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Ecology, management and conservation in natural and modified habitats
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Wildlife Research

Wildlife Research

Wildlife Research covers all major aspects of the ecology, management and conservation of wild animals in natural and modified habitats. Read more about the journalMore

Editors: Sarah Legge, Phil Stephens and Aaron Wirsing

Publishing Model: Hybrid. Open Access options available.

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Latest

These articles are the latest published in the journal. Wildlife Research is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 20 March 2025

WR24135Fire regimes drive population trends of a threatened lizard in the central and western deserts of Australia

Darren M. Southwell 0000-0002-8767-9014, Danae Moore, Steve McAlpin, Edward M. J. Blackwood 0000-0003-4505-0960, Andrew Schubert, , Adam S. Smart, Samuel D. Merson, Margarita Goumas, Nicholas A. Macgregor 0000-0002-7995-0230 and Rachel M. Paltridge
 

A photograph of great desert skink in its natural habitat in Australian desert.

Understanding the drivers and trends of plant and animal populations is an essential part of conservation management. This study assessed the effects of fire, rainfall and vegetation condition on the long-term trends of a threatened lizard in the central and western deserts of Australia. Our results showed contrasting trends in populations, with fire extent and frequency a major driver of population change. Photograph by Rachel Paltridge.

WR24135 Abstract  |  WR24135 Full Text  | WR24135PDF (656 KB)  | WR24135Supplementary Material (4.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 18 March 2025

WR24150Comparing shotshell characteristics to optimize aerial removal of wild pigs (Sus scrofa)

Michael J. Lavelle 0000-0002-2766-5673, Nathan P. Snow, Bryan Kluever, Bruce R. Leland, Seth M. Cook, Justin W. Fischer and Kurt C. VerCauteren
 

Shooting from a helicopter is a commonly used strategy to control wild pig populations in the USA.

Aerial operations to remove invasive species are increasingly common and can be highly effective towards reducing damage and disease threats to anthropogenic resources and native biota. This study compared a variety of shotshells used during aerial operations to optimize lethality and overall effectiveness of removal efforts. We recommend maximizing the number of pellets delivered downrange within limited distances at which sufficient energy is retained to maximize penetration and lethality. Photograph by Michael Lavelle.

WR24150 Abstract  |  WR24150 Full Text  | WR24150PDF (1.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 06 March 2025

WR24107Purpose-driven approaches to age estimation in Australian flying-foxes (Pteropus)

Cinthia Pietromonaco 0009-0008-5966-457X, Douglas Kerlin 0000-0001-5898-1559, Peggy Eby, Hamish McCallum, Jennefer Mclean, Linda Collins and Alison J. Peel 0000-0003-3538-3550
 

A photo of a flying-fox having its forearm length measured with a calliper.

Age estimation is crucial for understanding the ecology, biology and behaviour of wildlife. Our systematic review summarises current age estimation practices on Australian flying-foxes, revealing inconsistencies in terminology, methodology and definitions that hinder cross-disciplinary research. By recommending enhanced reporting standards and promoting consistency, our work aims to improve age data reliability, facilitating more comprehensive ecological and biological studies and serving as a model for broader species application. Photograph by Kathleen Flynn.

WR24107 Abstract  |  WR24107 Full Text  | WR24107PDF (1.6 MB)  | WR24107Supplementary Material (822 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 06 March 2025

WR24108Monitoring and habitat inferences change with population metric: a case study with mesocarnivores

Andrew R. Butler 0000-0001-9694-1670, Mairi K. P. Poisson, Patrick Tate, Daniel H. Bergeron and Remington J. Moll
 

Photograph of a bobcat entering a detection zone in forest.

Accurate and precise information on the abundance and distribution of mesocarnivores is essential for their management and conservation, but difficult to obtain. This study compared four monitoring metrics derived from camera traps and resultant habitat relationships for five mesocarnivores. Estimates of density and relative abundance were strongly correlated, whereas occupancy poorly aligned with density estimates, and the direction and strength of habitat relationships were metric dependent. Our results can help wildlife managers evaluate species-metric specific tradeoffs when designing monitoring programs. Photograph by University of New Hampshire/New Hampshire Fish and Game.

WR24108 Abstract  | PDF (1.5 MB) - $35.00   | WR24108Supplementary Material (611 KB)
Published online 06 March 2025

WR24066Establishing protocols to apply repellents while hazing crop pests: importance of habitat, flock size, and time on blackbird (Icteridae) responses to a drone capable of spraying

Mallory G. White, Jessica L. Duttenhefner and Page E. Klug 0000-0002-0836-3901
 

A photograph showing a blackbird flock above a sunflower field, where they can cause significant damage to the crop.

