| Abstract: |
This project aims to explore reasons for declining Malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata) activity across Eyre Peninsula, South Australia, as well as understanding potential impacts of drying conditions caused by climate change, and how we can assist Malleefowl to cope with these changing conditions.
BACKGROUND:
Malleefowl numbers have drastically decreased since European settlement of Australia.
They are listed as threatened in all states where they occur.
The decrease is thought to be caused by habitat loss and fragmentation caused by anthropogenic developments; predation by introduced species (e.g. fox); and herbivore competition through grazers (Benshemesh, Barker, & MacFarlane, 2007).
Climate change is expected to increase these pressures by leading to more frequent and longer periods of high temperatures and low precipitation, which, in combination with other climatic factors, will lead to an increased likelihood of fires (Chambers, Hughes, & Weston, 2005).
All these factors negatively influence Malleefowl breeding success, survival and recruitment (Benshemesh, Stokie, & Stokie, 2008).
METHODOLOGY:
We aim to understand how a drying climate may impact Malleefowl by first studying their ability to move and disperse within and between habitat patches.
If local populations become extinct due to increased drought or wildfire caused by climate change then understanding the ability of Malleefowl to recolonise patches will help determine the size and distribution of habitat patches required to conserve the species.
Movement and habitat-use will be tracked with solar GPS tags, while colour bands and camera traps will improve understanding of site fidelity and activity.
We will also study methods for improving the resilience of Malleefowl to a drying climate, such as supplementary feeding, and investigate the presence of parasites.
We are focusing our study on the Eyre Peninsula where large intact areas and smaller patches are interspersed. Malleefowl are patchily distributed here but have undergone recent declines.
Three out of five locations (Hincks, Lock and Cowell) are in known Malleefowl grids that are monitored annually by the National Malleefowl recovery Team.
There is significant volunteer support on the Eyre Peninsula with local residents keen to assist with the study by monitoring banded birds and active mounds.
OBJECTIVES:
1. Study the movement and dispersal of Malleefowl on the Eyre Peninsula and their use of remnant habitats. Solar powered GPS tracking will show us current movement while DNA will enable us to understand historic movement patterns. These data will tell us if Malleefowl are capable of recolonizing new habitats after extreme droughts or heat events or habitats in which populations have become extinct previously.
2. Explore the role in Malleefowl ecology of Malleefowl exo-parasites, which have been little studied (Emerson & Price, 1984, 1986; Price & Emerson, 1984), and blood parasites not at all.
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| Study Area Description: |
Study sites are various conservation parks, private properties and remnant mallee scrub habitats on the Eyre Peninsula where Malleefowl and their mounds are present. Conservation parks to be studied include the Munyaroo CP, Pinkawillinie CP, Hincks CP, Secret Rocks Nature Reserve, Ironstone Hill CP, Port Lincoln and Coffin Bay CPs, private Properties with heritage agreements (e.g. in the Lock and Cowell areas). |