Download Bettongia tropica, Northern Bettong

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™
ISSN 2307-8235 (online)
IUCN 2008: T2787A21961037
Scope: Global
Language: English
Bettongia tropica, Northern Bettong
Assessment by: Burbidge, A.A. & Woinarski, J.
View on www.iucnredlist.org
Citation: Burbidge, A.A. & Woinarski, J. 2016. Bettongia tropica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened
Species 2016: e.T2787A21961037. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.20163.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
Copyright: © 2016 International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources
Reproduction of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorized without prior written
permission from the copyright holder provided the source is fully acknowledged.
Reproduction of this publication for resale, reposting or other commercial purposes is prohibited without prior written
permission from the copyright holder. For further details see Terms of Use.
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species Programme, the IUCN
Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership. The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State
University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe;
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew; Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.
If you see any errors or have any questions or suggestions on what is shown in this document, please provide us with
feedback so that we can correct or extend the information provided.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™
Taxonomy
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Animalia
Chordata
Mammalia
Diprotodontia
Potoroidae
Taxon Name: Bettongia tropica Wakefield, 1967
Common Name(s):
• English:
Northern Bettong
Taxonomic Notes:
Groves in Wilson and Reeder (1993) considered this to be a synonym of B. penicillata. See Nowak (1999)
for other arguments. The Australasian Marsupial SG maintain this as a good species (Andrew Burbidge
pers. comm).
Assessment Information
Red List Category & Criteria:
Endangered B2ab(i,ii,iii,iv,v) ver 3.1
Year Published:
2016
Date Assessed:
December 31, 2012
Justification:
The Northern Bettong is assessed as Endangered because its area of occupancy is <200 km², all
individuals are from fewer than six locations (probably three), there is a continuing decline in the extent
and quality of habitat, and an inferred continuing decline in number of mature individuals due to habitat
loss and degradation and changing fire regimes, as well as a possible decline in the number of locations.
Previously Published Red List Assessments
2008 – Endangered (EN)
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2008.RLTS.T2787A9481109.en
1996 – Endangered (EN)
1994 – Endangered (E)
Geographic Range
Range Description:
The Northern Bettong is endemic to north-eastern Queensland. Currently there are three localities with
extant populations: the western side of the Lamb Range (includes Davies Creek, Emu Creek and Tinaroo
subpopulations), the western edge of the Mt Carbine Tableland, and the Coane Range (Paluma) (last
confirmed record 2003: Dennis 2012). One other locality, Mt Windsor Tableland, may have an extant
population (last confirmed record 2003: Dennis 2012). A population in the vicinity of Ravenshoe has not
been seen since the 1920s. A single individual was recorded from the Dawson Valley (near
Rockhampton) in 1884; no Northern Bettongs have been seen in this area since that year (Dennis 2001;
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
1
Winter et al. 2008). It has been recorded at elevations between 800 m and 1,200 m asl (Winter et al.
2008). Although Mt Spurgeon (Carbine Tableland) has not been properly surveyed since the early 1990s,
recent unconfirmed records of Northern Bettongs have been received from a reliable source (A. Baker
pers. comm).
Country Occurrence:
Native: Australia (Queensland)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
2
Population
Of the three localities with confirmed extant populations, only the Lamb Range (includes Davies Creek,
Emu Creek and Tinaroo subpopulations) has a substantial number of individuals over a broad area
(densities of 4-7 individuals/km²). Mt. Carbine Tableland (and formerly the Coane Range) have small and
restricted subpopulations occurring at low densities (Dennis 2001, Winter et al. 2008). No Northern
Bettongs have been seen at either the Coane Range or Mt Windsor Tableland since 2003, despite
considerable survey effort, and the status of this population is unknown (Dennis 2001, Winter et al.
2008, Bateman et al. 2012b, Mulder et al. 2012).
Current Population Trend: Decreasing
Habitat and Ecology (see Appendix for additional information)
The Northern Bettong is found only within a thin strip of sclerophyll forest along the western margin of
rainforest in the ecotone between savanna woodland and rainforest. Its habitat includes a range of
eucalypt forest types, from tall and wet forest dominated by Eucalyptus grandis and tall forest
dominated by E. resinifera, abutting the rainforest, to medium height and drier woodlands dominated
by Corymbia citriodora and C. platyphylla (Johnson and McIlwee 1997, Dennis 2001, Winter et al. 2008).
