Using complementary remote detection methods for retrofitted eco-passages: a case study for monitoring individual koalas in south-east Queensland
C. E. Dexter A C , R. G. Appleby A B , J. P. Edgar B , J. Scott A and D. N. Jones A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Environmental Futures Research Institute, Sir Samuel Griffith Centre (N78), Griffith University, 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, Qld 4111, Australia.
B Wild Spy Pty Ltd, 11/25 Depot St, Banyo, Qld 4014, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: c.dexter@griffith.edu.au
Wildlife Research 43(5) 369-379 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR15153
Submitted: 30 July 2015 Accepted: 23 June 2016 Published: 26 July 2016
Abstract
Context: Vehicle-strike has been identified as a key threatening process for koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) survival and persistence in Australia. Roads and traffic act as barriers to koala movement and can impact dispersal and metapopulation dynamics. Given the high cost of wildlife mitigation structures such as purpose-built fauna-specific underpasses or overpasses (eco-passages), road construction and management agencies are constantly seeking cost-effective strategies that facilitate safe passage for fauna across roads. Here we report on an array of detection methods trialled to verify use of retrofitted road infrastructure (existing water culverts or bridge underpasses) by individual koalas in fragmented urban landscapes in south-east Queensland.
Aims: The study examined whether the retrofitting of existing road structures at six sites facilitated safe passage for koalas across roads. Our primary objective was to record utilisation of retrofitted infrastructure at the level of the individual.
Methods: We used a combination of existing monitoring methods such as GPS/VHF collars, camera traps, sand plots, and RFID tags, along with a newly developed animal-borne wireless identification (WID) tag and datalogging system, specifically designed for this project, to realise the study aims.
Key results: We were able to verify 130 crossings by koalas involving a retrofitted structure or a road surface over a 30-month period by using correlated data from complementary methods. We noted that crossings were generally uncommon and mostly undertaken by only a subset of our tagged individuals at each site (21% overall).
Conclusions: An important element of this study was that crossing events could be accurately determined at the level of the individual. This allowed for detailed assessment of eco-passage usage, rather than the more usual approach of simply recording species’ presence.
Implications: This study underscores the value of identifying the constraints of each individual monitoring method in relation to site conditions. It also highlights the benefits of contingency planning to limit data loss (i.e. using more than one method to collect data). We suggest an approach that uses complementary monitoring methods has significant advantages for researchers, particularly with reference to improving understanding of whether eco-passages are meeting their prescribed conservation goals.
Additional keywords: complementary monitoring, landscape ecology, mitigation, multiple methods, roads, wildlife.
References
AMBS (2012). Investigation of the impact of roads on koalas. Report prepared for the NSW Roads and Maritime Services. Australian Museum Business Services, Sydney.Bellis, M. A., Griffin, C. R., Warren, P., and Jackson, S. D. (2013). Utilizing a multi-technique, multi-taxa approach to monitoring wildlife passageways in Southern Vermont. Oecologia Australis 17, 111–128.
| Utilizing a multi-technique, multi-taxa approach to monitoring wildlife passageways in Southern Vermont.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Biglin, K., and Dupigny-Giroux, L.-A. (2006). Mapping the road-effect zone to assess impacts of proposed road segments. Journal of Conservation Planning 2, 1–16.
Chanin, P. (2006). Otter road casualties. Hystrix Italian Journal of Mammology 17, 79–90.
Clevenger, A. P., and Sawaya, M. A. (2010). Piloting a non-invasive genetic sampling method for evaluating population-level benefits of wildlife crossing structures. Ecology and Society 15, 7.
Clevenger, A. P., and Waltho, N. (2000). Factors influencing the effectiveness of wildlife underpasses in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada. Conservation Biology 14, 47–56.
| Factors influencing the effectiveness of wildlife underpasses in Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Clevenger, A. P., and Waltho, N. (2005). Performance indices to identify attributes of highway crossing structures facilitating movement of large mammals. Biological Conservation 121, 453–464.
| Performance indices to identify attributes of highway crossing structures facilitating movement of large mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Corlatti, L., Hackländer, K., and Frey-Roos, F. (2009). Ability of wildlife overpasses to provide connectivity and prevent genetic isolation. Conservation Biology 23, 548–556.
| Ability of wildlife overpasses to provide connectivity and prevent genetic isolation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19210301PubMed |
De Bondi, N., White, J. G., Stevens, M., and Cooke, R. (2010). A comparison of the effectiveness of camera trapping and live trapping for sampling terrestrial small-mammal communities. Wildlife Research 37, 456–465.
| A comparison of the effectiveness of camera trapping and live trapping for sampling terrestrial small-mammal communities.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DERM (2009). Decline of the Koala Coast koala population: population status in 2008 report. Department of Environment and Resource Management, Brisbane.
