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Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report This document is the 7th in a series of annual reports and outlines the activities of Arid Recovery for the period from January to December 2004. Arid Recovery is a partnership between WMC Resources, University of Adelaide, SA Department for Environment and Heritage and the Friends of Arid Recovery which commenced in 1997. Copies of this report or further information may be obtained by contacting us or visiting our website. Arid Recovery PO Box 150 Roxby Downs South Australia, 5725 Phone: 08-8671 8282 Fax: 08-8671 9151 Email: [email protected] Web: www.aridrecovery.org.au Cover page photos: top row: Digging trenches for annual trapping – Photo: Yvette Mooney; second row L-R: Greater Bilby – Photo: Yvette Mooney; Poached Egg Daisy Close-up – Photo: Yvette Mooney; third row L-R: Poached Egg Daisies – Photo: Reece Pedler; Emmy Gerlach checking traps – Photo courtesy of The Monitor Newspaper; fourth row L-R: Brown Falcon – Photo: Jenny Stott; Baby Stick-nest Rat – Photo: Jenny Stott; fifth row L-R: Sturt Desert Pea – Photo: Jenny Stott; Gecko in hand – Photo: Andrew Breed Contents Objectives ........................................................................ 1 Conference Presentations During 2004 ................... 27 Major Achievements in 2004 ........................................ 4 Research Project Summaries ..................................... 28 The Arid Recovery Team .............................................. 5 Research Planned for 2005. ....................................... 36 The Arid Recovery Reserve .......................................... 6 Biological Monitoring ................................................. 37 Feral Animal Control ..................................................... 8 Birds ............................................................................. 39 Rabbits ........................................................................... 8 Small Vertebrate Monitoring .................................... 40 Cats and Foxes ............................................................ 10 Ecosystem Health: Landscape Function Analysis... 42 Vegetation Recovery .................................................... 12 Publicity, Education and Awareness ........................ 44 Permanent Vegetation Sites ...................................... 12 Volunteers and Community Involvement ............... 50 Seedling Recruitment Sites ....................................... 13 Look and Learn Visits ................................................ 50 Re-establishment of Native fauna ............................. 15 University of Adelaide .............................................. 51 Track Transects ........................................................... 17 Earthwatch .................................................................. 51 Annual Cage Trapping .............................................. 18 International Student Volunteers ............................. 51 Spotlighting ................................................................ 19 Friends of Arid Recovery .......................................... 52 Greater Stick-nest Rat ................................................ 20 Awards ........................................................................ 53 Burrowing Bettong ..................................................... 22 2004 Budget.................................................................... 54 Greater Bilby ............................................................... 23 Proposed 2005 Budget .................................................. 54 Western Barred Bandicoot ........................................ 24 Long Term Objectives and 2005 Workplan ............. 59 Research ......................................................................... 26 Appendix A: 2005 Workplan ...................................... 62 Current Research ........................................................ 26 Appendix B: Tables ...................................................... 65 Previously Published Research ................................ 27 Appendix C: Figures .................................................... 66 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Mission Statement To facilitate restoration of arid zone ecosystems through on ground works, applied research and industry/community partnerships Objectives To facilitate ecological restoration of arid ecosystems through: removal and exclusion of feral animals; recovery of existing native vegetation and landscape function; re-establishment of endemic species, particularly threatened species; monitoring and research of the processes of ecological restoration; establishment of a source of acclimatised animals for other arid zone re-introduction sites; and adaptive management based on monitoring outcomes. To provide transferable knowledge, information and technology for broadscale environmental management of Australia’s arid lands including: arid zone recovery trends and techniques; re-introduction and rehabilitation protocols; cost-effective large-scale feral animal control; identification of ecosystem services provided by reintroduced species; and encouragement and training of arid zone restoration ecologists. Apply the principles developed to demonstrate how mining, pastoralism, tourism and conservation organisations can work together to achieve tangible benefits from sustainable ecological outcomes through; increasing community and industry awareness of arid zone conservation issues; developing the profile of Arid Recovery as a demonstration of the value of these partnerships; developing and maintaining networks between stakeholders from all groups; facilitating the understanding and adoption of techniques developed by Arid Recovery; and capacity building of natural resources managers and industry support workers to apply principles and techniques developed by Arid Recovery across the rangelands. The project depends heavily on volunteer labour and is assisted by the local community, conservation organisations, students and indigenous groups. The Arid Recovery Steering Committee oversees the running of the project with a member of each founding organisation represented. A memorandum of understanding outlining the contributions from each partner for the next ten years was developed and signed by the partners in 2001. Arid Recovery was planned in stages to allow monitoring of project progress. A review of the project was conducted in 2003, as many of the original project actions were completed Project actions for the next five years were developed and their progress is outlined in Table 1 (next page). Image: Poached Egg Daisies in bloom in the Reserve – Photo: Brydie Hill Page 1 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 1. Arid Recovery project actions and their progress. Phase 1 is pre 2003 and Phase 2 is post 2003. Phase Details Start date End date Results so far Development of a 60km2 Reserve 1 Construction of a 14km² exclosure Aug 1997 Jan 1998 Exclosure constructed by contractors and volunteers 1 Removal of rabbits from 14km² exclosure Oct 1998 Jan 1999 All rabbits removed from exclosure after over 8000 hours of volunteer effort 1 Electrification of the fence and removal of cats and foxes from main exclosure Jan 1999 Mar 1999 Audio lures used to eradicate the last cat. No breach of fence to date. 1 Increase the size of the Reserve to 60km² May 1999 Dec 2000 First(8km²), second (8 km²) and northern (30km²) expansion areas fenced. 1 Remove all rabbits, cats and foxes from the expansion areas of the 60km² Reserve May 1999 Dec 2001 All cats and foxes were eradicated from the Reserve by April 2001. Establish and conduct effective monitoring of the restoration process 1 Establishment of a plant and animal monitoring system Aug 1997 Apr 1998 More than 300 plant and animal sites established 1 Conduct research on the restoration of ecological processes within the Reserve ongoing ongoing More than 22 research projects currently in progress. 2 Increase monitoring program to include landscape function analysis Aug 2004 ongoing Preliminary monitoring at standard monitoring sites conducted in 2004. 2 Establish an invertebrate monitoring program Jan 2004 Trial of ant monitoring procedures conducted in 2004 Restore and maintain ecological processes in the Reserve through the reintroduction of locally extinct species 1 Re-introduction of between 3 and 5 nationally threatened species Apr 1999 Apr 2000 Stick-nest rats in April 1999;bettongs in October 1999;bilbies in April 2000; western barred bandicoots in 2001. 2 Feasibility study for reintroduction of numbats Nov 2003 Nov 2004 Completed and a trial release is planned for 2005/6 2 Reintroduction of predators Apr 2004 1 Maintain rabbit, cat and fox free exclosure ongoing ongoing 1 rabbit found inside Arid Recovery and captured within 2 days of discovery in 2004 1 Maintain and manage reintroduced populations ongoing ongoing Initiation of research into indicators of carrying capacity and comparison of monitoring methods. 2 Set interim population limits Apr 2003 Page 2 Translocation proposal for woma pythons has been prepared with Adelaide Zoo and a release is planned for 2005 Research is currently being conducted into indicators of carrying capacity Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 1 continued. Arid Recovery project actions and their progress. Phase 1 is pre 2003 and Phase 2 is post 2003. Phase Details Start date End date Results so far Expand the existing Reserve 2 Fence the 26 km2 Red Lake expansion Aug 2004 Fence erection began in August 2004 and is scheduled for completion in 2005. Fence was rabbit proof by Dec 2004. 2 Remove cats and foxes in Red Lake expansion Dec 2003 Cats and foxes are being removed by shooting and trapping 2 Remove rabbits from Red Lake expansion Dec 2003 In 2004 over 750 rabbits were trapped and several hundred were killed by baiting, shooting and warren fumigation Expand the restoration process outside the Reserve 2 Design and test a cheaper cat, fox and rabbit proof fence Dec 2003 Nov 2004 Fence design has been tested and finalised and is being used to fence the Red Lake expansion. 2 Trial release of bilbies outside the Reserve Mar 2004 ongoing 12 bilbies were released in June, 2 are still being monitored 2 Establishment of a regional buffer zone Jan 1999 ongoing Aerial baiting trials conducted in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Education and Awareness 1 Increase community awareness and participation in arid zone conservation Jun 1999 ongoing Viewing hide, new viewing platform, self guided walkway constructed. Site based eco-tours began in 2002. 1 Educate and train future arid zone ecologists ongoing ongoing 13 scholarship students, 5 honours students, 1 PhD student and 11 university groups hosted to date 1 Establish an operational and liveable field research station for students, visitors and collaborative researchers Jan 2000 Sep 2004 Bathroom 2002, solar power and gas cooking facilities 2003, decking complete 2004. 1 Communicate results with stakeholder and professional groups ongoing ongoing 5 scientific papers in peer reviewed journals, 21 conference presentations, 355 media items to date 1 Increase links with industries represented by all partners ongoing ongoing Ongoing program of visits by interest groups from different industries Page 3 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Major Achievements in 2004 During 2004 many achievements were made at Arid Recovery. The most notable include: External bilby release The first trial release of the Greater Bilby, a nationally threatened species, outside the Reserve was conducted this year. After baiting for feral predators, 12 bilbies of different age classes and sex were released on the other side of the fence. Seven bilbies succumbed to predation by feral cats. These unfortunate results illustrate the need for the development of effective broad-scale feral cat control if bilbies are to survive in the region without exclusion fencing. Four bilbies were still known to be alive at 100 days post release (2 male, 2 female) with one female having produced three young. This project is still in progress with the survival of the remaining bilbies being monitored daily or weekly. Another important outcome will be to assess whether these “naïve” bilbies can learn to adapt to the threat of predation, a threat they do not face within the Reserve. Arid Recovery has already established a successful population of bilbies inside the Reserve and compiled a significant amount of valuable information for the recovery of the species. However, maintaining large fenced areas indefinitely is not a long term solution to broad-scale ecosystem recovery. Projects such as this trial release provide information essential for the re-establishment of natural populations of bilbies outside fenced reserves. Hosting international student volunteers Three groups of international student volunteers from the United States visited the Arid Recovery Reserve to complete the conservation component of their college course work in Australia. Students were involved in installing foot-mesh on the inside the fence, building the expansion, rabbit control work, monitoring populations of reintroduced species and recording differences in food resources inside and outside the Reserve. Their involvement in these activities gave the students an understanding of the impact of introduced species on native wildlife in Australia and the importance of controlling these threatening processes. In addition, look and learn visits from other industry, community and indigenous groups were also hosted by Arid Recovery this year. Award winning research Students and staff conducting research at Arid Recovery have had a very successful year. Five papers were published in peer reviewed scientific journals. Katherine Moseby was awarded a travel scholarship from the Foundation for a Rabbit Free Future. Janet Newell won best scientific poster on restoration ecology at the Ecological Society of Australia’s annual conference. Alex James, an honours student at Arid Recovery won the University of New South Wales medal for Biological Sciences, the University's highest possible recognition of an undergraduate student and was runner up for best scientific poster at the Australian Rangelands Society annual conference in Alice Springs. Friends of Parks award Friends of Arid Recovery were presented with a special award for their contribution to feral animal control at the Friends of Parks forum in Clare this year. Arid Recovery also won a KESAB award for Environmental Education Action, and were a finalist for the Best Community based Environmental Project or initiative in the United Nations World Environment Day Awards. Following our success in the Prime Ministers Awards for Business and Community Partnerships last year, Arid Recovery Director, David Paton, gave a presentation at this years South Australian awards presentation and a display was staffed by Friends of Arid Recovery volunteers. Expansion of the Reserve to 86km2 Fencing of the Red Lake expansion area commenced in 2004. Pen trials of a number of different fence designs commenced in 2003 and were completed in 2004. Trials were used to observe whether cats or foxes could penetrate each design and identify weak points. The final design was a lower replica of the current Reserve fence. The advantages of the chosen design is that it was cheaper to build than the current Reserve fence and does not form a barrier to movement of kangaroos and emus. The Red Lake expansion fence was rabbit proof by December 2004. Page 4 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Project officer Jeff Turpin (centre) processing captured reptiles during 2004’s annual small vertebrate survey with Dillan Koerner (left) and Tom McIntosh (right). Photo: Katherine Moseby The Arid Recovery Team The Arid Recovery team is made up of committee members and project officers. Arid Recovery supports two full time positions consisting of one Project Coordinator and part time Project Officers. In 2003 a casual position for a scientific advisor was developed. The role of the scientific advisor is to publish outstanding research and provide support for the project coordinator. Students from universities around Australia were involved in research projects and other Arid Recovery activities in 2004. Staff Brydie Hill – Project Coordinator Jeff Turpin – Project Officer Katherine Moseby – Casual Scientific Advisor Jason Briffa – Casual Feral Animal Control Officer Nicki Munro – Casual Project Officer Marty Kittel – Casual Maintenance Officer Steering Committee Members in 2004 Katherine Moseby – Friends of Arid Recovery representative Dr John Read – WMC Land Management Department representative Steve Green and Chris Schultz – WMC Environment Section representatives Dr David Paton – University of Adelaide representative Peter Copley and Geoff Axford – Department for Environment and Heritage representatives Students Laura Cunningham – University of Tasmania (Arid Recovery research) Cara Reece – University of Melbourne (Arid Recovery research) Janet Newell – University of Adelaide (PhD) Alex James – University of NSW (Honours) Carly Bishop – University of Queensland (WMC 2003/4 summer program) Page 5 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report The Arid Recovery Reserve The Arid Recovery Reserve currently comprises 60km² of arid land (Figure 1). Many habitats are present within the Reserve including chenopod (saltbush/bluebush) inter-dunal swales, sandhill wattle and hop bush dunes, native pine and mulga sandplains, canegrass swamps, canegrass dunes and claypans. The Reserve is bordered to the north by the Dog Fence, the east by the Borefield Road and to the south by the Olympic Dam Special Mine Lease. The northern boundary of the Reserve was re-aligned with assistance from the Dog Fence Board in 2000. The Reserve is situated partly on the Olympic Dam Mine Lease (7km²) and partly on adjoining pastoral properties including Roxby Downs Station (49km²) and Stuart Creek Station (2km²) leased by WMC Resources, and privately leased Mulgaria Station (1km²) and Billa Kalina Station (1km²). The Reserve lies within the boundaries of three soil conservation board districts namely Kingoonya, Marla-Oodnadatta and Marree. In order to facilitate manageable and effective rabbit control, the Reserve was incrementally fenced in sections until the whole 60km² was finally enclosed in December 2000. The area is divided into a 14km² electrified main exclosure where endangered species are first re-introduced, two 8km² expansion areas adjoining the main exclosure and a northern 30km² expansion area. The gate between the first and northern expansions was opened in 2004 giving animals in these exclosures access to 38 km² (Figure 1). The 8km2 second expansion has been retained as a control site, from both rabbits, cat, foxes and re-introduced species. With the exception of a few short term incursions by single rabbits, the entire 60km² Reserve has been free of all rabbits, cats and foxes since December 2002. A 26km² expansion to the north of the Reserve was initiated in 2003 (Figure 1). The Red Lake expansion is being fenced with a rabbit, cat and fox proof fence and all rabbits, cats and foxes are currently being removed. The expansion is being fenced using a cheaper fence design that still excludes rabbits cats and foxes. Fence pen trials indicated that a 1.15m high fence with floppy top, similar to the current fence but shorter, was largely