This species is solitary and nocturnal. Northern Bettongs are heavily dependent on truffles (the
underground fruiting bodies of fungi) as a food source during the wetter parts of the year. The more
than 35 species eaten comprise over 45% of their diet, depending on location and season. They also eat
roots, tubers, the underground parts of grasses, small invertebrates, and seeds; Cockatoo Grass
Alloteropsis semialata is particularly important food when truffle abundance is low (Winter et al. 2008,
Bateman and Johnson 2011). During the late part of the dry season when truffle availability is low they
are particularly dependent on the swollen underground tubers of Cockatoo Grass (A. Baker pers. comm).
Home ranges are typically 50-70 hectares, but may be as large as 120 hectares (Winter et al. 2008).
Vernes (2003) found that male Northern Bettongs have a larger range of movements than females, 72 ±
10.9 ha versus 49 ± 8.4 ha. However, both genders had a high mean rate of movement while foraging.
Ranges overlapped for individuals, both between and within sexes. At the site studied by Vernes (2000),
small-scale, low intensity fire had no impact on the location or use of individuals’ home ranges. Both
during and after a fire, individuals remained within the limits of their movements prior to the fire and
there was no direct or indirect mortality of bettongs associated with fire. Despite the lack of broad-scale
changes to movements associated with fire, there were clear changes in the fine scale movements and
foraging patterns of bettongs immediately after a fire. Search effort for truffles becomes focussed, the
level of foraging success is higher and the foraging path more sinuous in recently burnt areas compared
to unburnt areas (Vernes 2000). At the site studied by Vernes (2000), fire did not completely remove
cover, with bettongs particularly seeking shelter under boulders which are common at the site; the
impacts of fire may be different elsewhere, particularly sites on rhyolite (much of the Coane Range
population) where boulders are rare.
Systems: Terrestrial
Threats (see Appendix for additional information)
The main threats tot his species are:
• Predation by feral cats (moderate to severe): feral Cats shown to be a significant predator of the
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
3
closely-related Woylie in south-western Australia.
• Climate change (moderate to severe): detailed climate modelling has shown that extended drought is
likely to reduce the distribution of Northern Bettong by altering the productivity of its major food
resources, and is plausibly a cause of the apparent decline of the Coane Range population (Bateman
2010; Bateman et al. 2012 a, b).
• Small, relictual subpopulations (moderate): only Lamb Range subpopulations appear large enough to
be self sustaining (Dennis 2001, 2012); it is not known whether small populations on Mt Windsor and
Coane Range still persist.
• Habitat change due to changed fire regimes (moderate): past declines are thought to relate to changes
in habitat structure and suitability for both the bettong and the fungi and grasses it consumes; changes
were probably influenced by changed fire regimes (Bateman and Johnson 2011, Dennis 2012); smallscale, low-intensity fire has little effect, at least in habitats where physical cover (e.g. boulders) is
available (Vernes 2000, Vernes and Pope 2001), but may be significant in other habitats, and especially
in combination with Foxes and feral Cats.
• Competition from Pigs (Sus scrofa) (moderate): impact unclear: evidence of their impact is still scant
but they known to consume (and cause reduction in abundance of) truffles and Cockatoo Grass tubers
(A. Baker pers. comm).
• Habitat change due to livestock grazing (moderate): past declines are thought to relate to changes in
habitat structure and suitability for both the bettong and the fungi it consumes; changes were probably
influenced by grazing (Bateman and Johnson 2011; Dennis 2001, 2012).
• Habitat change due to logging (moderate): past declines are thought to relate to changes in habitat
structure and suitability for both the bettong and the fungi it consumes; changes were probably
influenced by logging (Bateman and Johnson 2011, Dennis 2012).
