BDBSA Project Metadata Detail

Survey/Project Number: 1084          Total No. of Sites: 30
Survey/Project Name: Toxoplasma gondi investigation - Taggart PhD
Abstract: This project aims to investigate the potential factors that contribute to the comparatively high prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii on Kangaroo Island (KI), South Australia (SA), by addressing the following questions: 1. Is the seroprevalence of T. gondii in wildlife higher on KI than on mainland SA? Prediction: The seroprevalence of T. gondii in wildlife will be higher on KI than on mainland SA, similar to that previously shown in cats and sheep, due to higher environmental contamination with infective oocysts. 2. Is the abundance of cats and wildlife intermediate hosts higher on KI than on mainland SA? Prediction: Cat densities are higher on KI than on mainland SA, due to the absence of sympatric carnivores and the higher density of wildlife prey. 3. Does the utilisation of carrion by cats on KI differ to cats on mainland SA? Prediction: Carrion use by cats on KI will be consistently higher than on mainland SA, due to reduced competition from sympatric carnivores. Additionally, we predict that carrion utilisation will be higher in winter, when alternative food resources are scarce, than other times of the year, when alternative food resources are more readily available. This project relates to PhD work by Patrick Taggart titled: Investigating correlates of T. gondii infection to explain its higher prevalence on KI. T. gondii is a coccidian parasite of felids that has significant impacts on wildlife, livestock and humans. On KI the seroprevalence of T. gondii in feral cats is among the highest recorded from any Australian locality. Similarly, the seroprevalence of T. gondii in sheep on KI is substantially higher than on mainland SA, however reasons for the difference are not understood. Possible explanations include differences in the seroprevalence of T. gondii in intermediate hosts, cat and/or intermediate host abundance, the availability and accessibility of infected macropod carcasses, and/or environmental conditions.
 
Start Date: 19/08/2016      End Date: 01/01/2020
Survey Type: Vegetation and Fauna
   
Study Area Description: Deep Creek conservation park. Private land on the lower Fleurieu Peninsula. Kangaroo Island.
Objectives
         Vegetation: *** No vegetation survey objectives recorded
         Fauna: see abstract
Methodology
         Vegetation: Animals will be captured using systematic trapping techniques at control sites and potential impact sites. The trapping methodology is designed to be consistent with previous monitoring events to ensure valid statistical comparisons can be made. However, due consideration will be given to methodology and techniques described in best practiced guidelines, particularly the Guidelines for Vertebrate Surveys in South Australia. There are currently six sites included in the monitoring program. Each site contains 16 pitfall traps, eight funnel traps, 30 Elliot traps, and four cage traps. Infrared cameras will be placed for one night at each site with additional locations chosen to target different habitat areas. The AnaBat detector will be placed in different potential fly through locations on each trapping night. Trapping will occur over four nights. Observation surveys may extend over an additional 2-3 days as animals may be encountered during vegetation surveys and other elements of the monitoring program. Fauna obtained from trapping and active searching will be briefly held in-situ for identification purposes only and will be released at the point of capture immediately after identification. All animal handling will be conducted by suitably qualified ecologists with experience employing minimal-stress handling for relevant animal types. All traps will be checked/cleared in accordance with the procedures described in the Guidelines for Vertebrate Surveys in South Australia and the South Australian Wildlife Ethics Committee Standard Operating Procedure. Traps will be checked daily within 1.5 hours of sunrise and then closed for the day to avoid capturing animals during hotter periods. Traps will be opened againin the late afternoon or early evening. During hot or wet weather more frequent visits will be made or a method of protecting captures from the weather will be employed. In extreme conditions, pitfall, Elliott and cage traps will be closed to avoid stress to animals. Six permanent trapping sites have previously been set up and GPS coordinates recorded. At each site, all traps will be marked with flagging tape. The beginning and end of each line of Elliot traps will be recorded by GPS and the number of traps will be counted during checking period to ensure none are omitted during checking/clearing procedures. Cage traps, AnaBat, and infrared cameras will be individually labelled (by trap number), have their locations recorded by GPS and marked with flagging tape. Pitfall lines incorporating all the pitfall and funnel traps will have the centre point recorded by GPS. All traps will be counted and recorded each time they are checked to ensure none are missed. Active searches and nocturnal spotlighting will be conducted throughout the study area. Active searching will entail searching under rocks, logs, leaf litter, and bark for fauna species.
         Fauna: Pilot study: one site. cameras spaced 100m apart along a 1500m transect. final study: ten sites. cameras spaced 200m apart along a 600m transect. Methods: Photographs of feral cats and wildlife: obtained using infrared camera traps. Data to be used to estimate the abundance of cats and wildlife on Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. Blood samples from cats and other native mammals to test for T. gondii exposure. This data will be obtained by trapping animals, sedating/anaesthetising animals if required/necessary, collect blood, weigh, measure and release at point of capture. Photographs of animals utilising carrion: obtained using infrared camera traps set on animal carcasses on Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula. This data to be used to compare the species utilising carrion, and temporal patterns in when they use carrion, on Kangaroo Island and the Fleurieu Peninsula.

Data Distribution Rules: Sensitive Dataset: Written permission required from Information Authority
Project Basis: Fauna : Pest/Diseases/Threats - control project
Fauna : Monitoring - Fauna/Ecosystem (ie species records - usually re-visited for ongoing monitoring) NOTE:NON Std Svy methodology may have been used.
Information Authority: University of Adelaide