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Recent decline of the critically endangered Plains‐wanderer ( Pedionomus torquatus ), and the application of a simple method for assessing its cause: major changes in grassland structure
Author(s) -
BakerGabb David,
Antos Mark,
Brown Geoff
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
ecological management and restoration
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.472
H-Index - 42
eISSN - 1442-8903
pISSN - 1442-7001
DOI - 10.1111/emr.12221
Subject(s) - overgrazing , grassland , critically endangered , endangered species , geography , habitat , agroforestry , population , flooding (psychology) , threatened species , ecology , grassland ecosystem , environmental science , grazing , biology , psychology , demography , sociology , psychotherapist
Summary A monitored population of the critically endangered Plains‐wanderer ( Pedionomus torquatus ) on Victoria's Northern Plains declined by over 90% between 2010 and 2012 following an unusually wet year which led to flooding, excess grass growth and a major change in the structure of native grasslands. The Plains‐wanderer population remained very low on private land during 2013 and 2014 when dry conditions prevailed and domestic stock overgrazed most of its favoured grasslands on red soil. Numbers also remained very low on public reserves despite grassland structure gradually improving there by 2014. In 2015, the population partially recovered in some grasslands protected from overgrazing. Grassland structure is critically important for Plains‐wanderer conservation. The ‘golf ball technique’ proved to be a quick and effective method for measuring grassland structure; it offers a means of accelerating responses to habitat change because it can be easily used by land managers.