Survey Of Vertebrate Fauna Research Articles

Corrigendum to: Compliance is not necessarily good science. The Environmental Protection Authority’s vertebrate fauna survey guidelines should be revised

Corrigendum to: Compliance is not necessarily good science. The Environmental Protection Authority’s vertebrate fauna survey guidelines should be revised

Compliance is not necessarily good science. The Environmental Protection Authority’s vertebrate fauna survey guidelines should be revised

Context The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority’s (EPA’s) terrestrial fauna survey guidelines for detailed surveys recommends a two-season survey with a minimum of one, or a few survey sites, for each fauna habitat. Aims This study demonstrates that in two common fauna habitat types and probably most others, this survey effort is unlikely to provide an indication of species richness and abundance. Methods A pit and funnel trapping program targeting small ground dwelling mammals and reptiles was replicated in 20 trapping sites over two survey periods in two different fauna habitat types. Results For most project areas, compliance with the EPA’s guidelines is unlikely to provide better quality data on species richness than publicly available from a desktop assessment. Conclusion It is difficult to provide an adequate scientific justification for undertaking low intensity surveys when desktop surveys will mostly provide better quality information for an environmental impact assessment (EIA), and these surveys probably should not be approved by an animal ethics committee. Implications When preparing for and undertaking vertebrate fauna surveys for an EIA, environmental practitioners should place greater emphasis on the scientific validity and robustness of the proposed surveys rather than just complying with an EPA technical guidance. The EPA’s technical vertebrate fauna survey guidance should be completely rewritten.

A baseline terrestrial vertebrate fauna survey of Pullen Pullen; a significant conservation reserve in south-west Queensland

ABSTRACT Arid and desert landscapes are characterised as boom-bust systems, and sometimes its fauna can remain cryptic or hidden. This short paper reports the results of baseline monitoring of the terrestrial fauna in the Bush Heritage Pullen Pullen reserve in south-west Queensland, most notable for the presence of the night parrot Pezoporus occidentalis. We conducted two fauna surveys over 22 sites representing Spinifex grasslands, and Mitchell and Chenopod grassland habitats in 2018 and 2019, using pitfall, funnel and Elliott traps, and active searching. A total of eight mammal and 28 reptile species comprising 730 records were documented, as well as eight additional incidental species. Frequently recorded species were Ctentous lateralis, Ctenotus pantherinus, Gehyra versicolor, Tachyglossus aculeatus, Sminthopsis macroura, Pseudomys desertor. Fourteen of the species recorded were highly variable in abundance from one survey to the next. The fauna of the Spinifex grasslands, and Mitchell and Chenopod grassland sites was compositionally very different, and the extent of ground cover or Triodia in the surrounding landscape predicted the abundance of some mammals (i.e. Pseudomys desertor) and reptiles (Delma nasuta, Ctenotus pulchellus, Cyclodomorphus melanops). These data provide a baseline for future monitoring on this important reserve, and an opportunity to enhance or increase the survey scope via additional sites and a future more adaptive management and question-driven approach.

A comparison of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) vertebrate fauna survey with a post-approval fauna salvage program: consequences of not adhering to EIA survey guidelines, a Western Australian example

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) has issued written guidance on its expectations for terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys to support environmental impact assessments (EIA). We report on one of the few circumstances where a direct comparison of the results from an EIA vertebrate fauna survey, that did not, in our opinion, appear to conform with the EPA’s guidance statement expectations but was seemingly accepted by the EPA, and a comprehensive terrestrial vertebrate fauna salvage program were undertaken at the same site. This has enabled us to comment on the consequences of not undertaking a survey that complies with the EPA’s expectations. Excluding incursions by non-local species, bats and avian fauna, ~33% of terrestrial vertebrate fauna species recorded during the fauna salvage program were not reported as being present in the EIA survey. The relative abundance of various species differed appreciably between the fauna salvage program and the EIA survey, and an endangered species present in the project area was not identified as likely to occur. We believe these differences occurred because of a single-season EIA survey, insufficient trapping effort, a failure to survey an important fauna habitat, the presumption that a threatened species would be absent due to a lack of local records and records in the available habitat types. A comprehensive review and rewrite of the outdated Western Australian EPA vertebrate fauna survey guidelines and a requirement for proponents and environmental practitioners to meet (or exceed) the revised guidelines are the recommended outcomes.

