Pacific Conservation Biology

Context Public-private partnerships (PPPs) are increasingly recognised as a promising governance approach for protected area management, yet scientific evidence on their effectiveness, design, and sustainability particularly in marine protected area (MPA) tourism contexts remains limited. Aims This study examines the collaborative PPP between the Department of Conservation (DOC) and the Supporter…

Context Toxic invasive prey poses a threat to consumers by causing physiological disorders and death. Some consumers use toxic prey as food and sequester toxins for chemical defense. However, studies on the predation potential of toxic invasive prey by those consumers are limited. Aims We assessed the predation potential of the Taiwan keelback snake (Rhabdophis formosanus), a species that sequest…

Context Long-term studies are extraordinarily valuable yet are scarce. They provide important insights into changes in the status of species and communities, and responses to land use and environmental change. Aims (1) To document long-term observations on the birds of Birrarung Park, Melbourne, Australia, from 1985 to 2024; (2) to describe changes in the bird community over 40 years; and (3) to …

When you visit Kangaroo Island and the Mount Lofty Ranges outside of Adelaide, South Australia (SA), some conservation projects that you encounter have been influenced by Penelope (Penny) Ann Paton. Penny is one of SA’s most effective conservationists. She combined her academic training in history and environmental interests in her Honours project on the history of conservation from 1880 to 1930,…

Context Approximately half of scleractinian corals rely on endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae, making them vulnerable to bleaching during thermal stress. Accurately interpreting bleaching responses is essential for monitoring reef health, yet visual assessments of coral colour often overlook symbiotic status or physiological health. Aims This study aimed to determine whether coral colour is a reliable…

Background The large-spotted civet (Viverra megaspila) has experienced a sharp decline in abundance and distribution over the past century. Despite its Endangered status, data on this species are limited, and its density has never been estimated. Aims This study addresses this gap by analyzing long-term camera-trap data to provide the first density estimate, population trends, and population viab…

Context The hairy-nosed otter (Lutra sumatrana), an endangered species and ecological indicator of peat swamp forest health, is increasingly threatened by anthropogenic activities in South-east Asia. Aims This study investigated habitat selection and associated threats for hairy-nosed otters in Bor Lor and Thale Noi Non-Hunting Areas, two of Thailand’s largest remaining peat swamp forests spannin…

Context Threatened native black cockatoo species are affected by vehicular collisions in Western Australia. Aims We examined the interaction of a range of geospatial variables on black cockatoo collisions with vehicles during two time periods (2011–2015 and 2016–2020) to identify hotspots for vehicle trauma in the Perth metropolitan area. Methods A geospatial desktop analysis was conducted using …

Context Worldwide modifications of river systems, closely tied to human development, has led to a proliferation of artificial waterbodies. Their associated artificial habitats can support various aquatic taxa, including freshwater mussels, one of the most threatened animal groups worldwide. An endemic threatened species of freshwater mussel (Westralunio carteri) has been sporadically observed in …

Background Entanglement in man-made materials is reported by wildlife rehabilitators as a common source of injury and mortality in wildlife, however there is limited scientific research on this impact. Aims To quantify the impact of entanglement on wildlife in terms of entanglement material, taxonomy, and conservation status using New South Wales (NSW), Australia, as a case study. Methods Wildlif…

This field note documents the first confirmed case of road mortality in the endangered Monaro grassland earless dragon (Tympanocryptis osbornei), overturning the prevailing assumption that sealed roads function solely as movement barriers for this species. The observation demonstrates that roads can pose a direct mortality threat and highlights the need to explicitly consider vehicle strike in im…

Context The San Joaquin kit fox (Vulpes macrotis mutica) is listed as endangered in the United States and threatened in California. Primary processes influencing populations of this mesocarnivore are not well quantified. Aims The study aim was to determine whether bottom up or top down processes most influenced the demographic and ecological characteristics of kit foxes. Methods During 2014–19, w…

Context Documenting change in wildlife occurrence is important for understanding how ecosystems change over time and for guiding potential management options. Aims We provide a historical overview of dingo occurrence in a pastoral region in Western Australia, where dingoes have been subject to variable levels of lethal control. Methods We took a mixed-method approach, comprising collation of non-…

The domestic cat (Felis catus) is a popular pet and ownership is increasing in Australia. While there is increasing evidence-based agreement on core components of responsible pet cat ownership – desexing, registration and microchipping, and permanent containment – there is inconsistent enabling policy and enforcement across the country, particularly at the local government level where these issue…

Context Extreme heat events are intensifying under climate change, yet their sublethal effects on threatened mammals remain poorly understood. Aims We investigated behavioural responses of the critically endangered western ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus occidentalis; ngwayir) to extreme heat on the Southern Swan Coastal Plain of Western Australia. Methods Using tri-axial accelerometer collars, we…

Context Intensifying human activities in coastal regions are placing growing pressures on dolphin populations, highlighting the urgent need for comprehensive threat assessments to guide effective conservation and management actions. Aim This study aimed to identify, characterise and rank the level of risk from threats present to an Australian humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis) population, a list…

Context Fire is increasing in intensity and frequency, leading to novel fire regimes in many regions. For oceanic islands of volcanic origin, endemic plants have evolved in the context of lava-ignited fires. Aims Responses to fire were investigated in four endemic (Nototrichium humile, Hibiscus brackenridgei subsp. mokuleianus, Gossypium tomentosum, and Erythrina sandwicensis) and one invasive (L…

The green turtle (Chelonia mydas) is the only sea turtle species to reside year-round in New Zealand waters, with juveniles using shallow coastal habitats as foraging grounds before dispersing throughout the Pacific. Rangaunu Harbour in northern New Zealand was surveyed in the austral summer to assess the feasibility of aerial drones for monitoring green turtles. Across 163 km of drone transects,…

Context We examined predation by the saltwater crocodile (Crocodylus porosus) on the flatback turtle (Natator depressus), an Australian endemic, at Cape Domett, a significant nesting site in Cambridge Gulf, northern Australia, where crocodile populations have recovered since legislative protection was implemented in the 1970s. Aims The investigation aimed to document crocodile predation on flatba…

In response to escalating environmental crises, we introduce Nature Quotient (NQ) as a distinct, essential form of intelligence that enables humans to comprehend, adapt to and harmonize with complex natural systems. Grounded in Granular Interaction Thinking Theory, NQ is defined as the capacity to perceive, process and organize information about ecological interconnections – thereby fostering dee…