Demographic trends and reproductive patterns in the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) at Epping Forest National Park (Scientific), central Queensland
Alan B. Horsup A H , Jeremy J. Austin B , Rachel M. Fewster C , Birgita D. Hansen D , Dave E. Harper E , Jenny A. Molyneux E , Lauren C. White B F and Andrea C. Taylor G
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Environment and Science, PO Box 3130, Red Hill, Qld 4701, Australia.
B Australian Centre for Ancient DNA, School of Biological Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.
C Department of Statistics, University of Auckland, Private Bag 92019, Auckland, New Zealand.
D Centre for eResearch and Digital Innovation, Federation University, PO Box 691, Ballarat, Vic. 3353, Australia.
E Department of Environment and Science, GPO Box 2454, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
F Present address: Department of Primatology, Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology, Deutscher Platz 6, Leipzig 04103, Germany.
G School of Biological Sciences, Monash University, Clayton, Vic. 3800, Australia.
H Corresponding author. Email: alan.horsup@des.qld.gov.au
Australian Mammalogy 43(1) 72-84 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM20030
Submitted: 3 April 2020 Accepted: 8 July 2020 Published: 19 August 2020
Abstract
The critically endangered northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii) currently exists at only two locations in Queensland. Management, research and monitoring of the species at the main Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) population has occurred over the last four decades using a variety of tools, with the most complete dataset being provided by burrow activity monitoring over that period. Following a series of trap-based surveys in the 1980s and 1990s, wombat monitoring has employed DNA profiling of hairs collected remotely on sticky tape set at burrow entrances (since 2000), and passive infrared (PIR) cameras (since 2011). These techniques have produced a wealth of new information on the species. Using this new information, we aim to: (1) summarise the available demographic data and present new estimates using novel techniques for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP; and (2) characterise reproductive patterns and their relationship with environmental factors for L. krefftii at Epping Forest NP. We find an ongoing increase in the population size at Epping Forest National Park, supported by healthy levels of reproduction despite periods of poor environmental conditions, notwithstanding the finding that cumulative monthly rainfall six months prior to sampling influenced birth rates. This trend suggests that the population will likely reach carrying capacity in the near future. It is timely to harvest the population to provide founders to a new site to establish an additional population, which will also reduce the risk of extinction and help secure the future of the species.
Additional keywords: conservation, demography, endangered species, non-invasive genetic sampling, northern hairy-nosed wombat, remote camera, reproduction, sex ratio.
References
Australian Broadcasting Commission [ABC] (2020). Interactive: 100 years of drought in Australia. Available at http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-02-26/100-years-of-drought/5282030 [accessed 16 March 2020].Back, P. (2013). A report on the long-term monitoring of the ground flora at Epping Forest National Park with emphasis on the spread of buffel grass. Internal report to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection.
Banks, S., Skerratt, L., and Taylor, A. C. (2002). Female dispersal and relatedness structure in common wombats Vombatus ursinus. Journal of Zoology 256, 389–399.
| Female dispersal and relatedness structure in common wombats Vombatus ursinus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Banks, S. C., Hoyle, S. D., Horsup, A., Sunnucks, P., and Taylor, A .C. (2003a). Demographic monitoring of an entire species (the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii) by genetic analysis of non-invasively collected material. Animal Conservation 6, 101–107.
| Demographic monitoring of an entire species (the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii) by genetic analysis of non-invasively collected material.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Banks, S.C., Horsup, A., Wilton, A. N., and Taylor, A. C. (2003b). Genetic marker investigation of the source and impact of predation on a highly endangered species. Molecular Ecology 12, 1663–67.
| Genetic marker investigation of the source and impact of predation on a highly endangered species.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 12755893PubMed |
Barton, K. (2014). MuMIn: Multi-model inference, Version 1.12.1. Available at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=MuMIn
Bureau of Meteorology [BOM] (2019 ). Monthly mean minimum temperature. Available at http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=38&p_display_type=dataFile&p_stn_num=035124 [accessed 12 December 2019]
Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) (2020). Monthly rainfall. Available at http://www.bom.gov.au/jsp/ncc/cdio/wData/wdata?p_nccObsCode=139&p_display_type=dataFile&p_stn_num=024535 [accessed 26 February 2020]
Burnham, K. P., and Anderson, D. R. (2002). ‘Model Selection and Multi-model Inference: A Practical Information-theoretic Approach.’ (Springer: New York.)