effective against cats and foxes. A cheaper netting imported from Asia was originally going to be used to further reduce cost but after a long period of delay for importation, the cheaper mesh turned out to be of very poor quality. The fence then had to be reinforced with 30mm BHP wire mesh, which considerably added to the expense and the amount of time taken to erect the fence. The Red Lake expansion incorporates land from Red Lake Paddock on Stuart Creek Station (approx 22km²) and Billa Kalina Station (approx 4 km²). The expansion is being developed to provide an additional area of land rehabilitated from the effects of cattle, rabbits, cats and foxes as a precautionary measure against potential future impacts of mining activities on the southern boundary of the Reserve. The Red Lake expansion will also reduce population pressure within the current Reserve and provide unique opportunities for further research into rabbit control methods, predator prey-interactions and dispersal mechanisms from the current Reserve, such as a one way gate system. Image courtesy of WMC Resources Page 6 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Red Lake Expansion Northern Expansion Internal Gate Second Expansion First Expansion Main Exclosure Original Fence Red Lake Fence Dog Fence Old Dog Fence Figure 1. The 60 km2 Arid Recovery Reserve showing the original exclosure and all expansion stages. All land between the old Dog Fence and the mine lease fence is situated on Roxby Downs Station leased by WMC Resources. The old Dog Fence (red line) has been realigned along the northern boundary of the project. The light blue line represents the boundary of the 26km2 Red Lake expansion to be completed in 2005. Page 7 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Rabbit control in the Red Lake expansion has allowed the collection of data on the demographics of the local rabbit population. Photo: Reece Pedler Feral Animal Control Rabbits Rabbits were completely eradicated from the 60 km2 Reserve in late 2001. One rabbit gained entry to the northern expansion in December 2004, presumably by entering though a hole dug under the fence from the inside by a bilby. The rabbit was captured and killed within two days of discovery. In 2004, foot netting was attached to the inside of 10km of the Reserve fenceline, in areas of high bilby activity to reduce fence breaches. The foot mesh was successful at stopping digging under the fence where it was installed. However, bilbies have since dug under the fence at a number of other areas. The remainder of the external fence will have internal foot mesh installed in 2005. Spotlight transects indicate that rabbit densities outside the Reserve increase periodically and in January 2004 they increased up to the lower densities recorded pre-Rabbit Calicivirus Disease (RCD) (WMC Environment data 2004; Figure 2 and Figure 3). However, in April rabbit densities declined due to extended dry conditions followed by a suspected RCD outbreak in June. Rabbit densities began to increase again in the second half of 2004 in response to good winter rain. Spotlight counts underestimate true rabbit density and should be used as an indication of temporal trends only. Rabbit control in the Red Lake expansion began in 2003 and was conducted intensively from December 2003 and throughout all of 2004. 760 rabbits have been trapped and over 250 shot within the Red Lake expansion, including 190 shot by professional shooters volunteering their time for 3 nights in January 2005. Two runs of poison oats have been laid with an estimated kill rate of 60-80%. RCD is thought to have reduced rabbit numbers in the Red Lake expansion during winter just before breeding was recorded. However, rabbits then bred continuously from July 2004 until February 2005, in response to good environmental conditions and this hampered eradication efforts. Delays in the erection of rabbit proof fencing also effected the eradication of rabbits from the expansion. Rabbit control work is continuing and we hope to have the area rabbit free by the end of 2005. Data collected during rabbit control work in the Red Lake expansion is being complied for two scientific publications, one on the effect of RCD on rabbit populations and demography, the other on the most efficient methods of removing rabbits and their effects on non-target species. Page 8 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report 700 # rabbits per sqkm 600 500 400 300 200 100 Apr-04 Apr-03 Apr-02 Apr-01 Apr-00 Apr-99 Apr-98 Apr-97 Apr-96 Apr-95 Apr-94 Apr-93 Apr-92 Apr-91 Apr-90 Apr-89 0 Figure 2. Rabbit density (no per km2) at Roxby Downs showing decline after the arrival of RCD in 1996. Data courtesy of WMC Environment Section, long term monitoring data from quarterly counts. 80 #rabbits per sqkm 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 Oct-04 Oct-03 Oct-02 Oct-01 Oct-00 Oct-99 Oct-98 Oct-97 Oct-96 Oct-95 0 Figure 3. Rabbit density (no per km2) spotlight counts conducted by WMC staff since the arrival of RCD in 1996. Shown at a lower scale than Figure 2 to illustrate post RCD changes in rabbit density. Data courtesy of WMC Environment Section, long term monitoring data from quarterly counts. Page 9 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Cats and Foxes Cats and foxes were completely eradicated from the main 14km 2 exclosure in 1998 and the entire Reserve in early 2001. No cats or foxes have since gained access to the Reserve. Twelve permanent traps, with audio lures and soft leg-hold traps are set immediately outside the 34km Reserve fence. These traps are checked daily using remote telemetry tracking. During 2004, 56 foxes and 23 cats were captured using this method compared to 10 foxes and 32 cats in 2003 (Table 2; trap nights 4208, overall trap success 1.9%). A further 19 cats and one fox were shot in the vicinity of the Reserve in 2004 increasing the total number of cats and foxes trapped or shot from around the Reserve to 98 in 2004 compared to 35 in 2003. The number of foxes trapped increased in March, April and May in 2004 (Figure 4) after a period of no fox captures from August to December in 2003. Table 2. Number of cats, foxes and rabbits caught in traps set around the Arid Recovery Reserve in each year and trap success rate for each species. 2001 2002 2003 2004 (3012 trap nights) (3012 trap nights) (4629 trap nights) (4208 trap nights) # % trap success # % trap success # % trap success # % trap success Cat 19 0.6 16 0.5 32 0.7 23 0.5 Fox 25 0.8 22 0.7 10 0.2 56 1.3 0.04 cats foxes 0.035 trap success 0.03 0.025 0.02 0.015 0.01 0.005 Dec Nov Oct Sept Aug Jul Jun May Apr Mar Feb Jan 0 Figure 4. Trap success for each month of 2004 in cat and fox traps around the Arid Recovery Reserve. There are 12 traps set permanently around the Reserve. Aerial Baiting Trials Aerial baiting for foxes was conducted in 2004 in conjunction with the Department for Environment and Heritage (DEH). This has formed part of a series of 1080 baiting trials working towards the development of a cost effective large scale system for control of cats and foxes. The 2002 and 2003 trials were conducted under an experimental license held by the Western Australia Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), using specially designed cat baits. The 2002 study baited an area of 600 km2, within a 10km radius buffer zone around the Reserve. Changes in cat activity before and after baiting were monitored within the baited zone and in control areas through track counts, conducted monthly for 6 months before and after baiting. The baiting was successful and no cat activity was detected within the buffer zone for three months after the baiting. Page 10 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report In 2003, the baited area was increased to 1800 km², within a 20km radius of the Reserve to establish whether the time taken for reinvasion would increase. In 2002, dried kangaroo fox baits were shallowly buried within the baited area three weeks prior to the baiting, to reduce the non-target uptake of cat baits by foxes. The fox baiting was not conducted in 2003 as cats were found to take these baits in 2002. This also allowed us to determine whether cat baiting had any effect on fox activity in the buffer zone. Track transects indicated no change in cat activity inside the baited zone. However, fox activity declined after baiting. Baiting 7 baited control 6 5 4 (4) 3 2 (4) 1 Oct-04 Sep-04 Aug-04 Jul-04 Jun-04 May-04 Apr-04 Mar-04 0 Feb-04 mean # cat track presence recorded per site In May 2004 dried kangaroo meat fox baits were aerially distributed over 1800 km² (within a 20km radius of the Reserve, the same area as 2003) at a density of 5 baits per km 2. Track transects showed a similar response to that of 2003 with no significant change in cat activity in the baited areas after baiting (Figure 5) and a decline in fox activity after baiting (Figure 6). However, this effect was less pronounced in 2004 when a lower density of baits were used. Further trials are proposed for 2005, increasing the density of baits and the frequency of baiting. 10 Baiting baited control 9 8 (4) 7 6 (4) 5 4 3 (4) 2 1 Oct-04 Sep-04 Aug-04 Jul-04 Jun-04 May-04 Apr-04 Mar-04 0 Feb-04 mean # fox track presence recorded per site Figure 5. The average number of 200m long segments containing cat tracks for 5 control and 5 baited transects (unless otherwise specified by number in brackets). Bars denote one standard error. Figure 6. The average number of 200m long segments containing fox tracks for 5 control and 5 baited transects (unless otherwise specified by number in brackets). Bars denote one standard error. Page 11 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Left: Native stock Right: Fleshy groundsel Photos: Yvette Mooney Vegetation Recovery One hundred and ninety-three millimetres of rainfall was recorded in 2004, slightly over the annual average (Figure 7). Very little rain fell in the first four months of the year (8mm) creating a relatively dry environment after a hot summer. However, the large volume of rain that fell in May and June (82mm) resulted in an amazing burst of winter flowering not seen in the region for 10 years (J Read pers comm.). Due to the unusually early flowering of some species they were recorded for the first time in our annual vegetation monitoring. 300 rainfall (mm) 250 200 150 100 50 0 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Figure 7. Annual rainfall recorded in the Roxby Downs region. Rainfall was recorded at the Olympic Dam Mine situated 5km from the Reserve in 1997, 1998, and 1999 and from a rain gauge established at the Reserve from 2000 onwards. Average annual rainfall is 160mm and is represented by a dotted line. Permanent Vegetation Sites Twenty-four vegetation monitoring sites, 12 inside and 12 outside the Reserve, were established by Arid Recovery and DEH staff in 1997. Jessup transect, step point, photopoint and species presence data were recorded. Due to the considerable expansion of the Reserve, some of the original outside sites, situated in rabbit and stock areas, were incorporated within the Reserve. To overcome this, 5 replacement sites were established outside the Reserve in 2000. A further 5 sites were also placed within the second expansion in 2002 to act as control sites where no rabbits, stock or re-introduced species are present. Thus, at present there are 12 sites located within the main exclosure, 11 outside the Reserve and 7 within the second expansion. These sites are monitored annually to allow comparisons of vegetation change inside and outside the Reserve. The vegetation monitoring data up to 2003 was incorporated into an Arid Recovery database in 2004. Detailed analysis of the data will be undertaken in 2005. Preliminary investigation of the data showed a large difference between the number of Kerosene Grass Aristida holathera plants inside the Reserve compared to outside the Reserve in 2002. 2002 was a very dry year (Figure 7) and Jessup transects at sites within the Reserve recorded three times as many Kerosene Grass plants as outside the Reserve. These grasses provide both food and cover for native species which may be particularly important during extended dry periods. Page 12 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report 160 inside outside No. plants per site 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0 1997 2001 2002 2003 Figure 8. Number of Kerosene Grass plants recorded along Jessup transects inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Seedling Recruitment Sites Funding was obtained from the Native Vegetation Fund (DEH) to determine the abundance and growth rate of selected plant seedlings at sites under four grazing treatments. Grazing treatments include the following: rabbit grazing only – on the mine lease cattle and rabbit grazing – on surrounding pastoral properties grazing by re-introduced mammal species - inside the main exclosure of the Reserve no grazing by rabbits, cattle or re-introduced species (control) – inside the second expansion of the Reserve Plant species sampled were mulga Acacia aneura, native plum Santalum lanceolatum, native apricot Pittosporum phylliraeoides, silver cassia Senna artemisioides, umbrella wattle, Acacia ligulata and narrow-leaved hopbush Dodonaea viscosa. These species were those known or thought to be preferred by rabbits, stock or re-introduced species. Ten sites were chosen for each species in each grazing treatment. At each site the number of seedlings were recorded within a set search radius of the adult tree. At each site a selected number of individual seedlings were measured to determine growth rates. The project was initiated in 2000 and in 2004, growth measurements were taken for sandhill wattle and native plum. Statistical analyses were carried out on previous years’ data in 2004. Mulga recruitment appeared to be substantially inhibited by rabbit and cattle grazing. There were significantly more sites with young mulga plants (less than 50cm height) at sites inside the Arid Recovery Reserve than outside the Reserve where there is cattle and rabbit grazing. There was also a significant increase in the number of sites with young mulga plants present in both areas inside the Reserve between visits, whereas outside the Reserve the number of sites with young mulgas declined (Figure 9). Similarly, silver cassia recruitment also appeared to be substantially inhibited by cattle, and in particular, rabbit grazing. The number of sites with young silver cassia plants was significantly higher inside the Reserve than outside, and the number of sites with young plants increased significantly inside the Reserve between visits, but not outside. Native apricot and plum did not differ substantially in the number of small plants per site between the grazing treatments. Numbers of native apricot increased at all sites between surveys. Although not significant, the number of small sandhill wattles per site was higher for the re-introduced species treatment, and increased between surveys, but remained low where there were cattle and rabbits. Narrow-leafed hopbush showed no differences in numbers of seedlings between grazing treatments, but there were very significant changes between surveys (2000 and 2003). The number of small narrow-leaved hopbush plants per site increased significantly under three of the four grazing treatments, but declined where there were rabbits only. Bullock bush was surveyed only once and there was no significant difference in the number of small plants per site for each grazing treatment. Page 13 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Mulga Seedling Photo: Arid Recovery These results indicate that excluding rabbits and stock benefit the germination and survival of mulga, sandhill wattle and silver cassia. Whilst no discernable change in the number of seedlings or sub adult plants was detected in bullock bush, narrow-leafed hop-bush, native plum or native apricots between the grazing treatments and controls, these species may show a change in the future when rabbits and stock are excluded for a longer period. To date, re-introduced native herbivores have not been found to have a negative impact on the recruitment of the seven perennial plant species but future increases in density of re-introduced species may lead to detectable changes. Pr of >1 Seedling per site 0.8 reintroduced rabbits rabbits and cattle control 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 0 2000 2003 Figure 9 The number of sites with mulga seedlings in 2000 and 2003 for each treatment. Control sites are inside the second expansion of the Reserve where there are no cattle, rabbits or reintroduced species. Number of sites is expressed as a probability of more than one seedling per site. Page 14 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Spinifex hopping mouse Photo: Yvette Mooney Re-establishment of Native fauna At least 27 species of native mammal once inhabited the Roxby Downs region but over 60% have become locally or completely extinct since European settlement. Some bird species have also declined and many plant species are now rare in the vicinity of the Reserve. Arid Recovery aims to restore as much of the original fauna and flora as possible to the Reserve, through natural re-establishment and planned re-introductions. Re-introductions are research-based to obtain information on how the animals survive in the arid zone, the best methods for reintroduction and whether long term re-establishment is possible. Some species such as the Spinifex Hopping-mouse have re-established naturally in the Reserve. A sub-fossil deposit found 30km from Roxby Downs was used to determine which mammal species formerly occurred in the region (see below). Globally extinct species are in italics, species that have already been reintroduced are in bold and species that could potentially be re-introduced are underlined. Pig-footed Bandicoot Lesser Stick-nest Rat Short-tailed Hopping Mouse Long-tailed Hopping Mouse Goulds Mouse Greater Stick-nest Rat Burrowing Bettong Greater Bilby Western Barred Bandicoot Golden Bandicoot Kultarr Ampurta Common Brush-tailed Possum Long-haired Rat Rare bird species such as the bush thick-knee and plains wanderer have also been recorded from the Roxby Downs region in the past and could potentially be re-introduced into the Reserve. Woma pythons and numbats also formerly inhabited the region and plans are in place to conduct trial releases of these species in 2005.Four threatened mammal species have been re-introduced to the Reserve to date. Re-introductions began in 1998 with the Greater Stick-nest Rat followed by the Burrowing Bettong in 1999, Greater Bilby in 2000 and the Western Barred Bandicoot in 2001. All re-introductions were initially into the main 14km² exclosure. Page 15 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report A bilby is released into the Reserve Photo: Yvette Mooney During 2001, some bilbies, bettongs and stick-nest rats were translocated from the main exclosure into the first expansion area. During 2002, bilbies and bettongs were also transferred from the main exclosure to the northern expansion area. In 2003, captive-bred bilbies and stick-nest rats were reintroduced into the northern expansion, wild-born bilbies and stick-nest rats were transferred from the main exclosure into the northern expansion and a small number of bilbies were also transferred from the main exclosure to the first expansion. Bilbies started digging under the internal fence between the first expansion and the northern expansion, in April 2003. To reduce population pressure in the small first expansion the gate between the two exclosures was opened in June 2003 to allow movement of animals between these two areas. In early 2004, a small number of animals were found dead on the surface and bilbies stopped breeding. These events were believed to be in response to a lack of summer rainfall resulting in very dry conditions after a hot summer. A release of 12 bilbies outside of the Reserve was conducted in June 2004. A summary of releases, movements and population estimates is presented in Table 3. Table 3. Population estimates as of Dec 2004 and transfers to date within the Reserve. Species Burrowing Bettong Greater Bilby Main Exclosure (14km2) First Expansion Second Expansion Northern Expansion (8 km2) (8 km2) (30 km2) 150-200 (30 released) 50 (8 trans. 