Dique, D. S., Thompson, J., Preece, H. J., Penfold, G. C., deVillers, D. L., and Leslie, R. S. (2003). Koala mortality on roads in south-east Queensland: the koala speed-zone trial. Wildlife Research 30, 419–426.
| Koala mortality on roads in south-east Queensland: the koala speed-zone trial.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
DOE (2016). Koala populations in Queensland, New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory and national environment law factsheet. Australian Government Department of the Environment, Canberra. Available at http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/factsheet-koala-populations-queensland-nsw-act-national [Viewed 20 January 2016]
DSDIP (2014). South East Queensland Regional Plan Review: a snapshot of the south east Queensland region. Department of State Development, Infrastructure and Planning, Brisbane. Available at http://dilgp.qld.gov.au/resources/factsheet/regional/seq-regional-plan-fs4.pdf
Fahrig, L., and Rytwinski, T. (2009). Effects of roads on animal abundance: an empirical review and synthesis. Ecology and Society 14, 21.
Fairfax, R. J., MacKenzie, D. R., and Neldner, V. J. (2014). The use of infrared sensors and digital cameras for documenting visitor use patterns: a case study from D’Aguilar National Park, south-east Queensland, Australia Current Issues in Tourism 17, 72–83.
| The use of infrared sensors and digital cameras for documenting visitor use patterns: a case study from D’Aguilar National Park, south-east Queensland, AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Ford, A. T., Clevenger, A. P., and Bennett, A. (2009). Comparison of methods of monitoring wildlife crossing-structures on highways. The Journal of Wildlife Management 73, 1213.
| Comparison of methods of monitoring wildlife crossing-structures on highways.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Foster, M. L., and Humphrey, S. R. (1995). Use of highway underpasses by Florida panthers and other wildlife. Wildlife Society Bulletin 23, 95–100.
Goldingay, R. L., and Dobner, B. (2014). Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales. Australian Mammalogy 36, 74–80.
| Home range areas of koalas in an urban area of north-east New South Wales.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Goosem, M. W. (2005). Wildlife surveillance assessment Compton road upgrade 2005: review of contemporary remote and direct surveillance options for monitoring. Report to the Brisbane City Council. Cooperative Research Centre for Tropical Rainforest Ecology and Management (Rainforest CRC: Cairns.) Available at http://www.rainforest-crc.jcu.edu.au/publications/compton_upgrade.pdf
Grilo, C., Ascensao, F., Santos-Reis, M., and Bissonette, J. A. (2011). Do well-connected landscapes promote road-related mortality? European Journal of Wildlife Research 57, 707–716.
| Do well-connected landscapes promote road-related mortality?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jackson, N. D., and Fahrig, L. (2011). Relative effects of road mortality and decreased connectivity on population genetic diversity. Biological Conservation 144, 3143–3148.
| Relative effects of road mortality and decreased connectivity on population genetic diversity.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Jones, D. N., Dexter, C., Bernede, L., Scott, J., Sullivan, K., Pickvance, J., and Cousins, S. (2012). Koala retrofit works program – evaluation and monitoring final report. Department of Transport and Main Roads Brisbane District Office Metropolitan Region. Report by Griffith University Environmental Futures Centre Applied Road Ecology Group. (Griffith University: Brisbane.)
Jones, D. N., Dexter, C., Bernede, L., and Scott, J. (2013). Koala retrofit works program – evaluation and monitoring for koala-specific overpass structure final report. Department of Transport and Main Roads Brisbane District Office Metropolitan Region. Report by Griffith University Environmental Futures Centre Applied Road Ecology Group. (Griffith University: Brisbane.)
