The Natural Resource Management Planning Portal : Perspectives for NRM planning and reporting
- Hansen, Birgita, Dahlhaus, Peter, Milne, Robert, MacLeod, Andrew, Pitfield, Chris
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Dahlhaus, Peter , Milne, Robert , MacLeod, Andrew , Pitfield, Chris
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Society and Natural Resources Vol. 32, no. 6 (2019), p. 709-719
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Natural Resource Management (NRM) is often conducted as a partnership between government and citizens. In Australia, government agencies formulate policy and fund implementation that may be delivered on-ground by community groups (such as Landcare). Since the late 1980s, over AUS$8b of Commonwealth investment has been made in NRM. However, quantitative evidence of environmental improvements is lacking. The NRM Planning Portal has been developed to (1) provide an online spatial information system for sharing Landcare and agency data; and (2) to facilitate NRM priority setting at local and regional planning scales. While the project successfully federates Landcare NRM activity data, challenges included (1) unstructured, non-standardized data, meaning that quantitative reporting against strategic objectives is not currently possible, and (2) a lack of common understanding about the value proposition for adopting the portal approach. Demonstrating the benefit of technology adoption is a key lesson for digital NRM planning.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Dahlhaus, Peter , Milne, Robert , MacLeod, Andrew , Pitfield, Chris
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Society and Natural Resources Vol. 32, no. 6 (2019), p. 709-719
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Natural Resource Management (NRM) is often conducted as a partnership between government and citizens. In Australia, government agencies formulate policy and fund implementation that may be delivered on-ground by community groups (such as Landcare). Since the late 1980s, over AUS$8b of Commonwealth investment has been made in NRM. However, quantitative evidence of environmental improvements is lacking. The NRM Planning Portal has been developed to (1) provide an online spatial information system for sharing Landcare and agency data; and (2) to facilitate NRM priority setting at local and regional planning scales. While the project successfully federates Landcare NRM activity data, challenges included (1) unstructured, non-standardized data, meaning that quantitative reporting against strategic objectives is not currently possible, and (2) a lack of common understanding about the value proposition for adopting the portal approach. Demonstrating the benefit of technology adoption is a key lesson for digital NRM planning.
Livestock grazing effects on riparian bird breeding behaviour in agricultural landscapes
- Hansen, Birgita, Fraser, Hannah, Jones, Christopher
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Fraser, Hannah , Jones, Christopher
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment Vol. 270-271, no. (2019), p. 93-102
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Globally, many bird species that rely on native woodland or forest environments are declining due to vegetation clearing for livestock pastures and cereal cropping. In many landscapes, woodland remnants are restricted to waterways and roadsides in narrow, sometimes degraded patches, and not all patches can necessarily provide the resources required to support bird populations. This study investigated the influence of livestock grazing and vegetation characteristics on bird breeding activity in riparian zones in northern Victoria, Australia, where much of the landscape is used for production and has experienced significant loss of woodland. Birds were broadly categorised as ‘woodland’ or ‘non-woodland’ species, based on dependency on woodlands for breeding. The majority of woodland species detected were relatively common, and where riparian zones were heavily grazed, there was significantly lower woodland bird breeding activity compared to non-woodland bird breeding activity (the latter increasing with grazing intensity). Woodland and non-woodland birds had consistently opposite responses to grazing intensity, vegetation and landscape characteristics, suggesting that the factors influencing breeding differ markedly between these two groups. Thus, where riparian zones are intensively grazed, the bird community shifts from predominantly woodland to largely non-woodland species. This has implications for the conservation of both rare and common woodland bird species in southern Australia. Simple changes in land management, for example, livestock exclusion from important breeding habitat, may confer large gains for population persistence of woodland bird species.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Fraser, Hannah , Jones, Christopher
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment Vol. 270-271, no. (2019), p. 93-102
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Globally, many bird species that rely on native woodland or forest environments are declining due to vegetation clearing for livestock pastures and cereal cropping. In many landscapes, woodland remnants are restricted to waterways and roadsides in narrow, sometimes degraded patches, and not all patches can necessarily provide the resources required to support bird populations. This study investigated the influence of livestock grazing and vegetation characteristics on bird breeding activity in riparian zones in northern Victoria, Australia, where much of the landscape is used for production and has experienced significant loss of woodland. Birds were broadly categorised as ‘woodland’ or ‘non-woodland’ species, based on dependency on woodlands for breeding. The majority of woodland species detected were relatively common, and where riparian zones were heavily grazed, there was significantly lower woodland bird breeding activity compared to non-woodland bird breeding activity (the latter increasing with grazing intensity). Woodland and non-woodland birds had consistently opposite responses to grazing intensity, vegetation and landscape characteristics, suggesting that the factors influencing breeding differ markedly between these two groups. Thus, where riparian zones are intensively grazed, the bird community shifts from predominantly woodland to largely non-woodland species. This has implications for the conservation of both rare and common woodland bird species in southern Australia. Simple changes in land management, for example, livestock exclusion from important breeding habitat, may confer large gains for population persistence of woodland bird species.