2001) 150 (9 released) 20-30 (2 released 13 trans. 2002 2 trans. 2003) - - 100 (27 trans. 2002 2 trans 2003) 150 (3 released and 3 trans. 2002; 8 released 4 trans. 2003; 15 released 2004) Greater Stick-nest Rat 150 (100 released) 30 (15 trans. 2001) - 50 (12 released 7 trans. 2003) Western Barred Bandicoot 30-40 (10 released) - - - Monitoring methods for re-introduced species included track and spotlighting transects, a cage trapping transect, radio-tracking of animals transferred between exclosures, remote scanning plates, spotlight assisted catching and opportunistic trapping. Page 16 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Track Transects Track transects were conducted quarterly, or when conditions permitted (for walking transects a windy night followed by a still night is required) in 2004. The location of transects can be seen in Figure 1. Figures Figure 10Figure 12 show the results for track transects for 2004. Track activity in the first expansion was not monitored during 2004 but was monitored in January 2005 and these results are presented here. Results are discussed specifically for each reintroduced species below. bilbies removed bilbies and bettongs removed 50 SNR BB GB tracks per km 40 WBB 30 20 10 Sep-04 May-04 Jan-04 Sep-03 May-03 Jan-03 Sep-02 May-02 Jan-02 Sep-01 May-01 Jan-01 Sep-00 May-00 0 Figure 10. Number of tracks per kilometre of the four re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong, GB is greater bilby and WBB is western barred bandicoot) within the 14km2 main exclosure of the Reserve. Total distance of walking transect is approximately 10km. 25 SNR BB GB gate opened tracks per km 20 15 10 5 Jan-05 Oct-04 Jul-04 Apr-04 Jan-04 Oct-03 Jul-03 Apr-03 Jan-03 Oct-02 Jul-02 Apr-02 0 Figure 11. Number of tracks per kilometre of re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong and GB is greater bilby) within the 8km2 first expansion. Total distance of walking transect is approximately 5.5km. The gate between the first and northern expansion was opened in July 2003 to allow animals to naturally disperse into the northern expansion. Page 17 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report bilbies released 40 SNR BB GB tracks per km 30 rats released bilbies released 20 10 Dec-04 Sep-04 Jun-04 Mar-04 Dec-03 Sep-03 Jun-03 Mar-03 0 Figure 12. Number of tracks per kilometre of the four re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong and GB is greater bilby) within the 30km2 northern expansion. Total distance of transects driven by quad bike is approximately 16km. Annual Cage Trapping Eighty-four permanent trap sites have been established adjacent to roads in the main exclosure and are trapped every September for one night each over a three night period (total number of trap nights is 84: Table 4). Trap success refers to individuals only, re-captures within a session are excluded. In 2003, 29 trapping sites were established in the first expansion, these sites are trapped annually in September for one night (Table 5). Results are discussed specifically for each reintroduced species below. Table 4. Trap success of re-introduced species in the main exclosure during annual cage trapping (n=84). Species 2001 trap success 2002 trap success 2003 trap success 2004 trap success Burrowing Bettong 26% 24% 42.8% 40.5% Greater Bilby 0% 2.4% 0% 1.2% 2.4% 2.4% 4.8% 0% 0% 1.2% 0% 0% 28.6% 30.1% 47.6% 41.7% Greater Stick-nest Rat Western Barred Bandicoot Total trap success Table 5. Trap success of re-introduced species in the first expansion during annual cage trapping (n=29). Species 2003 trap success 2004 trap success Burrowing Bettong 20.7% 34.5% Greater Bilby 3.5% 0% 0% 0% 24.2% 34.5% Greater Stick-nest Rat Total trap success Page 18 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Spotlighting Spotlighting transects were conducted quarterly throughout 2004 in the main exclosure and twice in the northern expansion. Results are shown in Figures Figure 13 and Figure 14 and are discussed separately for each reintroduced species below. 0.9 bettong bilby stick-nest rat 0.8 # animals per km 0.7 0.6 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Oct-04 Aug-04 Jun-04 Apr-04 Feb-04 Dec-03 Oct-03 Aug-03 Jun-03 Apr-03 0 Figure 13. Number of reintroduced species seen per km spotlighting within the 14km2 main exclosure. Total distance of the driven transect is 26km. 0.6 bettong bilby stick-nest rat # animals per km 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.2 0.1 Sep-04 Aug-04 Jul-04 Jun-04 May-04 Apr-04 Mar-04 Feb-04 Jan-04 Dec-03 Nov-03 Oct-03 Sep-03 0 Figure 14. Number of reintroduced species seen per km spotlighting within the 30km 2 northern expansion. Total distance of the driven transect is 16.5km. Page 19 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Greater Stick-nest Rat Photo: Hafiz Stewart Greater Stick-nest Rat The Greater Stick-nest Rat Leporillus conditor is a native rodent that was once widespread in arid and semi-arid areas. After European settlement stick-nest rats became extinct on the mainland and survived naturally on only two off-shore islands in SA. DEH conducted a re-introduction program for stick-nest rats which successfully re-introduced stick-nest rats to 3 additional off-shore islands near Eyre Peninsula. The Arid Recovery Reserve is currently the most successful mainland re-introduction site. One hundred stick-nest rats were released into the main exclosure in April and June 1999 (Table 6). Stick-nest rats are monitored through trapping at nest sites, opportunistic trapping and track transects. Since they were released 114 Roxby-born stick-nest rats have been recorded in the Reserve. Twelve individual stick-nest rats were captured in 2004 during trapping at 20 permanent nest trapping sites in the main exclosure. This number is much lower than that of 2003 (39), and is not believed to be a true indication of the number of stick-nest rats within the main exclosure due to trap interference by bettongs. Trapping is undertaken in April and September. During the April 2004 monitoring session there was extensive interference with the traps by bettongs and only one stick-nest rat was trapped, despite evidence (both vocal and faecal) to support stick-nest rat activity in 95% of the nests monitored (Figure 15). The dry summer preceding the April trapping meant there was little food available for bettongs resulting in their persistent attempts to remove bait from traps set for stick-nest rats. The September trapping session incorporated a number of devices to exclude bettongs and resulted in a slightly better trap success rate. However, the number of stick-nest rats trapped was not consistent with the number of active nests (Figure 15) and is likely to be an under representation of the actual population size. We are currently designing different bettong exclusion devices to be tested in 2005 that should effectively keep out all adult bettongs. Track counts indicated a decline in the track activity of stick-nest rats in the main exclosure during summer 2003/4 followed by a steady increase throughout 2004 (Figure 10). The seven adult female rats captured during the September trapping all showed signs of breeding, supporting an increase in stick-nest rat numbers inside the main exclosure. An increase in stick-nest rat activity was also seen in the first expansion, with the number of tracks per kilometre the highest recorded since they peaked in September 2002 (Figure 11). Track transects in the northern expansion area showed no stick-nest rat activity during 2004. However, this is more likely to be due to the track transects being in inappropriate habitat rather than no rats being present. Sticknest rats prefer the chenopod shrubland habitat present in the swale areas whereas the track transects run across a series of interconnected dunes (Figure 1). Stick-nest rat tracks have been seen in the northern expansion areas away from the transects. The northern expansion has large swale areas with more appropriate rat habitat, searches of these areas for nests may provide more information about the distribution of stick-nest rats in the northern expansion. Stick-nest rats were seen in the northern expansion area during spotlighting counts in swale and mulga habitats. Track transects and radio-tracking data indicate that rats undergo a summer die-off each year followed by a gradual increase in numbers over the winter months after breeding. Breeding activity was evident in the main exclosure during September in 2004. Captures of 3 juveniles, 3 lactating females (one with young attached to teats) and 2 females showing signs of pregnancy indicate that the population may have been responding to winter rainfall after the dry period in early 2004. Page 20 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 6. Greater Stick-nest Rat releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. Year Exclosure Total M F Origin 1998 Main 10 5 5 Reevesby Is 1999 Main 84 38 46 Reevesby Is 6 4 2 Monarto 2001 First 19 8 11 Roxby 2003 North 16 10 6 Monarto 7 2 5 Roxby 50 active nests 45 stick-nest rat captures 40 total number 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 Apr-03 Sep-03 Apr-04 Sep-04 Figure 15. Total number of Greater Stick-nest Rat captures and number of nests showing activity (total number of nests is 20) in 2003 and 2004 monitoring. Page 21 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Burrowing Bettong, Photo: Seonie Lyon Burrowing Bettong Twenty-nine Burrowing Bettongs Bettongia lesueur 19 from Bernier Island in WA and 10 from Herrison Prong in Western Australia, were released into the main exclosure of the Reserve between October 1999 and September 2000 (Table 7). Bettongs bred continuously after release until October 2002. The very dry conditions recorded in 2002 resulted in a slowing of reproductive activity during the year. Breeding activity resumed in 2003 and continued throughout 2004 despite dry conditions at the beginning of the year. Eighty female and 140 male bettong were caught in the Reserve in 2004. Forty-four per cent of adult females captured had pouch young. Eight bettongs were translocated into the first expansion in late 2001 and a further 27 animals from the main exclosure were translocated into the northern expansion in October and November 2002 (Table 7). A total of 277 new Roxby-born bettongs have been captured in the Reserve since first release and the current population estimate stands at between 300 and 350 individuals (Table 3). Bettong track activity in the main exclosure increased at the start of 2004 and then remained at 25-30 tracks per kilometre for the rest of the year (Figure 10). Trap success during annual trapping inside the main exclosure was similar to that of 2003 (42% in 2003 and 40% in 2004; Table 4) suggesting that the bettong population in the main exclosure has remained relatively stable throughout the year. Bettong track activity showed an increase in the first expansion (Figure 11). An increase in trap success for bettongs during annual trapping in the first expansion was also recorded (Table 5). A slight decline in bettong track activity was recorded in the northern expansion area of the Reserve (Figure 11). However, this is not of concern as bettongs were the most frequently sighted reintroduced animal during spotlighting in the northern expansion (Figure 14) and increases in bettong track activity were recorded in the first expansion which is not physically separated from the northern expansion. Bettongs made up the majority of captures during annual trapping in 2004 (Tables Table 4 and Table 5). Bettongs are extremely easy to trap. They also frequently travel along the tracks where traps are set which may increase their likelihood of capture. Table 7. Burrowing Bettong releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. Year Exclosure Total M F Origin 1999 Main 10 3 7 Heirrison Prong 2000 Main 19 8 11 Bernier Island 2001 First 8 4 4 Roxby 2002 North 27 14 13 Roxby 2003 North 2 2 - Roxby Page 22 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Greater Bilby Photo: Bree Galbraith Greater Bilby Nine (5F, 4M) Greater Bilbies Macrotis lagotis from the Monarto Zoo captive breeding facility were released into the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve in April 2000. In 2003, a further 8 (4M, 4F) bilbies from Monarto were released into the northern expansion and in 2004, 15 (4F 11M) bilbies from Thistle Island (SA) were released into the northern expansion. The total number of animals released to date is 32 (13F, 19M; Table 8). Since the initial release, 145 new Roxby-born individuals have been captured (April 2000 - December 2004). With several research projects focussing on bilbies this year an increased trapping effort was undertaken and 68 new individuals were caught in 2004. Continual reproduction was recorded between release in April 2000 and February 2002 and bilby numbers increased considerably during that time. During this period bilbies were transferred between the main exclosure and adjacent expansion areas of the Reserve (Table 8). In 2004, 15 bilbies from Thistle Island were released into the northern expansion area. Four males died within two weeks of the release and two of these had suffered considerable weight loss, but cause of death is currently unknown. The surviving bilbies were in good condition when checked in December 2004. Twelve bilbies were also removed from the main exclosure for the first release of bilbies outside the Reserve (see research section for further details about the external release). A decline in bilby track activity was recorded in the main exclosure and northern expansion in early 2004 (Figures Figure 10 and Figure 12). Track activity in the main exclosure continued to decline and fewer bilbies were seen spotlighting in 2004 compared to 2003 (Figure 13). The dry conditions in early 2004 had considerable impact on the main exclosure population, 3 carcasses of young animals were found in the main exclosure in April. No bilby breeding activity was recorded in the Reserve until June 2004 after the winter rainfall. Twenty-four percent of female bilbies caught in 2004 had pouch young (n=50) compared to 60% in 2003 (n=11). The continued declines in track activity in the main exclosure after rain in May and June 2004, may have been a response to animals being removed for the external release and/or a contraction of foraging behaviour because of prevailing good conditions in response to the rain. Bilby activity increased considerably in the northern expansion after rain in the second half of 2004. The release of 15 new bilbies into the northern expansion in addition to breeding in response to good winter rain would have influenced track activity in the area. The dry conditions experienced in the first part of the year may not have impacted the northern expansion bilbies to the same extent as the main exclosure animals due to the larger size of the northern expansion (30km2 compared to 14 km2) and the lower density of animals. Table 8. Greater Bilby releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. Year Exclosure Total M F Origin 2000 main 9 4 5 Monarto 2001 first 2 1 1 Roxby 2002 north 3 1 2 Roxby 2003 north 8 4 4 Monarto 4 2 2 Roxby 2004 north 15 11 4 Thistle Is 2004 outside 12 6 6 Roxby Page 23 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Western Barred Bandicoot Photo: Arid Recovery Western Barred Bandicoot Ten Western Barred Bandicoots Perameles bougainville were re-released into the main exclosure of the Reserve in May 2001 after quarantine at Adelaide Zoo (Table 9). Three bandicoots subsequently died from collar-related deaths or natural causes and the seven remaining bandicoots utilised the leaf litter of a variety of overstorey species for their nest sites with favoured species including narrow-leaved hop-bush. Radio-tracking data collected before the collars were removed indicated that dune habitat was favoured by bandicoots. Three additional captive-bred animals from the Monarto Zoo captive breeding facility were released into a smaller release pen in April 2002. These Monarto captive-bred animals have not been recorded since their release. One trap death was recorded in mid 2002, and including new animals captured during this time there was a maximum of 17 bandicoots present in the Reserve at the end of 2002. A ten week monitoring study conducted in winter 2003 using trapping, tracking and a microchip scanning plate found that bandicoots were only using the dune habitat in the north western area of the Reserve (Figure 16). Track transects show a large increase in bandicoot activity in 2004, particularly after the winter rain (Figure 10) from less than 5 per kilometre to more than 20. Whilst much of the increase in activity was in the north western dune area tracks were also seen on southern transects in 2004 (Figure 16) Two trapping sessions of one week each were conducted for bandicoots in July and November 2004. Only one animal, a new Roxby born male, was trapped. However, the expansion of the distribution of Western Barred Bandicoot track activity across the northern dunes and onto the southern dunes suggests that the population may be increasing (Figure 16). Additional bandicoots were to be sourced from the Dryandra population in WA in 2004. Unfortunately the symptoms of a potentially lethal wart virus were present in Dryandra bandicoots trapped for relocation and therefore no new animals were added to the Arid Recovery population. The Arid Recovery bandicoot population has shown no signs of the wart virus, making it one of only three potentially wart-free populations (the other two are Dorre Island and Heirrison Prong in WA). The current population estimate of 30-40 animals is few for such an important population, especially as there were only seven founders. An intensive monitoring session is planned for March 2005 to establish the numbers of new individuals in the population, health check all animals and place some into the release pen for supplementary feeding to encourage breeding. Animals bred in the release pen will be released into other areas of the Reserve. Page 24 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 9. Western Barred Bandicoot releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. Year Exclosure 2001 Main 2002 Main Total M F Origin 8 1 7 Bernier Is 2 1 1 Roxby 3 1 2 Monarto N 0 0.25 0.5 1 1.5 2 Kilometres Kilometres 2003 2004 Figure 16. Distribution of Western Barred Bandicoot tracks in the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve in 2003 and 2004. Page 25 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Research Current Research Two research students completed 12 week scholarship programs at Arid Recovery in 2004. Laura Cunningham assisted with the release of Greater Bilbies outside the Reserve. Cara Reece continued work on the bilby release