Cooke, B. D. (1998). Did introduced European rabbits Oryctolagus cuniculus (L.) displace common wombats Vombatus ursinus (Shaw) from part of their range in South Australia? In ‘Wombats’. (Eds R.T. Wells, and P.A. Pridmore.) pp. 262–270. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Crossman, D. G., Johnson, C. N., and Horsup, A. (1994). Trends in the population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii in Epping Forest National Park, Central Queensland. Pacific Conservation Biology 1, 141–149.
| Trends in the population of the northern hairy-nosed wombat Lasiorhinus krefftii in Epping Forest National Park, Central Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DERM (2011). Epping Forest National Park (Scientific) management plan. Department of Environment and Resource Management. Available at https://parks.des.qld.gov.au/managing/plans-strategies/pdf/mp050-epping-forest-np-mgtplan-approved.pdf
Gaughwin, M. D., Breed, W. G. and Wells, R. T. (1998). Seasonal reproduction in a population of southern hairy-nosed wombats, Lasiorhinus latifrons, in the Blanchetown region of South Australia. In ‘Wombats’. (Eds R. T. Wells, and P. A. Pridmore.) pp. 109–112. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Gordon, G., Riney, T., Toop, J., Lawrie, B., and Godwin, M. D. (1985). Observations on the Queensland hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii (Owen). Biological Conservation 33, 165–195.
| Observations on the Queensland hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii (Owen).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Hartl, D. L. (1980). ‘A Primer of Population Genetics.’ 2nd edn. (Sinauer: Sunderland, MA.)
Horsup, A. (1998). A trapping survey of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. In ‘Wombats’. (Eds R.T. Wells, and P.A. Pridmore.) pp. 147–155. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Horsup, A. (2003). A study of the diet of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Internal report to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection, Brisbane.
Hoyle, S. D., Horsup, A. B., Johnson, C. N., Crossman, D. G., and McCallum, H. (1995). Live trapping of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii): population-size estimates and effects on individuals. Wildlife Research 22, 741–755.
| Live trapping of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii): population-size estimates and effects on individuals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson, C. N. (1991). Utilisation of habitat by the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Journal of Zoology London 225, 495–507.
| Utilisation of habitat by the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Johnson, C. N., and Crossman, D. C. (1991). Dispersal and social organisation of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Journal of Zoology London 225, 605–613.
| Dispersal and social organisation of the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Marshall, V. M., Taggart, D. A., and Ostendorf, B. (2018). Scale-dependent habitat analysis and implications for climate change risk for the southern hairy-nosed wombat. Australian Mammalogy 40, 162–172.
| Scale-dependent habitat analysis and implications for climate change risk for the southern hairy-nosed wombat.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Noy-Meir, I (1973). Desert ecosystems: environment and producers. Annual Review of Ecology and Systematics 4, 25–51.
| Desert ecosystems: environment and producers.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Otis, D. L., Burnham, K. P., White, G. C., and Anderson, D. R. (1978). Statistical inference from capture data on closed animal populations. Wildlife Monographs 62, 3–135.
Pledger, S. (2000). Unified maximum likelihood estimates for closed capture–recapture models using mixtures. Biometrics 56, 434–442.
| Unified maximum likelihood estimates for closed capture–recapture models using mixtures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10877301PubMed |
R Core Team (2015). R: a language and environment for statistical computing, version 3.1.2. Available at http://www.R-project.org/
Ruykys, L., Breed, W. G., Schultz, D. J., and Taggart, D. A. (2013). Effects and treatment of sarcoptic mange in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Journal of Wildlife Disease 49, 312–320.
| Effects and treatment of sarcoptic mange in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Sloane, M. A., Sunnucks, P., Alpers, D., Beheregaray, L. B., and Taylor, A. C. (2000). Highly reliable genetic identification of individual northern hairy-nosed wombats from single remotely collected hairs: a feasible censusing method. Molecular Ecology 9, 1233–1240.
| Highly reliable genetic identification of individual northern hairy-nosed wombats from single remotely collected hairs: a feasible censusing method.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 10972763PubMed |
Steinbeck, C. (1994). A spatial analysis and assessment of the habitat of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). Grad.Dip.Sci.(Geographical and Land Information Systems). James Cook University of North Queensland, Townsville.
