KOALA NEWS & SCIENCE
An informative monthly newsletter about successes & important announcements in koala conservation, and the latest scientific publications about koalas.
October 2024
Subscribe here: https://mailchi.mp/808fc4af1ee0/koala-news-science
Wild koala in Canberra ACT 26 October
The male koala reported to NatureMapr was the first koala seen in ACT since 2021
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-26/act-first-wild-koala-sighting-in-three-years-canberra/104518106
4 steps for real nature positive 25 October
A new paper by a distinguished group of UQ researchers shows the problems and solutions to achieving ‘nature positive’.
https://theconversation.com/want-genuine-progress-towards-restoring-nature-follow-these-4-steps-240569?
Rally for forests 4 November
Thousands of people turned out to rallies in Hobart, Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide, Canberra and several cities in NSW.
https://www.echo.net.au/2024/11/thousands-rally-for-native-forest-protection-nationwide/
Koala hotspot at Bootawa NSW 31 October
60 koalas have been found in the forest around Bootawa Dam, part of the Kiwarrak Area of Regional Koala Significance south of Port Macquarie.
https://www.newsofthearea.com.au/ecologists-discover-koala-hot-spot-at-bootawa-dam
Koala doggy door 16 October QLD
Endeavour Veterinary Ecology have designed a one-way hatch to prevent koalas re-crossing roads.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-10-16/queensland-trials-koala-doggy-door-safety-hatches-road-safety/104479142
The personal story behind the koala nose pattern paper VIC
How a conservation group brought an ignored population of koalas into the spotlight, and made a scientific discovery along the way.
https://www.koalaclancyfoundation.org.au/koala-nose-patterns-personal-story-long-road-to-scientific-discovery/
Koala survey drones in East Gippsland VIC 28 October
East Gippsland Conservation Management Network will soon complete the first 500HA of koala surveys using thermal drone technology as part of the Wildseek project.
https://bairnsdaleadvertiser.com.au/8330/koala-drone-takes-to-the-skies/
Strzelecki Koala Festival held 3 November 2024 VIC
The festival was held at Sale, Gippsland VIC.
https://www.facebook.com/events/1231244454958713
Westernport Koala Corridor project begins VIC 29 October
The koala population survey has begun and organisers are calling for volunteers to help collect scat for DNA testing. A training session will be held on November 16.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/783565743444108/posts/1188509076283104/
Koala citizen science training in Blue Mountains NSW 16 November.
The workshop by Sydney Basin Koala Network will feature expert speakers from Science for Wildlife and Biolink.
https://www.facebook.com/events/438141725984298
Koalas Out West community day on 9 November QLD
Pittsworth Landcare & Millmerran Landcare and Toowoomba Region Koala Habitat Project are running an information day at Pittsworth.
https://www.facebook.com/toowoombaregionkoalacount
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Latest Koala Science
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Bista, D., Allen, B., Baxter, G., Booth, R., Reardon-Smith, K., Gorecki, V. and Murray, P., 2024. Immediate impacts of fire on koala movement in a fragmented landscape. Global Ecology and Conservation, p.e03274. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gecco.2024.e03274
Hazard reduction burns could pose a significant conservation challenge to threatened habitat specialists, such as koalas Phascolarctos cinereus. This study examines the immediate effects of a medium to hot hazard reduction burn on a small number of koalas occupying a fragmented agricultural area. Three koalas being monitored using GPS telemetry were inadvertently exposed to fire in a small strip of roadside vegetation in an agricultural landscape, providing an unexpected opportunity to assess their immediate responses to the fire. Nearly 81% of available trees were burnt to some degree, with 31% of tree foliage scorched up to 10.2 m above the ground. The koalas reduced their home range sizes by 20–54% post-fire, where two avoided burnt areas while one remained within them. These findings highlight the importance of maintaining unburnt patches and corridors in fragmented landscapes and developing comprehensive conservation plans to mitigate the adverse effects of fire on koalas and other arboreal fauna.