Continental-scale decreases in shorebird populations in Australia
- Clemens, Robert, Rogers, Danny, Hansen, Birgita, Gosbell, Ken, Minton, Clive, Straw, Phil, Bamford, Mike, Woehler, Eric, Milton, David, Weston, Michael, Venables, Bill, Weller, Dan, Hassell, Chris, Rutherford, Bill, Onton, Kimberly, Herrod, Ashley, Studds, Colin, Choi, Chi-Yeung, Dhanjal-Adams, Kiran, Murray, Nicholas, Skilleter, Gregory, Fuller, Richard
- Authors: Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Hansen, Birgita , Gosbell, Ken , Minton, Clive , Straw, Phil , Bamford, Mike , Woehler, Eric , Milton, David , Weston, Michael , Venables, Bill , Weller, Dan , Hassell, Chris , Rutherford, Bill , Onton, Kimberly , Herrod, Ashley , Studds, Colin , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Dhanjal-Adams, Kiran , Murray, Nicholas , Skilleter, Gregory , Fuller, Richard
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emu Vol. 116, no. 2 (2016), p. 119-135
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Decreases in shorebird populations are increasingly evident worldwide, especially in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). To arrest these declines, it is important to understand the scale of both the problem and the solutions. We analysed an expansive Australian citizen-science dataset, spanning the period 1973 to 2014, to explore factors related to differences in trends among shorebird populations in wetlands throughout Australia. Of seven resident Australian shorebird species, the four inland species exhibited continental decreases, whereas the three coastal species did not. Decreases in inland resident shorebirds were related to changes in availability of water at non-tidal wetlands, suggesting that degradation of wetlands in Australia's interior is playing a role in these declines. For migratory shorebirds, the analyses revealed continental decreases in abundance in 12 of 19 species, and decreases in 17 of 19 in the southern half of Australia over the past 15 years. Many trends were strongly associated with continental gradients in latitude or longitude, suggesting some large-scale patterns in the decreases, with steeper declines often evident in southern Australia. After accounting for this effect, local variables did not explain variation in migratory shorebird trends between sites. Our results are consistent with other studies indicating that decreases in migratory shorebird populations in the EAAF are most likely being driven primarily by factors outside Australia. This reinforces the need for urgent overseas conservation actions. However, substantially heterogeneous trends within Australia, combined with declines of inland resident shorebirds indicate effective management of Australian shorebird habitat remains important. © BirdLife Australia 2016.
- Authors: Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Hansen, Birgita , Gosbell, Ken , Minton, Clive , Straw, Phil , Bamford, Mike , Woehler, Eric , Milton, David , Weston, Michael , Venables, Bill , Weller, Dan , Hassell, Chris , Rutherford, Bill , Onton, Kimberly , Herrod, Ashley , Studds, Colin , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Dhanjal-Adams, Kiran , Murray, Nicholas , Skilleter, Gregory , Fuller, Richard
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emu Vol. 116, no. 2 (2016), p. 119-135
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Decreases in shorebird populations are increasingly evident worldwide, especially in the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF). To arrest these declines, it is important to understand the scale of both the problem and the solutions. We analysed an expansive Australian citizen-science dataset, spanning the period 1973 to 2014, to explore factors related to differences in trends among shorebird populations in wetlands throughout Australia. Of seven resident Australian shorebird species, the four inland species exhibited continental decreases, whereas the three coastal species did not. Decreases in inland resident shorebirds were related to changes in availability of water at non-tidal wetlands, suggesting that degradation of wetlands in Australia's interior is playing a role in these declines. For migratory shorebirds, the analyses revealed continental decreases in abundance in 12 of 19 species, and decreases in 17 of 19 in the southern half of Australia over the past 15 years. Many trends were strongly associated with continental gradients in latitude or longitude, suggesting some large-scale patterns in the decreases, with steeper declines often evident in southern Australia. After accounting for this effect, local variables did not explain variation in migratory shorebird trends between sites. Our results are consistent with other studies indicating that decreases in migratory shorebird populations in the EAAF are most likely being driven primarily by factors outside Australia. This reinforces the need for urgent overseas conservation actions. However, substantially heterogeneous trends within Australia, combined with declines of inland resident shorebirds indicate effective management of Australian shorebird habitat remains important. © BirdLife Australia 2016.
Collect, connect, upscale : towards coordinated monitoring of migratory shorebirds in the asia-pacific
- Fuller, Richard, Jackson, Micha, Amano, Tatsuya, Choi, Chi-Yeung, Hansen, Birgita
- Authors: Fuller, Richard , Jackson, Micha , Amano, Tatsuya , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Zoologist Vol. 41, no. 2 (2021), p. 205-213
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Monitoring migratory species can be extremely challenging. For example, millions of migratory shorebirds migrate from breeding grounds in northern China, Mongolia and Russia to East Asia and Australasia each year, traversing more than 20 countries while on migration. Studies within individual nations have identified rapid declines in many species, yet progress toward a fully unified scheme for continuous tracking of population change at the scale of the entire East Asian-Australasian Flyway has been slow. To reflect on lessons learned and consider how further progress might be made, we review some of the factors that have limited the full emergence of shorebird monitoring in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway, including fragmentation among multiple databases, low data readiness, inadequate metadata and gaps in survey coverage. We conclude that while technical solutions for many of these issues do exist, the biggest challenge is to navigate the significant organisational, socio-cultural and resourcing contexts of those people doing the monitoring. Technical solutions alone will not create a cohesive network of people whose local efforts are pooled to create robust flyway-scale monitoring. © 2021 Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. All rights reserved. *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Birgita Hansen” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Fuller, Richard , Jackson, Micha , Amano, Tatsuya , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Zoologist Vol. 41, no. 2 (2021), p. 205-213
