Austral Ecology最新文献

{"title":"Short-Term Livestock Grazing Exclusion Has No Site-Scale Impact on an Endangered Lizard","authors":"Kimberley H. Michael,&nbsp;Patrick Michael,&nbsp;Ryan Baring,&nbsp;Michael G. Gardner","doi":"10.1111/aec.70042","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70042","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Grasslands are among the most utilised habitat types for livestock production and the least protected ecosystems globally. Livestock grazing alters the abiotic and biotic features of a landscape and influences vegetation structure. In turn, these vegetation structural changes can adversely impact native animals that use these habitats, including reptiles. The endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (<i>Tiliqua adelaidensis</i>) exclusively inhabits livestock-grazed grasslands in South Australia. Using a before/after, control/impact design, we investigated the effects of short-term grazing exclusion on vegetation structure and lizard abundance across two sites with natural vegetation and climate variation. We found vegetation structure differed between the two sites in “before” and “after” data but did not detect any effect of grazing treatment. We detected a negative association of lizard abundance with tussock cover in “before” data and a negative association with bare ground in the “after” data at the more arid site (Peterborough), although there was no significant overall grazing exclusion effect on lizard abundance at either site. Our survey techniques at a site scale may not have captured microhabitat-scale changes that could have influenced pygmy bluetongue responses. This study indicates short-term and small spatial scale grazing exclusion will have non-significant effects on pygmy bluetongues. Sheep grazing management is an important component of pygmy bluetongue conservation, and we recommend further research to incorporate multiple spatial scales over a longer time prior to applying landscape management actions.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70042","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475734","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":"Wildfire Impact on Coastal Groundwater-Dependent Heathland: Structural and Floristic Responses and Management","authors":"David Stanton,&nbsp;Madeleine Dyring,&nbsp;Roland Proud,&nbsp;Paul Williams","doi":"10.1111/aec.70044","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70044","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Fire is a critical driver of many Australian ecosystems, including the groundwater-dependent heathlands on Australia's east coast. However, the effects of intense wildfires under drought conditions, associated with depletion of groundwater and soil moisture, are poorly documented, and mechanisms of vegetation recovery, particularly for obligate seeders and resprouters, are unclear. We aimed to assess the impacts of an intense wildfire on vegetation structure and species composition in a long-unburnt groundwater-dependent heathland, focusing on the responses of obligate seeder and resprouter species and the role of environmental factors in post-fire recovery. A before–after control–impact study was conducted at Bribie Island, Queensland, following a 2019 wildfire. Vegetation responses were analysed using a generalised linear model, with environmental factors such as rainfall, soil moisture and groundwater levels evaluated for their influence on recovery. Our results demonstrated that shrub counts recovered and exceeded pre-fire levels within 3 years. Species richness returned to pre-fire levels after 2 years but did not reach the peak observed during high-moisture conditions 3 years before the fire. The post-fire response included a slow species richness rebound and incomplete recovery. Obligate seeders showed a variable response, with some dominant populations failing to recover, while resprouters exhibited significant declines. These outcomes are linked to the varying capacity of heathland flora to cope with intense fire during low soil moisture and groundwater deficits. The results of this study suggest that intense wildfires during dry conditions may adversely affect some obligate seeder and resprouter populations, even after long fire intervals. Full consideration of fire intensity, timing and environmental conditions such as soil moisture and groundwater levels are essential for effective vegetation management. Furthermore, prescriptive fire management should focus on burning during periods of high soil moisture to reduce fire severity and enhance post-fire regeneration.