• Inappropriate land use (moderate):very little of the range of the Northern Bettong is in National Park,
although much of it occurs in State Forest and/or in the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, managed by
the Department of Environment and Resource Management; State Forest is often managed as a multiuse area which can include timber extraction, water catchment protection, tourism and recreational
camping; standard management practices and/or problems associated with these uses may be
detrimental to northern bettongs (Dennis 2001); the Coane Range population is largely within the
Australian Wildlife Conservancy’s Mount Zero – Taravale wildlife sanctuary, and is managed with the
conservation of Northern Bettong as a specific objective.
• Predation by Red Foxes (potentially catastrophic, but currently not occurring): foxes are not
established in the current range of B. tropica, but have occasionally been observed in area; foxes are
considered to be the greatest future threat to the species (Dennis 2001, 2012) given their impact on
related species.
Conservation Actions (see Appendix for additional information)
The Northern Bettong is listed as a threatened species under Australian law. Part of its range occurs
within the Lamb Range State Forest, Davies Creek National Park, and Wet Tropics World Heritage Area. A
detailed recovery plan has been developed for the species within Queensland (Dennis 2001). It is listed
on Appendix I of CITES.
Past conservation actions have been described by Dennis (2001) and included surveys, research into fire
ecology including investigating the impact of varying fire regimes on Northern Bettong food resources
(truffles and cockatoo grass) and a GPS tracking study investigating micro habitat use following
prescribed burning, research into population genetics and mating systems, surveys of fox distribution
and abundance and the partial development of a fox control plan. Current management, monitoring
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
4
and research includes cattle exclusion research investigating the recovery of/impact on resources
(cockatoo grass) following exclusion of feral cattle, application of fire management a research program.
Findings indicated application of landscape mosaic burn pattern in the early to mid dry season was most
conducive to creating the species-diverse open structured ground layer preferred by the Northern
Bettong. This regime is also most suitable for the survival and proliferation of cockatoo grass, a food
resource essential to Bettongs in the late dry season when truffle availability is low Conservation of
the Northern Bettong is the responsibility of the Queensland Department of National Parks, Recreation,
Sport and Racing. Most of its habitat has now been incorporated into the protected area estate, both
government and private (Australian Wildlife Conservancy), and is being managed for the bettong’s
conservation by de-stocking, ceasing logging, managing fire and weeds and monitoring the vegetation
and the bettong. Surveys of fox distribution and abundance have been initiated. A trial reintroduction
was attempted near Ravenshoe in 2005-2006, but failed, and the captive colony from which the
reintroduction was initiated no longer exists.
Credits
Assessor(s):
Burbidge, A.A. & Woinarski, J.
Reviewer(s):
Johnson, C.N. & Hawkins, C.
Contributor(s):
Baker, A., Kanowski, J., Legge, S. & Pacifici, M.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
5
Bibliography
Dennis, A. J. 2001. Recovery plan for the northern bettong, Bettongia tropica 2000-2004. Report to
Environment Australia, Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service, Brisbane, Canberra, Australia.
IUCN. 2016. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2016-3. Available at: www.iucnredlist.org.
(Accessed: 07 December 2016).
Nowak, R.M. (ed.) 1999. Walkers Mammals of the World. Sixth edition. The Johns Hopkins University
Press, Baltimore and London.
Wakefield, N.A. 1967. Some taxonomic revision in the Australian marsupial genus Bettongia
(Macropodidae), with description of a new species. Victorian Naturalist 84: 8-22.
Wilson, D.E. and Reeder, D.M. (eds). 1993. Mammal Species of the World: a taxonomic and geographic
reference. Second edition. Smithsonian Institution Press, Washington and London.
Winter, J. W., Johnson, P. M. and Vernes, K. 2008. Northern Bettong, Bettongia tropica. In: S. Van Dyck
and R. Strahan (eds), The mammals of Australia. Third Edition, pp. 293-294. Reed New Holland, Sydney,
Australia.
Citation
Burbidge, A.A. & Woinarski, J. 2016. Bettongia tropica. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2016:
e.T2787A21961037. http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
Disclaimer
To make use of this information, please check the Terms of Use.
External Resources
For Images and External Links to Additional Information, please see the Red List website.
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
6
Appendix
Habitats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Habitat
Season
Suitability
Major
Importance?
