Download pests and threats - Queensland Museum

PESTS AND THREATS
TEACHER RESOURCE BOOKLET
Cane Toad, Rhinella marinus
Asian House Geckos, Hemidactylus frenatus
European Fox, Vulpes vulpes
Feral Cat, Felis catus
European Rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus
Feral Pig, Sus scrofa
All images in this booklet: © Queensland Museum.
All text in this booklet: Creative Commons BY-NC-SA
licence. Attribution, non-commercial use only, share alike.
(See the last page for further explanations of Creative
Commons licence elements.)
Red Fire Ant, Solenopsis invicta
ALL IMAGES: QUEENSLAND MUSEUM
THIS BOOKLET COMPLEMENTS THE PESTS AND THREATS KIT WHICH CAN BE BORROWED FROM QUEENSLAND
MUSEUM LOANS. Ph (07) 3406 8344 or http://www.qm.qld.gov.au/Learning+Resources/QM+Loans
Teacher’s notes
PESTS AND THREATS
Back on Track Species Prioritisation Framework
'Back on Track species prioritisation framework' is an initiative of the Queensland
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that prioritises Queensland's native species
(marine, terrestrial and aquatic species of flora and fauna) to help with their
conservation, management and recovery.
Previously, species were classified into categories such as ‘Critically Endangered’,
Endangered’, ‘Vulnerable’, ‘Rare’ and so on. This new framework is designed to
prioritise all species, regardless of their current classification under the Queensland
Nature Conservation Act 1992 (NCA) or the Commonwealth Environment Protection and
Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC). It is hoped that this will better reflect the
level of management required to conserve Queensland's native wildlife.
There are six stages in the 'Back on Track species prioritisation framework' that
contribute to determining the priority species, at both a regional and the state-wide level.
The key and common threats to these priority species are identified and then workshops
are organised to address these threats and focus investment or management action
through using a multi-species or landscape level approach.
Species are first prioritised using multiple criteria, to help identify those that are in
trouble, and those which have the highest chance of recovery.
Species are assessed against three major sets of criteria:
•
•
•
Probability of extinction — assessed by an expert panel against IUCN criteria
(International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources also
known as The World Conservation Union).
Consequences of extinction — comprised of the species’ ecological value, how
endemic it is, and its social value.
Potential for successful recovery —based on the knowledge of threatening
processes, capacity to affect recovery, and the need for ongoing management.
Species are ranked as 'Critical', 'High', 'Medium', 'Low' priority or as 'Data Deficient'.
Those species ranked as 'Critical' or 'High', are used as the starting point for the regional
workshop. 'Data deficient' species are reviewed to determine priorities for research.
The 'Back on Track species prioritisation framework' identifies lists of priority species for
each Natural Resource Management (NRM) region in Queensland and also for the state.
This allows government, NRM groups and partners to channel on-ground action,
planning, monitoring, research and community engagement where it will be most
effective in working to achieve species conservation.
© Queensland Museum 2009
HUMAN IMPACT
Introduced species have been a problem ever since settlers first arrived in Australia.
Some were brought in for food, some for sport and hunting, others for pest (or biological)
control, and some arrived here quite by accident.
Whatever the reason, the outcome is still the same: the loss of native species; damage
to the environment; and millions of dollars in costs to farming and our agricultural
industries. Queensland has many invasive vertebrate species and they are pushing
some of our native species towards extinction. This is due to the combined effects of
direct predation, the spread of introduced diseases, and competition for food and
space.
By far, the greatest threat to species survival today, is the loss of habitat. With the
removal of trees and large tracts of forests, organisms lose not just a source of food, but
nesting sites, protection from predators, a place to shelter from the extremes of climate,
and wildlife corridors. The need for timber for housing and development is putting
pressure on wildlife refuge areas. This may get worse as Queensland’s population is
predicted to increase significantly over the next few decades. Solutions to the problem of
habitat fragmentation include limiting land clearing and planting native vegetation to
connect pockets of native bush and re-establish wildlife corridors.
Other threats to the survival of our native species come from fertiliser and pesticide
runoff from farms, as well as other pollutants. These chemicals find their way into our
creeks, rivers and oceans and have an effect on animals that live there. The increase in
carbon dioxide produced from the burning of fossil fuels, is leading to global warming.
The increase in surface sea temperatures has affected marine life and led to coral
bleaching in some areas.
Humans are therefore having an impact on the physical features of the land, leading to a
decrease in available habitats, a decrease in biodiversity and clean water, and an
increase in atmospheric pollution. Community groups need to work together to try to
lessen the impact of human activities on the environment. Local land-care groups can
work to solve local environmental problems and help to conserve species.
One such example from the past was the public outcry produced by the great koala
massacre of 1927. This was a significant point in the development of environmentalism
in Australia. Education, the Press, and the scientific community were organised for the
first time, to protect our native fauna. Concern about the koala’s possible extinction led to
its total protection in the late 1920s. We owe the survival of the koala, to strict protection
laws and those who have rehabilitated depleted populations.
To maintain our biodiversity, people today need to understand that resources and
environments can be used, conserved, and protected by valuing and applying
sustainable practices.