Swinbourne, M. J., Taggart, D. A., Peacock, D., and Ostendorf, B. (2016). Historical changes in the distribution of hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus spp.): a review. Australian Mammalogy 39, 1–16.
| Historical changes in the distribution of hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus spp.): a review.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Swinbourne, M. J., Taggart, D. A., and Ostendorf, B. (2018). A comparison between video and still imagery as a methodology to determine southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) burrow occupancy rates. Animals 8, 186.
| A comparison between video and still imagery as a methodology to determine southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) burrow occupancy rates.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taggart, D. A., Shimmin, G., Ratcliff, J. R., Steele, V. R., Dibben, R., Dibben, J., White, C. R., and Temple-Smith, P. D. (2005). Seasonal changes in the testis, accessory glands and ejaculate characteristics of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Marsupialia: Vombatidae). Journal of Zoology London 266, 95–104.
| Seasonal changes in the testis, accessory glands and ejaculate characteristics of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Marsupialia: Vombatidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taggart, D. A., Finlayson, G. R., Shimmin, G., Gover, C., Dibben, R., White, C. R, Steele, V., and Temple-Smith, P. D. (2007). Growth and development of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Vombatidae). 55, 309–316.
| Growth and development of the southern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus latifrons (Vombatidae).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taggart, D. A., Finlayson, G. R., Sparrow, E. E., Dibben, R. M., Dibben, J. A., Campbell, E. C., Peacock, D. E., Ostendorf, B., White, C. R, and Temple-Smith, P. D. (2020). Environmental factors influencing hairy-nosed wombat abundance in semi-arid rangelands. Journal of Wildlife Management 84, 921–929.
| Environmental factors influencing hairy-nosed wombat abundance in semi-arid rangelands.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Tartowski, S., and Stelmann, J. (1998). Effects of discontinuing culling on the estimated number of southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). In ‘Wombats’. (Eds R. T. Wells, and P. A. Pridmore.) pp. 206–217. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Taylor, A. (2012). 2010 Northern hairy-nosed wombat hair census final report. Internal report to the Queensland Department of Environment and Heritage Protection. Monash University, Melbourne.
Taylor, A. C., Sherwin, W. B., and Wayne, R. K. (1994). Genetic variation of microsatellite loci in a bottlenecked species: the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Molecular Ecology 3, 277–290.
| Genetic variation of microsatellite loci in a bottlenecked species: the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 7921355PubMed |
Taylor, A. C., Horsup, A., Johnson, C. N., Sunnucks, P., and Sherwin, W. B. (1997). Relatedness structure detected by microsatellite analysis and attempted pedigree reconstruction in an endangered marsupial, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii. Molecular Ecology 6, 9–19.
| Relatedness structure detected by microsatellite analysis and attempted pedigree reconstruction in an endangered marsupial, the northern hairy-nosed wombat, Lasiorhinus krefftii.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 9004516PubMed |
Taylor, A. C., Alpers, D. and Sherwin, W. B. (1998). Remote censusing of northern hairy-nosed wombats via genetic typing of hairs collected in the field. In ‘Wombats’. (Eds R. T. Wells, and P. A. Pridmore.) pp. 156–164. (Surrey Beatty: Sydney.)
Taylor, A. C. and Fewster, R. (2017). 2016 Northern hairy-nosed wombat hair census final report. Internal report to the Queensland Department of Environment and Science.
TSSC (2018). Conservation advice. Lasiorhinus krefftii. Northern hairy-nosed wombat. Threatened Species Scientific Committee, Department of the Environment and Energy, Canberra. Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/198-conservation-advice-15022018.pdf
Ward, J., Smith, S., and McClaran, M. (2006). Water requirements for emergence of buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare). Weed Science 54, 720–725.
| Water requirements for emergence of buffel grass (Pennisetum ciliare).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Walker, F. M., Taylor, A. C., and Sunnucks, P. (2008). Female dispersal and male kinship-based association in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons). Molecular Ecology 17, 1361–1374.
| Female dispersal and male kinship-based association in southern hairy-nosed wombats (Lasiorhinus latifrons).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18302694PubMed |
Wells, R. (1973). Physiological and behavioural adaptations of the southern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus latifrons) to its arid environment. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Adelaide.
Wickham, H. (2009). ‘ggplot2: Elegant Graphics for Data Analysis.’ (Springer-Verlag: New York.)
White, L. C., Horsup, A., Taylor, A. C., and Austin, J. J. (2014). Improving genetic monitoring of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii). Australian Journal of Zoology 62, 246–250.
| Improving genetic monitoring of the northern hairy-nosed wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii).Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Wood, S., and Scheipl, F. (2014). gamm4: Generalised additive mixed models using mgcv and lme4, version 0.2-3. Available at http://CRAN.R-project.org/package=gamm4
Zuur, A., Ieno, E. N., Walker, N., Saveliev, A. A., and Smith, G. M. (2009). ‘Mixed Effects Models and Extensions in Ecology with R.’ (Springer: New York.)
Zuur, A. F., Saveliev, A. A., and Ieno, E. N. (2014). ‘A Beginner’s Guide to Generalised Additive Mixed Models with R.’ (Highland Statistics Ltd: Newburgh, UK.)
