Ecological Management & Restoration最新文献

{"title":"Impact Pathways Derived From Conceptual Modelling Reveal the Impacts of Feral Water Buffalo on Northern Long-Necked Turtles in Tropical Wetlands","authors":"Helen Truscott,&nbsp;Jenny Davis,&nbsp;Erica A. Garcia,&nbsp;Carla C. Eisemberg","doi":"10.1111/emr.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Impact pathway diagrams based on conceptual ecological modelling are an important tool for identifying where effective conservation strategies can be designed and targeted to mitigate the impacts of an invasive species on a native species. These are particularly useful when the eradication of the invasive species may not be possible. Here we apply this approach to identify the impacts of feral water buffalo (<i>Bubalus bubalis</i>) on the northern long-necked turtle (<i>Chelodina rugosa</i>) in the Arafura Swamp Indigenous Protected Area in northern Australia. Understanding the pathways leading to deleterious effects is even more critical when the impact of the invasive species, in this case the buffalo, is not a direct one but rather indirect impacts that occur from the buffalo's role as an ‘ecosystem engineer’. Conceptual modelling of the physical, chemical and biotic changes caused by buffalo to the habitats utilised by <i>C. rugosa</i> over its life stages, and associated responses, indicated the main pathways leading to population decline. These included a reduction in <i>C. rugosa</i> reproductive success and decreased resilience to extended aestivation periods. Buffalo-mediated soil modification may directly increase adult and egg mortalities and interfere with conditions required for successful aestivation and embryo development. Other stressors include predation by other feral species and climate variability. With the pathways leading to population decline identified, mechanisms to address the impacts of buffalo can be designed and effective strategies developed to conserve this culturally significant turtle species. This approach is an effective tool for land managers where species-specific and place-based conservation strategies are needed and is critical to conservation where the stressor cannot be effectively removed.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70042","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147567088","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Rolling and Burning to Transform Woody Species Thickets and Restore Abandoned Farmland","authors":"H. Neilly,&nbsp;P. Cale","doi":"10.1111/emr.70041","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70041","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Woody plant encroachment is a key issue that needs to be addressed when restoring abandoned farmland previously used for livestock grazing. In a conservation context, woody shrubs can be problematic if they prevent the establishment of a desired vegetation composition and structure by outcompeting other species for light, nutrients and water. However, there is limited research on effective methods of shrub removal that can provide recommendations to land managers, particularly where the objectives are related to conservation outcomes. We experimentally tested three methods of woody plant encroachment control at a semi-arid ex-pastoral property now managed for conservation: (1) mechanical rolling, (2) rolling and then burning, and (3) burning alone. We found that Rolled and Rolled+Burnt treatments effectively suppressed woody species over the 4-year study period but affected plant community composition and groundcover dynamics differently. While the resulting understorey of these two treatments was more compositionally appropriate for this ecological community, overstorey species were almost entirely absent in recovering vegetation. This suggests that further interventions such as direct seeding or out-planting will be required to restore overstorey components at this site.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-03-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70041","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147565020","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Failed Scientific Advocacy, Misappropriation and Erosion of Public Trust: Generalisations About Burning From Tall Wet Eucalypt Forests","authors":"Michael-Shawn Fletcher","doi":"10.1111/emr.70036","DOIUrl":"10.1111/emr.70036","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147569882","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Evaluating Satellite Monitoring of Vegetation Health With Fauna Habitat Managers in Mind","authors":"Michael Hewson,&nbsp;Richard Koech","doi":"10.1111/emr.70040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70040","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In Australia, pastoralists, not-for-profit, and government organisations are managing stands of open woodland to conserve threatened species' habitats. These land areas are usually larger than a cropping field but smaller than many National Parks in Australia. In this age of broad-scale satellite remote sensing of Earth and its environment, the question is: can free, high-resolution satellite imagery provide as much efficacy for vegetation trend monitoring as commercial ultra-high spatial resolution imagery? We undertook a spatial analysis of several pairs of Maxar WorldView (WV) and European Space Agency (ESA) Sentinel-2 (S2) images and two ‘paddock scale’ properties with the budget-strapped threatened species' habitat manager in mind. We found moderate to strong correlations comparing image data sets for standard vegetation health indices (NDVI, NDRE and LAI). We conclude that the habitat manager can streamline their threatened species open-woodland monitoring budget using Sentinel-2 images for vegetation assemblage health trend monitoring.