Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Tracing Waterbirds in Water: A Pilot Study on the Utility of eDNA Monitoring for Inland Australian Waterbirds","authors":"Skye Davis,&nbsp;Anthony Chariton,&nbsp;Kate J. Brandis,&nbsp;Natalie Hejl,&nbsp;Adam J. Stow","doi":"10.1111/aec.70094","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70094","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Australia's vast network of inland wetlands attracts thousands of waterbirds to congregate and breed during ‘boom’ periods of rainfall and productivity. Monitoring waterbird biodiversity predominantly relies on annual aerial and ground-based surveys, which may miss rare or elusive species of conservation importance. Environmental DNA (eDNA) metabarcoding is being increasingly used as a tool for rapid biodiversity assessments across a wide range of ecosystems. Before eDNA can be routinely applied to new ecosystems, assays need to be optimised to address several challenges, including primer bias, reference database limitations, and data curation strategies. Here, we used an eDNA assay to detect avian species at four inland wetlands in south-eastern Australia. We assessed the impact of filtering strategies on waterbird detection probabilities and compared results against historical observational survey records. Our eDNA assay identified up to 40% of waterbirds historically recorded at the sites. Waterbirds detected with eDNA included the elusive and endangered Australasian bittern, migratory species such as gull-billed tern and whiskered tern, and an introduced feral goose not previously recorded. Community composition varied with filtering and detection approaches, highlighting the importance of assessing the impact of data curation on species detection with respect to historical species records. This study demonstrates the potential for eDNA to be incorporated into waterbird monitoring programmes. Future research should prioritise improving reference databases and optimising field sampling protocols for these ecosystems.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70094","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519743","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":"Temporal Dynamics of a Neotropical Plant-Hummingbird Interaction Network","authors":"Steffani N. P. Queiroz,&nbsp;Marsal D. Amorim,&nbsp;Sabrina A. Lopes,&nbsp;Jeferson Vizentin-Bugoni,&nbsp;Leonardo Ré Jorge,&nbsp;Jeff Ollerton,&nbsp;Thiago Santos,&nbsp;André R. Rech","doi":"10.1111/aec.70089","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70089","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Species interaction networks are expected to vary following temporal changes in the environment and the composition of the local community. However, there are still gaps in our knowledge about temporal variation in networks in tropical areas, where less variable climates are expected to produce more stable community structures over time. Here we describe a plant-hummingbird network in the Brazilian Campo Rupestre ecosystem and investigate multiscale temporal variation of interactions in this community as well as the possible mechanisms underlying the frequencies of species interactions. Plants visited by hummingbirds were observed monthly for a year and each species had morphology, phenology and nectar traits measured. During 624 h of observation we recorded nine hummingbird species visiting 47 plant species, amounting to 9015 visits to flowers. Most plants (28 species) were endemic to the Campo Rupestre and mostly visited by the also endemic hummingbird <i>Augastes scutatus</i> (the Hyacinth Visorbearer). The annual network was not nested but presented high modularity and intermediate specialisation. While the overall (annual) frequencies of interaction were primarily defined by morphological matching and phenological overlap, we found a remarkable temporal change in community structure over the year, with different processes underlying interactions among plants and hummingbirds at different seasons. The interaction pattern during the rainy season was more similar to the annual network than the dry season (when nectar sugar content and plant phenology were also important), with more links per species and lower specialisation. The higher importance of morphology to predict interactions during the rainy season suggests higher niche partitioning when more hummingbird species are present in the community. Our results exemplify the importance of considering the temporal dynamics of the community to advance the understanding of the processes defining species interactions over time in the tropics.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-07-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70089","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144519744","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":"New Records and Invasion Risk of the Non-Native Piranha Serrasalmus maculatus (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) in the Merin Lagoon Basin","authors":"Nicolás Vidal,&nbsp;Marcelo Dias de Mattos Burns,&nbsp;José Carlos Guerrero,&nbsp;Marcelo Loureiro","doi":"10.1111/aec.70090","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70090","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p><i>Serrasalmus maculatus</i> (Characiformes, Serrasalmidae) is a piranha native to the Río de la Plata and Amazon basins. Recently, it was recorded in the Patos Lagoon basin. Patos and Merin lagoons are connected by the São Gonçalo channel. Based on information provided by local artisanal and recreational fishermen we report the presence of <i>S. maculatus</i> in several locations of the Merin Lagoon and São Gonçalo channel basin. This represents an important change in the distribution range of the species, previously restricted to the Patos Lagoon basin. Using species distribution models we found a high favourability and risk of expansion of <i>S. maculatus</i> population in the Merin Lagoon basin. In addition, the natural environment of the lagoon, i.e., lentic and vegetated waters, and low diversity of natural predators are favourable conditions for piranha proliferation. Due to their top predator role, piranhas are capable to disrupting food webs and biodiversity, as well as negatively impacting fisheries and recreational activities. Our results highlight the need to implement control actions and the monitoring of piranha populations and the whole ecosystem to elaborate appropriate mitigation measures.