Drones are used to haze birds in conflict with agriculture, but understanding the impact of flocks, habitat, and environment improves protocols for integration of repellents applied by a spraying drone. We found that flocks in cattail allowed closer approach than those in sunflower. Although smaller flocks approached by drones later in the day allowed closer approach, abandonment increased with smaller flocks as the day progressed. Photograph by Jessica Duttenhefner.

WR24066 Abstract  |  WR24066 Full Text  | WR24066PDF (2.8 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 03 March 2025

WR24132Evidence for an ecological two-population model for white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias) in Australian waters

T. G. Burke 0000-0003-2129-5664, C. Huveneers, L. Meyer, J. P. W. Hollins, L. Loseto, J. M. Werry and N. E. Hussey
 

Two white shark vertebrae of different sizes being displayed on gloved hands.

Understanding the population structure and connectivity of highly migratory fishes across their range is crucial information to develop and implement conservation initiatives for vulnerable species. This study aimed to characterise the extent of ontogenetic divergence in resource–habitat behaviour of two proposed subpopulations of white sharks in Australia. Differences in isotopic profiles of vertebrae across ontogeny from juvenile to subadult life stages support an ecological two-population model in Australia, suggesting the need for region-specific management. Photograph by Teah Burke.

This article belongs to the collection: White Sharks Global proceedings and recent advances in white shark ecology and conservation.

WR24132 Abstract  | PDF (2.2 MB) - $35.00   | WR24132Supplementary Material (2.1 MB)
Published online 21 February 2025

WR24088Exploring the human dimensions of gharial conservation in the Mahanadi River, India

Laxmi Prasad Rath 0000-0001-7923-9820, Suraj Kumar Dash 0000-0003-1269-1518, Rajesh Kumar Mohapatra 0000-0002-4381-4421, Aliva Patnaik, Ashaharraza Khan and Sudarsan Maharana
 

Photograph of a gharial basking on a sandy dune near river bank occupied by people.

Critically endangered gharials found in the Mahanadi River are on the brink of extirpation which demands urgent conservation efforts for its survival. This study examines the dependencies of local people on the Mahanadi River and their perception of gharials. Despite living with gharials for years, people are still unaware of their ecological role and perceive them as a threat, similar to other crocodile; therefore, awareness on gharial ecology among the local riverside residents near critical gharial habitats may be useful for gharial conservation. Photograph by Ashaharraza Khan.

WR24088 Abstract  | PDF (1.4 MB) - $35.00   | WR24088Supplementary Material (340 KB)
Published online 13 February 2025

WR24103Wildfire in rainforest margins is associated with variation in mammal diversity and habitat use

Rhiannon R. Bird 0000-0002-9778-8265, Rebeka R. Zsoldos, Martha V. Jimenez Sandoval, Shania J. Watson 0000-0002-4294-4435 and Annabel L. Smith
 

Photograph of rainforest habitat in South East Queensland, Australia is used by a diversity of mammal species.

Global increases in wildfires are making rainforests vulnerable to fire, especially at the margins. We found that fire in rainforest margins was associated with lower mammal diversity than in unburnt rainforest, and caused variation in how rainforest-associated species used habitat. Fire in sclerophyll vegetation surrounding rainforests was associated with reduced probability of movement of a generalist mammal species at low elevations. Mammals in rainforest margins had modified habitat use and behaviour 15 months post-fire, indicating that rainforest margins need to be protected from increasing wildfires. Photograph by Rhiannon Bird.

WR24103 Abstract  |  WR24103 Full Text  | WR24103PDF (991 KB)  | WR24103Supplementary Material (428 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2025

WR24076The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

Rachel Paltridge 0009-0006-3691-2521, Yalti Napangati, Yukultji Ward, Johnny Nangagee, Mantua James, Raymond Olodoodi, Nanyuma Napangati, Stephen Eldridge, Andrew Schubert, Edward Blackwood 0000-0003-4505-0960 and Sarah Legge 0000-0001-6968-2781
 

A photo showing fire being used as an important tool by Traditional Owners to manage land.

Kiwirrkurra Traditional Owners use fire as an important tool to assist the harvest of bush meats and promote growth of favoured food plants. Forty years of firescar mapping across managed and unmanaged areas of Kiwirrkurra country show that where traditional burning has been maintained, populations of threatened species (bilby and great desert skink) have persisted, while disappearing from the surrounding landscape.

Pintupi summary: Yanangu Kiwirrkurra tjana kututja waru kutjani panya kukaku an yukiri mangarri puutjinuku yurrunpa tjintu nganti yarra-paluda yirrititja tjutangku. 40 yiya panya waru yilkarri katunguru nintini Ninu anta Tjalapaku yaaltji-wana Yanangu tjutangku yankula kuka an warukitjangkulpi nyanganyi ngurra Tjalapaku.

