Two PhD top up scholarships are being offered through The University of Queensland to protect threatened species on Christmas Island.
One will focus on research to support the reversal of the decline of the endemic Christmas Island flying fox and the other will implement research to support the current eradication project for feral cats on the island.
Both roles will work closely the TSR Hub and Parks Australia Christmas Island staff around strategic decision-making for monitoring and management over the next three years.
Both people will need to have a quantitative background or a strong desire to learn about quatitaive approaches and have a good understanding of approaches for environmental decision-making, explains Project Leader Dr Eve McDonald-Madden.
“Christmas Island is a good place to do a PhD – a beautiful location and place of high importance for biodiversity in Australia. You also get to learn a bunch of different quantitative skills and work with some really incredible stakeholders.”
The top ups will provide successful candidates with an additional $6,000 per year, on top of their PhD Scholarship stipend from other sources, plus support funds for fieldwork and attendance at Hub workshops and conferences.
For more information contact Doctor Eve McDonald-Madden (e.mcdonaldmadden@uq.edu.au).
Photo: The threatened Christmas Island Flying Fox, Biodiversity Heritage Library (Flickr CC BY-SA 2.0)
EPBC Legal Status and Documents
EPBC Act Listing Status
Listed as Critically Endangered as Pteropus natalis
Approved Conservation Advice
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2014). Commonwealth Conservation Advice for Pteropus natalis (Christmas Island Flying-fox). Canberra: Department of the Environment. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/87611-conservation-advice-31102015.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 03-Jan-2014.
Recovery Plan Decision
Recovery Plan required, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee recommended that there should be a recovery plan for this species as stopping decline and supporting recovery will involve a complex set of recovery actions requiring a high level of planning and coordination (6/3/2013).
Adopted/Made Threat Abatement Plans
Department of the Environment (2015). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats. In effect under the EPBC Act from 23-Jul-2015.
Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) (2006). Threat Abatement Plan for Reduction in Impacts of Tramp Ants on Biodiversity in Australia and its Territories. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/trampants.html. In effect under the EPBC Act from 10-Aug-2006.
Other Commonwealth Documents
Recovery Plan Decision
Recovery Plan required, the Threatened Species Scientific Committee recommended that there should be a recovery plan for this species as stopping decline and supporting recovery will involve a complex set of recovery actions requiring a high level of planning and coordination (6/3/2013).
Adopted/Made Threat Abatement Plans
Department of the Environment (2015). Threat abatement plan for predation by feral cats. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/threat-abatement-plan-feral-cats. In effect under the EPBC Act from 23-Jul-2015.
Department of the Environment and Heritage (DEH) (2006). Threat Abatement Plan for Reduction in Impacts of Tramp Ants on Biodiversity in Australia and its Territories. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/tap/trampants.html. In effect under the EPBC Act from 10-Aug-2006.
Other Commonwealth Documents
Information SheetsThreatened Species Strategy Action Plan 2015-16 - 20 mammals by 2020 (Australian Government, 2015)
Flying-foxes and national environmental law (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), 2012)
Final Report of the Christmas Island Expert Working Group to the Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), 2010)
Federal Register of Legislative Instruments
Threatened: Amendment to the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (148) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2014) [Legislative Instrument] as Pteropus melanotus natalis
Flying-foxes and national environmental law (Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities (DSEWPaC), 2012)
Final Report of the Christmas Island Expert Working Group to the Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts (Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA), 2010)
Federal Register of Legislative Instruments
Threatened: Amendment to the list of threatened species under section 178 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (148) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2014) [Legislative Instrument] as Pteropus melanotus natalis
Threatened (name change): Amendment to the lists of threatened species, threatened ecological communities and key threatening processes under sections 178, 181 and 183 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (Cth) (186) (27/10/2015) (Commonwealth of Australia, 2015ag) [Legislative Instrument] as Pteropus natalis
Non-statutory Listing Status
NGO: Listed as Critically Endangered (The action plan for Australian mammals 2012)
Naming
Scientific name Pteropus natalis [87611]
Family Pteropodidae:Chiroptera:Mammalia:Chordata:Animalia
Species author Thomas, 1887
Reference Thomas, O. 1887. Report on a zoological collection made by the officers of H.M.S. 'Flying Fish' at Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. I. Mammalia. Proceedings of the Zoological Society of London 1887: 511-514
Other names Pteropus melanotus natalis [64801]
Distribution Map
This is an indicative distribution map of the present distribution of the species based on best available knowledge. See map caveat for more information.
Species Profile
Threatened Species Strategy
The Christmas Island flying-fox is one of 20 mammals that the Australian Government has prioritised resource allocation to support the species recovery effort. The Australian Government, through Parks Australia, has contributed $500 000 towards eradication of feral cats on Christmas Island. This project is also tackling rats and crazy ants. The NESP is supporting the recovery of the flying-fox with a contribution of $1.7 million towards two projects that it.
The Threatened Species Strategy webpage includes information on what is being done to support the species recovery effort. The Christmas Island feral cat eradication partnership project aims to benefit the species by reducing the impact that cats are having.
About the Christmas Island flying-fox
The Christmas Island flying-fox is thought to be the last remaining native mammal on Christmas Island. It has undergone a steady decline since feral species arrive there. Today it roosts at only two main camps, in large, communal groups, down from the seven it used just a few years ago. The Christmas Island flying-fox is unique from other bats in that it is active during the day and can sometimes be seen flying and foraging in the mid-afternoon. It feeds on a wide variety of fruit and nectar, including coconut palms.
Where to find information
For the most current information relating to the species and to assist with regulatory considerations, refer to its Conservation Advice. Recent research has been undertaken for the species (DNP 2014; Woinarski et al. 2014).