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70040","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147299987","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Flowering Phenology of Native and Exotic Plants in Species-Rich Themeda triandra Grasslands, Western Victoria: Implications for Fire Management","authors":"Holden Sayers,&nbsp;Luke Florence,&nbsp;John W. Morgan","doi":"10.1111/emr.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Frequent fire in temperate native grasslands in south-east Australia has maintained high plant diversity. The timing of fire implemented by fire agencies over the last several decades has been in summer and autumn. This coincides with the dormant season for many grassland plants. Recent trends in agency burning, partly driven by earlier curing and the need to protect high-asset crops in the wider landscape, have seen a shift to earlier season burning, often coinciding with when grassland plants may be growing or flowering. The potential implications of this shift in burning season have not been documented. We sought to understand how earlier fires may impact grassland species by studying their phenology (i.e., the timing of flowering). We demonstrate that flowering was strongly seasonal; native species flowered predominately in spring, while exotics peaked in early spring and declined thereafter. Four types of species-level phenology were identified. For native species, phenological patterns included (i) early-season (strictly spring-flowering only), (ii) late-season (strictly summer-flowering only), (iii) long-flowering, and (iv) spring–summer overlap flowering. Exotic species were predominantly early-season flowering, or spring–summer overlapping. Differences in phenology can be explained by life form. Exotic species were predominantly C3 therophytes (annuals), whereas native species include a mix of C3 geophytes and hemicryptophytes. Hence, the greatest proportion of native and exotic species are reproductive at the time of spring burning, with consequent effects likely for their flowering and seed set. Strategic use of spring burns may suppress annual exotic species populations by preventing seed set, a potentially useful management tool; efforts to control exotics must be carefully balanced against risks to native flora that also flower in spring. Understanding species phenology can help frame hypotheses about how fire season may affect grassland communities, but direct studies of fire impacts are needed to guide management.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70039","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147300017","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Re-Use or Refuse? The Stability of Para-Aminopropiophenone (PAPP) and Sodium Fluoroacetate (1080) in Canid Pest Ejector Capsules","authors":"Matthew N. Gentle,&nbsp;Lana Harriott,&nbsp;Catherine Kelly,&nbsp;Tracey Kreplins","doi":"10.1111/emr.70038","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70038","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Toxins for vertebrate pest control in bait material degrade under field conditions but there are limited data available on the degradation of toxins used in canid pest ejectors (hereafter ejectors). Re-use of non-activated capsules would be practical for end-users and support the optimal and cost-efficient use of vertebrate toxins. This study assessed the degradation of capsules intended for wild dog applications containing sodium fluoroacetate (1080) or para-aminopropiophenone (PAPP) under storage and field conditions in north-eastern Australia (Queensland) and Western Australia. Only 2.6% of 1080 capsules showed any signs of potential leakage, and only a minimal loss of 1080 content occurred over the 2-year study period in Queensland. The rate of degradation was not significantly different between 1080 capsules deployed in the field and those kept in storage, while field-deployed capsules in Western Australia decayed at a faster rate than those kept in storage. Regardless, degradation rates were minimal across both sites, with modelling suggesting that the 1080 content in capsules would still exceed that required for a lethal dose for wild dogs (LD₅₀ = 1.76 mg) for extended periods (~4–9 years). Intact, undamaged PAPP capsules were highly resistant to degradation, with neither stored nor field-deployed PAPP capsule treatments at either site showing any significant loss in PAPP content after 2 years. However, ~4% of PAPP capsules in the Western Australian study suffered physical failure, and subsequently contained only trace amounts of toxin, but could be easily identified for disposal. Collectively and conservatively, our findings support the use of undamaged (and non-activated) PAPP or 1080 capsules for at least 2 years, following careful inspection and subsequent rejection of damaged capsules. These results are reassuring and provide valuable recommendations to inform users on the effective, safe and efficient use (and re-use) of toxic capsules in ejectors for wild canid control.