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Monitoring migratory species can be extremely challenging. For example, millions of migratory shorebirds migrate from breeding grounds in northern China, Mongolia and Russia to East Asia and Australasia each year, traversing more than 20 countries while on migration. Studies within individual nations have identified rapid declines in many species, yet progress toward a fully unified scheme for continuous tracking of population change at the scale of the entire East Asian-Australasian Flyway has been slow. To reflect on lessons learned and consider how further progress might be made, we review some of the factors that have limited the full emergence of shorebird monitoring in the East Asian- Australasian Flyway, including fragmentation among multiple databases, low data readiness, inadequate metadata and gaps in survey coverage. We conclude that while technical solutions for many of these issues do exist, the biggest challenge is to navigate the significant organisational, socio-cultural and resourcing contexts of those people doing the monitoring. Technical solutions alone will not create a cohesive network of people whose local efforts are pooled to create robust flyway-scale monitoring. © 2021 Royal Zoological Society of New South Wales. All rights reserved. *Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Birgita Hansen” is provided in this record**
Demographic trends and reproductive patterns in the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific), central Queensland
- Horsup, Alan, Austin, Jeremy, Fewster, Rachel, Hansen, Birgita, Harper, Dave, Molyneux, Jenny, White, Lauren, Taylor, Andrea
- Authors: Horsup, Alan , Austin, Jeremy , Fewster, Rachel , Hansen, Birgita , Harper, Dave , Molyneux, Jenny , White, Lauren , Taylor, Andrea
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Mammalogy Vol. 43, no. 1 (2021), p. 72-84
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) currently exists at only two locations in Queensland. Management, research and monitoring of the species at the main Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) population has occurred over the last four decades using a variety of tools, with the most complete dataset being provided by burrow activity monitoring over that period. Following a series of trap-based surveys in the 1980s and 1990s, wombat monitoring has employed DNA profiling of hairs collected remotely on sticky tape set at burrow entrances (since 2000), and passive infrared (PIR) cameras (since 2011). These techniques have produced a wealth of new information on the species. Using this new information, we aim to: (1) summarise the available demographic data and present new estimates using novel techniques for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP; and (2) characterise reproductive patterns and their relationship with environmental factors for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP. We find an ongoing increase in the population size at Epping Forest National Park, supported by healthy levels of reproduction despite periods of poor environmental conditions, notwithstanding the finding that cumulative monthly rainfall six months prior to sampling influenced birth rates. This trend suggests that the population will likely reach carrying capacity in the near future. It is timely to harvest the population to provide founders to a new site to establish an additional population, which will also reduce the risk of extinction and help secure the future of the species. © 2021 Australian Mammal Society.
- Authors: Horsup, Alan , Austin, Jeremy , Fewster, Rachel , Hansen, Birgita , Harper, Dave , Molyneux, Jenny , White, Lauren , Taylor, Andrea
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Mammalogy Vol. 43, no. 1 (2021), p. 72-84
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) currently exists at only two locations in Queensland. Management, research and monitoring of the species at the main Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) population has occurred over the last four decades using a variety of tools, with the most complete dataset being provided by burrow activity monitoring over that period. Following a series of trap-based surveys in the 1980s and 1990s, wombat monitoring has employed DNA profiling of hairs collected remotely on sticky tape set at burrow entrances (since 2000), and passive infrared (PIR) cameras (since 2011). These techniques have produced a wealth of new information on the species. Using this new information, we aim to: (1) summarise the available demographic data and present new estimates using novel techniques for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP; and (2) characterise reproductive patterns and their relationship with environmental factors for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP. We find an ongoing increase in the population size at Epping Forest National Park, supported by healthy levels of reproduction despite periods of poor environmental conditions, notwithstanding the finding that cumulative monthly rainfall six months prior to sampling influenced birth rates. This trend suggests that the population will likely reach carrying capacity in the near future. It is timely to harvest the population to provide founders to a new site to establish an additional population, which will also reduce the risk of extinction and help secure the future of the species. © 2021 Australian Mammal Society.
Accounting for cryptic population substructure enhances detection of inbreeding depression with genomic inbreeding coefficients: an example from a critically endangered marsupial
- Zilko, Joseph, Harley, Dan, Hansen, Birgita, Pavlova, Alexandra, Sunnucks, Paul
- Authors: Zilko, Joseph , Harley, Dan , Hansen, Birgita , Pavlova, Alexandra , Sunnucks, Paul
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Molecular Ecology Vol. 29, no. 16 (2020), p. 2978-2993
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Characterizing inbreeding depression in wildlife populations can be critical to their conservation. Coefficients of individual inbreeding can be estimated from genome-wide marker data. The degree to which sensitivity of inbreeding coefficients to population genetic substructure alters estimates of inbreeding depression in wild populations is not well understood. Using generalized linear models, we tested the power of two frequently used inbreeding coefficients that are calculated from genome-wide SNP markers, FH and F^III, to predict four fitness traits estimated over two decades in an isolated population of the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum. FH estimates inbreeding as excess observed homozygotes relative to equilibrium expectations, whereas F^III quantifies allelic similarity between the gametes that formed an individual, and upweights rare homozygotes. We estimated FH and F^III from 1,575 genome-wide SNP loci in individuals with fitness trait data (N = 179–237 per trait), and computed revised coefficients, FHby group and F^IIIby group, adjusted for population genetic substructure by calculating them separately within two different genetic groups of individuals identified in the population. Using FH or F^III in the models, inbreeding depression was detected for survival to sexual maturity, longevity and whether individuals bred during their lifetime. F^IIIby group (but not FHby group) additionally revealed significant inbreeding depression for lifetime reproductive output (total offspring assigned to each individual). Estimates of numbers of lethal equivalents indicated substantial inbreeding load, but differing between inbreeding estimators. Inbreeding depression, declining population size, and low and declining genetic diversity suggest that genetic rescue may assist in preventing extinction of this unique Leadbeater's possum population. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
- Authors: Zilko, Joseph , Harley, Dan , Hansen, Birgita , Pavlova, Alexandra , Sunnucks, Paul
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Molecular Ecology Vol. 29, no. 16 (2020), p. 2978-2993