project and also conducted a project using Landscape Function Analysis techniques to monitor ecosystem health inside and outside the Reserve. Five research papers were published in scientific journals and another was submitted for publication in 2004. Presentations were also made at several scientific conferences by staff and students. Arid Recovery papers published in 2004: Bolton, J. and Moseby, K.E. (2004). The activity of Sand Goannas Varanus gouldii and their interaction with reintroduced Greater Stick-nest Rats Leporillus conditor. Pacific Conservation Biology 10(3) 193-201. Finlayson, G.R. and Moseby, K.E. (2004) Managing confined populations: The influence of density on the home range and habitat use of re-introduced Burrowing Bettongs (Bettongia lesueur). Wildlife Research 31:457-463. Moseby K.E. and Bice J. (2004). A trial reintroduction of the Greater Stick-nest Rat (Leporillus conditor) in arid South Australia. Ecological Management and Restoration 5(2):118-124. Moseby, K.E., Selfe, R. and Freeman, A. (2004). Attraction of auditory and olfactory lures to Feral Cats, Red Foxes, European Rabbits and Burrowing Bettongs. Ecological Management and Restoration 5(3) 228-231. Read, J.L. (2004). Catastrophic drought-induced die-off of perennial chenopod shrubs in arid Australia following intensive cattle browsing. J. Arid Environs 58: 535-544. Arid Recovery research submitted for publication in 2004 Moseby, K.E., De Jong, S., Munro, N. and Pieck, A. Improving control methods of European rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in arid South Australia. Submitted to Wildlife Research An additional 9 papers are being prepared for publication during 2005. Reintroduction Protocols; A comparison of reintroduction methods for the Greater Bilby, Burrowing Bettong and Greater Stick–nest Rat. Katherine Moseby, Tyrone Lavery and Ruth Coates (Funding obtained from Nature Foundation SA and Earthwatch). The efficacy of different cat, fox and rabbit exclusion fence designs. Katherine Moseby and John Read. Diet of the re-introduced Greater Bilby (Macrotis lagotis; Peramelidae) and Burrowing Bettong (Bettongia lesueur; Potoroidae) in the Arid Recovery Reserve, northern South Australia. Katherine Moseby and Jackie Bice. Seedling germination and growth rates of selected perennial species under rabbit, cattle and native mammal grazing regimes. Nicki Munro and Katherine Moseby (Funding obtained from the Native Vegetation Fund). Counting Ferals: estimating activity of rabbits, cats, foxes and dingoes in central Australia. John Read and Steve Eldridge. Rabbit, bilby and bettong warrens as refuges for fauna in arid Australia John Read, Jude Carter, Aaron Greenville and Katherine Moseby. The efficacy and off-target impacts of trapping, baiting and warren ripping for rabbit control. Jason Briffa, John Read and Reece Pedler. Aerial baiting trials for feral cats and foxes at Arid Recovery, northern South Australia. A comparison of monitoring methods for reintroduced threatened mammal species in northern South Australia. Page 26 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Taryn Vinyard, International Student Volunteer, took part in the trial release of bilbies outside the Reserve in June 2004. Photo: Bree Galbraith Previously Published Research Moseby, K.E and O’Donnell, E. (2003). Reintroduction of the greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis (Reid) (Marsupialia:Thylacomyidae), to northern South Australia: survival, ecology and notes on reintroduction protocol. Wildlife Research 30:15-27. Ryan, S.A, Moseby, K.E. and Paton, D.C. (2003). Comparative Foraging Preferences of the Greater Sticknest Rat (Leporillus conditor) and the European Rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus): Implications for Regeneration of Arid Lands. Australian Mammalogy 25: 135-146. Conference Presentations During 2004 Hill, B. M., Moseby, K. M. and Cunningham, L. (2004). A trial release of the Greater Bilby Macrotis lagotis to an area outside the Arid Recovery Reserve in South Australia. Conference presentation, Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Adelaide. James, A. I., Eldridge, D. J. and Hill B. M. (2004). Bilbies, bettongs, rabbits and goannas ecosystem engineers of arid dunefields. Poster abstract, Australian Rangelands Society Conference, Alice Springs. James, A. I., Eldridge, D. J. and Hill B. M. (2004). Creation of fertile patches by four ecosystem engineers in arid South Australia. Conference presentation, Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Adelaide. Moseby, K. M., Hill, B. M. and Read, J. L. (2004) Setting yourself up for success: The importance of research and monitoring in ecological restoration projects Conference presentation, Ecological Society of Australia Conference, Adelaide. Moseby K. E. Lavery, T and Coates, R. (2004) A comparison of soft and hard release protocols for reintroduced threatened species: greater bilbies, burrowing bettongs and stick-nest rats. Conference presentation, Australian Mammal Society, Tanunda. Newell, J. (2004). Investigating the effects of ecosystem engineering by reintroduced Greater Bilbies (Macrotis lagotis) and Burrowing Bettongs (Bettongia lesueur). Poster abstract, Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, Kangaroo Island. Read J. L., Carter J., Greenville, A. and Moseby K. E. (2004). Rabbit Control Affects More Than Just Rabbits. Conference presentation, Ecological Society of Australia conference, Adelaide. Page 27 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Research Project Summaries The survival and establishment of the Greater Bilby outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. The Greater Bilby has been extinct in the wild in the Roxby Downs region since the 1930s. In 2000, bilbies were reintroduced into the Arid Recovery Reserve. Numbers inside the Reserve have increased since this time and there have been many records of bilbies digging out under the fence. Burrows, digs and tracks indicated that at least one of these bilbies survived for 6 months outside of the Reserve. Although cats and foxes were present outside the Reserve the number of foxes in the area during this time was low due to 1080 baiting. The survival of these bilbies and the extant wild populations in NT and WA where cats are present suggested that bilbies may be able to survive in the presence of cats but with fox control. A trial release was conducted to determine the survival of bilbies of different age and sex classes in the presence of reduced fox numbers, outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Twelve bilbies (6 males, 2 adult 4 juvenile and 6 females, 3 adult and 3 juvenile) were released outside the Arid Recovery Reserve in June 2004. Seven bilbies died within 25 days of release. Predation was the only confirmed cause of death (6 deaths by feral cats, 1 unknown predator) and an additional bilby could not be located after release and was assumed to have a failed radio transmitter. Males died first (within 15 days; Figure 17), which may have been due to the males moving further than the females causing them to be more likely to encounter a predator. However, four bilbies were still alive at 100 days post release of which two were male and two female. Movements of these surviving bilbies were not different to those bilbies preyed upon by cats, suggesting they were just as likely to encounter a predator as those bilbies that were killed. Cat and fox track activities remained relatively consistent over this time period, suggesting that these bilbies may have learned to avoid predators. The two females have both successfully carried pouch young to exit since their release. However we do not know if they have survived. Rabbit numbers around the release site also increased throughout the study which may have given predators an alternative source of prey. Further studies will be conducted during 2005 to determine if predator-awareness training can enhance survival outside the Reserve. 7 Male Female # bilbies alive 6 5 4 3 2 1 31 29 27 25 23 21 19 17 15 13 11 9 7 5 3 1 0 days since release Figure 17. The number of male and female bilbies alive from 0-31 days after release outside the Arid Recovery Reserve (does not include bilby assumed to have had transmitter failure after release). Page 28 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Daena Yapes, International Student Volunteer, releases a bilby outside the Reserve in 2004. Photo: David Hartman The Arid Recovery Reserve as a source or sink – Spinifex Hopping Mouse distribution around the Reserve. Spinifex Hopping Mouse Notomys alexis capture rates inside the Arid Recovery Reserve are up to six times higher than outside. However, numbers outside the Reserve have also increased since the establishment of the Reserve. The Reserve fence is not a barrier to hopping mouse movements, but introduced predators outside the Reserve prey on hopping mice and rabbits may compete for food resources. A trapping array radiating out from the Reserve was used to determine whether there is an abundance gradient of animals out from the Reserve. Such a gradient may suggest whether the Reserve is acting as a regional source of hopping mice, supplementing numbers outside the Reserve. Hopping mice were caught at 200m, 1km and 10km away from the Reserve but none were caught at sites 22km away from the Reserve (Table 10). Sites at 22km away from the Reserve are not within the area aerially baited around the Reserve, therefore predator numbers may be higher at these sites. The number of captures outside the Reserve was low compared to inside and there was little variation between sites close to the Reserve and those 10km away. Both adult and juvenile mice were caught inside the Reserve and at 1km and 10km away from the Reserve suggesting that hopping mice at these sites were resident rather than dispersing juveniles. Females showed evidence of breeding both inside and outside of the Reserve, further suggesting that they were resident animals. More animals were caught at sites on the east side of the Reserve (90% of outside captures n=10) than to the south (0%), or west (10%). Habitat differences between sites may also account for differences in capture success, vegetation surveys will be analysed in 2005. Table 10. Trap success for hopping mice at increasing distances from the Arid Recovery Reserve. Distance from Reserve (km) Trap Success (# hopping mouse captures per trap night) 0 (inside) 4.4 0.2 0.14 1 0.3 10 0.2 22 0 Page 29 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Carly Bishop, WMC Vacation Student, inserting thermal data loggers into burrows in the Reserve. Photo: Janet Newell Comparative thermal properties of nests and burrows within the Arid Recovery Reserve. Many desert animals create burrows for use as daytime shelters to escape summer heat. These burrows are also important shelter sites for non burrowing animals and may be crucial for their survival. The insulative properties of burrows and nests were investigated by using thermal data loggers to record external and internal burrow temperatures. Thermal data-loggers were placed in 4 shelter types (stick-nest rat nest, stick-nest rat burrow, burrowing bettong warren and bilby burrow (Figures Figure 18 to Figure 21) and one was used to record ambient air temperature. Data loggers were placed approximately 1.5 metres into each shelter. A depth of 1.5 was not possible for stick-nest rat nests, instead attempts were made to insert the data logger into the section of the nest where the stick-rat rats shelter. After 46 days, data were downloaded and compared for each shelter type by plotting burrow temperatures at each attach ambient air temperature. Regression lines were fitted to show the burrow temperature changes at different ambient temperatures. Bilby burrows (n=3) appeared to be the most insulative shelter type, maintaining a relatively consistent temperature between 23 and 30 degrees Celsius. Bilby burrows also had the least amount of variation between sites with the difference between maximum and minimum temperature between burrows being only 6-7 degrees (Figure 18). The bettong warren (n=1) showed diurnal variation of 24 degrees (range,19 to 33 degrees; Figure 19). Stick-nest rat shelters appeared to be less effectively insulated particularly against hot temperatures, occasionally being hotter than ambient air temperature. Stick-nest rat nest (n=3) temperatures ranged from 10-39 degrees and stick-nest rat burrow (n=3) temperatures ranged from 9 to 42 degrees. Stick-nest rat shelters also had a much higher degree of variation within each shelter type (nests ranged from 14-29 degrees and burrows 13-33 degrees) suggesting that either the shelter types vary widely in their insulative properties or more likely that the placement of the data loggers was not consistently in a position to effectively record temperature inside the shelter. Nests were more difficult to place data loggers in than burrows as the exact location of the animal within the nest could not be determined accurately. The next stage of this project is to attempt to get the data loggers into the actual area of the burrow or nest where the animal shelters. bilby burrow temperature Burrow 3 Burrow 2 Burrow 1 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 ambient air temperature Figure 18. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Bilby burrows in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) Page 30 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report bettong burrow temperature 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 ambient air temperature Figure 19. Change in temperature recorded inside a Burrowing Bettong warren in response to changes in ambient air temperature All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) stick-nest rat nest temperature Nest 1 Nest 2 Nest 3 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 ambient air temperature Figure 20. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Stick-nest Rat nests in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) stick-nest rat burrow temperature Burrow 3 Burrow 2 Burrow 1 45 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 ambient air temperature Figure 21. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Stick-nest Rat burrows in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius.( n=1104) Page 31 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report The Diet of Owls inside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Joint Project with Graham Medlin from SA Museum Nocturnal hunting birds are often seen when spotlighting inside the Reserve. These birds may be advantaged by the increases in small mammal abundance since the construction of the Reserve. Owl pellets were collected from inside the Reserve during 2002. Contents of pellets were examined by Graham Medlin from the South Australian Museum, animal species were identified by teeth and bone fragments. No reintroduced species were identified in the pellets. Pellets predominantly contained introduced house mice, comprising 78% of prey contained within the pellets (Table 11). Seventeen percent were native mammal species (Table 11). In 2002 there were a large numbers of house mice caught inside the Reserve (Figure 28), however the capture rate was higher for native mammals than for house mice. A large proportion of captures of native mammals inside the Reserve are hopping mice which appear in very low numbers in the owl pellets (1.5% or prey items). Results suggest that owls preferentially feed on introduced house mice and may not be significant predators of stick-nest rats as has been found at other release sites. Table 11. Numbers of prey species recorded within pellets collected from four sites inside with Arid Recovery Reserve during 2002 (n=number of pellets examined). Barn Owl (n=82) Barn Owl (n=40) Boobook Owl (n=1) House mice 256 263 Forrests mouse 44 Bollams mouse 42 4 11 57 Spinifex hopping mouse 4 3 4 11 Stripe faced dunnart 3 3 Trilling frog 11 11 Bird (unidentified) 7 20 539 1 8 1 13 1 380 1 13 Insect Total Total (n= 135) 44 Mammal (unidentified) Gecko Barn Owl (n=12) 270 2 1 36 688 A feasibility study for the reintroduction of numbats in the Arid Recovery Reserve. The numbat was once distributed widely throughout arid Australia including much of Western Australia, South Australia (including the Roxby Downs region) and western New South Wales. South Australian records indicate that the species previously inhabited the Flinders and Everard Ranges and was recorded anecdotally from the southern shores of Lake Eyre. In arid South Australia, numbats favoured Sand Dune country and occurred in a range of habitats including Mulga Woodland and Spinifex grassland. The numbat has been extinct from South Australia since the 1940s, with its decline largely attributed to predation by introduced predators especially foxes. Numbats have been successfully re-introduced into a number of reserves including one in South Australia (Yookamurra Sanctuary). However, no extant or re-introduced populations of Numbats currently occur in areas as arid as the Arid Recovery Reserve. Surveys were conducted in the main exclosure and second expansion to determine whether the Reserve had sufficient food and shelter resources to support numbats. Numbats are termite specialists, and require hollows or burrows for breeding and sufficient cover from aerial predators such as wedge-tailed eagles. Tree hollow density surveys were conducted during 2004 and suggest that more than 200 potentially suitable tree hollows in native pine woodland and approximately 200 in mulga woodland are located within the main exclosure. Termite numbers varied seasonally (Figures Figure 22 and Figure 23) and were higher in winter and spring than summer. Similar termite abundance was recorded for the main exclosure and the second expansion sites in winter and spring. However, the second expansion sites recorded few termite galleries in summer. Page 32 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Brydie Hill releasing a numbat at Yookamurra Sanctuary Photo: Katherine Moseby mean termite avaliability (active galleries per 20m) Only the highest densities of termites (14 active galleries per 20 metres) at Arid Recovery matched the mean densities observed in current numbat habitat in WA. The presence of termites throughout the year suggests that food would be available to numbats all year round but whether they are available in sufficient densities to support a populations through summer is not known. The prior distribution of numbats throughout the arid zone suggests that they did survive hot dry summers. Cover from aerial predators was visually assessed by a numbat expert (Tony Friend from CALM) and was found to be sufficient to support a trial release. Based on these results we are currently seeking support from the Numbat Recovery Team for a trial release of numbats into the Reserve in 2005. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Mulga-open Mulga-log Swale summer winter spring mean termite avaliability (active galleries per 20m) Figure 22. Termite availability in three different habitats sampled in the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Habitats were mulga woodland in the open ground (mulga- open) and mulga woodland with fallen timber (mulga – log), and chenopod dominated swales. 