Upland savannas: the vertebrate fauna of largely unknown but significant habitat in north-eastern Queensland

This paper reports the results of dry and wet season systematic terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys carried out on Blackbraes, a National Park in the Einasleigh Uplands bioregion, North Queensland. It quantifies, for the first time, the biodiversity values of the highest altitude upland area in the Australian tropical savanna. Nine species, including two mammals and seven reptiles, were recorded at the limits of their known range, or in seemingly disjunct populations. Patterns of fauna assemblage in relation to underlying geology and associated habitat variables were investigated and several strong relationships emerged. Temporal patterns in the observed fauna were investigated and 20 species (15 birds, 5 reptiles) were found to be more numerous in different seasons (wet and dry). The avifauna recorded was consistent with much of Australia's tropical savanna, but the reptile and mammal assemblages were distinct, rich and unusual, with exceptionally high abundances, particularly of some arboreal mammals. ...

A nine year survey of the vertebrate fauna of the Bruxner-Ulidarra conservation area in the New South Wales north coast bioregion

Bruxner Park Flora Reserve and the adjoining Ulidarra National Park, on the NSW north coast, comprise a dual-tenure conservation area of 1090 ha dominated by rainforest and old-growth moist eucalypt forest. A field survey of the area's vertebrate fauna over the period 1996-2005 detected 224 native species and nine introduced species. Incorporating records from secondary sources, the Bruxner-Ulidarra conservation area is known to support 230 native vertebrate species (39 mammals, 124 birds, 36 reptiles, 21 frogs and 10 fishes), including 20 species that are currently listed as threatened under NSW legislation. One hundred and ninety vertebrate species (79% of the total) were recorded during a systematic survey, with the remainder of records from opportunistic survey (18%) or secondary sources (3%). The effectiveness of the systematic survey effort in detecting the full inventory of species known from the study area ranged from 100% for freshwater fishes to only 61% for reptiles. Many reptile species were c...

Assessing biodiversity with species accumulation curves; inventories of small reptiles by pit-trapping in Western Australia

Abstract We examined 11 non-linear regression models to determine which of them best fitted curvilinear species accumulation curves based on pit-trapping data for reptiles in a range of heterogeneous and homogenous sites in mesic, semi-arid and arid regions of Western Australia. A well-defined plateau in a species accumulation curve is required for any of the models accurately to estimate species richness. Two different measures of effort (pit-trapping days and number of individuals caught) were used to determine if the measure of effort influenced the choice of the best model(s). We used species accumulation curves to predict species richness, determined the trapping effort required to catch a nominated percentage (e.g. 95%) of the predicted number of species in an area, and examined the relationship between species accumulation curves with diversity and rarity. Species richness, diversity and the proportion of rare species in a community influenced the shape of species accumulation curves. The Beta-P model provided the best overall fit (highest r2) for heterogeneous and homogeneous sites. For heterogeneous sites, Hill, Rational, Clench, Exponential and Weibull models were the next best. For homogeneous habitats, Hill, Weibull and Chapman–Richards were the next best models. There was very little difference between Beta-P and Hill models in fitting the data to accumulation curves, although the Hill model generally over-estimated species richness. Most models worked equally well for both measures of trapping effort. Because the number of individuals caught was influenced by both pit-trapping effort and the abundance of individuals, both measures of effort must be considered if species accumulation curves are to be used as a planning tool. Trapping effort to catch a nominated percentage of the total predicted species in homogeneous and heterogeneous habitats varied among sites, but even for only 75% of the predicted number of species it was generally much higher than the typical effort currently being used for terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys in Australia. It was not possible to provide a general indication of the effort required to predict species richness for a site, or to capture a nominated proportion of species at a site, because species accumulation curves are heavily influenced by the characteristics of particular sites.

Terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys for the preparation of environmental impact assessments; how can we do it better? A Western Australian example

The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) in 2002 released Position Statement, No. 3, Terrestrial Biological Surveys as an Element of Biodiversity Protection outlining how terrestrial fauna survey data are to be used and interpreted in the preparation of environmental impact assessments (EIA). In 2004, the EPA released its Guidance for the Assessment of Environmental Factors, Terrestrial Fauna Surveys for Environmental Impact Assessment in Western Australia, No. 56. This paper briefly assesses the adequacy of recent terrestrial fauna surveys undertaken to support publicly released EIAs and indicates that the EPA is not always adhering to its own position and guidance statements. This paper argues that the current fauna survey guidelines are in need of improvement. The approach and requirements of some other Australian states are briefly assessed to identify similarities and where improvements can be made to the Western Australian (WA) guidelines. This paper concludes with suggestions on how the process and the guidelines in WA can be revised to more adequately assess the impact of developments on terrestrial vertebrate biodiversity and ecosystem function. These suggestions may have relevance for other areas where fauna surveys are undertaken to support EIAs.