Photograph by Kiwirrkurra Indigenous Protected Area.

This article belongs to the collection: Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia.

WR24076 Abstract  |  WR24076 Full Text  | WR24076PDF (3.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 February 2025

WR24032Behavioural responses of Australian lizards towards visual cues of feral cats

Owen T. Lishmund 0009-0000-8115-1457, Dale G. Nimmo 0000-0002-9814-1009 and Tim S. Doherty
 

Photographs showing the lizard species and arena trial set-up used in the study.

Feral cats pose a significant threat to native fauna across the globe, with Australia being particularly affected. We examined the behavioural reactions of two Australian lizard species to the visual cues from a model cat and found that the lizards showed little response. We recommend further testing of reptile responses towards cat sensory cues to deepen understanding of how reptiles respond to the threat of cat predation. Photograph by Owen Lishmund.

WR24032 Abstract  |  WR24032 Full Text  | WR24032PDF (2.6 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 February 2025

WR23091A multi-modal approach to enhance Toxoplasma gondii detection in the Australian landscape

Amanda Jane Breidahl 0000-0002-5947-3393, Michael Lynch, Duncan R. Sutherland, Rebecca Traub and Jasmin Hufschmid
 

Photograph of the southern brown bandicoot sculpture at the Royal Botanic Gardens Cranbourne, Victoria, Australia.

Information about environmental contamination with Toxoplasma gondii can inform management decisions of risk of toxoplasmosis in resident endothermic vertebrates and in potential translocations and re-introductions of endangered species. This work estimated environmental contamination across two different landscapes. Both the landscapes measured had low T. gondii contamination. The results highlighted the potential of using sentinel species (rabbits and mice), target species (bandicoots) and soil analysis to enhance the detection and inform likely exposure of a target species to T. gondii in a defined landscape. Photograph by Amanda Jane Breidahl.

WR23091 Abstract  |  WR23091 Full Text  | WR23091PDF (1.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 10 February 2025

WR24012Life in the big smoke: terrestrial vertebrate assemblages and their drivers along an urbanisation gradient in Sydney, Australia

Martín Boer-Cueva 0009-0001-8731-9430, Rhys Cairncross 0000-0002-2774-0178, Mathew S. Crowther 0000-0001-8968-1161, Patrick B. Finnerty, Angela F. Raña, Peter B. Banks and Thomas M. Newsome
 

Images of terrestrial fauna in urbanised areas in northern Sydney.

Urbanisation is rapidly expanding, placing an increasing strain on biodiversity globally. This study assessed how vertebrate species assemblages of northern Sydney vary along an urbanisation gradient and the potential drivers of this variation. We found that as urbanisation increased, fewer native and more invasive species made up the assemblages, highlighting the pervasive impact of habitat modification on fauna in urban areas. Photograph by Martín Boer-Cueva.

WR24012 Abstract  |  WR24012 Full Text  | WR24012PDF (1.2 MB)  | WR24012Supplementary Material (1.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 24 January 2025

WR23133Spatio-temporal trends in the abundance of grey kangaroos in Victoria, Australia

Michael P. Scroggie 0000-0001-9441-6565, Paul D. Moloney and David S. L. Ramsey 0000-0002-4839-1245
 

A photograph of a standing male Eastern Grey kangaroo (foreground) with grazing kangaroos in the background.

Aerial distance sampling surveys for eastern and western grey kangaroos were conducted across Victoria between 2017 and 2022. Using a model-based approach we were able to infer spatial and temporal trends in abundance across the study area during this period. Grey kangaroo populations generally increased over the course of the study. The model-based approach mostly yielded more precise population estimates than previously used design-based approaches, as well as providing insight into ecological drivers of abundance. Photograph by Justin Cally.

WR23133 Abstract  | PDF (5.7 MB) - $35.00   | WR23133Supplementary Material (311 KB)
Published online 21 January 2025

WR24036Species-specific spatial and temporal variability in anuran call detection: implications for deploying autonomous recording units

Andrew Hall 0000-0001-8213-304X, Amelia Walcott, Ali Borrell, Dale G. Nimmo 0000-0002-9814-1009 and Skye Wassens
 

Map of 10 ARU sites showing clear spatial variation in detection probabilities, represented by radial circle size.

Acoustic monitoring with autonomous recording units (ARUs) offers efficient ecosystem assessment, but producing high quality data is challenging. We assessed detection probabilities of five frog species from ten ARUs positioned across a wetland, finding that the degree of spatiotemporal variability in detection varied by species. Our analysis informed ARU deployment requirements for producing reliable species community monitoring data and informed confidence levels when fewer ARUs are deployed. Image by Andrew Hall.