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144339619","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":"Estimating Above-Ground Liana Biomass in Disturbed Australian Tropical Forests","authors":"Emma J. Mackintosh,&nbsp;Catherine E. Waite,&nbsp;Marion Pfeifer,&nbsp;Francis E. Putz,&nbsp;Andrew R. Marshall","doi":"10.1111/aec.70050","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70050","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Lianas (woody vines) contribute substantially to tropical forest functioning, including carbon cycling, which makes accurate estimates of their biomass essential. Here, we aimed to quantify the contribution of lianas to biomass and stem density in disturbed Australian tropical forests. First, we destructively sampled lianas from the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area of northeast Queensland to develop an allometric equation to estimate liana above-ground biomass (AGB) from stem diameter. We then compared the accuracy of this equation for estimating liana AGB to previously published equations developed elsewhere. Using data from 17 vegetation plots (20 × 20 m) across the Cassowary Coast Region, we calculated liana contribution to biomass using our new equation. Based on RMSE and concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), our allometric equation performed better than those previously published (RMSE = 5.46, CCC = 0.94). Liana AGB estimates using our equation were lower than those based on previously published equations by at least 14%, suggesting that lianas have a lower AGB per unit stem diameter in our study region. Frequent cyclones and past logging may have led to numerous liana stems that are damaged, deformed, or stunted due to a lack of tall trees. We found that lianas contributed ~10% of woody biomass and 36.5% of woody stem density, which rose to 58% if climbing monocots were also included. When compared to liana studies conducted elsewhere, these forests are at the upper end of the range for documented liana densities worldwide. Our findings highlight the importance of developing regional allometric equations for estimating liana biomass. This work also underscores the need for continued measurement and monitoring of lianas to better understand how tropical forests respond to disturbance and global changes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70050","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144339621","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":"More Resistant Than Resilient: Effect of 15 Years Conservation Management on Ground-Layer Vegetation Composition in Temperate Woodland and Forest","authors":"Sue McIntyre,&nbsp;Jon Lewis,&nbsp;Anthony O. Nicholls","doi":"10.1111/aec.70079","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70079","url":null,"abstract":"<p>We monitored ground-layer vegetation in permanently marked plots in a temperate grassy woodland/sclerophyll forest mosaic, after the removal of sheep, but with continuing macropod grazing. Data collection over 15 years encompassed extremes of drought and high rainfall. Plots were stratified to sample 13 subhabitats reflecting variations in vegetation type and landscape position. Species composition varied with: (i) site productivity (grassy vs sclerophyll forest), (ii) soil moisture (landscape position) and (iii) presence of tree canopies in open grassland. After 15 years, most subhabitats retained their distinctiveness, with net changes suggestive of nutrient decline under tree canopies and increasingly mesic conditions on higher slope positions. Analysis of species richness of 18 origin and life-form groups over time revealed three types of responses: (i) stable, (ii) linear increase and (iii) a quadratic response. The latter was identified for native and exotic species in all habitats, specifically for annuals and short tussocks. There were sustained linear increases in the species richness of three native life forms (geophytes, subshrubs and leafy herbs) suggesting improvements in conservation status, while most native perennial groups were stable. Large perennial native grasses (<i>Themeda triandra</i>, <i>Rytidosperma pallidum</i>, <i>Poa sieberiana</i> and <i>Aristida ramosa</i>) maintained their initial dominance, while that of <i>Lomandra filiformis</i> and <i>Melichrus urceolatus</i> increased. The level of dominance of exotics was largely sustained, although exotic annuals fluctuated in response to seasonal conditions. The frequency of exotic perennial dicots increased slightly, despite intensive control efforts. We attribute the persistence of biomass under severe drought to the high dry matter content of many ground-layer dominants, which served to protect soil and provide refuge to palatable geophytes and native herbs. Our findings are consistent with ecological models that predict that cessation of fertiliser inputs and heavy livestock grazing will promote vegetation with ecosystem attributes resistant to climate extremes.