Native-born Research Articles

An overview of koala retrovirus epidemiology in Australia. In Proceedings of the Second Koala Retrovirus Workshop, ed. D. E. Alquezar-Planas, D. P. Higgins, C. L. Singleton, and A. D. Greenwood

Koala retrovirus (KoRV) epidemiology varies across koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations with distinct differences in viral prevalence, sequence diversity, and disease impact. Curiously the more genetically restricted southern populations are less impacted by KoRV with the virus not endogenized in its replication competent form in these animals. These southern animals do, however, have replication defective recKoRV variants in their genomes indicating historical exposure to KoRV and recKoRV. Whether southern animals are inherently resistant to KoRV infection and endogenization is not clear. It is also not clear whether the current regional epidemiological patterns will persist or whether exposure to animals with infectious KoRV or cross-breeding between different genetic populations will change the KoRV prevalence with time.

Incidence, trends, and significance of putative koala retrovirus-associated diseases in monitored wild koala populations in southeast Queensland. In Proceedings of the Second Koala Retrovirus Workshop, ed. D. E. Alquezar-Planas, D. P. Higgins, C. L. Singleton, and A. D. Greenwood

Research indicates that northern koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) are ubiquitously infected with koala retrovirus (KoRV). There is increasing evidence linking KoRV with neoplasia and a range of disorders associated with immunodeficiency, conditions observed at high rates in captive colonies, and sick koalas presenting to wildlife hospitals. However, less is known about the occurrence of these putative KoRV-associated diseases in wild populations. We analysed health data collected at the veterinary examinations of 691 koalas inhabiting three monitored wild koala populations in southeast Queensland between 2013 and 2020. At initial presentation, neoplasia and AIDS-like syndrome were detected at a prevalence of 1.16% (8/691; 95% CI 0.5–2.19%). Longitudinal data from koalas recruited into the monitoring programmes and receiving one or more subsequent examination revealed an incidence rate of 3.5 cases/100 koalas/year (95% CI 2.35–4.9). These findings indicate that a relatively small proportion of the populations studied were affected by these putative KoRV-associated diseases. However, the impact on individuals was severe, with high associated mortality in the diseased cohort. Furthermore, northern koala populations endure multiple threats, suffering severe declines in recent decades. We propose that the significance of putative KoRV-associated diseases on these populations should be considered within this context and that further research into the interactions between KoRV and other drivers of decline is warranted.

Koalas showed limited behavioural response and no physiological response to drones

Drones have become a popular conservation tool especially when monitoring cryptic species or species inhabiting locations difficult to access. We developed a non-invasive methodology to measure heart rate in koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) using a Fitbit and investigated the behavioural (vigilance behaviour) and physiological (heart rate and breathing rate) responses of captive koalas to drones. We showed for the first time that heart rate values in koalas can be accurately obtained with a Fitbit. Koalas responded to a drone flight conducted 15 m above their heads with a short-term increase in vigilance, but no change in heart rate or breathing rate. Our results suggest that drones may not have long-term detrimental effects on koalas’ fitness or energy demands and adds to the growing literature investigating animals’ responses to drones to help develop best practices for drone monitoring.

Loneliness and Psychological Distress Among Older Californians: The Moderating Roles of Citizenship Status and English Proficiency.

Guided by the theory of stress proliferation, our study examined whether loneliness, citizenship status, and English proficiency were associated with psychological distress among older adults, and if citizenship status and English proficiency moderated these relationships. Using the older adult subsample (65+ years) of the 2019-2020 California Health Interview Survey (N = 15,210), we assessed cross-sectional associations between loneliness, citizenship status, and English proficiency on psychological distress by conducting multivariable linear regression models. Interaction terms were included in subsequent models to determine if citizenship status and English proficiency moderated the relationship between loneliness and psychological distress. In unadjusted models, greater loneliness was associated with higher distress. Both naturalized citizens and noncitizens, and those with limited English proficiency (LEP) exhibited greater distress than US born citizens and those who speak English only (EO). After adjusting for sociodemographic and health covariables, loneliness remained significant for distress although the relationships between citizenship status and English proficiency became attenuated. With the inclusion of interactions, the magnitude of the relationship between loneliness and distress was stronger for naturalized citizens and those with LEP than native-born citizens and those who speak EO, respectively. Loneliness was the most consistent stressor affecting multiple life domains. However, our findings demonstrate that stress proliferation is occurring among older immigrant adults and the interplay between loneliness, citizenship status, and English proficiency is contributing to heightened distress. Further attention is needed in understanding the role of multiple stressors influencing mental health among immigrant older adults.