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70038","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146217175","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Swimming Behavioural Responses and Impingement Risks of Larval Golden Perch to Fish Protection Screen Approach Velocities","authors":"Patrick J. McSweeney,&nbsp;Craig Boys,&nbsp;Matthew Balzer,&nbsp;Jarrod Walton,&nbsp;Wayne Robinson,&nbsp;Gavin Rees,&nbsp;Simon Mitrovic","doi":"10.1111/emr.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70035","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fish protection screens are increasingly being considered as management tools to prevent significant numbers of fish being extracted from Australian rivers at water diversions. Australian design standards specify an approach velocity (the perpendicular flow 8 cm in front of the screen) of 0.1 m.s⁻¹. This value was based on studies on juvenile fish, but the extent that it protects larval fish is understudied. The swimming of three ontogenetic stages of Golden perch larvae (protolarvae, postflexion and metalarvae) was observed in front of a screen in a variable speed swimming flume. Approach velocity and water temperature were varied, and the likelihood of impingement and the time for impingement to occur was measured. Swimming behaviours employed by fish to avoid impingement were also quantified. Protolarvae were the most susceptible, with almost 100% impingement at all tested velocities. Impingement became less likely as larvae increased in age. However, at velocities above 0.10 m.s⁻¹ impingement likelihood increased for all stages. The results indicate that if an approach velocity of 0.10 m.s⁻¹ is adhered to, that a critical time of 10 s is available in which larvae may be protected. Larvae implemented key behaviours to avoid impingement, which changed as they developed morphologically. Protolarvae displayed use of hydraulic refuging behaviours, whilst postflexion and metalarvae used a burst and coast strategy. Those that did not implement these behaviours became impinged. Current Australian specifications for fish protection screen design can therefore facilitate the protection of larval Golden perch. Protection improves significantly as larvae develop beyond the protolarval stage.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70035","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146091375","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"How Can We Improve If We Don't Measure? Evaluation of Riparian Revegetation Projects Prevented by Lack of Monitoring Data","authors":"Fiona L. Freestone,&nbsp;Caroline A. Canham,&nbsp;Samantha A. Setterfield,&nbsp;Thiaggo C. Tayer,&nbsp;Leah S. Beesley,&nbsp;Michael M. Douglas","doi":"10.1111/emr.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The rapid decline of freshwater ecosystems has prompted significant investment in riparian restoration globally. Demonstrating positive ecological outcomes from this investment requires adequate monitoring against stated objectives. This study aimed to assess whether ecological outcomes were achieved for revegetation projects undertaken between 2006 and 2023 in the Canning River catchment, Western Australia. To achieve this, we systematically reviewed the funding applications and project reporting for 64 riparian revegetation projects that represented a AUD$3.5 million investment to determine: (1) if the ecological objectives of projects were met, (2) how grant funders can improve the collection and reporting of adequate monitoring data, and (3) if longer-term outcomes could be determined using a remote sensing method. Of the 64 projects assessed, 20 did not have final reports or acquittals. We found there was insufficient monitoring data to evaluate whether projects met ecological objectives of the application or the funding program. A major limiting factor was that most projects were funded for a short duration (12 months) which is insufficient to collect monitoring data and evaluate project outcomes. We identified a range of barriers to adequate collection and reporting of monitoring data, including that 22% of projects did not require applicants to describe a monitoring or data analysis approach, and that of the 75% of projects that did collect data, none could be used to quantitatively assess ecological objectives. We found that remote sensing was limited in its usefulness as a low-cost rapid assessment tool because the spatial analysis required extensive manual correction using specialised expertise to process and analyse the data. We recommend that future restoration programs require proponents include SMART (i.e., <i>S</i>pecific, <i>M</i>easurable, <i>A</i>chievable, <i>R</i>elevant and <i>T</i>ime-bound) objectives, a clear description of the methods and analysis of data to reflect the objectives, and the use of standardised monitoring methods and collection of baseline data. Quantitative monitoring is a central part of adaptive management and therefore requires adequate time and resourcing.