were recorded. Ant species composition was strongly related to vegetation type, with a particular distinction between the various grasslands on one hand, and woodlands on the other. Unexpectedly, species richness was higher in structurally simple spinifex grasslands than in eucalypt woodlands. The woodland fauna lacks many taxa characteristic of such habitats in similarly arid regions of southern Australia, which we attribute to remoteness and small patch size. Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park supports an extremely diverse ant fauna, but surveys of other areas are required for an improved understanding of patterns of ant biodiversity in Australia's central arid zone.

Restoring landscape burning is compatible with conservation and livestock production in a southeast Australian grassland fragment

Abstract Lowland grassland fragments in southeast Australia are valued for both sheep grazing and conservation. Many fragments are now rarely burnt, despite being shaped by millennia of Aboriginal fire‐use. Restoring fire could potentially reduce fuels, control exotic plant species, promote native species and renew Aboriginal cultural burning. However, this requires understanding of how fire and large herbivores, both native and exotic, are coupled and influence vegetation. We implemented a single round of low‐intensity experimental burns in an area of remnant grassland and patchy eucalypt woodlands in Tasmania that is managed for conservation, albeit intermittently grazed by sheep, as well as by native and exotic wild herbivores. We compared herbivore activity between burnt and unburnt areas over 2 years using cameras and scat transects, and assessed how fire and herbivory influenced herbaceous biomass and the cover of broad vegetation classes with and without herbivore exclusion. Contrary to expectations, burnt areas did not disproportionately attract the main herbivores: domestic sheep, introduced deer and native wallabies. In the predominant grassy sward, grazing and fire both reduced herbaceous biomass but we found no support for our hypothesis that grazing reduces biomass more strongly after burning. This contrasts with isolated patches of Poa tussock grassland, where fire reduced biomass much more strongly than grazing, and grazing effects on biomass were more pronounced following burning. The cover of broad vegetation classes was little affected by burning, but excluding herbivores increased exotic grass cover in both burnt and unburnt plots. Practical implication. In degraded fragments of lowland native grassland, burning and grazing do not necessarily act as strongly synergistic disturbances. Grazing by sheep and wild herbivores can help to control exotic grasses and reduce herbaceous biomass, although burning is much more effective than grazing for reducing biomass of unpalatable Poa tussock grassland. Our results suggest that returning occasional low‐intensity fires to our study system, and other degraded grassland‐woodland fragments, can be compatible with livestock production and conservation goals, but this requires caution and adaptive management.

Hemigenia glaucissima (Lamiaceae), a rare new species from south-west Western Australia

Hemigenia glaucissima, a rare species from south-western Western Australia, is here described with associated photographic images and distribution map. The new species is restricted to mallee eucalypt woodland in the south-eastern wheatbelt region of the state. Currently, it is only known from two nearby populations that were first collected during botanical surveys for a mining project near Parker Range.

Unusual, human-mediated prevalence of epiphytes in semi-arid New South Wales, Australia

Context Epiphytes are typically associated with wet forests and are seldom documented in drylands. This absence is presumed to reflect moisture limitations to their establishment and survival. Aims In response to a large body of epiphyte observations made by a pastoralist in collaboration with local Indigenous people, we investigated and documented an unusually high concentration of woody epiphytes from semi-arid eastern Australia and describe this in relation to ecological and cultural factors. Methods We searched for, recorded and measured epiphytic trees and shrubs in semi-arid eucalypt woodlands of northern New South Wales and southern Queensland. Factors influencing their distribution were examined. Key results Eucalypts growing along the Barwon River palaeochannels host 21 species of shrubs and trees. Over 95% of the 712 woody epiphytes documented were alive, and some appeared decades old; 70% were growing in trees that had been modified by humans, and at least half of the host sites were directly anthropogenically created. Epiphytes are widely, but typically sparsely, distributed in other semi-arid eucalypt woodlands, with a further 311 found during regional surveys. Conclusions The large trees of the Barwon palaeochannels, their extensive human modification to create favourable sites for epiphyte establishment, and the diversity of understorey shrubs providing a propagule source have combined to create this epiphyte-rich woodland. Their association with Culturally Modified Trees and the relatively low density of epiphytes elsewhere suggest that Aboriginal people have played a direct role in creating this landscape, to which they remain deeply connected. Implications Epiphytes may be more widespread in drylands than previously recognised. We hope that this study stimulates further research on their distribution, characteristics, and ecological and cultural associations.

