Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation

	CMLR

Restoring habitat for endangered wildlife

Once considered to be common, the endangered bridled nailtail wallaby (Onychogalea fraenata) currently occupies less than 5% of its former range. The only known significant wild population occurs on and around Taunton National Park (Scientific) in central Queensland. Recent monitoring suggests a population size of <1,000. In the mid 1990s, in accordance with the species’ Recovery Plan, the Queensland Government translocated a population of free-ranging bridled nailtail wallabies to Idalia National Park – a location on the extreme western limit of the species historical distribution. In addition to these wild populations, a semi free-ranging captive population of bridled nailtail wallabies has been established in a predator-proof enclosure at BMA’s Gregory Coal Mine near Emerald in central Queensland.

Habitat creation and management of landscapes for wildlife conservation requires some understanding of both the ecological requirements of the species concerned, and the ecosystem processes responsible for maintaining those features in the environment. The objectives of this project are two-fold: to better characterise the habitat requirements of the bridled nailtail wallaby, and to develop techniques which restore patches of unsuitable habitat.

Suitable and sufficient forage is an element of significant importance affecting the persistence of fauna populations within habitats. This project will determine the availability of forage and water resources at both Taunton NP and Idalia NP and investigate their capacity to support an increasing abundance of bridled nailtail wallabies. To achieve this, a detailed examination of their diet, an evaluation of forage availability and quality, and an assessment of their water requirements will be undertaken.

As a former cattle property, many areas on Taunton NP have been cleared and sown to pasture. Consequently, a number of regrowth patches – particularly Brigalow (Acacia harpophylla) – exist within the landscape. Setting aside land for conservation purposes will not be adequate protection for bridled nailtail wallabies: historical impacts will continue to influence habitat integrity. It is estimated that up to 2,000 hectares of Brigalow regrowth exists at Taunton NP. While younger patches of Brigalow regrowth (0-10 years) can provide suitable habitat for bridled nailtail wallabies, some older patches (10-100 years) do not. The high Brigalow stem density in some patches of regrowth can lead to the exclusion of many understorey species as the system ages. This loss of botanical species structure and diversity can lead to a community unable to provide sufficient shelter or forage for bridled nailtail wallabies.

Current management techniques have been directed towards mechanical modification or removal of strips of regrowth. The objective is to maintain a mosaic of habitat areas of different ages and successional phases, providing both sheltering and foraging areas. However, this technique is a short-term solution that needs to be repeated after 5 or 6 years. It would be more ecologically effective, and less costly over the long-term, to manage the successional advancement of Brigalow regrowth to ensure desired botanical species and habitat attributes are achieved and maintained. Investigation of this problem forms a major component of this project.

For further information contact:
Narelle McCallum
n.mccallum@uq.edu.au
Tel: (07) 3365 7042

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Last Updated: 21 April 2008