Canadian Club: Birthright Citizenship and National Belonging Lois Harder, Toronto: University of Toronto Press, 2022, pp. 216

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Legal Protection of The Rights of Indonesian Citizens for Children in Lifetime Mixed Marriages

This study focuses on the first problem how to determine the principles of ius sanguinis and ius soli in relation to the status of children from mixed marriages, second, how the concept of legal protection for children from mixed marriages in guaranteeing human rights in the future. The method used in this research is normative juridical research with a research approach in the form of a normative approach. The results of the study show that dual citizenship for life is still difficult to do in Indonesia because Article 6 of the citizenship law adheres to the principle of single citizenship. On the principle of "ius sanguinis" has limited dual citizenship arrangements that apply to children resulting from mixed marriages. This application is only valid until the child is 18 years old and is extended by 3 years to avoid being stateless. The state is obliged to fulfill and protect the rights of its citizens, including the right to the citizenship status of children resulting from mixed marriages which is an inseparable part of the conception of human rights contained in the constitution of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia. The concept of legal protection for children resulting from mixed marriages in guaranteeing rights In the future, in making regulations to take special temporary action, the 18 year citizenship law is extended by 3 years and the rights as Indonesian citizens can be protected for life. This is in line with the age that is capable and mature in choosing to become an Indonesian citizen to be able to have their rights in accordance with the legal provisions in force in Indonesia and based on Article 28 H paragraph (2) of the 1945 Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia.

Characterisation of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) pouch microbiota in a captive population reveals a dysbiotic compositional profile associated with neonatal mortality

BackgroundCaptive koala breeding programmes are essential for long-term species management. However, breeding efficacy is frequently impacted by high neonatal mortality rates in otherwise healthy females. Loss of pouch young typically occurs during early lactation without prior complications during parturition and is often attributed to bacterial infection. While these infections are thought to originate from the maternal pouch, little is known about the microbial composition of koala pouches. As such, we characterised the koala pouch microbiome across the reproductive cycle and identified bacteria associated with mortality in a cohort of 39 captive animals housed at two facilities.ResultsUsing 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, we observed significant changes in pouch bacterial composition and diversity between reproductive time points, with the lowest diversity observed following parturition (Shannon entropy — 2.46). Of the 39 koalas initially sampled, 17 were successfully bred, after which seven animals lost pouch young (overall mortality rate — 41.18%). Compared to successful breeder pouches, which were largely dominated by Muribaculaceae (phylum — Bacteroidetes), unsuccessful breeder pouches exhibited persistent Enterobacteriaceae (phylum — Proteobacteria) dominance from early lactation until mortality occurred. We identified two species, Pluralibacter gergoviae and Klebsiella pneumoniae, which were associated with poor reproductive outcomes. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility testing identified resistance in both isolates to several antibiotics commonly used in koalas, with the former being multidrug resistant.ConclusionsThis study represents the first cultivation-independent characterisation of the koala pouch microbiota, and the first such investigation in marsupials associated with reproductive outcomes. Overall, our findings provide evidence that overgrowth of pathogenic organisms in the pouch during early development is associated with neonatal mortality in captive koalas. Our identification of previously unreported, multidrug resistant P. gergoviae strains linked to mortality also underscores the need for improved screening and monitoring procedures aimed at minimising neonatal mortality in future.2x5HUzrydQWXd3d2iYrm8oVideo

Immigrating to Unsafe Spaces: Unique Patterns of Homicide in Immigrant Victims Compared to Native-Born Citizens

IntroductionContrary to popular belief, immigrant enclaves produce less crime than other areas of the United States, yet that does not mean immigrants avoid violent crime altogether. The purpose of this project is to better characterize the victims of homicide in this population. Specifically, we sought to compare differences in victim demographics, injury patterns, and circumstances of violent death between the immigrant population and native-born victims of homicide. MethodsWe queried the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) from the years 2003-2019 for deaths in victims who were born outside of the United States. We extracted demographic information including age, race or ethnicity, means of homicide, and circumstances surrounding the event to compare immigrant to nonimmigrant deaths. ResultsImmigrant victims were less likely to be killed by a firearm and to have substance use or alcohol implicated. Immigrant victims were twice as likely to be killed during multiple homicide events that involved suicide of the perpetrator (2.1% to 1%, P ≤ 0.001) and to be killed by a stranger (12.9% to 6.2%, P ≤ 0.001). Immigrant victims were also more likely to be killed during the perpetration of another crime (19.1% to 15%, P ≤ 0.001), and more likely to be killed in a commercial setting such as a grocery store or retail outlet (7.6% to 2.4%, P ≤ 0.001). ConclusionsInjury prevention measures for the immigrant population require different techniques, focusing on distinct features of victimization centered on random acts in contrast to native-born citizens who tend to be victims of people they know.