3
Richmond Birdwing Butterfly (Ornithoptera richmondia)
The Richmond Birdwing butterfly is in the first stage of recovery from the edge of
extinction in coastal areas surrounding Brisbane. Its new lease of life has resulted from
the efforts of students and community groups planting caterpillar food vines in reserves
and backyards.
In 1870 the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly was reportedly found in great numbers in the
streets of Brisbane. Today no natural breeding sites are known between Caboolture and
Nerang. Extinctions have occurred between Noosa and the Mary River (Qld), and
between Grafton and Richmond (NSW).
PROBLEM: Richmond Birdwing Butterflies only lay their eggs on native Pararistolochia
vines. The leaves are the food for the caterpillar or larvae of this butterfly and they need
these particular leaves to be able to grow into mature larvae. They then form into a pupae
or chrysalis from which the adult butterfly emerges. The butterflies feed on the nectar of
the flowers of the Birdwing Vine and other flowers but the larvae will only eat the leaves
of this vine.
Most of these vines have disappeared with the clearing of the coastal rainforests.
Remaining butterflies mistake the introduced Dutchman’s pipe vine for the native
Pararistolochia vine and lay their eggs on it. The young caterpillars are killed by the
toxins in this introduced plant.
RESEARCH: CSIRO Double Helix Science club and NSW National Parks and Wildlife
Services began a project that encouraged school students and community groups to
plant thousands of native Pararistolochia vines in gardens and reserves between Grafton
and Maryborough. They encouraged the removal and destruction of Dutchman’s pipe
vines from gardens and bushland.
SOLUTION: Destroy all outbreaks of the Dutchman’s pipe vine. Plant a native
Pararistolochia vine or a Birdwing Vine (Aristolochia praevenosa) today and encourage
school, council and community groups to do the same. The vine grows best in semishade with protection from hot sun and wind. It can be grown on a fence or up a tree.
Frequent watering, good drainage and occasional applications of native plant fertiliser are
required.
Assemble a report on the Richmond Birdwing Butterfly under the following headings.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
4
Description – What is it? What does it look like?
Distribution & Habitat – Where is it found?
Food –
What does it eat?
Threats –
Why is its population declining?
Actions –
What can you do?
CASE STUDY – Student Investigation
In Queensland there are 14 bird, 16 mammal, 15 frog, 8 reptile, 2 butterfly and 4 fish species
that are currently under threat.
Investigate ONE of these species that is listed below.
Summarise your findings under the headings that you used for your report on the Richmond
Birdwing Butterfly.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Description – What is it? What does it look like?
Distribution & Habitat – Where is it found?
Food –
What does it eat?
Threats –
Why is it threatened?
Actions –
What can you do?
Your teacher may require you to report your findings to the class.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
Southern Cassowary (Casuarius casuarius johnsonii)
Gouldian Finch (Erthura gouldiae)
Regent Honeyeater (Xanthomyza phyrigia)
Coxen’s Fig Parrot (Cyclopsitta diopthalma coxeni)
Little Tern (Sterna albifrons)
Beach Thick-knee (Esacus magnirostris)
Golden-shouldered Parrot (Psephotus chrysopterygius)
Paradise Parrot (Psephotus pulcherrimus)
Mahogany Glider (Petaurus gracilis)
Northern bettong (Bettongia tropica)
Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis)
Ghost Bat (Macroderma gigas)
Bridled Nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata)
Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeagliae)
Northern hairy-nosed Wombat (Lasiorhinus krefftii)
Dusky Hopping Mouse (Notomys fuscus)
Northern Hopping Mouse (Notomys aquilo)
Julia Creek Dunnart (Sminthopsis douglasi)
Darling Downs Jewel Butterfly (Hypochrysops piceatus)
Australian Fritillary Butterfly (Argyreus hyperbius inconstans)
Waterfall Frog (Litoria nannotis)
Sharp-snouted Day Frog (Taudactylus acutirostris)
Mountain Mistfrog (Litoria nyakalensis)
Giant Barred Frog (Mixophyes iteratus)
Allan’s Skink (Lerista allanae)
Loggerhead Turtle (Caretta caretta)
Western Swamp Turtle (Pseudemydura umbriba)
Mary River Turtle (Elusor macrurus)
Red-finned Blue-Eye (Scaturiginichthys vermeilipinnis)
Grey Nurse Shark (Carcharias taurus)
Other examples can be found at
http://www.epa.qld.gov.au/
5
CREATIVE COMMONS LICENCE ELEMENTS
Attribution (BY)
You must credit the creator, the title and the licence the work is under. For
more information on how to attribute a work, see the “How to Attribute
Creative Commons Material” guide,
http://creativecommons.org.au/materials/attribution.pdf
Non-commercial (NC)
Any use of the work must be for non-commercial purposes only. This
means file sharing, educational use and film festivals are all permissible,
but advertising and for-profit uses are not.
Only verbatim copies of the work may be used. In other words, you can’t
change the work in any way. You need to get extra permission if you want
to crop a photo, edit text, or use a song in a film. Basically, any remixing is
not permissible.
Any new work produced using this material must be made available under
the same terms. So if you do remix a work, you have to release your new
work under the same licence. e.g. Attribution-Share Alike has to stay
Attribution-Share Alike.
No Derivative Works
(ND)
Share Alike (SA)
6