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 Mulga-open Mulga-log Swale summer winter spring Figure 23. Termite availability in three different habitats sampled in the second expansion of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Habitats were mulga woodland in the open ground (mulga- open), mulga woodland with fallen timber (mulga–log), and chenopod dominated swales. Page 33 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Creation of fertile patches by four ecosystem engineers in an arid South Australian dunefield. Honours project by Alex James, University of Sydney. The effects of diggings on the creation of fertile patches were compared inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. The four species examined were the Greater Bilby and the Burrowing Bettong which were previously locally extinct, the native Sand Goanna and the introduced European Rabbit. Dig densities, mass of excavated soil, soil nutrients, litter capture and seed germination were compared across three treatments containing different combinations of the four animals, and across three adjacent landscape types; dunes, swales and the intervening ecotone. There were significantly more diggings in the main exclosure, which contained bilbies, bettongs and goannas, compared with outside the Reserve, where both goannas and rabbits occurred. Dig density outside the Reserve was significantly higher than in the second expansion, which contained only goannas. Across landscapes, there was a higher density of diggings in the dunes and ecotones than in the swales. More litter was trapped within digs in the dunes and ecotones compared with the swales, and the composition of the trapped litter differed between all three landscape types and between the main exclosure and outside the Reserve. Digs contained higher levels of carbon and nitrogen than the surrounding soil, and there were higher carbon, nitrogen and sulphur levels in the swales compared with the ecotones and dunes (Figure 24). Greater litter capture was associated with higher concentrations of carbon in the digs. Large numbers of seedlings germinated from litter and soil taken from the digs compared with only a few seedlings from the litter and soil collected from the surface, suggesting that digs trap germinable seed and create safe sites for germination. The results indicate that digs are substantial sinks for resources and provide a level of patchiness that may be important for the functioning of healthy ecosystems. The results also indicate that neither goannas nor rabbits have replaced the ecosystem engineering role of bilbies and bettongs. Understanding the impact of these animals on ecosystem processes and the development of fertile patches is essential if we are to effectively restore and manage arid dune ecosystems. Figure 24. Total carbon (%), nitrogen (%) and sulphur(%) in relation to landscape and microsite. The 5% LSD bars for landscape (L) and microsite (M) are shown. Different letters between landscapes or position of soil sample (surface, adjacent or pit) indicate a significant difference at P=0.05. Swale Page 34 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Greater Bilbies and Burrowing Bettongs as ecosystem engineers: What are the impacts of their reintroduction to the soil seed bank of arid ecosystems? A component of the PhD research of Janet Newell, University of Adelaide The reintroduction of bilbies and bettongs and the removal of feral animals have the potential to affect the soil seed banks, through changes in seed predation and soil disturbance. Broad-scale surveys of the soil seed bank were conducted in September 2003, and April and September 2004, comparing sites in the main exclosure (reintroduced species, no rabbits, cats foxes or cattle), the second expansion (control) and outside the Reserve ( rabbits, cats, foxes, cattle and no reintroduced species). Seed numbers in the surface and 0-2cm depths in the dune vegetation were significantly lower in the main exclosure (where the bilby and bettong populations are) than elsewhere (Figure 25), while there was no difference between the swale and dune habitats. There does not appear to be any significant difference in seed species richness between the main exclosure and the second expansion of the Reserve. The seed bank on dunes may be being depleted by harvesting by re-introduced species. However, this seed bank depletion may not necessarily result in a reduction in vegetation as previous studies at the Reserve have shown that bilby diggings facilitate seed germination with higher numbers of seedlings occurring in the diggings after rain than on the surface. These results highlight the contribution of the reintroduced species to the restoration of ecological processes within the Reserve. Average No. of Seeds/m 2 2500 Main Outside 2nd exp 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Surface 0-2cm 2-20cm Sample Depth Figure 25. The average number of seeds per m2 (± s.e.) collected at each site in the dune vegetation in April 2004. The diet and habitat use of reintroduced Greater Bilbies and Burrowing Bettongs. A component of the PhD research of Janet Newell, University of Adelaide. The diet and habitat use of reintroduced species inside a closed reserve system may change as populations reach carrying capacity. This work aims to investigate the diet and habitat use of reintroduced bilbies and bettongs over time and determine whether this can be used to assess the carrying capacity of the Reserve. Foraging digs will be monitored in areas of the Reserve with high and low population levels at three monthly intervals to identify any seasonal changes. Changes and/or differences in diet and habitat use observed will be compared with the physical condition and breeding status of these populations to determine carrying capacity. The diet of these species will be determined by scat analysis. Preliminary results indicate considerable differences in foraging activity. Variation was seen between sites within one vegetation type, between vegetation types (with more diggings in the dunes than mulga or swale) and between monitoring periods (digging numbers were highest in December 2003). Scat analysis has shown that the diet of bilbies was composed of mostly seeds and invertebrates. Dietary composition varied seasonally, most likely in response to food availability. Page 35 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Woma python Photo courtesy of WMC Resources Research Planned for 2005. A trial reintroduction of the Woma Python into the Arid Recovery Reserve. Woma Pythons Aspidities ramsayi bred at the Adelaide Zoo will be released into the Arid Recovery Reserve in 2005. Woma pythons are believed to have become extremely rare (possibly locally extinct) in the Roxby Downs region. The woma python is a predator of many of the native mammals that are abundant inside the Arid Recovery Reserve. The woma python will be the first predator re-introduced into the Reserve, in an attempt to restore a natural ecological balance required for the populations inside the Reserve to become self- sustaining. A reptile is an ideal choice as even if they favour species that are less abundant (such as stick-nest rats) their metabolic rates and activity patterns are low enough not to have a large impact. Half of the womas will be placed into a pen and supplied with supplementary food “soft release”. The others will be placed directly into the Reserve and will not be provided supplementary food “hard release”. Womas will be monitored by radio-telemetry to determine survival movements, diet and other aspects of their ecology. A comparison of predator trained, untrained and screened bilbies. A long-term goal of Arid Recovery is to re-establish threatened species populations outside the fenced Reserve system. Results from the initial bilby release outside the Reserve suggest that some bilbies may be naturally more predator aware, and it would be preferable to similarly savvy bilbies for future releases outside the Reserve. Some bilbies have dug under the Arid Recovery fence and have survived outside the Reserve in areas without intensive fox baiting. It is possible that escaped bilbies may be more predator aware, more adaptable or show initiative. Research on other species (eg. numbats) has also shown that training animals to recognise predation threats can be successful for reintroduction programs, and may be a viable option for establishing bilbies outside the Reserve. Bilbies from three treatments will be release concurrently outside the Reserve, treatment one - escaped bilbies, animals that have dug under internal fences within the Reserve; treatment two - predator trained, bilbies that been trained to associate visual and scent cues of predators with stressful situations; and treatment three untrained animals, that will be exposed to no training or screening (controls). Radio-telemetry will be used to monitor bilbies after release to determine any differences in survival, movements, establishment and recruitment. A trial release of the Numbat into the Arid Recovery Reserve. The feasibility study carried out in 2004 suggested that the Arid Recovery Reserve has the resources to potentially support a numbat population. A trial release of up to five numbats is proposed for November 2005. November is the only month that female numbats are caring for their young. Numbats will be monitored by radio-telemetry to determine their survival, home range, habitat use, shelter sites and times of activity. Their health will also be assessed on a regular basis. Page 36 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Biological Monitoring The design of the Reserve provides a unique opportunity to investigate the effect of different grazing and predation treatments on the local ecosystem. Treatments include: reintroduced species only (the main exclosure, first and northern expansion areas of the Reserve); introduced rabbits, cats and foxes (outside the Reserve on the mine lease); introduced species and domestic stock (outside the Reserve on pastoral stations); and a control with no reintroduced species, rabbits, cats foxes or cattle (second expansion: Figure 26). Rabbits, cattle & dingoes Cat, Rabbit and Fox-Proof Fence Dingo Fence Rabbit-proof fence Red Lake expansion fence Red Lake Expansion Olympic Dam Mine lease boundary Rabbits & Cattle. Reintroduced Spp Rabbits & Cattle No Reintroduced Spp. Reintroduced Spp Reintroduced Spp Rabbits Figure 26. The Arid Recovery Reserve and surrounding land use, showing the treatments available for comparative research. Four hundred and forty-seven plant, animal and ecosystem health sites were monitored within the Arid Recovery in 2004 (Table 12). The seedling recruitment sites (280 sites) and small exclosure vegetation sites were not monitored this year. More sites were trapped for bandicoots in 2004 but over a shorter period of time. Ecosystem health was monitored for the first time using the landscape function analysis method, which provides indices of nutrients, stability and water infiltration aspects of the landscape sampled. Permanent burrow and warren sites were set up in 2003 and monitored again in 2004. Monitoring of soil for invertebrates and seed was modified to only sample seed in 2004. A significant amount of time was spent monitoring bilbies released outside of the Reserve using radio-telemetry (Table 12). Page 37 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 12. Monitoring conducted at the Arid Recovery Reserve. Numbers in bold indicate sites monitored in 2004. Method Frequency Number Reason Plant Jessop Transects, Step Point, Species List, Photopoint and Abundance Annual 30 Investigate regeneration of native plants after removal of rabbits and domestic stock. Small Exclosures Every 3 years 4 Investigate effect of stick-nest rats on the survival and recruitment of Gunniopsis quadrifida. Small Exclosures Every 3 years 3 Investigate effect of stick-nest rats on vegetation in preferred habitat areas. Seedling Counts Opport. 280 Investigate impact of stock, rabbits and reintroduced species on recruitment of perennial plant species. Seedling Measurements Opport. 40 Investigate impact of stock, rabbits and reintroduced species on growth of perennial plant species. Annual 30 Investigate response of small mammals and reptiles to removal of introduced herbivores and predators. Quarter 30 Investigate the effect of reintroduced species and rabbits, cats and foxes on the seed bank. Every 3 years 30 Investigate impact of stock, rabbits and reintroduced species on ecosystem health, measured as stability, nutrients and infiltration. Investigate response of birds to removal of feral cats and rabbits including increases in structure and vegetation cover and lower predation levels. Small Vertebrates Pitfall Sites Seeds Soil Sampling Ecosystem Health Landscape Function Analysis Birds Bird Transects Annual 12km Mist Netting Annual 3 Spotlight Transect Quarter 34km Track Transects Month 11 Track Transects Quarter 31km Trapping Transect Annual 113 sites Investigate site fidelity, longevity and habitat preference of native bird species. Feral Cats, Foxes, Rabbits Investigate the temporal changes in feral animals around the Reserve fenceline. Determine the efficacy of aerial baiting trials around the outside of the Reserve. Re-introduced Species Page 38 Investigate temporal changes in abundance of stick nest rats, bettongs, bilbies and bandicoots in the main, first and northern expansions. Annual trapping to determine population fluctuations of reintroduced species. Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Australian Bustard Photo: Mark Ziembicki Table 12 continued: Monitoring conducted at the Arid Recovery Reserve Method Frequency Number Reason Re-introduced Species (continued) Spotlighting Quarter 42.5km Investigate temporal changes in abundance of stick-nest rats, bettongs, bilbies and western barred bandicoots in main and first expansion and northern expansion Burrow and Nest measurements Annual 67 To observe changes to warrens, burrows and nests over time. Six monthly 20 Trapping to determine nest fidelity and relatedness at nest sites. Scanning Plates Opport. 3 Investigate survival after re-introduction into the main exclosure. Trapping Opport. 76 Investigate survival after re-introduction into the main exclosure. Greater Stick-Nest Rats Nest Sites Western Barred Bandicoots Table 13. Radio-tracking conducted at Arid Recovery during 2004 Species Project Freq Duration No Reason Sleepy Lizards Sleepy Lizard Home range Daily 3 months 20 Record home range and foraging activities of Sleepy Lizards Greater Bilbies External Bilby Release Daily 6 months 12 Investigate survival after reintroduction outside the Reserve Echidnas Echidna Ecology in the Arid Zone Weekly 1 month 3 Record features of echidna ecology in the arid zone Birds Birds numbers are monitored each year by the University of Adelaide. Results from 2004 have not yet been analysed but bird abundance appeared to be low overall during monitoring in April. Preliminary analysis in 2003 suggested that during dry times, the Reserve provides more resources for birds compared to outside, and results for 2004 may support this as conditions were very dry during the 2004 monitoring. Good winter rainfall resulted in many nomadic species moving into the Roxby Downs region. Crimson Chats and White Winged Trillers were observed breeding in the Reserve. Tracks of the Australian Bustard were also seen several times inside the Reserve Page 39 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Carly Bishop, WMC Vacation Student, examines a captured sand goanna during 2004 small vertebrate monitoring. Photo: Katherine Moseby Small Vertebrate Monitoring Small vertebrate pitfall and Elliot trapping sites are located at vegetation monitoring sites and are trapped annually to determine changes in the abundance and diversity of small reptiles and mammals. There are 12 sites situated inside the main exclosure of the Reserve, 7 sites within the second expansion control site and 11 outside. Sites are comprised of six pitfall traps and 15 elliot traps set for four nights. Results from the first three years of trapping revealed little difference in native mammal captures between sites inside and outside the exclosure (Figure 27). However, during 2001 significantly higher numbers of native mammals were recorded at sites within the Reserve than outside (t=2.482, df=21, P<0.05) and this trend was maintained in 2003 and 2004. During 2004, a total of 1008 small mammals and reptiles were captured during the four night survey from 30 sites, a trap success of 37.4%. The number of small mammal captures inside the Reserve was almost 5 times higher than outside, with an average of 33% trap success inside compared to 7% outside (Figure 27). The control sites were trapped as a group for the first time in 2003, and in 2004 showed similar numbers of small mammal captures to the inside sites in the main exclosure where reintroduced animals are present, with an average of 39% trap success per site (n=7). The number of mammal captures inside both the main exlosure and the control (first expansion) areas of the Reserve were higher than outside. The majority of small mammal captures in 2004 were Spinifex Hopping Mice and Bolams mice. Overall numbers were higher than those in 2003, and were probably due to an increase in rainfall in 2003 compared to 2002 (this trapping is conducted in February and results are therefore influenced by rainfall from the preceeding year). The number of small mammal captures at both the outside and inside sites in 2004 were comparable to that of 2002, which followed a wet year in 2001. High numbers inside the Reserve may reflect the abundance of grass and vegetation cover since the removal of rabbits and may also reflect lower predation rates within the Reserve. Hopping mice are regularly found within the stomachs of feral cats trapped outside the Reserve. Interestingly, the number of house mice at sites inside and outside the Reserve in 2004 were not significantly different, however the control sites had double the number of captures of house mice (Figure 27). These fluctuations in house mouse numbers may reflect the transient and ephemeral nature of the species. Native mammals are more likely to be resident in the area than house mice which will build up in number in good seasons and disperse through the Reserve and surrounding areas. Reptile captures showed little difference in captures between inside and outside sites during the first few years of trapping. However, recent capture results show less reptile captures within the Reserve than outside (Figure 29), an opposite trend that observed in native mammals (Figure 27). These data will be analysed further in 2005. Control sites had less reptile captures than the inside sites in 2003, but there was no obvious difference between these sites in 2004. Some reptile species may be favoured by sparse vegetation cover and many reptiles respond to change in vegetation structure rather than vegetation cover. Page 40 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report mean # captures per trap per site 0.45 0.4 inside 0.35 outside 0.3 control 0.25 0.2 0.15 0.1 0.05 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 mean # of captures per trap per site Figure 27. Average number of native mammal captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error. 