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Characterizing inbreeding depression in wildlife populations can be critical to their conservation. Coefficients of individual inbreeding can be estimated from genome-wide marker data. The degree to which sensitivity of inbreeding coefficients to population genetic substructure alters estimates of inbreeding depression in wild populations is not well understood. Using generalized linear models, we tested the power of two frequently used inbreeding coefficients that are calculated from genome-wide SNP markers, FH and F^III, to predict four fitness traits estimated over two decades in an isolated population of the critically endangered Leadbeater's possum. FH estimates inbreeding as excess observed homozygotes relative to equilibrium expectations, whereas F^III quantifies allelic similarity between the gametes that formed an individual, and upweights rare homozygotes. We estimated FH and F^III from 1,575 genome-wide SNP loci in individuals with fitness trait data (N = 179–237 per trait), and computed revised coefficients, FHby group and F^IIIby group, adjusted for population genetic substructure by calculating them separately within two different genetic groups of individuals identified in the population. Using FH or F^III in the models, inbreeding depression was detected for survival to sexual maturity, longevity and whether individuals bred during their lifetime. F^IIIby group (but not FHby group) additionally revealed significant inbreeding depression for lifetime reproductive output (total offspring assigned to each individual). Estimates of numbers of lethal equivalents indicated substantial inbreeding load, but differing between inbreeding estimators. Inbreeding depression, declining population size, and low and declining genetic diversity suggest that genetic rescue may assist in preventing extinction of this unique Leadbeater's possum population. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons Ltd
Favourable inland wetland conditions increase apparent survival of migratory shorebirds in Australia
- Clemens, Robert, Rogers, Danny, Minton, Clive, Rogers, Ken, Hansen, Birgita
- Authors: Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Minton, Clive , Rogers, Ken , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emu Vol. 121, no. 3 (2021), p. 211-222
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Many migratory shorebird species using the East Asian–Australasian Flyway are declining rapidly. While the loss of staging habitats in East Asia is considered the primary cause, stressors to fitness often occur throughout the geographic range of declining species, and threats in the non-breeding grounds have been comparatively poorly studied. Three species of migratory shorebird, Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (C. acuminata) and Red-necked Stint (C. ruficollis), use Australia’s dynamic temporary wetland systems opportunistically, yet these large wetland systems have become increasingly degraded, with reduced frequency and extent of flooding. Here, we test whether variables related to wetland availability in Australia’s interior can explain annual variation in apparent survival, abundance or immature to adult ratios at three well-monitored coastal shorebird areas in southern Australia (total area > 1315 km2). We show that coastal annual bird abundance and ratios of immatures at the coast were higher when inland Australia was relatively hot and dry. Also, a small but significant amount of variation in annual apparent survival can be explained by annual variation in inland conditions, with higher survival rates in years when inland conditions were relatively wet and cool. For the endangered Curlew Sandpiper, the impacts of Australian environmental conditions may be exacerbating the impacts of conditions experienced in other parts of its range on fitness and survival. While the effects we document here are relatively weak, they do suggest that management of inland wetlands for these shorebirds may positively affect survival rates of these sharply declining species. © 2021 BirdLife Australia. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Birgita Hansen" is provided in this record**
Favourable inland wetland conditions increase apparent survival of migratory shorebirds in Australia
- Authors: Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Minton, Clive , Rogers, Ken , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emu Vol. 121, no. 3 (2021), p. 211-222
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Many migratory shorebird species using the East Asian–Australasian Flyway are declining rapidly. While the loss of staging habitats in East Asia is considered the primary cause, stressors to fitness often occur throughout the geographic range of declining species, and threats in the non-breeding grounds have been comparatively poorly studied. Three species of migratory shorebird, Curlew Sandpiper (Calidris ferruginea), Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (C. acuminata) and Red-necked Stint (C. ruficollis), use Australia’s dynamic temporary wetland systems opportunistically, yet these large wetland systems have become increasingly degraded, with reduced frequency and extent of flooding. Here, we test whether variables related to wetland availability in Australia’s interior can explain annual variation in apparent survival, abundance or immature to adult ratios at three well-monitored coastal shorebird areas in southern Australia (total area > 1315 km2). We show that coastal annual bird abundance and ratios of immatures at the coast were higher when inland Australia was relatively hot and dry. Also, a small but significant amount of variation in annual apparent survival can be explained by annual variation in inland conditions, with higher survival rates in years when inland conditions were relatively wet and cool. For the endangered Curlew Sandpiper, the impacts of Australian environmental conditions may be exacerbating the impacts of conditions experienced in other parts of its range on fitness and survival. While the effects we document here are relatively weak, they do suggest that management of inland wetlands for these shorebirds may positively affect survival rates of these sharply declining species. © 2021 BirdLife Australia. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Birgita Hansen" is provided in this record**
Generating population estimates for migratory shorebird species in the world’s largest flyway
- Hansen, Birgita, Rogers, Danny, Watkins, Doug, Weller, Dan, Clemens, Robert, Newman, Mike, Woehler, Eric, Mundkur, Taej, Fuller, Richard
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Rogers, Danny , Watkins, Doug , Weller, Dan , Clemens, Robert , Newman, Mike , Woehler, Eric , Mundkur, Taej , Fuller, Richard
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ibis Vol. 164, no. 3 (2022), p. 735-749