The mammals of Croker Island, Northern Territory, Australia.

This is a report on the mammals found in April 2001 during a brief terrestial vertebrate fauna survey on previously unsurveyed Croker Island which is 3 km offshore from the Cobourg Peninusula. Seven mammals were recorded but only 3 were native. These were black flying -fox (Pteropus alecto), grassland melomys (Melomys burtoni) and the dingo (Canis lupus dingo). The remaining 4 species were domestic and feral animals (horse, cat, cattle and pig).

Vertebrate fauna survey of White Mountains National Park in the Desert Uplands Bioregion, central-north Queensland

The patterns of composition and distribution of vertebrate fauna in Queensland's tropical savannas are poorly known. The sandstone landscapes of White Mountains National Park are considered to be significant for fauna given its geographical position on the Great Dividing Range. A survey at White Mountains National Park was undertaken in order to determine the species present, and place them in the context of the assemblages recorded within the Desert Uplands Bioregion. Standardised trapping and incidental data collection techniques were used and a total of 122 vertebrate fauna species (53 being new to the park) were identified. The fauna assemblage contains a mix of vertebrates with some affiliation to north-eastern Queensland tropical savannas (e.g. Anomalopus gowi, Uperoleia lithomoda, Chaerephon jobensis), more mesic east coastal environments (e.g. Glaphyromorphus punctulatus, Planigale maculata, Rattus sordidus) and species distributed generally within and west of the Desert Uplands (e.g. Pseudomys desertor, Ctenotus rosarium, Gehyra variegata, Lerista wilkinsi).

The vertebrate fauna of the Clemant State Forest Lowlands: a significant coastal woodland remnant in the southern wet tropics bioregion, Northeastern Queensland

A survey of vertebrate fauna was conducted in the lowlands of Clemant State Forest, a 5430 ha area of land that lies at the southern extremity of the Wet Tropics Bioregion, north of Townsville. The fauna of the area was previously poorly known and few surveys had been undertaken. Two week-long surveys were conducted per year between 1997 and 2002 for each of 31 survey sites comprising 15 regional ecosystems. Survey methods at each site included pitfall-traps, Elliott and cage traps, reptile searches, and one-hectare bird counts. Incidental data were also collected outside sample sites via spotlighting, harp trapping, trip-lines, ultrasonic bat detection, and general observations. A total of 7365 records representing 274 species of vertebrate fauna were recorded, comprising 158 bird species, 20 amphibians, 41 mammals and 55 reptiles. The total number of species including those recorded in other surveys is 294, which represents almost 50% of the vertebrate fauna species identified for the Wet Tropics Bioregion. Fourteen species are listed of conservation significance and several others are of regional significance. Relationships with regional ecosystems were investigated and many species were strongly associated with particular ecosystems. Seasonal variation and adequacy of survey methods were also examined. The results of this survey show that this area is at least as diverse and significant for fauna as any other part of the Wet Tropics (including rainforest). Hobby farming and agriculture is beginning to expand in these southern parts, where native vegetation is currently in good condition. Formation of a system of reserves for this area, as well as changes to the management of private lands, is essential in the very near future in order to prevent irreversible loss of a highly significant flora and fauna.

Adequacy of terrestrial fauna surveys for the preparation of Environmental Impact Assessments in the mining industry of Western Australia

Summary The Western Australian Environmental Protection Authority has indicated that terrestrial fauna surveys undertaken for the purpose of preparing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) are providing inadequate information for decision‐makers to assess development impacts on biodiversity and ecosystems. This study examined the current standard of terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys undertaken as the basis for preparing an EIA. In the absence of a protocol to assess current standards of terrestrial fauna surveys, ‘best practice’ was defined and quantified through consultation with an ‘expert panel’. Data from fauna surveys contained in 15 recent EIA reports from the Goldfields region of Western Australia were critically examined to determine the extent of compliance with ‘best practice’. The majority of surveys performed poorly against the established criteria. A few reports addressed many of the issues comprehensively, however, at least 50% failed to mention or adequately address a high proportion of criteria considered essential, including searches of government databases, detection of rare/endangered fauna and multiseasonal sampling. All reports failed to employ sufficient trapping effort at both the biotope and landscape scales to adequately assess terrestrial vertebrate fauna biodiversity. These results indicate the need to redress minimum standards for terrestrial fauna surveys in order to meet the expectations of the EIA process.

