Experimental evaluation of koala scat persistence and detectability with implications for pellet-based fauna census

Romane H Cristescu; K Goethals; P B Banks; F N Carrick; Celine H Frere

doi:10.1155/2012/631856

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Experimental evaluation of koala scat persistence and detectability with implications for pellet-based fauna census

Journal article

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Experimental evaluation of koala scat persistence and detectability with implications for pellet-based fauna census

Romane H Cristescu, K Goethals, P B Banks, F N Carrick and Celine H Frere

International Journal of Zoology, Vol.2012, 631856

2012

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1155/2012/631856

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Abstract

koala scat

census

population trends

Establishing species distribution and population trends are basic requirements in conservation biology, yet acquiring this fundamental information is often difficult. Indirect survey methods that rely on fecal pellets (scats) can overcome some difficulties but present their own challenges. In particular, variation in scat detectability and decay rate can introduce biases. We studied how vegetation communities affect the detectability and decay rate of scats as exemplified by koalas Phascolarctos cinereus: scat detectability was highly and consistently dependent on ground layer complexity (introducing up to 16 non-detection bias); scat decay rates were highly heterogeneous within vegetation communities; exposure of scats to surface water and rain strongly accelerated scat decay rate and finally, invertebrates were found to accelerate scat decay rate markedly, but unpredictably. This last phenomenon may explain the high variability of scat decay rate within a single vegetation community. Methods to decrease biases should be evaluated when planning scat surveys, as the most appropriate method(s) will vary depending on species, scale of survey and landscape characteristics. Detectability and decay biases are both stronger in certain vegetation communities, thus their combined effect is likely to introduce substantial errors in scat surveys and this could result in inappropriate and counterproductive management decisions.

Details

Title: Experimental evaluation of koala scat persistence and detectability with implications for pellet-based fauna census
Authors: Romane H Cristescu (Author) - University of New South Wales
K Goethals (Author) - Ghent University, Belgium
P B Banks (Author) - University of New South Wales
F N Carrick (Author) - University of Queensland
Celine H Frere (Author) - University of Queensland
Publication details: International Journal of Zoology, Vol.2012, 631856; 12
Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
Date published: 2012
DOI: 10.1155/2012/631856
ISSN: 1678-8477
Copyright note: Copyright © 2012 Romane H. Cristescu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
Organisation Unit: School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99448774502621
Output Type: Journal article

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