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146091202","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Reversing Woody Thickening in an Urban Grassy Woodland Remnant","authors":"Ian W. Jenkinson,&nbsp;Jamie B. Kirkpatrick,&nbsp;Kerry L. Bridle","doi":"10.1111/emr.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70033","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Woody thickening threatens the future of many open grassy ecosystems globally. The Queens Domain in Nipaluna/Hobart, Lutruwita/Tasmania, is one such grassy eucalypt woodland reserve that has experienced woody thickening since the cessation of Indigenous burning practices. This study evaluates the effects of burning, mowing, and mechanical thinning on the structure and composition of tree species in this remnant, with the aim to help develop appropriate prescriptions to reverse woody thickening while preserving conservation values. We used the Bitterlich wedge method to determine basal area (BA) (m²/ha) of tree species in 164 randomly located points. Linear models were created for the 2022 data, and the change between 2000 and 2022 for total BA, <i>Allocasuarina verticillata</i> BA, <i>Eucalyptus viminalis</i> BA, and all tree species BA (total BA) with the predictors mown (yes/no), thinned (4 classes), fire in last two years (yes/no), elevation, aspect, equinoxial radiation, number of fires 2013–2022, and years since last fire (before 2022). The same predictor variables were related individually to the direction of change (positive or negative) for other less common tree species, using one-way analysis of variance or Chi-square. Basal area for both <i>A. verticillata</i> and <i>E. viminalis</i> in 2022 was negatively affected by fire frequency. <i>Allocasuarina verticillata</i> and the total BA had reverse-J size class distributions. <i>Eucalyptus viminalis</i> decreased dramatically with a size class distribution biased towards medium-sized trees and benefited from both frequent fire and mowing. Conservation values of the Domain are promoted by reducing understorey trees and increasing the number and size of eucalypts. However, retaining some thickets is important for native animal shelter. Where low closed-forest or closed-scrub understoreys dominated by <i>A. verticillata</i> have formed, mechanical thinning of at least two thirds of stems, followed by fire or slashing/mowing of understorey tree regeneration at least every five years, seems the best option for maintaining grassy woodland with healthy eucalypts.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146002044","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessment of the Habitat, Health and Recruitment of Two Critically Endangered Eucalyptus Species—E. yarraensis and E. StrzeleckIi—in Southeastern Australia","authors":"E. Fox,&nbsp;F. Hogan,&nbsp;W. Wright,&nbsp;N. L. Schultz","doi":"10.1111/emr.70032","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/emr.70032","url":null,"abstract":"<p><i>Eucalyptus yarraensis</i> (Yarra gum) and <i>Eucalyptus strzeleckii</i> (Strzelecki gum) are critically endangered species endemic to Victoria, Australia. This study assessed habitat characteristics, tree health and sapling recruitment of <i>E. yarraensis</i> and <i>E. strzeleckii</i> across their geographic range. Assessments were conducted in three landscape contexts: (1) along roadsides, (2) in small, isolated patches and (3) in larger remnant vegetation patches. For <i>E. strzeleckii</i>, recruitment was most evident in trees with smaller DBH (&lt; 200 cm), in large remnant patches, and in areas with deep organic litter (&gt; 25 cm). <i>E. yarraensis</i> occurred across a broader range of vegetation types, including on well- and moderately well-drained soils, challenging its traditional classification as a swamp species. Tree health was lower for <i>E. yarraensis</i> in large remnant patches than in small patches or roadsides, and recruitment was highest in small patches and in sites with moderate litter depths (10–25 cm). These findings highlight specific habitat conditions that may influence recruitment success and inform targeted conservation actions for <i>E. yarraensis</i> and <i>E. strzeleckii</i>. The maintenance of younger stands must be prioritised to facilitate ongoing recruitment. Furthermore, fuel reduction burns, which reduce the amount of organic litter and may destroy eucalypt seedlings, require careful reassessment.</p>","PeriodicalId":54325,"journal":{"name":"Ecological Management & Restoration","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-12-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/emr.70032","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145887631","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}