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70079","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144332008","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":"Palaeoecological Analyses Reveal Recent Fires Have Destroyed Late-Holocene Peat Deposits in Tasmania's Largest Ramsar Reserve","authors":"Matthew Adesanya Adeleye,&nbsp;Simon Graeme Haberle,&nbsp;Quan Hua,&nbsp;David M. J. S. Bowman","doi":"10.1111/aec.70087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70087","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Australian peat-forming wetlands are some of the most biodiverse in Oceania. King Island, the second largest offshore island from mainland Tasmania, has the largest Ramsar-wetland area in Tasmania—the Lavinia State Reserve (LSR). The reserve has been under threat of peat loss from swamps over past decades due to wildfires, deforestation and drainage. To provide a framework and baseline to assess the resilience or susceptibility to future climate change and fire impacts at the LSR, we apply a palaeoecological approach to understand Holocene peat dynamics in two different LSR wetlands. This contributes to resolving the dynamics and rate of peat loss, thereby assisting in prioritising areas for further swamp conservation actions. Both LSR wetlands were once lakes, and peat accumulation only started due to terrestrialisation during a period of low water levels and drought in the Mid-Holocene. Fires have resulted in the loss of at least 4000 years' worth of accumulated peat in the largest peat-forming swamp, with the greatest loss likely linked to summer fires in the LSR in the 2000s. This finding shows the long-term vulnerability of the LSR wetlands to climate and fire impact, underscoring the need for effective fire management to conserve the remaining peat through fire control and careful hydrological management.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70087","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144300509","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":"Coarse Woody Debris Improves Nutrient Cycling in a Rehabilitated Montane Forest","authors":"Jack C. J. Vernon,&nbsp;Josh Dorrough,&nbsp;Zachary A. Brown,&nbsp;Adrienne B. Nicotra","doi":"10.1111/aec.70082","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70082","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The successful restoration of disturbed ecosystems depends on the ability of below-ground soil decomposer communities to cycle organic matter into soil stocks and available forms for above-ground producers. We investigated the interactions between forest disturbance history, coarse woody debris and leaf carbon-to-nitrogen ratio (C:N) and their impacts on biological activity in soil and litter within a rehabilitated rock spoil and adjacent undisturbed montane forest in Kosciuszko National Park, Australia. We measured rates of soil CO₂ efflux and leaf decomposition, two key measures of soil function, to determine whether proximity to coarse woody debris improved soil function in rehabilitated sites. Coarse woody debris was associated with increased CO₂ efflux and decomposition in the rehabilitated forest (28.1% and 12.6% increase, respectively), but not within nearby undisturbed forest. In the absence of coarse woody debris, leaf mass loss to decomposition was 84.2% lower in the rehabilitated forest compared to the reference forest. Leaf decomposition varied significantly depending on the species from which the litter derived and was greatest in green tea and eucalyptus litter, and least in rooibos tea, with the CWD and forest type effects being consistent among these. However, decomposition of leaf litter of native species did not conform to expectations; leaves with low C:N had lower, rather than higher, rates of decomposition. These findings highlight the positive effects of coarse woody debris addition on soil functioning within rehabilitated forests and its potential in reconstructing nutrient cycles following disturbance.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70082","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144264675","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":"Landscape and the Occupancy of Pampean Grassland Birds: Modelling Site Occupancy Through Acoustic Detection","authors":"Patrícia Paludo,&nbsp;André Luís Luza,&nbsp;e Maria João Ramos Pereira","doi":"10.1111/aec.70084","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70084","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>Native grasslands worldwide are under threat from replacement by cropland and other land-use practices, resulting in severe population declines of grassland birds in recent decades, due to their sensitivity to changes in land use. We fitted occupancy models to data collected by passive acoustic monitoring of bird species at sites in Brazilian pampas grasslands (dry grass, wet grass and regenerating grass) to test the hypothesis that the probability of local site occupancy of grassland-specialised birds, <i>Ammodramus humeralis</i> Cabanis &amp; Heine, 1850 (grassland sparrow), <i>Emberizoides herbicola</i> Cabanis, 1847 (wedge-tailed grass-finch) and L<i>eistes superciliaris</i> Vigors, 1825 (white-browed meadowlark), decreases with native land-use change; but not for the habitat-generalist species <i>Zonotrichia capensis</i> Cabanis &amp; Heine, 1850 (rufous-collared sparrow). Land cover and land use were quantified within 500 m buffers around 69 grassland study sites and were used as covariates in site-occupancy models. The probability of occupancy of <i>L. superciliaris</i> at a site was positively influenced by native grassland cover and agriculture in the surrounding landscape, while <i>A. humeralis</i> was negatively influenced by forest cover. For <i>E. herbicola</i> and the generalist <i>Z. capensis</i>, the occupancy probability was not influenced by the measured landscape variables. These four grassland species present varied responses to land cover and land use in grasslands, highlighting the need for a better understanding of predictors at a habitat scale to effectively inform management and conservation strategies for grassland areas. This study underscores the importance of conserving native grasslands, as species distribution tends to remain stable in areas with well-preserved grassland cover, a finding that can inform conservation efforts in other grassland regions worldwide.