WR24036 Abstract  |  WR24036 Full Text  | WR24036PDF (5.5 MB)  | WR24036Supplementary Material (659 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 January 2025

WR24102Estimating feral cat (Felis catus) population density in eastern Australia’s subtropical rainforest using spatial capture-recapture incorporating unidentified individuals

Darren McHugh 0000-0003-1897-0147, Matthijs Hollanders 0000-0003-0796-1018, Sarah Legge 0000-0001-6968-2781 and Ben C. Augustine
 

Feral cat (Felis catus) in Border Ranges National Park, New South Wales, Australia

Management of broadly distributed invasive species requires knowledge of population densities across multiple ecosystems. The feral cat has a continental distribution in Australia; however, density estimates from several ecosystems are few or lacking. This study aimed to estimate the feral cat population density within a subtropical rainforest ecosystem. We demonstrated that the feral cat density was unexpectedly high. Our study adds to a growing body of literature that suggests feral cat densities are high in productive mesic reserves of eastern Australia. Image by Darren McHugh.

WR24102 Abstract  |  WR24102 Full Text  | WR24102PDF (2.1 MB)   Open Access Article

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Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area

White Sharks Global proceedings and recent advances in white shark ecology and conservation

White Sharks Global was the first international white shark conference since the white shark research community met in Honolulu (Hawaii) in February 2010. With the increasing amount of studies focused on white sharks but continued and evolving issues around this species, the recent conference held in Port Lincoln (Australia) in November 2023 was a timely opportunity for scientists, managers, industry, and students to meet, exchange knowledge, report on recent scientific studies, and facilitate in-depth discussions of key challenges related to white sharks (e.g. managing human-shark interactions, supporting the recovery of this threatened species).

This collection of Wildlife Research papers features selected studies presented during White Sharks Global and outputs from workshops held during the conference. Other recent studies on white sharks that can help in the management of this threatened but potentially dangerous species are also included.

Guest Editors
Charlie Huveneers (Flinders University)
Lauren Meyer (Flinders University)
Samantha Andrzejaczek (Stanford University)
Chris Lowe (California State University Long Beach)

Last Updated: 03 Mar 2025

Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia

The rights, responsibilities and expertise of Indigenous Australians in Caring for Country are increasingly acknowledged in policy and management. The growing leadership of Indigenous Australians across applied ecological research is fuelling growth in cross-cultural science. This Collection aims to recognise and celebrate the leadership and collaboration of Indigenous Australians in wildlife research, and showcase how this is generating fresh insights for conservation and wildlife management.

Collection Editors
Jack Pascoe (University of Melbourne, Yuin, living on Gadabanut Country)
Stephen van Leeuwen (Curtin University, Wardandi Noongar, living on Wadjuk Noongar Boodja)
Marlee Hutton (Kimberley Land Council, Bardi Jawi, living on Yawuru Land)
Emilie Ens (Macquarie University, living on Dharug Land)
Hannah Cliff (Indigenous Desert Alliance, living on Wadjuk Noongar Boodja)
Sarah Legge (Charles Darwin University, living on Bundjalung Land)

Warning: these articles contain terms, descriptions and opinions that may be culturally sensitive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Names or images of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, including details and pictures of people who may be deceased, are included in some articles.

Last Updated: 13 Feb 2025

Fertility Control for Wildlife in the 21st Century

This collection of Wildlife Research papers features selected presentations from the 9th International Conference on Wildlife Fertility Control, held in Colorado Springs (USA) in 2022. These studies showcase the wide spectrum of topics that covered novel contraceptives tested on several species, ranging from mice to elephants. They also illustrate new methods to deliver contraceptives, models on the impact of fertility control on populations, feasibility, cost of practical applications of fertility control, discussions on animal welfare and human dimension of these approaches.

Collection Editors
Cheryl S. Asa (Association of Zoos and Aquariums, AZA, Reproductive Management Center at the Saint Louis Zoo)
Stephanie L. Boyles Griffin (Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control, BIWFC)
Douglas Eckery (USDA APHIS WS National Wildlife Research Center)
Lyn A. Hinds (CSIRO)
Giovanna Massei (Botstiber Institute for Wildlife Fertility Control)

Last Updated: 16 Jan 2024

Cats in Australia: Ecology, Impact, Management

Invasive introduced species are a major cause of biodiversity decline globally. Many of the world’s most significant recent conservation successes arise from the resolute control of invasive species, with such management working most effectively when it is based on robust evidence about the ecology of the pest species. In this collection of papers, we highlight these inter-related issues – of impact, management and ecology – for the case of the introduced domestic cat Felis catus in Australia.

Collection Editors
John Woinarski, Sarah Legge and Chris Dickman

Last Updated: 01 Nov 2018

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