Species Profile References
Churchill, S.K. (1998). Australian Bats. Sydney: Reed New Holland.
Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts (DEWHA) (2010a). Final Report of the Christmas Island Expert Working Group to the Minister for the Environment Protection, Heritage and the Arts. Canberra: DEWHA. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/parks/publications/christmas/final-report.html.
Director of National Parks (2014a). Status Report - September 2014. Monitoring, Research and Management of the Christmas Island Flying Fox (Pteropus melanotus natalis). Christmas Island National Park. Commonwealth of Australia.
Hall, J., K. Rose, C. Smith, C. De Jong, D. Phalen, J. Austen & H. Field (2014). Health Assessment of the Christmas Island Flying Fox (Pteropus melanotus natalis). Journal of Wildlife Diseases. 50(3):447-58.
Hall, J., K. Rose, D. Spratt, P. Harlow, S. Donahoe, P. Andrew, H. Field, C. DeJong, C. Smith, A. Hyatt & J.Watson (2011). Assessment of reptile and mammal disease prevalence on Christmas Island. Australian Registry of Wildlife Health, Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Sydney. Report to Parks Australia.
Hutson, A., T. Kingston, D. James, L. Lumsden, S. Molur & C. Srinivasulu (2008). Pteropus melanotus. IUCN 2012. IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Version 2012.1. (accessed 24 January 2014). www.iucnredlist.org.
James D., G. Dale, K. Retallick & K. Orchard (2007). Christmas Island Biodiversity Monitoring Programme: Christmas Island Flying-Fox Pteropus natalis. An assessment of conservation status and threats. Report to Department of Finance and Deregulation and Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
Martin, L. & A. McIlwee (2002). The reproductive biology and intrinsic capacity for increase of the grey-headed flying-fox Pteropus poliocephalus (Megachiroptera), and the implications of culling. In: P. Eby and D. Lunney, eds. Managing the grey-headed flying-fox as a threatened species in New South Wales. Page(s) 91-108.
McConkey, K., D. Drake, J. Franklin & F. Tonga (2004). Effects of Cyclone Waka on flying foxes (Pteropus tonganus) in the Vava'u Islands of Tonga. Journal of Tropical Ecology . 20 (5):551-561.
Nelson, S., M. Miller, E. Heske & G. Fahey (2000). Nutritional consequences of a change in diet from native to agricultural fruits for the Samoan fruit bat. Ecography. 23:393-401.
Pierson, E.D., T. Elmqvist, W. E. Rainey & P. A. Cox (1996). Effects of Tropical Cyclonic Storms on Flying Fox Populations on the South Pacific Islands of Samoa. Conservation Biology. 10(2): 438-451.
Shilton, L., P. Latch, A. McKeown, P. Birt & D. Westcott (2008). Landscape scale redistribution of a highly mobile threatened species, Pteropus conspicillatus (Chiroptera, Pteropodidae), in response to tropical cyclone Larry. Austral Ecology. 33:549-561.
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2008aex). NON-CURRENT Commonwealth Listing Advice on Pteropus melanotus natalis. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64801-listing-advice.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 08-Jan-2009. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 02-Jan-2014.
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2014d). NON-CURRENT Commonwealth Conservation Advice for Pteropus melanotus natalis (Christmas Island Flying-fox). Canberra: Department of the Environment. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64801-conservation-advice.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 03-Jan-2014. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 30-Oct-2015.
Tidemann, C. (1985). A study of the status, habitat requirements and management of the two species of bats on Christmas Island (Indian Ocean). Canberra: Australian National Parks and Wildlife Service.
Tidemann, C. & G. Richards (2008). Christmas Island flying-fox Pteropus melanotus. In: S. Van Dyck and R. Strahan, eds. The mammals of Australia (Third edition). Page(s) 442-443. Reed New Holland, Sydney.
Tidemann, C.R, H.D Yorkston & A.J Russack (1994). The diet of cats Felis catus on Christmas Island, Indian Ocean. Wildlife Research. 21:279-286.
Woinarski, J.C.Z., S. Flakus, D.J. James, B. Tiernan, G.J. Dale & T. Detto (2014). An Island-Wide Monitoring Program Demonstrates Decline in Reporting Rate for the Christmas Island Flying-Fox Pteropus melanotus natalis. Acta Chiropterologica. 16(1):117-27.
Superseded Commonwealth Documents and Other Links
Australian Biological Resources Study, ed. (2013). Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/search/names.
Australian Faunal Directory (AFD) (2007). Australian Faunal Directory. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/index.html.
Australian Government (2015b). Targeted threatened species projects. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/commissioner/projects.
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2008aex). NON-CURRENT Commonwealth Listing Advice on Pteropus melanotus natalis. Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64801-listing-advice.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 08-Jan-2009. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 02-Jan-2014.
Threatened Species Scientific Committee (TSSC) (2014d). NON-CURRENT Commonwealth Conservation Advice for Pteropus melanotus natalis (Christmas Island Flying-fox). Canberra: Department of the Environment. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/species/pubs/64801-conservation-advice.pdf. In effect under the EPBC Act from 03-Jan-2014. Ceased to be in effect under the EPBC Act from 30-Oct-2015.
Anonymous (2009). Australian Faunal Directory. Australian Biological Resources Study. Available from: http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/abrs/online-resources/fauna/afd/search/names.
Newsletters
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Wait, am I reading this right? "to support the current eradication project for feral cats on the island"? This effort is to ENCOURAGE eradication of feral cats or prevent them FROM being eradicated?
ReplyDeleteI don't see why the cats should be eradicated, if the former.
sm flipboard done
ReplyDelete