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244400","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":"Mitigating Road Barrier Effects for Small Mammals: Evidence From Wildlife Passages in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest","authors":"Ian Moreira Souza,&nbsp;Victoria Bartolome,&nbsp;Rodrigo Delmonte Gessulli,&nbsp;Marcelo Guerreiro,&nbsp;Thiago de Oliveira Machado,&nbsp;Helio Secco,&nbsp;Pablo Rodrigues Gonçalves","doi":"10.1111/aec.70086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70086","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Roads significantly impact wildlife through collisions and habitat fragmentation. Wildlife crossing structures aim to mitigate these impacts, but their effectiveness for Neotropical small mammals is largely unknown. During 12 months, we monitored small mammal movements near overpasses, underpasses, and areas without structures (controls) in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, using capture-mark-recapture. We quantified highway crossings, structure use without crossing, and structure avoidance. Eight small mammal species were recorded, among which were four forest specialists. The marsupials <i>Didelphis aurita</i> and <i>Marmosa paraguayana</i> used overpasses, while the water rat <i>Nectomys squamipes</i> and the four-eyed opossum <i>Philander quica</i> used underpasses. However, only 5%–7% of marked individuals of the latter two species crossed the highway. The remaining four species (<i>Akodon cursor</i>, <i>Metachirus myosurus</i>, <i>Monodelphis cf. iheringi</i>, and <i>Mus musculus</i>) did not use the structures and were uncommon in roadside habitats. The results suggest that locally abundant forest small mammals avoiding roads can use crossing structures, potentially improving population connectivity compared to areas without them. However, rare forest specialists that did not use the passages may require more substantial interventions to enhance their connectivity. This research provides evidence for potential benefits of crossing structures for Neotropical small mammals while highlighting the need for tailored solutions for different species.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70086","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144244401","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":"Microhabitat Preferences, Climate Vulnerability and Conservation Status of the High-Elevation Orange-Speckled Forest Skink (Tumbunascincus luteilateralis)","authors":"Jules E. Farquhar,&nbsp;Paul M. Oliver,&nbsp;Justin M. Wright,&nbsp;Nicholas A. Scott,&nbsp;Jordan Mulder,&nbsp;Harry B. Hines,&nbsp;David G. Chapple","doi":"10.1111/aec.70083","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70083","url":null,"abstract":"<p>High-elevation species are particularly vulnerable to climate change due to their restricted distributions and reliance on stable, cool climates. <i>Tumbunascincus luteilateralis</i> (the orange-speckled forest skink), a high-elevation lizard endemic to the Eungella region in central Queensland, Australia, is currently listed as Data Deficient under the International Union of Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species. Our study integrates field surveys, microhabitat analyses and ecological niche modelling to better understand the species' distribution, habitat preferences and conservation status. Field surveys detected <i>T. luteilateralis</i> at many new locations all within a highly restricted area on the Dalrymple Plateau. It occurred in a range of forest types above 800 m elevation, but very rarely occurred below 800 m, showing a strong ecological preference for high-elevation rainforests. Microhabitat analyses indicated that the species exhibits significant selection for warmer, refuge-rich sites characterised by higher log cover and larger logs, which likely support thermoregulation and predator avoidance. Ecological niche modelling highlighted that the species' current distribution is restricted to stable, cool climates typical of high-elevation rainforests, with no evidence of occurrence outside the Eungella region. Projections under future climate change indicate a severe reduction in suitable habitat, with complete loss predicted by the end of the century under a moderate warming scenario. These results show that <i>T. luteilateralis</i> meets the criteria for Endangered status under the IUCN Red List, with an extent of occurrence of 687 km² and area of occupancy of 169 km². Efforts that could help maintain or improve population resilience include protection of the rainforest habitat from bushfires, preservation of large log refugia and reducing the risk of predation from feral animals. This study underscores the need for conservation-oriented ecological studies on narrow-ranged, high-elevation species to understand their conservation status and inform conservation planning.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70083","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144197187","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}