Frederick Cooper. Citizenship, Inequality, and Difference: Historical Perspectives.

Frederick Cooper’s sophisticated, stimulating, and accessible new book, Citizenship, Inequality, and Difference: Historical Perspectives, presents an eminently historical conceptualization of citizenship. Diverging from theorists in other disciplines, Cooper declines to delineate sharply between citizenship and subjectship, jus soli and jus sanguinis, civic and ethnic citizenship, or thick and thin citizenship. Instead, he conceives of citizenship as a framework within which individuals make claims upon states. Cooper is keenly attuned to inequality and difference, terms he includes in his title, but he does not think they are fundamentally incompatible with citizenship. For him, citizenship is a framework, not an ideal. The bulk of Citizenship, Inequality, and Difference explores how state calculations and popular demands have configured citizenship in different historical contexts. The book encompasses a range of examples yet is masterfully concise, belying its origins as a series of lectures. Cooper capitalizes on his own research on French Africa and his collaborations with Jane Burbank on empire, while also covering states from the Ottoman Empire to postcolonial India, generously citing other scholars along the way.

Illusion of Citizenship and Sovereignty in the Caribbean

This essay aims to analyze the aspirational universality of the terms “citizenship” and “sovereignty” by focusing on the nature of these terms in the Caribbean. This is accomplished through establishing the traditional definitions of sovereignty and citizenship before comparing the main tenets of these definitions with case studies from the Caribbean which challenge, contradict, or negate these traditional definitions. Specifically, this essay will discuss the promises of birthright citizenship entrenched in the constitution of the Dominican Republic in contrast with the statelessness and non-citizenship that those of Haitian descent experience in the Dominican Republic. Next, sovereignty is complicated when its traditional definition is compared to the Caribbean’s history of foreign intervention, specifically in Haiti and Jamaica. This results in the conclusion that sovereignty and citizenship are situation-specific constructs and illusionary in the Caribbean. The prevalence of these illusions is contextualized through building off the work of Yarimar Bonilla and Michel-Rolph Trouillot, who grouped these terms as “North Atlantic Universals,” to reinforce the non-existence of citizenship and sovereignty, according to their traditional definitions, in the Caribbean.

Influences on koala habitat selection across four local government areas on the far north coast of NSW

AbstractConserving habitats crucial for threatened koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) populations requires rating habitat quality from a fine spatial scale to patches, landscapes and then regions. The koala has a specialized diet focused on the leaves of a suite of Eucalyptus species. We asked: what are the key regional influences on habitat selection by koalas in the far north coast of New South Wales? We addressed this question by investigating the multi‐scale factors, and within‐scale and cross‐scale interactions, that influence koala habitat selection and distribution across four local government areas on the far north coast of New South Wales. We assembled and analysed a large data set of tree selection, identified by the presence of scats, in a wide range of randomly selected 5 × 5 km grids across the region. This resulted in more than 9000 trees surveyed for evidence of koala use from 302 field sites, together with associated biophysical site features. The dominant factor influencing habitat use and koala occurrence was the distribution of five Eucalyptus species. Koalas were more likely to use medium‐sized trees of these species where they occurred on soils with high levels of Colwell phosphorous. We also identified new interactions among the distribution of preferred tree species and soil phosphorous, and their distribution with the amount of suitable habitat in the surrounding landscape. Our study confirmed that non‐preferred species of eucalypts and non‐eucalypts are extensively used by koalas and form important components of koala habitat. This finding lends support to restoring a mosaic of koala‐preferred tree species and other species recognized for their value as shelter. Our study has provided the ecological foundation for developing a novel regional‐scale approach to the conservation of koalas, with adaptability to other wildlife species.

Citizenship and integration

Several European countries have reformed their citizenship policies over the past decades. There is much to learn from their experience of how citizenship works; for whom it works; and what rules and policies matter for integration. The article surveys recent quasi-experimental evidence and field experiments from the social sciences on the link between eligibility rules, take-up and integration outcomes. Across countries and reforms, the evidence shows that faster access to citizenship increases take-up and improves the economic, educational, political and social integration of immigrants. Other eligibility rules like civic knowledge tests or application fees also impact who naturalizes and therefore benefits from citizenship. Birthright citizenship, which is much less common in Europe, turns out to be a powerful tool for getting second-generation immigrants off to a good start. Together, citizenship acts as a powerful catalyst benefiting immigrants as well as host countries.