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Population estimates are widely used to underpin conservation decisions. However, determining accurate population estimates for migratory species is especially challenging, as they are often widespread and it is rarely possible to survey them throughout their full distribution. In the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF), this problem is compounded by its size (85 million square kilometres) and the number of migratory species it supports (nearly 500). Here, we provide analytical approaches for addressing this problem, presenting a revision of the EAAF population estimates for 37 migratory shorebird species protected under Australian national environmental legislation. Population estimates were generated by (1) summarizing existing count data in the non-breeding range, (2) spatially extrapolating across uncounted areas, and (3) modelling abundance on the basis of estimates of breeding range and density. Expert review was used to adjust modelled estimates, particularly in under-counted areas. There were many gaps in shorebird monitoring data, necessitating substantial use of extrapolation and expert review, the extent of which varied among species. Spatial extrapolation to under-counted areas often produced estimates that were much higher than the observed data, and expert review was used to cross-check and adjust these where necessary. Estimates of population size obtained through analyses of breeding ranges and density indicated that 18 species were poorly represented by counts in the non-breeding season. It was difficult to determine independently the robustness of these estimates, but these breeding ground estimates were considered the best available data for 10 species that mostly use poorly surveyed freshwater or pelagic habitats in the non-breeding season. We discuss the rationale and limitations of these approaches to population estimation, and how they could be modified for other applications. Data available for population estimates will vary in quality and extent among species, regions and migration stage, and approaches need to be flexible enough to provide useful information for conservation policy and planning. © 2021 British Ornithologists' Union.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Rogers, Danny , Watkins, Doug , Weller, Dan , Clemens, Robert , Newman, Mike , Woehler, Eric , Mundkur, Taej , Fuller, Richard
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ibis Vol. 164, no. 3 (2022), p. 735-749
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Population estimates are widely used to underpin conservation decisions. However, determining accurate population estimates for migratory species is especially challenging, as they are often widespread and it is rarely possible to survey them throughout their full distribution. In the East Asian–Australasian Flyway (EAAF), this problem is compounded by its size (85 million square kilometres) and the number of migratory species it supports (nearly 500). Here, we provide analytical approaches for addressing this problem, presenting a revision of the EAAF population estimates for 37 migratory shorebird species protected under Australian national environmental legislation. Population estimates were generated by (1) summarizing existing count data in the non-breeding range, (2) spatially extrapolating across uncounted areas, and (3) modelling abundance on the basis of estimates of breeding range and density. Expert review was used to adjust modelled estimates, particularly in under-counted areas. There were many gaps in shorebird monitoring data, necessitating substantial use of extrapolation and expert review, the extent of which varied among species. Spatial extrapolation to under-counted areas often produced estimates that were much higher than the observed data, and expert review was used to cross-check and adjust these where necessary. Estimates of population size obtained through analyses of breeding ranges and density indicated that 18 species were poorly represented by counts in the non-breeding season. It was difficult to determine independently the robustness of these estimates, but these breeding ground estimates were considered the best available data for 10 species that mostly use poorly surveyed freshwater or pelagic habitats in the non-breeding season. We discuss the rationale and limitations of these approaches to population estimation, and how they could be modified for other applications. Data available for population estimates will vary in quality and extent among species, regions and migration stage, and approaches need to be flexible enough to provide useful information for conservation policy and planning. © 2021 British Ornithologists' Union.
Current status of and future opportunities for digital agriculture in Australia
- Hansen, Birgita, Leonard, E., Mitchell, M. C., Easton, J., Shariati, N., Mortlock, M. Y., Schaefer, M., Lamb, D. W.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Leonard, E. , Mitchell, M. C. , Easton, J. , Shariati, N. , Mortlock, M. Y. , Schaefer, M. , Lamb, D. W.
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Crop and pasture science Vol. 74, no. 6 (2022), p. 524-537
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In Australia, digital agriculture is considered immature and its adoption ad hoc, despite a relatively advanced technology innovation sector. In this review, we focus on the technical, governance and social factors of digital adoption that have created a disconnect between technology development and the end user community (farmers and their advisors). Using examples that reflect both successes and barriers in Australian agriculture, we first explore the current enabling technologies and processes, and then we highlight some of the key socio-technical factors that explain why digital agriculture is immature and ad hoc. Pronounced issues include fragmentation of the innovation system (and digital tools), and a lack of enabling legislation and policy to support technology deployment. To overcome such issues and increase adoption, clear value propositions for change are necessary. These value propositions are influenced by the perceptions and aspirations of individuals, the delivery of digitally-enabled processes and the supporting legislative, policy and educational structures, better use/conversion of data generated through technology applications to knowledge for supporting decision making, and the suitability of the technology. Agronomists and early adopter farmers will play a significant role in closing the technology-end user gap, and will need support and training from technology service providers, government bodies and peer-networks. Ultimately, practice change will only be achieved through mutual understanding, ownership and trust. This will occur when farmers and their advisors are an integral part of the entire digital innovation system.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Leonard, E. , Mitchell, M. C. , Easton, J. , Shariati, N. , Mortlock, M. Y. , Schaefer, M. , Lamb, D. W.
- Date: 2022
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Crop and pasture science Vol. 74, no. 6 (2022), p. 524-537
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: In Australia, digital agriculture is considered immature and its adoption ad hoc, despite a relatively advanced technology innovation sector. In this review, we focus on the technical, governance and social factors of digital adoption that have created a disconnect between technology development and the end user community (farmers and their advisors). Using examples that reflect both successes and barriers in Australian agriculture, we first explore the current enabling technologies and processes, and then we highlight some of the key socio-technical factors that explain why digital agriculture is immature and ad hoc. Pronounced issues include fragmentation of the innovation system (and digital tools), and a lack of enabling legislation and policy to support technology deployment. To overcome such issues and increase adoption, clear value propositions for change are necessary. These value propositions are influenced by the perceptions and aspirations of individuals, the delivery of digitally-enabled processes and the supporting legislative, policy and educational structures, better use/conversion of data generated through technology applications to knowledge for supporting decision making, and the suitability of the technology. Agronomists and early adopter farmers will play a significant role in closing the technology-end user gap, and will need support and training from technology service providers, government bodies and peer-networks. Ultimately, practice change will only be achieved through mutual understanding, ownership and trust. This will occur when farmers and their advisors are an integral part of the entire digital innovation system.
