Journal article
Mapping connectivity for conservation of a threatened iconic mammal, the koala: Trends, challenges and opportunities
Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Vol.7(2), pp.1-12
2026
Appears in UniSC Supported Open Access Outputs
Abstract
Connectivity of wildlife populations is considered a key component of biodiversity conservation and management; therefore, connectivity mapping is increasingly performed for wildlife species worldwide. We systematically reviewed the connectivity literature for an iconic threatened species, the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus). Consistent with global trends in connectivity research, recent koala studies were more likely to assess potential functional connectivity. Yet, in contrast to recent global trends, no koala studies have used realised functional connectivity measures (i.e. incorporating telemetry or genetic data). There was wide variation in variables used (with no two studies utilising the same combination of variables) and analysis techniques, with no standard methods employed to calculate variables used to estimate koala connectivity. Less than a quarter of the studies included data from local koala populations to inform connectivity mapping, with most (71%) having to rely on expert opinion to inform analyses where data was lacking. Only 30% of studies directly validated connectivity outputs with field surveys for current koala presence. Wide variations in koala ecology and behaviour across their broad distribution, difficulties in defining suitable habitat and a lack of available data, remain key challenges to effective connectivity mapping. Practical implication. Realised functional connectivity mapping could facilitate successful conservation management of this threatened species, yet this review indicates that global scientific advances in connectivity mapping are yet to be fully utilised for koalas. There is a risk that the availability of mapping products may provide decision makers with a false sense of confidence when applying these products to koala conservation management and planning. Whereas, in most cases, the supporting fundamental ecological data required for robust connectivity mapping is still lacking.
Details
- Title
- Mapping connectivity for conservation of a threatened iconic mammal, the koala: Trends, challenges and opportunities
- Authors
- Elizabeth A Brunton - University of the Sunshine CoastKatrin Hohwieler - University of the Sunshine CoastKye McDonald - University of the Sunshine CoastRomane H Cristescu (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast
- Publication details
- Ecological Solutions and Evidence, Vol.7(2), pp.1-12
- Publisher
- Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
- Date published
- 2026
- DOI
- 10.1002/2688-8319.70253
- ISSN
- 2688-8319
- Copyright note
- © 2026 The Author(s). Ecological Solutions and Evidence published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of British Ecological Society. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
- Data Availability
- No new data were collected as part of this review.
- Grant note
- This project was supported and funded by Sunshine Coast Council.
- Organisation Unit
- K'gari Research Cluster; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
- Language
- English
- Record Identifier
- 991227630502621
- Output Type
- Journal article
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