0.2 0.18 0.16 0.14 0.12 0.1 0.08 0.06 0.04 0.02 0 inside outside control 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Figure 28. Average number of house mice captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error. number of captures per site 14 inside 12 outside 10 control 8 6 4 2 0 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 Figure 29. Average number of reptile captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error. Page 41 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Volunteers taking soil samples in the Reserve Photo: Viki Nathan Ecosystem Health: Landscape Function Analysis Ecosystem health was monitored for the first time in 2004, using a method called Landscape Function Analysis, developed by Tongway and Hindley (2004)1. This method records features about the soil and vegetation characteristics that translate into 3 indices that measure different features of ecosystem health namely, stability, nutrients and infiltration. Landscape function analysis features were recorded at the 30 standard monitoring sites inside and outside the Reserve (including the control sites in the second expansion). Dune sites scored higher on infiltration (Figure 31) and lower on nutrients (Figure 32) and stability (Figure 30) than swale or mulga sites. Mulga sites had the highest nutrient scores (Figure 32). Differences between indices for the different treatments may be attributable to site differences in addition to treatment difference. Resampling of the same sites over time will differentiate between treatment and site effects. Other research within the Reserve has shown a higher deposition of nutrients within digs compared to the surface, suggesting that with an increased frequency of foraging digs within the Reserve there may be ecosystem benefits from reintroducing digging species. Sites will be re-sampled for Landscape Function Analysis after 5 years to determine any differences in ecosystem health between inside and outside the Reserve after a longer time period. inside control outside 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 swale dune mulga Figure 30. Stability indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). Tongway, D.J. and Hindley, N.L. (2004) Landscape Function Analysis : Procedures for Monitoring and Assessing Landscapes. With special reference to Minesites and Rangelands. Manual published by CSIRO Sustainable Ecosystems. 1 Page 42 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report 70 inside control outside 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 swale dune mulga Figure 31. Infiltration indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). 45 inside control outside 40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0 swale dune mulga Figure 32. Nutrient indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). Page 43 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Arid Recovery website www.aridrecovery.org.au Publicity, Education and Awareness More than 355 known media items have been generated by Arid Recovery since 1997, with 65 items of publicity recorded in 2004 (Table 14). Highlights included national radio coverage and presentation as a case study in an international mining publication. website visitors The Arid Recovery website, www.aridrecovery.org.au, was completely rebuilt in 2004 with all information being expanded upon and updated. The website is a valuable source of information and is accessed by a wide range of people from around the world. Visits to the site steadily increased throughout 2003 and this trend continued in 2004 with the average number of visitors per month rising from 297 in the latter half of 2003 to 550 in 2004 (Figure 33). 1200 1000 800 600 400 200 0 2003 2004 Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul month Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Figure 33. Visitors to the Arid Recovery website each month since tracking began in June 2003. Students from around Australia were involved in the project in 2004 through talks at local schools and visits from students and/or staff from the Adelaide University, Roxby Downs Area School, Magill Primary School, Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT), University of Queensland, University of Sydney and Flinders University High School. A workshop was held with group of visiting secondary school teachers about how to integrate information from Arid Recovery into environmental education curricula. Tours of the Reserve are being run by the Friends Group through the Visitor Information Centre in Roxby Downs. Friends group volunteers lead groups on an interpretive walk to the viewing platform at sunset followed by time in the viewing hide to observe nocturnal fauna. Twenty-eight tours were conducted in 2004. Arid Recovery is increasingly featured on WMC itineraries for visitors including project tours and BBQ’s and in 2004 included a dinner for the WMC board. The mining industry maintains a strong interest in the project and visits from six mining interest groups were hosted at the Reserve in 2004 including the Australian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy (AusIMM) conference participants and Minerals Council of Australia’s External Sustainability Development Advisory Group. Arid Recovery also gave a presentation at the Australian Minerals Council international conference on global sustainability. In 2004, Arid Recovery became a priority program under the Rangelands Integrated Natural Resource Management (INRM) Group. This State and Commonwealth government program (funded by both the State and the Natural Heritage Trust) aims to achieve sustainable natural resource management on a regional scale. Through this program information and techniques developed by Arid Recovery can be communicated and applied throughout the rangelands. An INRM meeting was hosted by Arid Recovery at Roxby Downs in 2004. Presentations were given to the INRM board and to other INRM priority project proponents. Arid Recovery staff were also involved in the development of a regional pest control strategy. Page 44 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 14. Known items of publicity generated by Arid Recovery in 2004 Date Media Group Details 18-Jan-04 Radio National Ockham’s Razor – James Woodford reads an extract from his book “The Dog Fence” describing the project. 04-Mar-04 5AN (ABC 891) Interview with Katherine Moseby and Greg Johnston (Adelaide Zoo): Potential release of Woma pythons at Arid Recovery 26-Mar-04 ABC Adelaide Arid Recovery’s rabbit control success mentioned in an interview of Tony Radcliffe with Carol Whitelock Apr-04 ABC Port Pirie Interview with Katherine Moseby: Bilbies vs Bunnies 16-Apr-04 Radio (5UV) Amelia McFarlane interview with Brydie Hill: Arid Recovery objectives & achievements May-04 ROX FM Community Announcement for Aerial Baiting Jul-04 ABC National Interview with Brydie Hill: bilby release Jul-04 Triple J Interview with Brydie Hill: bilby release 21-Sep-04 ABC Radio Riverina 15 minute interview about Arid Recovery with Earthwatch Volunteer Tony Hepworth 28-Sep-04 ABC Radio Riverina 15 minute interview about Arid Recovery with Earthwatch Volunteer Tony Hepworth 20-Nov-04 ABC North & West Interview with Brydie Hill: Arid Recovery in general Jan-04 South Australian Tourism Commission Included in a Tourism Fact Sheet which will be distributed to Inbound Tour Operators and other travel trade through the SATC’s Overseas Offices. Jan-04 Australian Environment Industry Directory Listed in 2004 Directory 29-Jan-04 The Monitor Article: “Annual trapping at Arid Recovery” Feb-04 Friends Newsletter 12-Feb-04 The Monitor Far North in Focus article: annual trapping 20-Feb-04 Roxby Downs Sun Article: “Arid Recovery survey yields exciting results” 26-Feb-04 The Monitor Article: “Wildlife numbers high at Arid Recovery” 26-Feb-04 The Monitor Photo: “Close look at local wildlife” Mar-04 Bilby Recovery team Update presented through newsletter Mar-04 Earthwatch Institute Vol. 23, No. 2 Profile of “Bringing Back the Bilbies” expedition 11-Mar-04 The Monitor Article: “The changing face of Arid Recovery” Apr-04 Eco-Voice Article: “The next phase – SA Bilby recovery program” 08-Apr-04 Roxby Downs Sun Front Page Article: “Resurrecting the bush with dreams of a rabbitfree future:” 08-Apr-04 The Monitor Front Page Article: “Bilby vs Bunny this Easter” 22-Apr-04 The Monitor Article: “Bird watching a serious business at Arid Recovery” Radio Adelaide Print Group Distributed to 180 members Page 45 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 14 continued. Known items of publicity generated by Arid Recovery in 2004 Date Media Group Details 22-Apr-04 The Monitor Dave Kovac’s line-drawing of the Arid Recovery Reserve used on Kid’s Holiday Fun Page 22-Apr-04 The Monitor Full Page: Aerial Baiting Warning Poster 23-Apr-04 Roxby Downs Sun Article: “Keeping an ‘earthwatch’ on the Arid Recovery Project” 07-May-04 Roxby Downs Sun Article: “Baited breath for cats, foxes” 20-May-04 The Monitor Article about upcoming bilby release 20-May-04 The Monitor Article: “Bait warning for pet owners” 20-May-04 The Monitor Article about pelican tagged by Arid Recovery Volunteers Tony Lewis & Trudie Jacques 03-Jun-04 The Monitor Article: “International volunteers assist at the Arid Recovery Reserve” 04-Jun-04 Advertiser World Environment Day Feature Liftout Article: “Bilbies Come Home” Jul-04 Friends of Arid Recovery Newsletter Combination of hard copies and electronic copies sent to 220 member households 01-Jul-04 The Monitor Article: “Bilbies unfenced, free in Far North” 09-Jul-04 Roxby Downs Sun Article: “Wild bilbies return to Roxby” 14-Jul-04 Advertiser Article: “Why bilby lovers are grinning ear to ear” 15-Jul-04 The Monitor Article: “New arrivals at Arid Recovery” 15-Jul-04 The Monitor Two Page Article: “Photo Club – Images of Arid Recovery” 29-Jul-04 The Monitor Article: “Bilbies fall victim to feral predators” 29-Jul-04 The Monitor Photos from Reserve used in article: “Come and see the bloomin’ desert” Sep-04 Across The Outback Article: “Arid recovery inspection” Sep-04 CSIRO Earthmatters Article: “From bunnies to bilbies” Sep-04 ICMM Newsletter Arid Recovery profiled in “Good Practices” section + front page photo Sep-04 The Chain (Friends of Parks Newsletter) Update re Annual Trapping Sep-04 Letterbox drop Grey electorate in Arid Recovery mentioned in Barry Wakelin’s 2004 campaign material Sep-04 ‘Across The Regions’ insert in The Monitor Arid Recovery mentioned in Barry Wakelin’s 2004 campaign material 17-Sep-04 Roxby Downs Sun Article: “Arid Recovery hosts international volunteers” 23-Sep-04 The Monitor Article: “Bilbies travel from the ocean to the outback” 29-Sep-04 The Riverina Leader Article: “Bringing back the bilbies” Nov-04 Anti-Rabbit Roundup (RFA Newsletter) Article: “Arid Recovery project at Roxby Downs” Print (continued) Page 46 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 14 continued. Known items of publicity generated by Arid Recovery in 2004 Date Media Group Details Nov-04 Friends of Arid Recovery Newsletter Combination of hard copies and electronic copies sent to 242 member households Nov-04 ICMM: Case studies from around the world Arid Recovery included in case studies (pages 38 & 39) Dec-04 Friends of Parks Inc “Chain Newsletter” Annual Trapping report and general update for 2004. Jan-04 The Dam News Article about KESAB Tidy Towns Awards 12-Mar-04 Note From John #07 Mentioned visit to Arid Recovery May-04 Dam News Executive committee’s visit to the Reserve 26-May-04 Resources Weekly Article: “Arid Recovery achievement recognised” 26-May-04 WMC Update News Article: “Arid Recovery achievement recognised” 18-Jun-04 Note From John #21 Bilby release progress report 29-Jun-04 Resources Weekly Article: “Bilbies return to the wild at Roxby Downs” 02-Jul-04 Note From John #23 Bilby release progress report 06-Jul-04 Q&A Forum Question posted about bilby release and answered by BH. 09-Jul-04 Note From John #24 Bilby release progress report 30-Jul-04 Note From John #29 Bilby release progress report 06-08-04 Note From John #30 Bilby release progress report 11-Aug-04 Dam News Article: “Bilbies Released” 13-Aug-04 Note From John #31 Bilby release progress report Sep-04 WMC Review Article: “Bilbies go wild” 10-Sep-04 Note From John #35 Bilby release progress report GTS BKN Interview re the role of NHT funds and success of project Print (continued) WMC Intranet Television 29-Sep-04 Media Releases Feb-04 $150,000 for Wildlife Research in SA 05-Apr-04 Easter Bunny Replaced in Roxby Downs 21-May-04 World Environment Day Awards Finalists 29-Jun-04 Wild bilbies return to Roxby Downs 7-Sep-04 More than $27,000 invested to protect threatened species in SA Page 47 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 15. Education and Awareness initiatives generated by the project during 2004 and to date (from 1998). Details Target Audience Total in 2004 Total to date General public 65 355 General public 2000 7000 Media Items See Table 14 for details Info brochures Arid Recovery Sub-regional tourism brochure 2000 Info displays Glendambo Field Day Pastoralists 1 National Parks festival General public 3 Environmental Expo General public 1 Roxby Downs Market Day Roxby Downs community WMC Family Day Mining community 4 Roxby Pageant Float Roxby Downs community 3 World Environment Day School children 4 National Science Week School children 2 Olympic Dam Expansion WMC employees 1 Eclipse at Roxby Downs General Public 1 Royal Adelaide Show General Public 1 Alligator Festival Port Augusta Aboriginal School Children 1 Outback Fringe Festival in Roxby Downs General Public 1 1 Information Night for Roxby Residents Roxby Downs community 1 1 Easter Stall and Display Roxby Mall Roxby Downs community 1 1 Business and Community Partnerships awards presentation Business and community members 1 1 Friends of Parks Forum Friends of Parks Members 1 1 7 22 Talks Friends of the Arid Botanic Gardens Conservationists 3 Natural Resource Management Forum Pastoralists 1 National Parks Forum National Parks staff 1 World Environment day Roxby Downs school students 5 Northern Industries Forum Mining and industry delegates 1 Field Naturalist Society Roxby Downs community 1 Friends of Parks Events Friends of Parks Members 2 Environment Institute Professionals 1 Adelaide Investigator Centre School/Uni students 1 Page 48 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 15 continued. Education and Awareness initiatives generated by the project during 2004 and to date (from 1998). Details Target Audience Total in 2004 Total to date Roxby Downs Area School School students 1 5 Port Pirie School School students 1 Australian Koala Foundation Scientific Community 1 Federal Minister for Environment and advisors Federal Politicians 1 Field naturalists groups– Adelaide General public 3 Adelaide University Seminar Scientific community 1 Field Naturalists – interstate General Public 1 WMC Environment Seminars Scientific Mining community 1 4 Adelaide Zoo Zoo Volunteers 1 1 Project Presentation to NRM group NRM board and other project proponents 2 2 Business and Community Partnerships Business and community members 1 1 WMC environmental coordinators and high school teachers Scientific and educational community 1 1 Local Community Awareness Aerial baiting Andamooka community 1 2 Earthwatch presentation – Adelaide Zoo General public 1 1 Talks (continued) Scientific Conferences Resource 2000 Mining Scientific community 1 Mammal Society of Australia Scientific community 1 2 Ecological Society of Australia Scientific community 4 6 Australian Rangelands Society Scientific community 1 3 Australian Wildlife Management Scientific community 1 2 Birds Australia Scientific community 1 Australasian Vertebrate Pest Scientific community 1 Earthwatch Conference Scientific community and General Public 2 Australian Vet Conference Veterinarians 1 Rotary Feral Cats Conference Scientific community and General Public 2 Australia Native Plant Network Conference Scientific community 1 Australian Minerals Conference Mining Scientific community 1 2 Rangeland Pest Plant and Animal Control Conference Scientific community 1 1 Page 49 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 15 continued. Education and Awareness initiatives generated by the project during 2004 and to date (from 1998). Details Target Audience Total in 2004 Total to date University of Adelaide University students 1 8 University of South Australia University students University camps 2 Reserve Visits Schools and universities Students and children 7 29 Green Corp/CVA/ISV Youth 3 8 Earthwatch General public 2 4 Indigenous training camps Aboriginal groups Open days, working bees Friends members, general public 2 14 Public Tours (paid) General public 28 37 4 Volunteers and Community Involvement Over 500 people have actively assisted Arid Recovery on a voluntary basis since its inception in July 1997. Participants came from a wide range of backgrounds and include: Friends members and volunteers > 200 WMC Resources staff – 25 University of Adelaide Students – 100 University of SA Students – 26 National Parks staff and Government staff – 19 CVA/Greencorp trainees – 100 Members of indigenous organizations – 65 Earthwatch Volunteers – 32 International Student Volunteers – 17 Look and Learn Visits Arid Recovery is a world leader in ecosystem recovery through the use of exclusion fencing. The success of the Arid Recovery fence design has been reproduced in Hawaii where an exclusion fence based on the Arid Recovery design has successfully protected the endangered Nene Geese when moulting and breeding. Many groups visit the Reserve to learn about how the Reserve was created and how techniques used at Arid Recovery can be used on their projects. Look and learn visitors to Arid Recovery in 2004 included staff from Banrock Station, NSW Parks staff with Willandra Lakes World Heritage Area committee members and researchers working at Currawinya Reserve in southern Queensland. In addition to scientific conferences, presentations have been given by Arid Recovery staff and volunteers to many different interest groups. In 2004 these included a local community awareness evening, volunteers at the Adelaide Zoo and local school groups. Other awareness raising programs in 2004 included an Easter stall in Roxby Downs promoting bilbies not bunnies and the development of a fact sheet for effective rabbit control methods based on research at Arid Recovery. The fact sheet was launched at a regional field day in Cleve and is promoted by the regional pest control workers. Page 50 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Arid Recovery staff with the April 2004 Earthwatch team Photo: Yvette Mooney University of Adelaide Two groups from the University of Adelaide visited the Reserve during 2004. One group led by Dr David Paton conducted the annual bird monitoring in April. Another group of third year Ecological Restoration students completed a one week research project on hopping mouse distribution around the Reserve. Four groups of Ecological restoration students have conducted projects at the Reserve to date. Two Adelaide University students are conducting PhD projects at the Reserve. Janet Newell is studying the impact of reintroduced species on the local seed bank and Josh Griffiths is using the Reserve to conduct an independent project on the ecology of the Greater Bilby. An honours student from the University of Adelaide will commence work on a project on hopping mice in 2005. Earthwatch Arid Recovery hosted two Earthwatch expeditions in 2004. Earthwatch is an international organisation that supports global conservation research through financial and volunteer contributions. Thirty-two Earthwatch volunteers have contributed to the project to date, 13 in 2004. Volunteers come from all over the world including the United States, Japan, Denmark, Malta, Germany and England. Earthwatch volunteers made a valuable contribution to the collection of data at Arid Recovery. The most helpful tasks completed by volunteers were sieving soil samples for