Engaging communities for prioritising natural resource management and biodiversity conservation actions
- Milne, Robert, Hansen, Birgita
- Authors: Milne, Robert , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: 3rd Annual Conference of Research@Locate, R@Loc 2016; Melbourne, Australia; 12th-14th April 2016; published in CEUR Workshop Proceedings
- Full Text:
- Description: Citizen science has a significant contribution to Natural Resource Management (NRM) through the acquisition and sharing of knowledge. Innovative online technology is playing an increasing role in the support and implementation of citizen science activities. Two projects being conducted in Victoria are using web-based spatial applications to facilitate and support the use of community sourced information for natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. The Natural Resource Management planning portal (NRMPP) is a regional catchment planning tool designed for Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare organisations to plan and prioritise natural resource management works. State-wide Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT) is network of community groups, individuals and organisations that is underpinned by online technology to share knowledge and data on biodiversity issues throughout Victoria. Open source web-based spatial platforms are being used to deliver existing data from multiple sources, provide tools for the entry of spatial data and to provide information required for decision making. The focus of the two projects is to build knowledge management systems with tools that can be used by the community, land managers and other stakeholders to manage, control and share their own data in an online environment. Submission and sharing of community biodiversity and NRM data using online spatial platforms, and federating it with regional, state and national environmental data is facilitating community engagement and providing a process for identifying opportunities to collaborate on NRM activities and biodiversity conservation projects.
- Authors: Milne, Robert , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Conference proceedings
- Relation: 3rd Annual Conference of Research@Locate, R@Loc 2016; Melbourne, Australia; 12th-14th April 2016; published in CEUR Workshop Proceedings
- Full Text:
- Description: Citizen science has a significant contribution to Natural Resource Management (NRM) through the acquisition and sharing of knowledge. Innovative online technology is playing an increasing role in the support and implementation of citizen science activities. Two projects being conducted in Victoria are using web-based spatial applications to facilitate and support the use of community sourced information for natural resource management and biodiversity conservation. The Natural Resource Management planning portal (NRMPP) is a regional catchment planning tool designed for Catchment Management Authorities and Landcare organisations to plan and prioritise natural resource management works. State-wide Flora and Fauna Teams (SWIFFT) is network of community groups, individuals and organisations that is underpinned by online technology to share knowledge and data on biodiversity issues throughout Victoria. Open source web-based spatial platforms are being used to deliver existing data from multiple sources, provide tools for the entry of spatial data and to provide information required for decision making. The focus of the two projects is to build knowledge management systems with tools that can be used by the community, land managers and other stakeholders to manage, control and share their own data in an online environment. Submission and sharing of community biodiversity and NRM data using online spatial platforms, and federating it with regional, state and national environmental data is facilitating community engagement and providing a process for identifying opportunities to collaborate on NRM activities and biodiversity conservation projects.
Implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the governance of biodiversity conservation
- Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo, Dolšak, Nives, Prakash, Aseem, Mundkur, Taej, Harris, Paul, Mitchell, Ronald, Davidson, Nick, Hansen, Birgita, Woodworth, Bradley, Fuller, Richard, Price, Melissa, Petkov, Nicky, Mauerhofer, Volker, Morrison, Tiffany, Watson, James, Chowdhury, Sayam, Zöckler, Christoph, Widerberg, Oscar, Yong, Ding, Klich, Daniel, Smagol, Vitaliy, Piccolo, John, Biggs, Duan
- Authors: Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo , Dolšak, Nives , Prakash, Aseem , Mundkur, Taej , Harris, Paul , Mitchell, Ronald , Davidson, Nick , Hansen, Birgita , Woodworth, Bradley , Fuller, Richard , Price, Melissa , Petkov, Nicky , Mauerhofer, Volker , Morrison, Tiffany , Watson, James , Chowdhury, Sayam , Zöckler, Christoph , Widerberg, Oscar , Yong, Ding , Klich, Daniel , Smagol, Vitaliy , Piccolo, John , Biggs, Duan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Conservation Science Vol. 4, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Maintaining peace and conserving biodiversity hinge on an international system of cooperation codified in institutions, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brings recent progress to a crossroads. Against this backdrop, we address some implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the governance of biodiversity conservation both within and beyond Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens the governance system for biodiversity conservation, as it pertains to Russia and beyond, due to three interacting factors: (i) isolation of Russia from the international system, (ii) halt and delay of international cooperation, and (iii) changes in international and domestic policy priorities. We recommend making the existing international system of governance for conserving biodiversity more resilient and adaptable, while aligning security agendas with biodiversity conservation goals. Copyright © 2023 Gallo-Cajiao, Dolšak, Prakash, Mundkur, Harris, Mitchell, Davidson, Hansen, Woodworth, Fuller, Price, Petkov, Mauerhofer, Morrison, Watson, Chowdhury, Zöckler, Widerberg, Yong, Klich, Smagol, Piccolo and Biggs.