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70044","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475685","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":"Nature Positive—What Does It Mean for Australia?","authors":"Dale R. Wright,&nbsp;Brendan A. Wintle,&nbsp;Matthew J. Selinske,&nbsp;Sarah A. Bekessy","doi":"10.1111/aec.70033","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70033","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;The &lt;i&gt;nature positive&lt;/i&gt; global goal focuses on the termination and subsequent reversal of biodiversity decline (Locke et al. &lt;span&gt;2021&lt;/span&gt;; Milner-Gulland &lt;span&gt;2022&lt;/span&gt;; Luxton et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Organisations, both in Australia and globally, can have negative impacts on biodiversity directly, via their landholdings and operations, or indirectly via complex supply chains (Bull et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). Supply chain impacts on biodiversity are significant (Irwin and Geschke &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;), but until now have been inadequately considered in conservation and supply chain literature (Gualandris et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). A new policy target in the Global Biodiversity Framework requires transnational corporations to track, assess and provide full disclosure of their direct and indirect impacts on biodiversity (see Target 15: CBD COP15). There are many measures of biodiversity and ecosystem state and condition that can be considered candidates for understanding business impacts on or benefits for biodiversity (Bull et al. &lt;span&gt;2018&lt;/span&gt;). The most widely used include ‘mean species abundance’ (Hawkins et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;) and ‘potentially disappeared fraction of species’ (PDF) (Damiani et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;; Zhu et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;However, unlike tracking net zero carbon targets, nature is both place-based and relational: local and cultural values of species are central and must be considered in business reporting (Pascual et al. &lt;span&gt;2017&lt;/span&gt;). Current methods are unable to capture the multiple dimensions of biodiversity and produce widely applicable and generalisable measures of biodiversity impact (Hawkins et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;; Damiani et al. &lt;span&gt;2023&lt;/span&gt;). It is unclear what measures might be most appropriate for organisations to track their impacts on biodiversity (Burgess et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;), potentially inhibiting organisations from responding to the nature positive framing. A key challenge is determining biodiversity &lt;i&gt;equivalency&lt;/i&gt;, across different types of impacts in either value chains or at physical sites, and between activities which either negatively impact or positively benefit biodiversity. Developing a national framework for standardising the process of selecting biodiversity indicators for Australian organisations, against a set of criteria backed by good governance will be a fruitful research activity (Burgess et al. &lt;span&gt;2025&lt;/span&gt;).&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Australia has an opportunity to advance biodiversity considerations through this framing and the Federal Government has responded with the development of new policies (DCCEEW &lt;span&gt;2022&lt;/span&gt;; Biodiversity Council &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Strong regulatory frameworks will be essential to ensure that businesses provide robust biodiversity disclosures (Mair et al. &lt;span&gt;2024&lt;/span&gt;). Organisational responses to biodiversity impacts are very new, compared to other aspects of sustainability reporting such as carbon or energy discl","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70033","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143475684","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":"Acoustic Niche Partitioning in a Bird Assembly in Caatinga, Northeastern Brazil","authors":"Bruno Pinho de Lucena,&nbsp;Erich de Freitas Mariano,&nbsp;Helder Farias Pereira de Araujo","doi":"10.1111/aec.70043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70043","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>We investigated vocal adjustment andacoustic niche partitioning in a bird assemblage in the Caatinga based on the Acoustic Niche Hypothesis and the Species Recognition Hypothesis. We conducted 72 recordings of 3-min duration along two transects of 1 km length, between July 2022 and February 2023. Each transect was divided into six points, spaced 200 m apart. We analysed the spectral and temporal overlap (Pianka index) of 15 vocally dominant species and tested significance using null models based on 1000 repetitions of the Randomization Algorithm 3. Phylogenetic distances were estimated from 2500 phylogenies to assess their correlation with acoustic overlap, using Generalised Linear Models and a partial Mantel test. Twenty-five species pairs exhibited high spectral overlap (&gt; 0.6), whereas all pairs showed low temporal overlap (&lt; 0.4). The analysis with null models suggested that the observed spectral overlap (0.322) was lower than expected by chance (0.261), indicating a significant difference [Standardised Effect Size (SES) = 7.162, <i>p</i> &lt; 1]. The temporal overlap showed low values, with the observed (0.097) being slightly lower than the expected (0.111), but with