1. Forest -> 1.5. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Dry
Resident
Suitable
Yes
1. Forest -> 1.9. Forest - Subtropical/Tropical Moist Montane
Resident
Suitable
Yes
Threats
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Threat
Timing
Scope
Severity
Impact Score
11. Climate change & severe weather -> 11.2.
Droughts
Future
Whole (>90%)
Rapid declines
Medium
impact: 6
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
Majority (5090%)
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
Majority (5090%)
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
Majority (5090%)
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
Majority (5090%)
Stresses:
1. Ecosystem stresses -> 1.2. Ecosystem degradation
Ongoing
Whole (>90%)
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
Ongoing
-
Stresses:
2. Species Stresses -> 2.1. Species mortality
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.2. Wood & pulp
plantations -> 2.2.2. Agro-industry plantations
2. Agriculture & aquaculture -> 2.3. Livestock farming
& ranching -> 2.3.3. Agro-industry grazing, ranching
or farming
7. Natural system modifications -> 7.1. Fire & fire
suppression -> 7.1.1. Increase in fire
frequency/intensity
8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes &
diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien
species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Sus scrofa)
8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes &
diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien
species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Felis catus)
8. Invasive and other problematic species, genes &
diseases -> 8.1. Invasive non-native/alien
species/diseases -> 8.1.2. Named species (Vulpes
vulpes)
Slow, significant
declines
Slow, significant
declines
-
Slow, significant
declines
Rapid declines
-
Medium
impact: 6
Medium
impact: 6
-
Medium
impact: 6
High impact: 8
-
Conservation Actions in Place
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
7
Conservation Actions in Place
In-Place Research, Monitoring and Planning
Action Recovery plan: Yes
Systematic monitoring scheme: Yes
In-Place Land/Water Protection and Management
Conservation sites identified: Yes, over entire range
Occur in at least one PA: Yes
Percentage of population protected by PAs (0-100): 11-20
Invasive species control or prevention: No
In-Place Species Management
Subject to ex-situ conservation: No
In-Place Education
Included in international legislation: Yes
Subject to any international management/trade controls: Yes
Conservation Actions Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Conservation Actions Needed
1. Land/water protection -> 1.1. Site/area protection
2. Land/water management -> 2.1. Site/area management
2. Land/water management -> 2.2. Invasive/problematic species control
2. Land/water management -> 2.3. Habitat & natural process restoration
3. Species management -> 3.3. Species re-introduction -> 3.3.1. Reintroduction
4. Education & awareness -> 4.3. Awareness & communications
Research Needed
(http://www.iucnredlist.org/technical-documents/classification-schemes)
Research Needed
1. Research -> 1.2. Population size, distribution & trends
1. Research -> 1.5. Threats
3. Monitoring -> 3.1. Population trends
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
8
Additional Data Fields
Distribution
Estimated area of occupancy (AOO) (km²): 188
Continuing decline in area of occupancy (AOO): Yes
Extreme fluctuations in area of occupancy (AOO): No
Estimated extent of occurrence (EOO) (km²): 6023
Continuing decline in extent of occurrence (EOO): Yes
Extreme fluctuations in extent of occurrence (EOO): No
Number of Locations: 3
Continuing decline in number of locations: Yes
Extreme fluctuations in the number of locations: No
Lower elevation limit (m): 800
Upper elevation limit (m): 1200
Population
Number of mature individuals: 5000-10000
Continuing decline of mature individuals: Yes
Extreme fluctuations: No
Population severely fragmented: No
No. of subpopulations: 5
All individuals in one subpopulation: No
Habitats and Ecology
Continuing decline in area, extent and/or quality of habitat: Yes
Generation Length (years): 3
Movement patterns: Not a Migrant
© The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Bettongia tropica – published in 2016.
http://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2016-3.RLTS.T2787A21961037.en
9
The IUCN Red List Partnership
The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species™ is produced and managed by the IUCN Global Species
Programme, the IUCN Species Survival Commission (SSC) and The IUCN Red List Partnership.
The IUCN Red List Partners are: Arizona State University; BirdLife International; Botanic Gardens
Conservation International; Conservation International; NatureServe; Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew;
Sapienza University of Rome; Texas A&M University; and Zoological Society of London.
THE IUCN RED LIST OF THREATENED SPECIES™