Abundant post‐fire recruitment and rapid seedling maturity emphasise regular burning is beneficial for conserving the Vulnerable Purple‐flowered Wattle (Acacia purpureopetala)

SummaryPurple‐flowered Wattle (Acacia purpureopetala) has a Vulnerable status under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act (1992) and is listed as Critically Endangered under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). It grows in eucalypt woodlands of North Queensland. Its post‐fire response was examined to better understand its ecology and management requirements. Before and after fire surveys found Purple‐flowered Wattle is a fire‐killed ‘obligate seeder’ with abundant fire‐promoted germination, but limited recruitment in the absence of fire, highlighting the importance of regular burning for generating new plants. Nearly half of Purple‐flowered Wattle seedlings began producing seed in their second year, indicating a population tolerant of frequent burning. Combined, the abundant fire‐promoted recruitment and rapidly maturing seedlings suggest regular patchy fires that allow some mature plants to survive unburnt while promoting recruitment in burnt areas would benefit the population. A laboratory trial found percentage germination after 3 weeks was significantly higher for seeds treated by soaking in hot water for 5 minutes (31% germination), compared with those soaked in ambient temperature water (4% germination). However, by 5 weeks, germination differences between seed treatment were not statistically significant. The apparent discrepancy where unheated seeds eventually germinated in a laboratory setting, yet in situ germination was almost completely restricted to the post‐fire environment, warrants further investigation. It may be that successful germination and seedling establishment in woodlands requires the rapid removal of physical dormancy, or perhaps keeping unheated seed constantly moist for 5 weeks in a laboratory trial is simply an unnatural treatment producing a germination response not relevant to ecosystem function. The abundant fire‐triggered germination and rapid maturity of seedlings, combined with the known population number (>4,000 plants) and distribution range (850 km2), support existing recommendations that Purple‐flowered Wattle warrants a Vulnerable rather than Critically Endangered Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999) status, as is current at the state level. Management that includes regular patchy burning with good soil moisture that reduces the extent and intensity of individual fires is likely to benefit the long‐term preservation of this restricted species and associated species of its ecosystems.

Diverse Methods for Diverse Systems: A Large-Scale Comparison of Reptile Sampling Methods

Abstract Reptiles play a crucial role in maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem health, yet many species face increasing threats due to various anthropogenic factors. Enhancing our understanding of reptile diversity and habitat use worldwide necessitates evaluating the effectiveness of diverse survey techniques. The relative efficacy of different methods may vary significantly across regions or communities, highlighting the need for a comprehensive approach using multiple survey methods over extensive spatial and temporal scales. In this study, we compared the effectiveness of seven survey methods – pitfall traps, funnel traps, spotlighting, arboreal cover boards, incidental encounters, camera traps, and passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) – for assessing reptile biodiversity over several years across an extensive spatial range in open eucalypt woodlands throughout eastern Australia. Pitfall and funnel traps were the most effective methods for detecting reptiles across all sites and latitudes. A combination of pitfall and funnel traps accumulated species the quickest, had high detection probabilities, and accounted for nearly 90% of all different reptile species detected in this study. However, with a decrease in latitude reptile diversity increased and other survey methods became necessary to document the full extent of the reptile communities. Reptile assemblages captured by different survey methods varied significantly, except for the communities captured by pitfall and funnel traps. No single method captured all species, and no species was detected by every method. Passive acoustic monitoring failed to detect any reptiles and may not be viable for assessing reptile biodiversity in Australia. Pitfall and funnel traps proved highly effective for detecting terrestrial reptiles within open eucalypt woodlands in Australia, however, the selection of methods for evaluating reptile biodiversity depends on the objectives and target fauna, and when possible, to maximize species richness, survey designs should incorporate an array of concurrently deployed methods, particularly in regions with higher overall species richness. Nevertheless, if resources and time are limited, pitfall and funnel traps, combined with incidental encounters, should capture the majority of species.