no significant difference (SES = −6.752, <i>p</i> &gt; 1). Our results revealed no correlation between spectral and temporal overlap (Estimate = −0.0059, <i>t</i> = −0.286, <i>p</i> = 0.766) or between phylogenetic distance and spectral (Estimate = −0.0001, <i>t</i> = −0.966, <i>p</i> = 0.336) and temporal (Estimate = 0.00002, <i>t</i> = 0.125, <i>p</i> = 0.901) overlap. There was also no significant correlation between spectral and temporal overlap controlled by phylogenetic distance (<i>r</i> = −0.02712, <i>p</i> = 0.553). There was no evidence of a negative association between the temporal and spectral overlap among the Caatinga bird species. The phylogenetic relationships did not explain the observed patterns. Therefore, it is possible that temporal avoidance actively occurs regardless of other factors, such as spectral overlap.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143447200","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":"Correction to: “An Investigation Into the Utility of Eastern Barn Owl Pellet Content as a Tool to Monitor Small Mammal Diversity in an Arid Ecosystem”","authors":"","doi":"10.1111/aec.70039","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70039","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Schoenefuss, P., Kutt, A.S., Kern, P.L., Moffatt, K.A., Bon, J., Wardle, G.M. et al. (2024) An Investigation Into the Utility of Eastern Barn Owl Pellet Content as a Tool to Monitor Small Mammal Diversity in an Arid Ecosystem. <i>Austral Ecology</i>, 49, e13503. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.13503.</p><p>Figure 2 Depicts the dental structure of two example specimens to show the differences used to distinguish two genera. Images (c) and (d) are labelled incorrectly as <i>Pseudomys</i> sp. This specimen is a <i>Leggadina</i> sp. The wrong photo was selected (from a different study) when collating this figure. This is significant, because <i>Leggadina</i> is undetected in this study.</p><p>We have attached the correct image and caption below.</p><p>There is also a typo in the caption for Figure 2. “… and lower premolars (b) &amp; (d)…” should be corrected to “… and lower molars (b) &amp; (d)…”.</p><p>We apologise for these errors.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70039","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143447107","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":"Over- and Under- Representations of Predatory Fish Body Sizes Are Shaped by Habitat Architecture and Nutrient Loads in a Subtropical River Basin","authors":"Felipe Maresca Urioste,&nbsp;Ana Inés Borthagaray,&nbsp;Ivan González-Bergonzoni,&nbsp;Matías Arim","doi":"10.1111/aec.70037","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70037","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Body size distribution reflects the ecological and evolutionary mechanisms that shape biodiversity. Over- and under-representations -i.e., discontinuities- in this distribution reflect body sizes that could be favoured or limited by operating mechanisms. Although several non-exclusive hypotheses have been formulated to explain the discontinuities in body size distributions, few empirical studies have been able to advance on the determinants of these discontinuities along ecological gradients. By means of null models we assessed the existence of over-/under- representations in the body size distribution of 48 local assemblages of carnivorous fishes in the Rio Negro basin, Uruguay. Specifically, we identified the body size locations at which an over-representation and/or under-representation occurs in local communities compared to the null model distribution. Then, using Structural Equation Modelling (SEM), we explicitly connect these deviations with gradients in local conditions. Over-representations at the different sites ranged from sizes of 0.1 to 28.8 g, while under-representations ranged from 0.1 to 27.1 g. Our structural equation model identified a significant connection between substrate type and nutrient loads with the location of over-representations in the size spectra, while substrate type and depth were connected to the magnitude of the over-representation. The magnitude of the over-representation influenced the size and magnitude of the under-representation. Local environmental variables exhibited strong influence on the body size distribution, being favoured over the connectivity of communities. This suggests that local filtering has a preponderant role in explaining the dependence of species performance on body size in this system. The present study highlights the existence of discontinuities in the distribution of traits in general and body size in particular as a relevant feature of biodiversity organisation, seldom considered in empirical studies. Advancing on the local and regional determinants of these features emerges as a powerful and complementary approach for unravelling the mechanisms behind biodiversity assembly and functioning.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143447191","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":"Metamorphosis: How Insects Are Changing Our WorldBy Adrian Washbourne, Erica McAlister, Clayton VIC: CSIRO Publishing, 2024. 