seed and counting berries on Ruby Saltbush to compare fruit production inside and outside the Reserve. However, the volunteers also assisted with many other tasks and in total the teams trapped at 114 cage trap sites, sieved 30 soil samples, counted more than 200 berries, trapped and radio-tracked 20 sleepy lizards, measured 67 holes, nests and burrows and radio-tracked 3 echidnas. International Student Volunteers Two International Student Volunteer groups visited the Reserve in 2004. The International Student Volunteer program provides opportunities for students from the USA to travel overseas and participate in conservation and community development programs as part of their college education. Volunteers to the Reserve in 2004 installed 8 km of internal foot mesh to stop bilbies from digging out of the Reserve. They also participated in rabbit control in the Red Lake expansion area, trapping bilbies, numbat resource surveys and monitoring Sleepy Lizards. One group was lucky enough to participate in our bilby release outside the Reserve. Page 51 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Friends of Arid Recovery logo Designed in 2004 by Raynal Sim, Friends of Arid Recovery volunteer Friends of Arid Recovery The Friends of Arid Recovery now has over 240 member households with members from as far afield as Germany and the United States. Membership includes WMC employees, primary, secondary and tertiary students, local pastoralists and soil boards, general public, National Parks Friends groups and employees, 4WD Clubs, Australian Geographic and local businesses. The Friends group produces a quarterly newsletter that is distributed to all members and sponsors. The group coordinates volunteer involvement in the project, staffs information displays, organises fundraisers and conducts working bees. Fundraisers during 2004 included selling of merchandise, stalls at the Roxby Downs Market, a stall and barbeque at the Outback Fringe Festival and the making and selling of chocolate bilbies over Easter. Other activities organised and assisted by the Friends group this year included tag-a-long night tours, checking cat traps, assisting with annual trapping for small mammals and reptiles, radio-tracking bilbies and sleepy lizards, vegetation monitoring, bandicoot and stick nest rat trapping, data entry and checking, scribing in the field and supporting two volunteer research student projects. During 2004, the Friends group applied for 5 grants (Table 16) and received or secured over $90 000. Many local businesses and landholders also sponsored Arid Recovery through the use of their goods and services. Lavrick Engineering sponsor $50 worth of free fuel every month. Table 16. Grants applied for and monies received/secured by the Friends Group during 2004. Grant NHT Envirofund 03-04 Amount Applied Received (or secured) $22,620 $22,620 $9,360 $5,800 NHT Envirofund 04-05 $15,320 $15,320 Rangelands INRM $64,000 $64,000 $5,800 $0 $117,100 $97,740 Threatened Species Network (WWF) Vodafone / Earthwatch TOTAL Page 52 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report L-R: KESAB, Friends of Parks Inc, United Nations Association of Australia Awards Arid Recovery volunteers, partners and staff have been continually recognised for their hard work and success through winning several awards and being highly recommended for others. 2004 was no exception with Arid Recovery receiving two awards and being a finalist for another (Table 17). Table 17. Awards received by Arid Recovery to date. 2004 KESAB Award for Environmental Excellence Winner Friends Of Parks Special Award for Pest Animal Control Winner UN World Environment Day Awards Finalist 2003 Prime Minister’s Award for Excellence in Community Business Partnerships State Winner KESAB Award for Environmental Excellence Winner Bushcare Nature Conservation Awards Finalist Landcare Community Awards Finalist UN World Environment Day Awards : - Excellence in Land Management Finalist - Best Community Based Environmental Project Finalist Banksia Foundation Awards Finalist 2002 National Australia Bank Community Link Award Winner Friends of Parks – Best Wildlife Award Highly Commended KESAB Award for Environmental Education Winner 2001 SA Great Regional Award for Science and Environment Winner WMC Resources “DAM Best” Award Winner SA ALCOA Landcare community group Finalist 2000 Resource 2000 – corporate citizenship Winner Resource 2000 – special award for Environmental Excellence Winner Page 53 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report 2004 Budget Contributions Over $700 000 of in-kind and monetary contributions were received from 15 organisations in 2004 (Table 18). Monetary contributions comprised over 70% of the total contributions, with WMC contributing 51% of the total project contributions. WMC was the largest single monetary contributor, providing 69% of the finances. WMC’s contribution was higher in 2004 than previous years due to funding of capital works (fencing) in the Red Lake expansion area and the employment of additional staff member for rabbit control work in the this expansion. The Friends group privately raised 25% of monetary costs. In-kind contributions represented over 25% of the total contributions to the project. Major in-kind contributors included the Friends of Arid Recovery, University of Adelaide and International Student Volunteers (Table 18). In-kind contributions involved the donation of volunteer labour for plant, animal and endangered species monitoring, veterinary assistance, research, fuel, feral animal control, car parts and food. In-kind labour contributions are valued at $20 per hour for unspecialised labour and $25 or $30 per hour for professional labour, following standard Natural Heritage Trust recommendations outlined by the Commonwealth Government. Professional in-kind contributions include monitoring by DEH and the Department for Water Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) staff, vehicle use donated by DEH and steering committee members’ contributions. WMC Resources provide a highly significant amount of in-kind support that is not quantified in this report. Staff from both the Land Management Department and Environment Section have operational involvement in Arid Recovery as part of their work program. In 2004 these included contributions from Yvette Mooney Publicity and Administration officer, John Read WMC Land Manager, Pete Paisley WMC Land Management Coordinator and Greg Kammermann WMC Land Management Projects Officer. Other significant in-kind contributions from WMC Resources include office space and facilities, land resources and administrative and maintenance support. Expenditure Major expenditure items included wages, fencing materials and research and reintroduction activities (Table 18). Wages include two full time positions comprised of one full time Project Coordinator and one full time Project Officer. A casual position for a Scientific Advisor was maintained in 2004. A Maintenance Officer was also employed for one day a week to conduct fence checks and maintenance and a casual Feral Animal Control Officer was employed for 10 months to conduct rabbit control in the Red Lake expansion. Other major expense items included the fuel and maintenance for the 4WDs and volunteer associated costs such as fuel and food reimbursements. Proposed 2005 Budget Annual Contributions and Expenditure Over $280,000 of funding has already been secured for 2005 (Table 20). Major contributors are WMC Resources, Natural Heritage Trust (through INRM and Envirofund) and Earthwatch. The main project costs in 2005 will be wages, fuel, feral animal control, internal foot mesh and endangered species reintroduction and monitoring. Arid Recovery has increased the focus on research and information dissemination now that fencing and feral animal eradication is nearly complete. Page 54 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 18. Arid Recovery Contributions and Expenditure during 2004. 2004 Contributions 2004 monetary 2004 in kind 2004 total Contributors WMC Resources (operating) 215,225 WMC Resources (capital) 161,929 SA Dept. for Environment & Heritage 10,500 University of Adelaide Adelaide Zoo 215,225 161,929 13,880 24,380 32,355 32,355 400 400 1,000 1,000 Conservation Volunteers Abroad 7,680 7,680 Dept. Water Land and Biodiversity Cons 3,150 3,150 27,360 27,360 1,240 1,240 12,800 29,348 98,150 98,150 Aboriginal Lands Trust CALM WA International Student Volunteers University of Queensland Earthwatch 16,548 Friends of Arid Recovery In-kind support Fundraising 6,086 6,086 Donations 4,670 4,670 Nature Foundation 3,500 3,500 Envirofund (NHT) 51,986 51,986 INRM 32,510 32,510 Grants Sponsors Lavrick’s Roadhouse 350 Total Contributions 503,303 198,015 701,318 2004 Expenditure WMC Friends / DEH Total Wages Vehicle Costs 350 168,272 19,413 168,272 3,587 23,001 11,425 11,425 Fauna & Veg Monitoring 858 858 Feral Animal Control 437 437 Research & Reintroductions Fencing Reserve Infrastructure 160 8,486 8,646 4,789 5,460 10,249 6,669 6,669 Education & Awareness Fundraising Costs 933 933 32,477 897 33,374 Communications/Administration/Postage 3,428 617 4,044 Travel & Accommodation 8,090 629 8,720 Personnel Expenses 2,475 General Stores * Volunteer Reimbursements CAPITAL: Quad Bike 2,475 3,753 3,753 9,600 9,600 CAPITAL: Fencing Materials 152,329 152,329 Total Expenditure 401,033 43,751 444,784 Funds held by Friends of Arid Recovery * Opening balance of account as at 1 January 2004 37,833 Closing balance of account as at 31 December 2004 96,352 Includes fencing and Reserve infrastructure costs for 2004 Page 55 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 19. Annual In-Kind Contributions Contributor 1998 Aboriginal Land Trust 1999 2000 1,800 4,000 BP 2001 2002 2003 2004 prop. 1,000 100 CALM W.A. 5,000 Coates Hire 2,000 Conservation Volunteers Aust. 13,200 Cowell Electric CSIRO W.A. DEH* 2,400 11,520 150 150 200 1,700 2,040 2,500 7,680 2,000 3,000 3,400 Dept. WALABI 5,839 10,000 2,000 1,000 Earthwatch 550 Foodland Friends of Arid Recovery** 300 200 30,774 63,845 8,400 38,400 135,600 67,740 79,680 300 1,500 Heading contractors 80,832 98,150 35,200 27,360 150 1,000 Lavrick Engineering 1,200 Northpoint Toyota 1,000 660 387 Olympic Dam Maintenance 1,500 Olympic Dam Tours 400 Olympic Dam Transport 1,000 Pastoral Management Branch 520 1,760 PIRSA (APCC) 700 350 Readymix 2,180 1,550 1,000 1,000 1,100 3,000 855 985 2,370 Roxby Downs Motor Inn 4,000 2,000 300 180 500 50 Roxby Downs Racing Club 180 Royal Zoological Soc. of S.A. 4,000 SBS 3,000 3,000 4,000 2,000 500 480 500 7,000 13,975 10,000 250 Specialised Tyres 800 Trek About Tours 1,000 865 400 Tubemakers Roxby Downs 200 21,000 36,120 17,300 12,700 University of Queensland 32,355 1,240 University of SA 14,400 Wreckair hire Total Contributions 400 340 SDS University of Adelaide 90,000 71,400 Int’l Student Volunteers Roxby Downs Area School 3,150 200 60 23,975 Garry Baker Building Greencorps 13,880 12,800 Eurest * 2004 actual 58,580 150,574 9,000 200 250 200 243,390 171,012 108,800 200 113,756 152,400 198,015 This in kind contribution does not include costs of maintaining breeding colonies of endangered species or genetic databases. These costs would be considerable. ** Now includes community support from 1997 and 1998, prior to the establishment of the Friends of Arid Recovery. Page 56 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 20. Annual Financial Contributions Income 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 prop. 2004 actual 2005 prop. 32,344 116,500 167,467 111,038 164,761 194,555 216,864 215,225 192,928 38,000 9,081 38,000 Contributors WMC (operating) WMC (capital) Earthwatch Land Mgmt Research Grant Dept. Environment 161,929 26,793 12,000 16,548 10,800 5,250 10,500 10,500 10,500 500 100 350 21,080 18,000 University of Adelaide BHP 4,420 3,700 3,000 2,540 8,000 35,000 Dog Fence Board 13,500 Macro Meats 164 102 Australia Geographic 214 10,000 Aboriginal Lands Trust 2,350 Wesfarmers 4,000 300 RZSSA * 1,000 Haighs 5,000 Friends of Arid Recovery Donations Fundraising ** 2,000 3,953 1,573 6,047 4,079 4,670 200 12,096 5,814 13,160 7,803 6,086 5,000 1,000 5,000 2,500 2,000 *1,000 28030 12,000 17,050 36,666 2,100 1,400 Grants Friends of Parks Inc. NHT Envirofund 29,991 NHT Rabbit Abatement 58,990 Native Veg. Fund (DEH) 4,095 Rangeland Action Project 6,045 Nature Foundation SA 2,750 7,470 WWF - TSN 3,930 11,610 3,957 3,600 1,290 3,900 4,260 3,500 5,710 Friends of Parks Directors 1,000 WCF *** 4,050 1,344 896 2,073 8,000 16,000 32,510 57,060 277,295 259,403 242,512 312,463 297,130 503,303 287,198 Rangelands INRM Group Total Income **** * 51,986 30,210 52,344 199,708 Royal Zoological Society of South Australia ** Fundraising now includes income from 1997 (prior to the establishment of the Friends group) and any Friends group fundraising income including merchandise sales, interest from investments and reimbursements received. *** Wildlife Conservation Fund ****Does not include funds carried over from previous year Page 57 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Table 21. Annual Expenditure Expenditure 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2004 prop. actual Wages 63,824 90,107 90,490 121,817 134,701 160,150 185,000 168,272 180,500 12,868 12,855 9,254 20,139 17,208 22,020 23,001 22,020 10,629 16,241 13,607 24,046 4,672 8,000 11,425 22,320 937 3,843 3,000 858 8,500 15,326 23,487 6,000 437 32,100 20,000 8,646 18,320 10,249 2,700 9,400 Vehicle Costs Research & Reintroductions 2,372 Fauna & Veg Monitoring Feral Species Control 2,730 4,153 Fencing 8,103 1,992 0 0 11,278 3,560 314 Education & Awareness 1,460 338 1,440 11,572 11,664 1,000 6,669 Fundraising Costs 1,295 2,240 8,472 5,320 2,000 933 19,794 8,025 2,371 14,023 53,838 17,000 33,374 1,200 Reserve Infrastructure General Stores 4,437 2005 prop. Comms/Admin/Postage 1,045 122 381 595 2,673 6,273 1,440 4,044 9,270 Travel & Accommodation 1,389 4,933 4,576 8,505 14,465 14,845 8,200 6,480 20,500 Personnel Expenses 2,475 4,500 Volunteer Reimbursements 3,753 10,100 Capital 4WD Toyota Hilux Fencing materials 38,000 8,234 59,079 4 wheel motorbike Total Expenditure 110,000 38,000 4,137 25,000 6,000 211,120 257,291 9,081 215,441 258,995 152,329 9,600 339,614 298,660 442,545 341,430 Wages – includes all Arid Recovery staff and contractor wages plus some equipment hire costs prior to 2004. Vehicle Costs – includes “Maintenance” (listed separately in previous reports). Research & Reintroductions – previously listed as “Endangered Species & Research”. Feral Species Control – includes aerial baiting trials (listed separately in previous reports). Fencing – now includes equipment hire & electric fencing contractor costs from 1999. Reserve Infrastructure – previously listed as “Tourism Infrastructure”. Education & Awareness – previously listed as “Information Displays, Publicity”, includes Indigenous Group Visit cost from 2003. Fundraising Costs –previously listed as “Fundraiser Outlays”. General Stores – includes minor capital items and incidentals ((listed separately in previous reports). Communications/Administration/Postage – includes bank fees and freight costs (listed separately in previous reports). Travel & Accommodation – includes travel & conferences and volunteer travel & accommodation (listed separately in previous reports). Personnel Expenses – new classification for 2004. Volunteer Reimbursements –new classification for 2004. Page 58 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Long Term Objectives and 2005 Workplan Core tasks for 2005 required to achieve Arid Recovery aims are outlined in Appendix A. The following long-term objectives have been formulated based on Arid Recovery aims outlined in Table 1. The progress against the objectives is listed below including proposed 2005 outcomes. Fencing and Fence Maintenance Objective: Continue to exclude rabbits, cats and foxes from the Reserve through regular checking and maintenance of the fence 2004 achieved: Maintenance Officer conducted fence check one day per week. Expansion areas were checked for the presence of feral animals quarterly and when suspected fence breaches occurred. The fence was breached by bilbies digging under the fence in several locations. Internal foot mesh was attached to 10km of hot spots for bilby diggings. Money was secured to purchase internal foot mesh for attachment to the rest of the fence. 2005 proposed: Maintenance Officer to continue one day per week. Internal foot mesh is to be attached to the rest of the fence by international student volunteers. An annual fence audit is to be conducted to outline repairs and priorities for fence maintenance for the following year and identify future problem areas ie. signs of rust etc. Feral Animal Control Objective: A buffer zone of 10km around the exclosure where cats and foxes are controlled. A buffer zone of 500m around the exclosure where rabbits are controlled. 2004 achieved: Aerial baiting for foxes was conducted in 2004 and included a 20km baited zone around the fenceline. Monitoring of track activity of rabbits cats and foxes in baited and control areas was conducted. Hand baiting for foxes was conducted quarterly on the western side of the Reserve, where bilbies were released outside the Reserve. Tweleve permanent audio lures and leg hold traps were set around the Reserve perimeter and checked daily using radio-telemetry. Spotlight counts were conducted quarterly to determine the rabbit, fox and cat pressure on the fence. Significant rabbit control was conducted within the Red Lake expansion area. 2005 proposed: Aerial baiting for foxes and/or cats will be conducted in 2005 using the 20km radius baited zone. Quarterly spotlight counts around the Reserve will continue to be conducted. Red Lake expansion area will have fencing and rabbit control completed. Monitoring Objectives: 1) Annual monitoring of the impacts of feral and re-introduced species on the native vegetation and ecosystem function through the use of photopoints, vegetation transects, exclosures and seedling recruitment, growth and survival studies. 2) Monitoring of condition, density and reproductive status of native and re-introduced animals through track and fixed trapping transects, radio telemetry and opportunistic trapping. 2004 achieved: Plant and animal monitoring sites already in place and monitored annually. Regular spotlight counts were conducted in all areas of the Reserve to compare with track counts for efficiency of monitoring methods. Monitoring of the seed bank was conducted. Burrow and warren sites were established and monitored and baseline data for Landscape Function Analysis was collected. 2005 proposed: Standard monitoring at all annually monitored sites will be conducted. Vegetation and small vertebrate monitoring data from the past 8 years will be statistically analysed and a review of current monitoring methods will be conducted. Page 59 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Threatened Species Re-introductions Objective: The re-introduction of locally-extinct plants and animals depending on availability, ecosystem recovery, funding etc. 2004 achieved: Greater Bilbies released outside the Reserve. Feasibility study for numbats completed. Draft of the translocation proposal for Woma Pythons completed. Bilbies from Thistle Island were released into the northern expansion. Staff attended a Recovery Team meeting at Dryandra in May. 2005 proposed: Monitoring of Western Barred Bandicoots, intensive breeding of Western Barred Bandicoots in the release pen for release into other areas of the Reserve. Continue to pursue the possibility of a second release of Western Barred Bandicoots from WA. Trial releases of numbats and woma pythons are proposed. Education, Tourism and Public Awareness Objectives: 1) Develop tourism within the first expansion area. 2) Establish training and education camps at the project site. 3) Disseminate information to other conservation and industry groups to improve management of arid lands. 