Australian fur seals have recently started breeding much further south than they have throughout contemporary history. This study aimed to compare pup body condition at this new site with long-term data for pups from an established colony in Bass Strait, and found that pups from the new colony are in significantly higher body condition. The results have implications for future population trends and our understanding of marine productivity hotspots in Tasmania. Photograph by Sam Thalmann.

Monitoring data coverage of wildlife is often inefficient due to high costs of manned aerial surveys, as compared with the use of drones. This study aimed to assess the increase in efficiency and accuracy of aerial surveys conducted by drones applying a new flight path layout, and showed that a zigzagging survey transect approach can minimise flight distance by more than 20%. Our findings spark ideas for new drone survey designs covering large areas and complex topographies while reducing operational effort. Photograph by Pascal Fust.

Retaliatory killing of wild dogs in response to game depredation is a major threat to the survival of free-roaming populations. This study aimed to assess the deterrence effect of lion scat on wild dogs, and showed that wild dog movements can be modified. Here, we demonstrate a valuable tool for wildlife managers to effectively minimise conflict between farmers and wild dogs. Photograph by Ronja D. Haring.

Knowledge on the importance of scavenging in ecosystems is increasing, but we still lack an understanding of the abiotic factors that influence carcass use by scavengers in many ecosystems globally. We assessed the effects of all four seasons on vertebrate scavenging dynamics in an Australian alpine ecosystem. We found that carcass-detection time and scavenging rates were highly seasonal, driven largely by the relative use of carcasses by mesoscavengers, that is, brushtail possums and ravens. Our results emphasise the key role of mesoscavengers in scavenging guilds and highlight the importance of the seasons in determining scavenging dynamics. Photograph by James Vandersteen.

Invasive predators are a significant threat to native Australian mammals with the long-term, successful control of feral cat populations challenging at large scales. By comparing frequency of habitat use, we showed that in tropical savannas the invasive cat prefers simple, frequently burnt vegetation, whereas the endangered native northern quoll prefers long-unburnt, structurally complex vegetation. We suggest that maintaining structurally complex vegetation through reducing fire may be a viable option to promote coexistence of invasive and native mammals in tropical savannas. Photograph by Gavin Trewella.

Invasive Bennett’s wallaby is a significant pest to production assets and native vegetation in South Island, New Zealand. We assessed the spatial ecology of this species and here report seasonal home range sizes, habitat selection, and movement rates. This information can be used for modelling effective management strategies and guiding operational planning by identifying habitats where wallabies are most likely to be found. Photograph by David Latham.

Floodplain snakes have declined on a global scale due to water extraction and climate change. This study aimed to investigate the ecological requirements of an endangered snake from a modified floodplain in south-eastern Australia, and showed the species probability of detection was related to minimum ambient temperature and, weakly, to wetland innudation frequency. We recommend surveying Ngabi when the ambient temperature is above 15°C, and using environmental water to create wetland refuges and increase wetland connectivity to maintain threatened floodplain snake populations during drought conditions. Photograph by Damian Michael.

Koala joey mortality is highly prevalent during rehabilitation; however, the causes are unknown. This study aimed to analyse trends in causes and outcomes of koala joeys admitted for rehabilitation. The results indicated that renal disease is the primary cause of mortality in rescued koala joeys in South Australia. These results provide the first record of causes of mortality in rehabilitating koala joeys. Image source: Harsh Pahuja.