- Authors: Gallo-Cajiao, Eduardo , Dolšak, Nives , Prakash, Aseem , Mundkur, Taej , Harris, Paul , Mitchell, Ronald , Davidson, Nick , Hansen, Birgita , Woodworth, Bradley , Fuller, Richard , Price, Melissa , Petkov, Nicky , Mauerhofer, Volker , Morrison, Tiffany , Watson, James , Chowdhury, Sayam , Zöckler, Christoph , Widerberg, Oscar , Yong, Ding , Klich, Daniel , Smagol, Vitaliy , Piccolo, John , Biggs, Duan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Frontiers in Conservation Science Vol. 4, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Maintaining peace and conserving biodiversity hinge on an international system of cooperation codified in institutions, but Russia’s invasion of Ukraine brings recent progress to a crossroads. Against this backdrop, we address some implications of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine for the governance of biodiversity conservation both within and beyond Russia. The Russian invasion of Ukraine threatens the governance system for biodiversity conservation, as it pertains to Russia and beyond, due to three interacting factors: (i) isolation of Russia from the international system, (ii) halt and delay of international cooperation, and (iii) changes in international and domestic policy priorities. We recommend making the existing international system of governance for conserving biodiversity more resilient and adaptable, while aligning security agendas with biodiversity conservation goals. Copyright © 2023 Gallo-Cajiao, Dolšak, Prakash, Mundkur, Harris, Mitchell, Davidson, Hansen, Woodworth, Fuller, Price, Petkov, Mauerhofer, Morrison, Watson, Chowdhury, Zöckler, Widerberg, Yong, Klich, Smagol, Piccolo and Biggs.
Evidence of subdivisions on evolutionary timescales in a large, declining marsupial distributed across a phylogeographic barrier
- Alpers, Deryn, Walker, Faith, Taylor, Andrea, Sunnucks, Paul, Bellman, Steven, Hansen, Birgita, Sherwin, William
- Authors: Alpers, Deryn , Walker, Faith , Taylor, Andrea , Sunnucks, Paul , Bellman, Steven , Hansen, Birgita , Sherwin, William
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 11, no. 10 (2016), p. 1-22
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Major prehistoric forces, such as the climatic shifts of the Pleistocene, can remain visible in a species' population genetics. Inference of refuges via genetic tools is useful for conservation management as it can identify populations whose preservation may help retain a species' adaptive potential. Such investigation is needed for Australia's southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), whose conservation status has recently deteriorated, and whose phylogeographic history during the Pleistocene may be atypical compared to other species. Its contemporary range spans approximately 2000 km of diverse habitat on either side of the Spencer Gulf, which was a land bridge during periods of Pleistocene aridity that may have allowed for migration circumventing the arid Eyrean barrier. We sampled from animals in nearly all known sites within the species' current distribution, mainly using non-invasive methods, and employed nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses to assess alternative scenarios for Pleistocene impacts on population structure. We found evidence for mildly differentiated populations at the range extremes on either side of Spencer Gulf, with secondary contact between locations neighbouring each side of the barrier. These extreme western and eastern regions, and four other regions in between, were genetically distinct in genotypic clustering analyses. Estimates indicate modest, but complex gene flow patterns among some of these regions, in some cases possibly restricted for several thousand years. Prior to this study there was little information to aid risk assessment and prioritization of conservation interventions facilitating gene flow among populations of this species. The contributions of this study to that issue are outlined. © 2016 Alpers et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
- Authors: Alpers, Deryn , Walker, Faith , Taylor, Andrea , Sunnucks, Paul , Bellman, Steven , Hansen, Birgita , Sherwin, William
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: PLoS ONE Vol. 11, no. 10 (2016), p. 1-22
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Major prehistoric forces, such as the climatic shifts of the Pleistocene, can remain visible in a species' population genetics. Inference of refuges via genetic tools is useful for conservation management as it can identify populations whose preservation may help retain a species' adaptive potential. Such investigation is needed for Australia's southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons), whose conservation status has recently deteriorated, and whose phylogeographic history during the Pleistocene may be atypical compared to other species. Its contemporary range spans approximately 2000 km of diverse habitat on either side of the Spencer Gulf, which was a land bridge during periods of Pleistocene aridity that may have allowed for migration circumventing the arid Eyrean barrier. We sampled from animals in nearly all known sites within the species' current distribution, mainly using non-invasive methods, and employed nuclear and mitochondrial DNA analyses to assess alternative scenarios for Pleistocene impacts on population structure. We found evidence for mildly differentiated populations at the range extremes on either side of Spencer Gulf, with secondary contact between locations neighbouring each side of the barrier. These extreme western and eastern regions, and four other regions in between, were genetically distinct in genotypic clustering analyses. Estimates indicate modest, but complex gene flow patterns among some of these regions, in some cases possibly restricted for several thousand years. Prior to this study there was little information to aid risk assessment and prioritization of conservation interventions facilitating gene flow among populations of this species. The contributions of this study to that issue are outlined. © 2016 Alpers et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Insights from long-term shorebird monitoring for tracking change in ecological character of Australasian Ramsar sites
- Hansen, Birgita, Szabo, Judit, Fuller, Richard, Clemens, Robert, Rogers, Danny, Milton, David
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Szabo, Judit , Fuller, Richard , Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Milton, David
