An efficient, reliable and robust system for alerting trappers to activated foot-hold traps has long been desired. Building on the existing Celium system, we developed a cable-less below-ground trap satellite-telecommunication based alert system for use with foot-hold traps. This tool has the potential to improve welfare outcomes for trapped animals and to increase the efficacy of trapping programs. Photograph by Heath Milne.

We compared three methods of population estimation for the koala in rural New South Wales, namely, distance sampling, mark–recapture and home-range analysis. All methods produced similar estimations of population size, although the distance sampling had a lower precision than did the other methods. However, distance sampling required less effort and expertise, and was less invasive than were the other methods. Hence, we can recommend distance sampling for estimating koala population size, particularly in fragmented landscapes. Photograph by Mathew Crowther.

Shore-based surveys are a common method for monitoring marine mammal populations, but their limited view from a stationary site makes local density estimation difficult. We developed the means of analytically determining animal detection probabilities on the basis of archival shore-based observations. This increases the scientific value of shore-based surveys while maintaining their affordability and accessibility. Photograph by Eric Keen.

Biologists accumulate large quantities of images from remote cameras. We estimated bighorn sheep abundance by using counts from the days cameras were deployed at water sources. We obtained precise abundance estimates with 12 days of sampling and could have avoided analysing >80% of images, saving time and money. Our findings can help researchers reduce cost of setting and analysing photographs for ungulate population monitoring. Photograph by Jace Taylor.

Anthropogenic disturbance in coastal habitats can have important consequences for coastal bird populations. We measured coastal bird responses to an approaching human threat to determine the minimum separation distance required to limit disturbance to a coastal bird community. Based on an analysis of flight initiation distance data from 15 common coastal bird species, we recommend that a separation distance of at least 170 m be enforced. Photograph by Dominic Henry.

Marine turtle eggs are vulnerable to flooding throughout incubation. We evaluated the interactive effects of flooding duration and incubation stage on the hatching success of loggerhead turtle eggs and found that eggs in the middle portion of incubation can tolerate some flooding, whereas eggs within 1 week of laying or hatching are less tolerant to flooding. Our results inform management practices of marine turtles in the face of climate change. Photograph by Colin J. Limpus.

The Asian house gecko continues to spread into new areas, globally, including natural habitats. We assessed calling behaviour as a means for detection. The conspicuous ‘chik, chik, chik…’ call is only uttered by males, primarily as adults, and more when paired with a female than another male. There are clear peaks in calling just before sunrise and at sunset. These results can be used to guide optimal call surveys. Photograph by Jaimie Hopkins.

Ungulates must optimally balance vigilance and feeding. This study assessed red deer vigilance patterns in response to human hunters and wolves in the Białowieża Forest, Poland, via camera trapping. Red deer showed increased vigilance during the hunting season and were more vigilant at night within reserves, when wolf activity is highest, and more vigilant during the day outside of reserves, when human risk is highest. Understanding the interplay between risk effects from humans and predators is vital for forest management. Photograph by Adam Wajrak.

Pitfall traps are commonly used to index invertebrate prey resources for insectivorous vertebrates, but can be a lethal trap for ground-dwelling vertebrates. We test three shorebird exclusion devices on pitfall traps on beaches and find them broadly comparable in terms of the invertebrates sampled. Thus, ethical and ‘safe’ pitfall trapping is readily achievable on beaches. Photograph by M. A. Weston.

Understanding the relationships between land use and amphibian habitat selection would help make conservation-management and habitat-restoration decisions. The present study aimed to assess the associations between different land-use types and individual anuran species in a traditional agricultural area of Taiwan. We also tested the hypothesis that connectivity and land-use heterogeneity are important in determining species richness. Our data suggested that land-use heterogeneity should be a primary consideration for increasing amphibian species richness. Photograph by Chau-Ren Jung.