The koala gut microbiome is largely unaffected by host translocation but rather influences host diet.

Translocation is a valuable and increasingly used strategy for the management of both threatened and overabundant wildlife populations. However, in some instances the translocated animals fail to thrive. Differences in diet between the source and destination areas may contribute to poor translocation outcomes, which could conceivably be exacerbated if the animals' microbiomes are unsuited to the new diet and cannot adapt. In this study we tracked how the faecal microbiome of a specialist Eucalyptus folivore, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus), changed over the course of a year after translocation. We assessed microbiome composition by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing of faecal pellets. We found no significant overall changes in the faecal microbiomes of koalas post-translocation (n = 17) in terms of microbial richness, diversity or composition when compared to the faecal microbiomes of koalas from an untranslocated control group (n = 12). This was despite the translocated koalas feeding on a greater variety of Eucalyptus species after translocation. Furthermore, while differences between koalas accounted for half of the microbiome variation, estimated diets at the time of sampling only accounted for 5% of the variation in the koala microbiomes between sampling periods. By contrast, we observed that the composition of koala faecal microbiomes at the time of translocation accounted for 37% of between koala variation in post-translocation diet. We also observed that translocated koalas lost body condition during the first month post-translocation and that the composition of the koalas' initial microbiomes were associated with the magnitude of that change. These findings suggest that the koala gut microbiome was largely unaffected by dietary change and support previous findings suggesting that the koala gut microbiome influences the tree species chosen for feeding. They further indicate that future research is needed to establish whether the koalas' gut microbiomes are directly influencing their health and condition or whether aspects of the koala gut microbiomes are an indicator of underlying physiological differences or pathologies. Our study provides insights into how animal microbiomes may not always be affected by the extreme upheaval of translocation and highlights that responses may be host species-specific. We also provide recommendations to improve the success of koala translocations in the future.

Two paths towards the exceptional extension of national voting rights to non-citizen residents

ABSTRACT Only five countries have extended universal voting rights to non-citizen residents for all political spheres (local, intermediate and national): Uruguay in 1934, New Zealand in 1975, Chile in 1980, Malawi in 1994, and Ecuador in 2008. These cases constitute a unique intercontinental medley and an opportunity to study the conditions behind such revolutionary change. Through a calibrated comparative strategy based on most similar system designs (inspired by Mill’s method of difference) using QCA, this paper finds that the extension of national voting rights to non-citizen residents transpired in two distinct scenarios. The first setting (Chile, New Zealand, and Uruguay) took place within unitary states with already-existing local voting rights for non-citizen residents and settler trajectories, but that were not undergoing a liberalisation process. On the other hand, the second configuration (Ecuador and Malawi) developed within unitary states that recognised nationality by ius soli and were going through a process of liberalisation, but without previous local voting rights for non-citizen residents or a settler trajectory. To our best knowledge, this paper offers the first cross-national explanation that involves all cases that have broadened their respective political communities (demoi) to include national voting rights to all non-citizen residents.

Koala conservation in South East Queensland: A grey literature review analysis

AbstractThis grey literature review documents koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) conservation initiatives applied across 12 local government areas in South East Queensland, Australia. To overcome threats to koalas' survival, the grey literature indicates that local governments in this region focus on wildlife management solutions, wildlife signage, habitat restoration projects and koala awareness campaigns. Despite these measures, land clearing of koala habitat to cater for urban population growth combined with recent bushfires and floods have contributed to the decline of koalas in this region. Recommendations to enhance progress include greater usage of the grey literature in peer review work and further application of social marketing to encourage residents to uptake behaviors that can mitigate threats to koalas, including slowing down when driving in koala zones, participating in citizen science, and leashing dogs when walking in native bush areas. The need for collaborative efforts aimed at conserving the koala from potential extinction is indicated. This paper provides an approach that can be applied to track progress on coordinated efforts to conserve koalas.

Individuality and stability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) faecal microbiota through time.

Gut microbiota studies often rely on a single sample taken per individual, representing a snapshot in time. However, we know that gut microbiota composition in many animals exhibits intra-individual variation over the course of days to months. Such temporal variations can be a confounding factor in studies seeking to compare the gut microbiota of different wild populations, or to assess the impact of medical/veterinary interventions. To date, little is known about the variability of the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) gut microbiota through time. Here, we characterise the gut microbiota from faecal samples collected at eight timepoints over a month for a captive population of South Australian koalas (n individuals = 7), and monthly over 7 months for a wild population of New South Wales koalas (n individuals = 5). Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we found that microbial diversity was stable over the course of days to months. Each koala had a distinct faecal microbiota composition which in the captive koalas was stable across days. The wild koalas showed more variation across months, although each individual still maintained a distinct microbial composition. Per koala, an average of 57 (±16) amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) were detected across all time points; these ASVs accounted for an average of 97% (±1.9%) of the faecal microbial community per koala. The koala faecal microbiota exhibits stability over the course of days to months. Such knowledge will be useful for future studies comparing koala populations and developing microbiota interventions for this regionally endangered marsupial.

