TY - BOOK
T1 - Conserving Koalas in the 21st Century: Synthesising the Dynamics of Australia’s Koala Populations
AU - McAlpine, Clive A.
AU - Melzer, Alistair
AU - Lunney, Daniel
AU - Foley, William J.
AU - Adams-Hosking, Christine
AU - Lawler, Ivan R.
AU - Whisson, Desley
AU - Phillip, Steve
AU - Kavanagh, Rodney P.
AU - Baxter, Greg S.
AU - Gordon, Greg
AU - Ellis, Bill
AU - De Villiers, Deidre
AU - Walter, Michele
AU - Molsher, Robyn
AU - Todd, Charles
AU - Moore, Ben D.
AU - Menkhorst, Peter W.
AU - Close, Robert
AU - Phalen, David N.
AU - Rhodes, Jonathan
PY - 2012
Y1 - 2012
N2 - It was found that New South Wales and Queensland have natural koala populations, while central and western Victoria and South Australia have introduced populations. The south Gippsland population of Victoria is a natural population with high genetic diversity, and requires a different management approach. The introduced populations are considered stable, although several are overabundant (e.g. Mt Eccles and Kangaroo Island) and subject to managed declines. The prognosis for introduced populations was for continued stability, but becoming increasing vulnerable to land use pressures and extreme events such as droughts and bushfires. The evidence presented indicated that koala populations of coastal and western Queensland are mostly declining, although some low density populations (e.g. Oakey, eastern Darling Downs) are relatively stable. The most pronounced population declines are in southeast Queensland, where urban development has destroyed and fragmented large areas of high quality koala habitat, with resulting increases in mortality from vehicle collisions, dog attacks and disease. In the past 20 years, there have been substantial population declines in the Mulglands of southwest Queensland and in central Queensland due to drought, heat waves and land clearing. These populations are particularly vulnerable to projected changes in climate. In central and southern inland Queensland, habitat loss and infrastructure development from escalating resource extraction poses a new additional threat. The long-term prognosis for Queensland is for contracting populations in western regions and urbanising coastal regions, with some low-density sub-coastal rural populations remaining relatively stable. New South Wales populations are subject to similar trends and threats. Populations in coastal regions are declining, with some populations (e.g. Eden and Iluka) declining towards local extinction. However, there are several populations (e.g. Lismore, Campbelltown, Southern Highlands) which appear to be relatively stable. In northwest New South Wales, the Pilliga forest population has experienced a sharp decline in the past decade due to drought and wildfire, while the Gunnedah population declined sharply in 2009 due to drought and heat wave. Both populations also face new pressures from increasing resource extraction. It was found that more information is needed on the status of populations in protected areas in New South Wales.
AB - It was found that New South Wales and Queensland have natural koala populations, while central and western Victoria and South Australia have introduced populations. The south Gippsland population of Victoria is a natural population with high genetic diversity, and requires a different management approach. The introduced populations are considered stable, although several are overabundant (e.g. Mt Eccles and Kangaroo Island) and subject to managed declines. The prognosis for introduced populations was for continued stability, but becoming increasing vulnerable to land use pressures and extreme events such as droughts and bushfires. The evidence presented indicated that koala populations of coastal and western Queensland are mostly declining, although some low density populations (e.g. Oakey, eastern Darling Downs) are relatively stable. The most pronounced population declines are in southeast Queensland, where urban development has destroyed and fragmented large areas of high quality koala habitat, with resulting increases in mortality from vehicle collisions, dog attacks and disease. In the past 20 years, there have been substantial population declines in the Mulglands of southwest Queensland and in central Queensland due to drought, heat waves and land clearing. These populations are particularly vulnerable to projected changes in climate. In central and southern inland Queensland, habitat loss and infrastructure development from escalating resource extraction poses a new additional threat. The long-term prognosis for Queensland is for contracting populations in western regions and urbanising coastal regions, with some low-density sub-coastal rural populations remaining relatively stable. New South Wales populations are subject to similar trends and threats. Populations in coastal regions are declining, with some populations (e.g. Eden and Iluka) declining towards local extinction. However, there are several populations (e.g. Lismore, Campbelltown, Southern Highlands) which appear to be relatively stable. In northwest New South Wales, the Pilliga forest population has experienced a sharp decline in the past decade due to drought and wildfire, while the Gunnedah population declined sharply in 2009 due to drought and heat wave. Both populations also face new pressures from increasing resource extraction. It was found that more information is needed on the status of populations in protected areas in New South Wales.
KW - koala
KW - extinction
KW - climatic changes
KW - Australia
UR - http://handle.westernsydney.edu.au:8081/1959.7/uws:42600
M3 - Research report
BT - Conserving Koalas in the 21st Century: Synthesising the Dynamics of Australia’s Koala Populations
PB - Australian Centre for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis
CY - Brisbane, Qld.
ER -