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 260, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Ramsar Convention is the centrepiece of international efforts for wetland conservation, aiming to maintain the ecological character of wetlands through holistic ecosystem management. Here, we review studies on shorebird populations at individual Australasian Ramsar sites and compare these against original listings under Criterion 6 to determine if there have been potential changes in ecological character. One to 12 migratory shorebird species have declined at four New Zealand and 18 Australian Ramsar sites over a 12 to 36-year period, resulting in 22 species (at 13 sites) no longer reaching Criterion 6 thresholds for Ramsar designation. In addition, 10 species at six Australian sites had exceeded the Limits of Acceptable Change. Despite these concerning results, there were remarkably few published site-based determinations of listed shorebird species' trends (and even fewer that were ≤5 years old). This is especially surprising since shorebird populations are regularly monitored at 27 out of 35 Australasian Ramsar sites (listed on the basis of one or more shorebird species). Thus, despite the volume of data available for analysis, long-term shorebird monitoring provides only limited insights about Ramsar ecological character. The value of these data would be greatly enhanced through complementary monitoring of other ecological characters at sites, particularly where shorebird populations provide early warning signs of potential deterioration. The main impediment to achieving a good understanding of how Ramsar sites are changing in Australasia appears to be a lack of analysis and centralised system for data and analytics, rather than a lack of monitoring data. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Szabo, Judit , Fuller, Richard , Clemens, Robert , Rogers, Danny , Milton, David
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Biological Conservation Vol. 260, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The Ramsar Convention is the centrepiece of international efforts for wetland conservation, aiming to maintain the ecological character of wetlands through holistic ecosystem management. Here, we review studies on shorebird populations at individual Australasian Ramsar sites and compare these against original listings under Criterion 6 to determine if there have been potential changes in ecological character. One to 12 migratory shorebird species have declined at four New Zealand and 18 Australian Ramsar sites over a 12 to 36-year period, resulting in 22 species (at 13 sites) no longer reaching Criterion 6 thresholds for Ramsar designation. In addition, 10 species at six Australian sites had exceeded the Limits of Acceptable Change. Despite these concerning results, there were remarkably few published site-based determinations of listed shorebird species' trends (and even fewer that were ≤5 years old). This is especially surprising since shorebird populations are regularly monitored at 27 out of 35 Australasian Ramsar sites (listed on the basis of one or more shorebird species). Thus, despite the volume of data available for analysis, long-term shorebird monitoring provides only limited insights about Ramsar ecological character. The value of these data would be greatly enhanced through complementary monitoring of other ecological characters at sites, particularly where shorebird populations provide early warning signs of potential deterioration. The main impediment to achieving a good understanding of how Ramsar sites are changing in Australasia appears to be a lack of analysis and centralised system for data and analytics, rather than a lack of monitoring data. © 2021 Elsevier Ltd
An overview of the latham’s snipe population in sakhalin, Eastern Russia
- Hansen, Birgita, Revyakina, Zoya, Kulikova, Olga, Ktitorov, Pavel
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Revyakina, Zoya , Kulikova, Olga , Ktitorov, Pavel
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Stilt Vol. 2020, no. 73-74 (2020), p. 52-58
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Latham’s Snipe (Японский бекас) Gallinago hardwickii was historically considered to breed mostly in Japan with a small proportion of breeding records in Russia. Since the 1950s, the species has been expanding its range northward and the current distribution of snipe encompasses most of the island of Sakhalin. At the same time, the species has experienced a breeding range contraction in Japan. During May 2019, opportunistic snipe surveys were conducted during a nine-day field trip of Sakhalin. Snipe were recorded either as incidental observations or during a 10’ point count. The highest numbers of snipe were found on the south-west coast of Sakhalin in the Tomarinskiy and Korsakovsky regions. All records were made in mosaic meadow-forest and modified grassland habitats, and none were obtained from forest or intact woodland. Comparison of these snapshot data to breeding surveys conducted between 1993 and 2012 demonstrate the species to be relatively widespread across Sakhalin, and in most areas not dominated by continuous forest. However, the conditions under which snipe breed successfully are more restricted than would be expected based on these broad habitat associations and numbers of displaying males. Agricultural intensification, spring burning of meadowlands and illegal shooting of snipe all reduce breeding success. While a significant proportion of the Latham’s Snipe global population appears to occur on Sakhalin (potentially as high as 18%), when considered in the broader context of species decline documented in Japan, it is likely that the global trend for this species is generally downward. © 2020, Australasian Wader Studies Group. All rights reserved.
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Revyakina, Zoya , Kulikova, Olga , Ktitorov, Pavel
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Stilt Vol. 2020, no. 73-74 (2020), p. 52-58
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Latham’s Snipe (Японский бекас) Gallinago hardwickii was historically considered to breed mostly in Japan with a small proportion of breeding records in Russia. Since the 1950s, the species has been expanding its range northward and the current distribution of snipe encompasses most of the island of Sakhalin. At the same time, the species has experienced a breeding range contraction in Japan. During May 2019, opportunistic snipe surveys were conducted during a nine-day field trip of Sakhalin. Snipe were recorded either as incidental observations or during a 10’ point count. The highest numbers of snipe were found on the south-west coast of Sakhalin in the Tomarinskiy and Korsakovsky regions. All records were made in mosaic meadow-forest and modified grassland habitats, and none were obtained from forest or intact woodland. Comparison of these snapshot data to breeding surveys conducted between 1993 and 2012 demonstrate the species to be relatively widespread across Sakhalin, and in most areas not dominated by continuous forest. However, the conditions under which snipe breed successfully are more restricted than would be expected based on these broad habitat associations and numbers of displaying males. Agricultural intensification, spring burning of meadowlands and illegal shooting of snipe all reduce breeding success. While a significant proportion of the Latham’s Snipe global population appears to occur on Sakhalin (potentially as high as 18%), when considered in the broader context of species decline documented in Japan, it is likely that the global trend for this species is generally downward. © 2020, Australasian Wader Studies Group. All rights reserved.
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