Lesbarrères, D., and Fahrig, L. (2012). Measures to reduce population fragmentation by roads: what has worked and how do we know? Trends in Ecology & Evolution 27, 374.
| Measures to reduce population fragmentation by roads: what has worked and how do we know?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Markham, A. (2008). On a wildlife tracking and telemetry system: a wireless network approach. Ph.D. Thesis, University of Cape Town, South Africa. Available at http://www.cs.ox.ac.uk/files/2112/ThesisSubmitv2.pdf
Markham, A. C., and Wilkinson, A. J. (2008). EcoLocate: a heterogeneous wireless network system for wildlife tracking. In ‘Novel Algorithms and Techniques in Telecommunications, Automation and Industrial Electronics’. (Springer: Netherlands.)
Matthews, A., Ruykys, L., Ellis, B., FitzGibbon, S., Lunney, D., Crowther, M. S., Glen, A. S., Purcell, B., Moseby, K., Stott, J., Fletcher, D., Wimpenny, C., Allen, B. L., Van Bommel, L., Roberts, M., Davies, N., Green, K., Newsome, T., Ballard, G., Fleming, P., Dickman, C. R., Eberhart, A., Troy, S., McMahon, C., and Wiggins, N (2013). The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia. Australian Mammalogy 35, 65–83.
| The success of GPS collar deployments on mammals in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McAlpine, C. A., Rhodes, J. R., Callaghan, J. G., Bowen, M. E., Lunney, D., Mitchell, D. L., Pullar, D. V., and Possingham, H. P. (2006). The importance of forest area and configuration relative to local habitat factors for conserving forest mammals: a case study of koalas in Queensland, Australia. Biological Conservation 132, 153–165.
| The importance of forest area and configuration relative to local habitat factors for conserving forest mammals: a case study of koalas in Queensland, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McAlpine, C. A., Rhodes, J. R., Bowen, M. E., Lunney, D., Callaghan, J. G., Mitchell, D. L., and Possingham, H. P. (2008). Can multiscale models of species’ distribution be generalized from region to region? A case study of the koala. Journal of Applied Ecology 45, 558–567.
| Can multiscale models of species’ distribution be generalized from region to region? A case study of the koala.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
McRae, B. H., Dickson, B. G., Keitt, T. H., and Shah, V. B. (2008). Using circuit theory to model connectivity in ecology, evolution, and conservation. Ecology 89, 2712–2724.
| Using circuit theory to model connectivity in ecology, evolution, and conservation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 18959309PubMed |
Ng, S. J., Dole, J. W., Sauvajot, R. M., Riley, S. P. D., and Valone, T. J. (2004). Use of highway undercrossings by wildlife in southern California. Biological Conservation 115, 499–507.
| Use of highway undercrossings by wildlife in southern California.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Paull, D. J., Claridge, A. W., and Cunningham, R. B. (2012). Effective detection methods for medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals: a comparison between infrared digital cameras and hair tunnels. Wildlife Research 39, 546–553.
| Effective detection methods for medium-sized ground-dwelling mammals: a comparison between infrared digital cameras and hair tunnels.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Peterson, C. R., and Dorcas, M. E. (1992). The use of automated data acquisition techniques in monitoring amphibian and reptile populations. In ‘Wildlife 2001: Populations’. (Eds D. R. McCullough and R. H. Barrett.) pp. 369–378. (Elsevier Applied Science: London.)
Phillips, S. (2011). Development of a lightweight, portable trap for capturing free-ranging Koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus. Australian Zoologist 35, 747–749.
| Development of a lightweight, portable trap for capturing free-ranging Koalas, Phascolarctos cinereus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Polak, T., Rhodes, J. R., Jones, D., and Possingham, H. P. (2014). Optimal planning for mitigating the impacts of roads on wildlife. Journal of Applied Ecology 51, 726–734.