216 pp. ISBN: 978-1-4863-1890-2","authors":"Manu E. Saunders","doi":"10.1111/aec.70036","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70036","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143380882","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":"Slick. Australia's Toxic Relationship With Big Oilby Royce Kurmelovs, St Lucia, Queensland: University of Queensland Press, 2024. 342 pages, $34.99 Paperback. ISBN: 978 0 7022 6860","authors":"David Lindenmayer","doi":"10.1111/aec.70035","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70035","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143362598","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":"Quantifying Past and Predicting Future Cumulative Loss of Habitat for a Critically Endangered Nomadic Bird","authors":"Ross Crates,&nbsp;Nathan Ruser,&nbsp;Robert Heinsohn","doi":"10.1111/aec.70030","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70030","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cumulative impacts occur through piecemeal habitat loss and are challenging to account for in planning decisions that are made on a case-by-case basis. Quantifying cumulative impacts is particularly difficult for nomadic species with large ranges, specific habitat requirements, and irregular movement patterns. We used a Geographic Information System approach to quantify past and predict future loss of important wintering habitat for the critically endangered swift parrot <i>Lathamus discolor</i> within the Hunter-Central Coast of New South Wales—an area of high importance to the species. Based on current NSW Government biodiversity assessment method (BAM) important habitat mapping, 717 ha of BAM important swift parrot habitat has been lost over the past two decades, representing 1.4% of the extent of important habitat in the Hunter-Central Coast. Over the next two decades, between 1.9% and 17.9% of current BAM important swift parrot habitat could be lost based on current planning data. Replacing the BAM mapping with a Maxent species distribution model, 10 081 ha of potentially important swift parrot habitat has been lost in the HCC over the past two decades, representing 1.71% of the current extent. Over the coming two decades, between 3289 and 19 643 ha of Maxent important swift parrot habitat could be lost, representing 2.4%–14.1% of the current area. The estimated loss is in addition to the severe loss that has already occurred in the Hunter-Central Coast and elsewhere within the swift parrot's winter range since European colonisation. Our study highlights the risks to threatened species of small-scale but sequential habitat loss, and how estimates of the extent of habitat loss vary depending how important habitat is defined. We discuss the implications of our findings for better considering cumulative impacts in planning processes and how to minimise the cumulative loss of important habitat for endangered species.</p>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/aec.70030","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143362599","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":"Lithium Ore Tailings May Increase the Invasion Potential of Melinis minutiflora in Native Areas Around to Mining Sites","authors":"Nayara Magry Jesus Melo,&nbsp;João Paulo Souza","doi":"10.1111/aec.70034","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70034","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The growing demand for lithium has led to an increased focus on understanding the impact of mining waste on ecosystems in the surrounding area. This study aimed to investigate the effect of con the growth and establishment of an invasive C₄ herbaceous species (<i>Melinis minutiflora</i>) and a native C₃ herbaceous species (<i>Stylosanthes capitata</i>) from native areas of Brazil. We grow plants in three substrates: soil without LOT, a mixture of 50% soil and 50% LOT (soil + LOT) and only LOT. <i>Melinis minutiflora</i> plants grown in the soil + LOT treatment showed higher growth and vegetative biomass production than <i>S</i>. <i>capitata</i> plants in the same treatment. Also, <i>M</i>. <i>minutiflora</i> plants grown in soil + LOT and LOT had a higher chlorophyll <i>b</i> index than <i>S. capitata</i> plants. The findings suggest that invasive <i>M</i>. <i>minutiflora</i> plants may benefit from soils contaminated with LOT. In areas surrounding LOT, <i>M</i>. <i>minutiflora</i> could establish, grow and spread faster, potentially affecting ecosystem processes. Understanding the impact of environmental disturbances on native areas and their consequences for the growth of invasive and native species is crucial for ecosystem management and preservation.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":8663,"journal":{"name":"Austral Ecology","volume":"50 2","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":1.6,"publicationDate":"2025-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143362597","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}