Assessing biodiversity with species accumulation curves; inventories of small reptiles by pit‐trapping in Western Australia

Abstract We examined 11 non‐linear regression models to determine which of them best fitted curvilinear species accumulation curves based on pit‐trapping data for reptiles in a range of heterogeneous and homogenous sites in mesic, semi‐arid and arid regions of Western Australia. A well‐defined plateau in a species accumulation curve is required for any of the models accurately to estimate species richness. Two different measures of effort (pit‐trapping days and number of individuals caught) were used to determine if the measure of effort influenced the choice of the best model(s). We used species accumulation curves to predict species richness, determined the trapping effort required to catch a nominated percentage (e.g. 95%) of the predicted number of species in an area, and examined the relationship between species accumulation curves with diversity and rarity. Species richness, diversity and the proportion of rare species in a community influenced the shape of species accumulation curves. The Beta‐P model provided the best overall fit (highest r2) for heterogeneous and homogeneous sites. For heterogeneous sites, Hill, Rational, Clench, Exponential and Weibull models were the next best. For homogeneous habitats, Hill, Weibull and Chapman–Richards were the next best models. There was very little difference between Beta‐P and Hill models in fitting the data to accumulation curves, although the Hill model generally over‐estimated species richness. Most models worked equally well for both measures of trapping effort. Because the number of individuals caught was influenced by both pit‐trapping effort and the abundance of individuals, both measures of effort must be considered if species accumulation curves are to be used as a planning tool. Trapping effort to catch a nominated percentage of the total predicted species in homogeneous and heterogeneous habitats varied among sites, but even for only 75% of the predicted number of species it was generally much higher than the typical effort currently being used for terrestrial vertebrate fauna surveys in Australia. It was not possible to provide a general indication of the effort required to predict species richness for a site, or to capture a nominated proportion of species at a site, because species accumulation curves are heavily influenced by the characteristics of particular sites.

The SpinifexbirdEremiornis carteriin the Desert Uplands Bioregion, north-central Queensland: a geographic isolate or a nomadic metapopulation?

The Spinifexbird Eremiornis carteri is an inland species exclusively associated with mature Triodia spp. grasslands. Despite its wide distribution throughout arid and semi-arid Australia, a history of range expansion and contraction, and concentration into a number of core population centres, the species is considered monotypic. Two disjunct eastern localities were recorded during a vertebrate fauna survey of the Desert Uplands Bioregion in central-north Queensland, both in mature Triodia longiceps grasslands. These localities are described and reasons for the Jack of speciation within this taxon are reviewed. Nomadism in response to fire and climate pressures, discrete habitat specificity and current land use patterns are discussed as possible causes of lack of morphological differentiation, though the possibility of cryptic genetic variation in sub-populations is canvassed.

Distribution, habitat and conservation status ofParadelma orientalisGünther 1876 (Lacertilia: Pygopodidae)

[Extract] Paradelma orienralis is a member of the monophyletic and endemic family of Australian lizards, the Pygopodidae (Kluge 1974). Until relatively recently P. orientalis was known only from a small number of scattered localities exclusively within the central and southem Brigalow Belt region, east of the Great Dividing Range in south-central Queensland (Wilson and Knowles 1988; Cogger et al. 1993). New populations are now known for the southern, eastern and western extremes of this bioregion (Schulz and Eyre 1997; Tremul 1999). The eponymous common name implies P. orientalis has a strong association with the Brigalow Belt and this is certainly its core distribution (Covacevich et al. 1998). Habitat is generically reported as woodland consisting of, or associated with, Brigalow Acacia harpophylla vegetation (Wilson and Knowles 1988; Cogger er al. 1993; Sattler and Williams 1999), though a range of other Eucalyptus woodland associations without Brigalow have been recorded (Shea 1987; Wilson and Knowles 1988; Schulz and Eyre 1997; Tremul 1999). Many of these have a dense sub-canopy of other rough-barked species such as Callitris columellaris, Allocasuarina luehmanni and Acacia falciformis (Schulz and Eyre 1997; Tremul 1999). The biology of the species is poorly known. It is known to be oviparous, laying two eggs (Greer 1989), and detailed observations of a population on Boyne Island indicate it clearly noctural, active in temperatures generally above 19°C, partly arboreal, and both a sap and invertebrate feeding species (Tremul 1999). Sap feeding is unreported for other Pygopodids (Tremul 1999), but has been observed for geckos (Couper et al. 1995). The Brigalow Belt is one of the most highly modified and poorly reserved bioregions in Queensland (Covacevich et al. 1998; Sattler and Williams 1999) and almost no baseline or detailed bioregional fauna survey was conducted in the Brigalow Belt prior to the onset of extensive land clearance schemes in the 1960's (Gordon 1984; Covacevich et al. 1998). Twenty-seven reptiles are considered restricted to, or significantly distributed within, this bioregion, eighteen being of conservation significance (Covacevich et al. 1998). Paradelma orientalis is listed as vulnerable in Queensland under the Nature Conservation Legislation Amendment Regulation (No. 2) 1997 and Action Plan for Australian Reptiles (Cogger et al. 1993), though its continued appearance in new locations caused some authors to consider its conservation status requiring further investigation (Schulz and Eyre 1997). Habitat modification and conversion of native woodland to pasture and agriculture is considered to have had a severe impact on the pre-European distribution and abundance of this species (Gordon 1984; Cogger et al. 1993; Covacevich et al. 1998). This note reports new locality data for P. orientalis collected incidentally during large-scale vertebrate fauna surveys in the Desert Uplands and Northern Brigalow Belt. Habitat data and implications for conservation status are discussed.

