- Piggott, Maxine, Hansen, Birgita, Soderquist, Todd, Eldridge, Mark, Taylor, Andrea
- Authors: Piggott, Maxine , Hansen, Birgita , Soderquist, Todd , Eldridge, Mark , Taylor, Andrea
- Date: 2018
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Mammalogy Vol. 40, no. 1 (2018), p. 58-66
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Obtaining much-needed information on population parameters such as abundance and genetic diversity can be difficult for small and declining populations. The brush-tailed rock-wallaby (Petrogale penicillata) is an endangered and cryptic species with many colonies in decline. The Warrumbungle National Park (NP) in New South Wales contains a declining metapopulation of P. penicillata at the western (inland) extreme of the species' current range. Loss of these colonies would cause substantial range contraction and probable loss of regional genetic diversity in the Central Evolutionary Significance Unit (ESU). We used non-invasive genetic methods to identify individuals from faecal DNA from five colonies in the Warrumbungle NP. We identified a minimum of 21 individuals, with the largest colony containing seven individuals. The Warrumbungle NP colonies showed significant intercolony structuring and we were able to detect a single dispersal event. Comparison of genetic diversity to other Central ESU colonies shows that loss of the Warrumbungle NP population will result in loss of unique diversity from this region. The minimum number of animals and genetic diversity information obtained in this study was used to support management actions of herbivore control and translocation in the Warrumbungle NP population. © Australian Mammal Society 2018.
- Hansen, Birgita, Minton, Clive, Jessop, Rosalind, Collins, Peter
- Authors: Hansen, Birgita , Minton, Clive , Jessop, Rosalind , Collins, Peter
- Date: 2009
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Emu Vol. 109, no. 1 (2009), p. 25-33
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Since 1980, 856 Sooty Oystercatchers (Haematopus fuliginosus) have been caught and banded in Australia by the Victorian Wader Study Group (n=801, from southern Australia) and the Australasian Wader Studies Group (n=55 birds, all from north-western Australia). The biometric data collected were analysed for differences between sexes and ages and for geographical differences. Females were larger than males in all biometric dimensions, in all age-groups and in both geographical regions. For both subspecies - H. f. fuliginosus in south-eastern Australia and H. f. opthalmicus in north-western Australia - length of bill (exposed culmen) was the most discriminating parameter for determination of sex. Weights of adult females increased markedly towards the end of the moulting period. In south-eastern Australia, adult males considerably outnumber adult females in catches. Furthermore, adult males also outnumbered adult females in late autumn-early winter samples; at other times, and in other age-groups, the sex-ratio was more evenly balanced. Differential survival or spatial distribution of females and males are proposed as the mechanisms causing male-biased tertiary sex-ratios in catches. South-eastern Australian birds were larger and heavier than their northern counterparts. Furthermore, comparisons between Sooty Oystercatchers and the sympatric congener, the Australian Pied Oystercatcher (H. longirostris) showed the former to be significantly larger and heavier in both parts of the country. © Royal Australasian Orinthologists Union 2009.
- Szabo, Judit, Choi, Chi-Yeung, Clemens, Robert, Hansen, Birgita
- Authors: Szabo, Judit , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Clemens, Robert , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Emu Vol. 116, no. 2 (2016), p. 215-221
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Globally, populations of migratory shorebirds are threatened and declining rapidly. This is especially true for those using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), where loss of intertidal mudflats in crucial staging areas, especially around the Yellow Sea, is considered to be the primary driver of declines. The conservation of migratory shorebirds faces considerable challenges, including competing demands on wetland habitats, compounded by differing economic priorities, jurisdictions and attitudes towards wildlife among the countries along shorebird migratory routes. A key aspect of addressing these challenges is to protect more habitat and improve management of shorebird habitat, both in protected and unprotected areas. This ultimately requires stronger commitments from national governments, for instance by enforcing and strengthening multilateral and bilateral agreements. However, economic drivers for development Erode the effectiveness of these policy tools. Here, we highlight the socio-political approaches needed to ensure implementation of conservation actions. The success of these actions will hinge on stronger engagement of citizens and governments in habitat protection and shorebird monitoring. One part of this strategy is to increase awareness in communities and governments of shorebird issues through international collaboration, knowledge sharing, capacity-building and support for local action (of both citizens and government officials). International actions mediated among flyway partners, for example bilateral agreements on the preservation of intertidal mudflats and co-funding to support this, are critical to halting shorebird population declines. © BirdLife Australia 2016.
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.
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.
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**
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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