| Optimal planning for mitigating the impacts of roads on wildlife.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Preece, H. J. (2007). Monitoring and modelling threats to koala populations in rapidly urbanising landscapes: Koala Coast, South East Queensland, Australia. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
QGP (2013). South-east Queensland coast (map 7). Queensland Government Publications, Brisbane. Available at https://publications.qld.gov.au/dataset/guide-to-queensland-roads/resource/f86c19ae-9adf-4100-bb59-5113548c361e [10 February 2016]
Rhodes, J. R., Lunney, D., Callaghan, J., and McAlpine, C. A. (2014). A few large roads or many small ones? How to accommodate growth in vehicle numbers to minimise impacts on wildlife. PLoS One 9, e91093.
| A few large roads or many small ones? How to accommodate growth in vehicle numbers to minimise impacts on wildlife.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 24646891PubMed |
RTA (2009). Use of fauna passage structures on RTA roads. Summary report prepared by Environmental Planning and Assessment. Roads and Traffic Authority, Sydney.
Rutz, C., and Hays, G. C. (2009). New frontiers in biologging science. Biology Letters 5, 289–292.
| New frontiers in biologging science.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 19324624PubMed |
Taylor, B. D., and Goldingay, R. L. (2003). Cutting the carnage: a study of wildlife usage of road culverts in north-east NSW. Wildlife Research 30, 529–537.
| Cutting the carnage: a study of wildlife usage of road culverts in north-east NSW.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, B. D., and Goldingay, R. (2009). Can road crossing structures improve population viability of an urban gliding mammal? Ecology and Society 14, 13.
Taylor, B. D., and Goldingay, R. L. (2010). Roads and wildlife: impacts, mitigation and implications for wildlife management in Australia Wildlife Research 37, 320–331.
| Roads and wildlife: impacts, mitigation and implications for wildlife management in AustraliaCrossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, B. D., Goldingay, R. L., and Lindsay, J. M. (2014). Horizontal or vertical? Camera trap orientations and recording modes for detecting potoroos, bandicoots and pademelons. Australian Mammalogy 36, 60–66.
| Horizontal or vertical? Camera trap orientations and recording modes for detecting potoroos, bandicoots and pademelons.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Thomas, B., Holland, J.D., and Minot, E.O. (2011). Wildlife tracking technology options and cost considerations. Wildlife Research 38, 653–663.
Thompson, J. (2006). The comparative ecology and population dynamics of koalas in the Koala Coast region of south-east Queensland. Ph.D. Thesis, The University of Queensland, Brisbane.
Thorne, J. H., Huber, P. R., Girvetz, E. H., Quinn, J., and McCoy, M. C. (2009). Integration of regional mitigation assessment and conservation planning. Ecology and Society 14, 47.
TMR (2009). South East Queensland DTMR koala taskforce koala retrofit works program final draft, Version 3.0. Metropolitan Region, Brisbane District Office, Roads Business Group, Regional Operations. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Brisbane.
TMR (2010). Draft connecting SEQ 2031: An integrated regional transport plan for South East Queensland. Department of Transport and Main Roads, Brisbane.
Tomkiewicz, S. M., Fuller, M. R., Kie, J. G., and Bates, K. K. (2010). Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research. Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series B, Biological Sciences 365, 2163–2176.
| Global positioning system and associated technologies in animal behaviour and ecological research.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 20566494PubMed |
van der Ree, R., van der Grift, E. A., Mata, C., and Suarez, F. (2007). Overcoming the barrier effect of roads - how effective are mitigation strategies? An international review of the effectiveness of underpasses and overpasses designed to increase the permeability of roads for wildlife. In ‘Proceedings of the 2007 International Conference on Ecology and Transportation’. (Eds C. L. Irwin, D. Nelson and K. P. McDermott.) pp. 423–431. (Centre for Transportation and The Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina, Little Rock, Arkansas, USA).
van der Ree, R., Heinze, D., McCarthy, M., and Mansergh, I. (2009). Wildlife tunnel enhances population viability. Ecology and Society 14, 7.
van der Ree, R., Jaeger, J. A. G., van der Grift, E. A., and Clevenger, A. P. (2011). Effects of roads and traffic on wildlife populations and landscape function: road ecology is moving towards larger scales. Ecology and Society 16, 48.
Villalva, P., Reto, D., Santos-Reis, M., Revilla, E., and Grilo, C. (2013). Do dry ledges reduce the barrier effect of roads? Ecological Engineering 57, 143–148.
| Do dry ledges reduce the barrier effect of roads?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