New records of the Julia Creek DunnartSminthopsis douglasiin central-north Queensland

The Julia Creek Dunnart Sminthopsis douglasi has had a reputation as one of the more cryptic and restricted of Australia's dasyurid marsupials, despite being also the largest member of its genus (Woolley 1995). Only four museum specimens existed prior to 1992, all derived from a small area of Country between Richmond and Julia Creek (Woolley 1995). Woolley (1992) reported further S. douglasi localities and these extended the range beyond the previously identified maximum geographic distribution. She concluded that the range of the species was certainly much larger than identified, and that the small number of known specimens was a result of low sampling effort rather than a pattern of natural restriction. Sminthopsis douglasi is considered to be obligate in habitat to treeless or lightly timbered tussock grasslands on cracking clay soils associated with the Mitchell Grass Downs and parts of the Gulf Plains Bioregions in northern and western Queensland. Given that this vegetation within Queensland covers over 20 million hectares (Sattler and Williams 1999). one might safely expect a species with such a strong environmental association to be more widespread within regions of potential habitat, even if there was some degree of climatic restriction. Apart from habitat preference, the extant distribution and abundance of this species is thought to be primarily influenced by predation by feral cats and foxes, loss of adequate grass cover and disturbance to soil structure by hoofed stock (Maxwell et al. 1996). This note reports new locality data for S. douglas; collected during a large-scale inventory vertebrate fauna survey in the Desert Uplands Bioregion. Habitat data, distribution and possible implications for conservation status are discussed.

Comparative vertebrate fauna survey of the Paroo, Cobham and Gumbalara Landsystems in the Western Division of New South Wales

One hundred and thirty-three species of vertebrates were recorded from areas representing three different landsystems on a grazing property on the Paroo River, located 52 kilometres south of Wanaaring in the Western Division of New South Wales. Fauna diversity was highest along the riparian zone of the Paroo River (the Paroo landsystem) and lowest on the red sand plains of the Gumbalara landsystem. The Cobham landsystem, of which the wetland environment of Waitche Lake is an example, gave an intermediate level of species diversity. The Paroo landsystem had the greatest number of small birds, which may have been indicative of the presence of a dense understorey and shrub layer in conjunction with a distinct tree canopy. Overall waterbird abundance and diversity was low due to flood conditions and local rainfall providing ample feeding and nesting areas, thus spreading populations over a greater area. Three threatened species (Brolga. Pink Cockatoo, Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat) were recorded as well as a ...

Survey of vertebrate fauna and habitats in a cypress pine-ironbark forest in Central-West New South Wales

Eighty-two species of vertebrates were recorded from an area of cypress pine and ironbark forest within Goonoo State Forest, located 42 Idiometres north-east of Dubbo. New South Wales. Grass-seed-eating birds were uncommon due to the lack of gasses within the forest. Small birds such as fairy-wrens, thornbills and warblers were only found where patches of dense shrub were found, usually where the canopy has been disturbed. Flowering ironbarks were found to attract a variety of bird species utilizing both the pollen and nectar as well as the insects that were attracted. Four threatened species (Glossy Black Cockatoo, Koala. Yellow-bellied Sheathtall Bat. Little Pied Bat) were recorded as well as a new range extension for the Eastern Pygmy Possum. Retention of ironbarks over 47.0 cm diameter at breast height is needed to preserve the presence of large tree hollows as well as eucalypt blossom sources within the forest.