2004 achieved: Friends of Arid Recovery conducted 28 tours in the first expansion area, 5 papers were presented at conferences throughout Australia, portable information display and touch table was displayed at 5 field days and expos. A community awareness evening was held in Roxby Downs. A new publicity database was established and regular media releases were issued. A new portable display, including a replica of the Arid Recovery fence was made for training, open days and expos. 2005 proposed: 2-3 scientific papers on the project will be presented at conferences throughout Australia. Four papers to be published in peer reviewed Scientific Journals. Continue Friends group tours. Field day for fence design at Red Lake expansion area. Creation of interpretive area for Red Lake expansion area. Host indigenous training camp with Aboriginal Lands Trust. 2 International Student Volunteer groups. 2 Earthwatch expeditions. 1 University of Adelaide student group. 2 Arid Recovery Scholarship students. Maintain and Manage Reintroduced Populations. Objective: Maintain populations within the Reserve. 2004 achieved: research continued into indicators of carrying capacity. 2005 proposed: Removal of perennial vegetation growing on the fenceline. Continue research into the indicators of carrying capacity and monitoring methods. Trial release of woma pythons as a natural predator. One way gates for dispersal outside of the Reserve will be developed and trialled. Page 60 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Research Objective: Coordinate research on the restoration of ecological processes and use results for adaptive management of the project. 2004 achieved: Two research students conducted scholarship projects at the Reserve. One honours student completed a project at the Reserve. In addition 3 new Arid Recovery research projects were started in 2004. Four scientific papers were published, one was submitted for publication and two Earthwatch trips were conducted. 2005 proposed: At least three papers will be submitted for publication. Research students from the University of Adelaide will conduct a project in September. At least two research scholarship students and 2 Earthwatch groups will complete studies at the Reserve. New research projects in 2005 to include the following: A trial reintroduction of Woma Pythons Training bilbies A trial reintroduction of Numbats Design of a one way gate system And work will continue on established research projects that are not part of standard monitoring. Continue and Expand the Restoration Process Objectives: 1) Reintroduce two more species into the Reserve by 2008 belonging to different feeding guilds than those already present 2) Expand the Reserve 3) Apply restoration principles and methods beyond the Reserve. 2004 achieved: Started Red Lake expansion fence and rabbit eradication. Conducted a trial release of bilbies outside the Reserve. 2005 proposed: Trial release of woma pythons. Complete fencing and rabbit eradication in Red Lake expansion. Carry out research into training bilbies to avoid predators. Page 61 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Task P Re-introductions Numbat TP and reintro 1 more WBBs 1 Womas 1 Bilbies outside -trial monitoring 1 Set interim population limit 2 Native Flora and Fauna Monitoring Stick-nest rat trapping 1 WBB monitoring 1 seedling monitoring sites 3 standard plant sites 1 Annual pitfalls 1 Annual cage trapping 1 oppportunistic birds 1 Annual Veg and pitfall data analysis 1 Review and assess current monitoring program 2 veg mapping 1 track transects 1 survey nth exp 2 Feral Monitoring weed monitoring 1 check exclosures for rabbits and cats 1 aerial baiting monitoring spotlight transect around exclosure 1 Feral Animal Control red lake rabbit eradication 1 aerial baiting program 1 opp. buffer feral animal control 1 bait stations vs cat traps 2 Reporting Annual report 1 Annual research report WMC 1 student/research project reports collate AR research reports report to steering committee 1 Earthwatch report monthly reports Grants grant management 1 WCF Temperature grant summer/winter 1 investigate predator prey grant/partnership 3 Comparison of monitoring methods grant 1 Page 62 daily weekly fortnightly month January February March April May June July August September October November December Appendix A: 2005 Workplan Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Task P daily weekly fortnightly month January February March April May June July August September October November December Appendix A continued. 2005 Workplan Infrastructure red lake fencing 1 clearing fenceline-firebreak 2 freezer 1 internal footmesh red lake displays new displays viewing platform 2 office in shed 2 plumb rainwater to kitchen 2 pathways to bathroom 2 Research projects outside bilbies 1 one way gates bilby training 1 frog project 2 cf monitoring methods 1 sleepy lizards 1 Other WMC Vac student 1 Project promotion unis etc 3 Administration Ordering and quotes 1 Paying bills 1 Filing 1 Update volunteer hours database 1 Update publicity/visits database 1 photodatabase 1 update refworks 1 pays-pay sheet fortnightly, invoice monthly 1 Income/expenditure entered on MYOB 1 update procedures manual 1 stock take of merchandise 2 update Pink Vol. Forms and Scientific permits 1 Routine activities Perimeter fence check 1 internal fence check 1 rainfall 1 charging 1 Electric fence check 1 Cat traps-check 1 Cat traps- reset 1 Cat trap efficiency (faps) 1 Vehicle check 1 vehicle forms and servicing 1 Battery checks 1 Plants in fence 2 feed at hide 2x per week 1 Equipment maintenance 1 Page 63 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Task P daily weekly fortnightly month January February March April May June July August September October November December Appendix A continued. 2005 Workplan OH&S check fire extinguishers/first aid kits 1 update induction document 1 safety audit 1 check main gate emergency procedure 1 Education/awareness tour training 2 Open Day 1 visits 1 magazine articles 1 update webpage 1 media releases 1 investigate hosting conference I 2 indigenous visit with ALT 1 red lake interp 1 red lake field day 1 National Parks Forum 1 As Required Friends Group Newsletters 2 Meetings 2 membership list 1 audit friends group accounts 1 group visits Adelaide Uni research group 2 earthwatch 1 Pt Augusta Tafe 1 international student vols 1 school camp/visits 2 As Required Scientific papers Fence design 1 reintroduction methods seedling project 2 vertebrate and veg monitoring burrows rabbits Diet paper-bilby/bettong 1 Cat baiting 1 training and development gun course 1 chemcert 1 stats course 1 Page 64 As Required Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Appendix B: Tables Table 1. Arid Recovery project actions and their progress. Phase 1 is pre 2003 and Phase 2 is post 2003. .................. 2 Table 2. Number of cats, foxes and rabbits caught in traps set around the Arid Recovery Reserve in each year and trap success rate for each species. ................................................................................................................................ 10 Table 3. Population estimates as of Dec 2004 and transfers to date within the Reserve. ............................................. 16 Table 4. Trap success of re-introduced species in the main exclosure during annual cage trapping (n=84). ............ 18 Table 5. Trap success of re-introduced species in the first expansion during annual cage trapping (n=29). ............ 18 Table 6. Greater Stick-nest Rat releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. ................................ 21 Table 7. Burrowing Bettong releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve...................................... 22 Table 8. Greater Bilby releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. ............................................... 23 Table 9. Western Barred Bandicoot releases and translocations within the Arid Recovery Reserve. ........................ 25 Table 10. Trap success for hopping mice at increasing distances from the Arid Recovery Reserve. ......................... 29 Table 11. Numbers of prey species recorded within pellets collected from four sites inside with Arid Recovery Reserve during 2002 (n=number of pellets examined). ............................................................................................. 32 Table 12. Monitoring conducted at the Arid Recovery Reserve. Numbers in bold indicate sites monitored in 2004.38 Table 13. Radio-tracking conducted at Arid Recovery during 2004 ............................................................................... 39 Table 14. Known items of publicity generated by Arid Recovery in 2004 ..................................................................... 45 Table 15. Education and Awareness initiatives generated by the project during 2004 and to date (from 1998). ..... 48 Table 16. Grants applied for and monies received/secured by the Friends Group during 2004. ................................ 52 Table 17. Awards received by Arid Recovery to date. ..................................................................................................... 53 Table 18. Arid Recovery Contributions and Expenditure during 2004. ......................................................................... 55 Table 19. Annual In-Kind Contributions ............................................................................................................................ 56 Table 20. Annual Financial Contributions.......................................................................................................................... 57 Table 21. Annual Expenditure ............................................................................................................................................. 58 Page 65 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Appendix C: Figures Figure 1. The 60 km2 Arid Recovery Reserve showing the original exclosure and all expansion stages. All land between the old Dog Fence and the mine lease fence is situated on Roxby Downs Station leased by WMC Resources. The old Dog Fence (red line) has been realigned along the northern boundary of the project. The light blue line represents the boundary of the 26km2 Red Lake expansion to be completed in 2005. .................. 7 Figure 2. Rabbit density (no per km2) at Roxby Downs showing decline after the arrival of RCD in 1996. Data courtesy of WMC Environment Section, long term monitoring data from quarterly counts. ............................... 9 Figure 3. Rabbit density (no per km2) spotlight counts conducted by WMC staff since the arrival of RCD in 1996. Shown at a lower scale than Figure 2 to illustrate post RCD changes in rabbit density. Data courtesy of WMC Environment Section, long term monitoring data from quarterly counts. ............................................................... 9 Figure 4. Trap success for each month of 2004 in cat and fox traps around the Arid Recovery Reserve. There are 12 traps set permanently around the Reserve. ................................................................................................................ 10 Figure 5. The average number of 200m long segments containing cat tracks for 5 control and 5 baited transects (unless otherwise specified by number in brackets). Bars denote one standard error. ........................................ 11 Figure 6. The average number of 200m long segments containing fox tracks for 5 control and 5 baited transects (unless otherwise specified by number in brackets). Bars denote one standard error. ........................................ 11 Figure 7. Annual rainfall recorded in the Roxby Downs region. Rainfall was recorded at the Olympic Dam Mine situated 5km from the Reserve in 1997, 1998, and 1999 and from a rain gauge established at the Reserve from 2000 onwards. Average annual rainfall is 160mm and is represented by a dotted line. ...................................... 12 Figure 8. Number of Kerosene Grass plants recorded along Jessup transects inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. ........................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Figure 9 The number of sites with mulga seedlings in 2000 and 2003 for each treatment. Control sites are inside the second expansion of the Reserve where there are no cattle, rabbits or reintroduced species. Number of sites is expressed as a probability of more than one seedling per site. ................................................................... 14 Figure 10. Number of tracks per kilometre of the four re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong, GB is greater bilby and WBB is western barred bandicoot) within the 14km2 main exclosure of the Reserve. Total distance of walking transect is approximately 10km. ......................................... 17 Figure 11. Number of tracks per kilometre of re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong and GB is greater bilby) within the 8km2 first expansion. Total distance of walking transect is approximately 5.5km. The gate between the first and northern expansion was opened in July 2003 to allow animals to naturally disperse into the northern expansion. ........................................................................................................ 17 Figure 12. Number of tracks per kilometre of the four re-introduced species (SNR is stick-nest rat, BB is burrowing bettong and GB is greater bilby) within the 30km2 northern expansion. Total distance of transects driven by quad bike is approximately 16km.............................................................................................................. 18 Figure 13. Number of reintroduced species seen per km spotlighting within the 14km2 main exclosure. Total distance of the driven transect is 26km. ..................................................................................................................... 19 Figure 14. Number of reintroduced species seen per km spotlighting within the 30km2 northern expansion. Total distance of the driven transect is 16.5km. .................................................................................................................. 19 Figure 15. Total number of Greater Stick-nest Rat captures and number of nests showing activity (total number of nests is 20) in 2003 and 2004 monitoring. ................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 16. Distribution of Western Barred Bandicoot tracks in the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve in 2003 and 2004. ................................................................................................................................................................ 25 Figure 17. The number of male and female bilbies alive from 0-31 days after release outside the Arid Recovery Reserve (does not include bilby assumed to have had transmitter failure after release). .................................... 28 Figure 18. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Bilby burrows in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) ............................................................................ 30 Figure 19. Change in temperature recorded inside a Burrowing Bettong warren in response to changes in ambient air temperature All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) ....................................................................... 31 Page 66 Arid Recovery 2004 Annual Report Figure 20. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Stick-nest Rat nests in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius. ( n=1104) ....................................................................... 31 Figure 21. Change in temperature recorded inside Greater Stick-nest Rat burrows in response to changes in ambient air temperature. All temperatures are in degrees Celsius.( n=1104) ........................................................ 31 Figure 22. Termite availability in three different habitats sampled in the main exclosure of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Habitats were mulga woodland in the open ground (mulga- open) and mulga woodland with fallen timber (mulga – log), and chenopod dominated swales. .......................................................................................... 33 Figure 23. Termite availability in three different habitats sampled in the second expansion of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Habitats were mulga woodland in the open ground (mulga- open), mulga woodland with fallen timber (mulga–log), and chenopod dominated swales. ............................................................................................ 33 Figure 24. Total carbon (%), nitrogen (%) and sulphur(%) in relation to landscape and microsite. The 5% LSD bars for landscape (L) and microsite (M) are shown. Different letters between landscapes or position of soil sample (surface, adjacent or pit) indicate a significant difference at P=0.05. .......................................................... 34 Figure 25. The average number of seeds per m2 (± s.e.) collected at each site in the dune vegetation in April 2004.35 Figure 26. The Arid Recovery Reserve and surrounding land use, showing the treatments available for comparative research. .................................................................................................................................................... 37 Figure 27. Average number of native mammal captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error. ................................................................. 41 Figure 28. Average number of house mice captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error........................................................................... 41 Figure 29. Average number of reptile captures per site inside (n=12), outside (n=11) and in the control area (n=7) of the Arid Recovery Reserve. Bars indicate standard error. ................................................................................... 41 Figure 30. Stability indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). .............................................................................................................. 42 Figure 31. Infiltration indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). .............................................................................................................. 43 Figure 32. Nutrient indices for swale, dune and mulga habitats at sites inside and outside the Arid Recovery Reserve. Inside sites are those with reintroduced species present, control sites are those inside the Reserve with no reintroduced species present and outside are those outside of the Reserve. The number of sites at each location varies according to habitat (swale, n=4 all locations; dune, inside n=5, control n=4, outside n=4; mulga, inside n=2, control n=2 outside n=1). .............................................................................................................. 43 Figure 33. Visitors to the Arid Recovery website each month since tracking began in June 2003. ............................. 44 Page 67