Three new species of north-eastern Australian earless dragons (Agamidae: Tympanocryptis)

Earless dragons (Tympanocryptis spp.) are found in most open dry environments across the Australian continent, with the 23 currently described species inhabiting a variety of ecological niches, from stony desert to tropical woodland or cracking clay savannahs. Recent species delimitation research using genetics (mtDNA, nDNA, SNPs) and geometric morphometric analyses of CT scans identified three genetic lineages of earless dragons that are yet to be described in Queensland, supporting the need for a taxonomic revision. Focussing on this geographic region, we use supporting evidence from a mitochondrial DNA (ND2) phylogeny, along with external morphological assessment, to undertake a taxonomic revision of Queensland earless dragons. Based on these data, we describe three new species of Tympanocryptis from the cracking clay grasslands of the Darling Riverine Basin, the Queensland Central Highlands, and the stony open eucalypt woodlands on the Einasleigh Uplands. The revision of these north-eastern Australian earless dragon species provides further taxonomic clarity within the Tympanocryptis genus.

Estimating the time of human decomposition based on skeletal muscle biopsy samples utilizing an untargeted LC-MS/MS-based proteomics approach.

Accurate estimation of the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial in forensic medico-legal investigations to understand case circumstances (e.g. narrowing down list of missing persons or include/exclude suspects). Due to the complex decomposition chemistry, estimation of PMI remains challenging and currently often relies on the subjective visual assessment of gross morphological/taphonomic changes of a body during decomposition or entomological data. The aim of the current study was to investigate the human decomposition process up to 3months after death and propose novel time-dependent biomarkers (peptide ratios) for the estimation of decomposition time. An untargeted liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-based bottom-up proteomics workflow (ion mobility separated) was utilized to analyse skeletal muscle, collected repeatedly from nine body donors decomposing in an open eucalypt woodland environment in Australia. Additionally, general analytical considerations for large-scale proteomics studies for PMI determination are raised and discussed. Multiple peptide ratios (human origin) were successfully proposed (subgroups < 200 accumulated degree days (ADD), < 655 ADD and < 1535 ADD) as a first step towards generalised, objective biochemical estimation of decomposition time. Furthermore, peptide ratios for donor-specific intrinsic factors (sex and body mass) were found. Search of peptide data against a bacterial database did not yield any results most likely due to the low abundance of bacterial proteins within the collected human biopsy samples. For comprehensive time-dependent modelling, increased donor number would be necessary along with targeted confirmation of proposed peptides. Overall, the presented results provide valuable information that aid in the understanding and estimation of the human decomposition processes.

Multi-scale mapping of Australia’s terrestrial and blue carbon stocks and their continental and bioregional drivers

The soil in terrestrial and coastal blue carbon ecosystems is an important carbon sink. National carbon inventories require accurate assessments of soil carbon in these ecosystems to aid conservation, preservation, and nature-based climate change mitigation strategies. Here we harmonise measurements from Australia’s terrestrial and blue carbon ecosystems and apply multi-scale machine learning to derive spatially explicit estimates of soil carbon stocks and the environmental drivers of variation. We find that climate and vegetation are the primary drivers of variation at the continental scale, while ecosystem type, terrain, clay content, mineralogy and nutrients drive subregional variations. We estimate that in the top 0–30 cm soil layer, terrestrial ecosystems hold 27.6 Gt (19.6–39.0 Gt), and blue carbon ecosystems 0.35 Gt (0.20–0.62 Gt). Tall open eucalypt and mangrove forests have the largest soil carbon content by area, while eucalypt woodlands and hummock grasslands have the largest total carbon stock due to the vast areas they occupy. Our findings suggest these are essential ecosystems for conservation, preservation, emissions avoidance, and climate change mitigation because of the additional co-benefits they provide.