Remaking the Republic: Black Politics and the Creation of American Citizenship

Remaking the Republic: Black Politics and the Creation of American Citizenship

Koala conservation in South East Queensland: a shared responsibility

ABSTRACT The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is an iconic Australian animal. Its recent reclassification to endangered in locations such as South East Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory indicates urgent and further conservation actions are required. This article proposes that a downstream social marketing approach can be applied to encourage South East Queensland residents to take preventative actions to protect koalas in their region. This article reports the results of an online survey that was completed by 2,592 South East Queensland residents. The data was cluster analysed using TwoStep cluster analysis, resulting in three valid segments. Active koala enthusiasts are knowledgeable and active in koala conservation. City residents were aware of koalas’ decline but are unfamiliar with conservation actions. Young dog owners do not know about the decline of koalas and they do not currently perform conservation actions. Respondents agreed that koala conservation is a shared responsibility between residents, organisations and governments and too many are not aware of actions they can take. Tailored approaches should be applied in the future, including citizen science initiatives such as completing online koala sightings to broaden understanding of koala habitats.

Remote sensing shows south-east Queensland koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) prefer areas of higher tree canopy height within their home ranges

Context Home range studies allow investigation of faunal habitat use within a well-defined area, and for some species, the concept of ‘core’ and ‘non-core’ home ranges provides the means to examine how resource use varies within home ranges. Taking this approach, we investigated whether koalas preferentially used areas of taller forest canopy within home ranges. After an extensive examination of data quality and home range estimation methods, we used remote sensing techniques to provide canopy height information at high resolution. Aims In many areas, koalas prefer taller individual trees at the plot scale; our aim was to investigate whether koalas prefer forest areas with higher canopy height within their home ranges. Methods In our southeast Queensland study area, we developed a canopy height model (CHM) from airborne LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) data. Existing radio telemetry and GPS data from 135 koalas were used to generate home ranges using 95% kernel density estimators, and 50% kernels represented core home ranges. Some home ranges occupied more than one forest type (Regional Ecosystem – RE); we treated each RE as an individual patch, and used 225 patches in our analysis. We intersected the 95% kernels with the CHM, and used hierarchical spatial clustering to derive four categorical canopy height classes within each patch. We then compared differences in height class area proportions between core and non-core areas for each patch. Key results The highest of the four canopy height classes comprised a significantly higher proportion of core areas (42.3%) than non-core areas (30.7%). Classes 2 and 3 were evenly distributed, and the proportion of Class 4 (lowest canopy height) was 20.3% of non-core areas and 11.0% in core areas. Results were similar for REs grouped by Land Zone and individual REs. Conclusions and implications We conclude that areas of higher canopy are an important habitat resource for koalas. We have, for the first time, examined resource variability within entire koala home ranges using remote sensing, and our methods demonstrate an avenue for further research using other forms of remote sensing. Classified canopy height models could also be used for strategic conservation planning, and at population-level koala habitat management when combined with other relevant habitat factors.

Database records of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in northern Sydney

This study examined records of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in northern Sydney held in online biodiversity databases. There were 221 unique records distributed across the Northern Beaches, Ku-ring-gai, Hornsby and Hills Shire local government areas from 1788 to 2022, with records from the Northern Beaches local government area comprising 68% of this dataset. Records from the 1970s represented 41% of the dataset (90 records), while there were only 42 records from 2000 to 2022. Post-2000 records were spread broadly, showing no major contraction in distribution compared to the spread of earlier records, but with a notable absence of more recent records on the Barrenjoey Peninsula, a previously documented species stronghold. Substantial proportions of records were found in both protected reserves and privately-owned lands, which alludes to the value of the former but also shows that koala conservation in this capital city cannot rely solely on protected reserves. The 2000–22 records were widely distributed across 15 plant community types and areas of non-native vegetation, probably reflecting breeding and dispersal movements more than specific habitat selection. Possibly due to the same influences, none of the 2000–22 records were matched to areas represented by the Koala Habitat Suitability Model, a prediction model for spatial distribution of potential koala habitat across NSW, with a high habitat suitability score (greater than 0.85). We therefore recommend systematic on-ground surveys to clarify the patterns observed from the records.