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Yu, T., Blyton, M., Abajorga, M., Koppetsch, B., Ho, S., Xu, B., Hu, Z., Luban, J., Chappell, K.J., Weng, Z. and Thauerkauf, W.E., Adaptive Evolution of KoRV-A Transcriptional Silencing in Wild Koalas. Available at SSRN 4986958. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4986958
Koala Retrovirus-A (KoRV-A) is spreading through wild koalas in a north to south wave while transducing the germline, generating heritable genetic modifications as it transitions to an endogenous retrovirus. Previously we found that KoRV-A is expressed in the germline, but unspliced genomic transcripts are processed into sense strand piRNAs, and proposed that this provides an initial “innate” form of post-transcriptional silencing. Here we show that this initial response is prevalent in animals south of the Brisbane River, but in a subpopulation of animals north of the river, KoRV-A expression is suppressed, promoters are methylated, and sense and anti-sense piRNAs are equally abundant. A KoRV-A provirus in the MAP4K4 gene’s 3’ UTR is sweeping through northern koalas, producing hybrid transcripts that are processed into anti-sense piRNAs, which guide transcriptional silencing. We propose that adaptive transcriptional silencing of KoRV-A is driving this provirus to fixation.
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Stalenberg, E., Lunney, D. and Moon, C., It’s dangerous to put a number on them. Media coverage of koalas during the 2019–2020 ‘Black Summer’Australian bushfires. Pacific Conservation Biology. https://www.publish.csiro.au/PC/justaccepted/PC24019
Context: The unprecedented scale and severity of the 2019–2020 Black Summer fires in Australia were an environmental disaster, and koalas became the public face of the fires’ toll on wildlife. Aims: We investigated the media stories on koalas during the fires to identify what was reported, and how the numbers of koalas killed by the fires were sourced and reported. Methods: We searched for media articles published in major Australian print and online news outlets, local sources, press releases and international outlets for the terms ‘koala’, ‘fire’, ‘bushfire’, ‘emergency’, ‘disaster’ and ‘burn’, published between 15 October 2019 and 31 October 2020. We were not counting koalas, rather we were counting media reports containing koala numbers and recording the numbers of koalas in those reports. This places our methods in a qualitative realm of investigation. Key results: We reviewed 371 media articles on the bushfires and koalas in NSW. Almost half included an estimate of the numbers of koalas killed in NSW. Almost a third stated that koalas are going extinct in NSW, however almost two thirds did not mention that koalas were already in decline from threats other than fire. Conclusions: We concluded that it has been dangerous to put a number on koalas. The danger arises from misinformation and half-truths, which can erode public trust in the media, and in neglecting the important role of science and scientists. Implications: The obsession with numbers has left a legacy that can drown out the more considered narrative of science and lead to distortions of policy and management, as well as distract from other critical attributes of koala conservation.
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Akter, L., Hashem, M.A., Kayesh, M.E.H., Hossain, M.A., Maetani, F., Akhter, R., Hossain, K.A., Rashid, M.H.O., Sakurai, H., Asai, T. and Hoque, M.N., 2024. A preliminary study of gene expression changes in Koalas Infected with Koala Retrovirus (KoRV) and identification of potential biomarkers for KoRV pathogenesis. BMC Veterinary Research, 20(1), p.496. https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12917-024-04357-5
Background Koala retrovirus (KoRV), a major pathogen of koalas, exists in both endogenous (KoRV-A) and exogenous forms (KoRV-A to I and K to M) and causes multiple disease phenotypes, including carcinomas and immunosuppression. However, the direct association between the different KoRV subtypes and carcinogenesis remains unknown. Differentially expressed gene (DEG) analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of koalas carrying both endogenous (KoRV-A) and exogenous (KoRV-A, B, and C) subtypes was performed using a high-throughput RNA-seq approach. PBMCs were obtained from three healthy koalas: one infected with endogenous (KoRV-A; Group I) and two infected with exogenous (KoRV-B and/or KoRV-C; Group II) subtypes. Additionally, spleen samples (n = 6) from six KoRV-infected deceased koalas (K1- K6) and blood samples (n = 1) from a live koala (K7) were collected and examined to validate the findings. Results All koalas were positive for the endogenous KoRV-A subtype, and eight koalas were positive for KoRV-B and/or KoRV-C. Transcription of KoRV gag, pol, and env genes was detected in all koalas. Upregulation of cytokine and immunosuppressive genes was observed in koalas infected with KoRV-B or KoRV-B and -C subtypes, compared to koalas infected with only KoRV-A. We found 550 DEG signatures with significant (absolute p < 0.05, and absolute log2 Fold Change (FC) > 1.5) dysregulation, out of which 77.6% and 22.4% DEGs were upregulated (log2FC > 1.5) and downregulated (log2FC < − 1.5), and downregulated (log2 FC < − 1), respectively. We identified 17 unique hub genes (82.3% upregulated and 17.7% down-regulated), with KIF23, CCNB2, POLR3F, and RSL24D1 detected as the potential hub genes modified with KoRV infection. Real-time RT-qPCR was performed on seven koalas to ascertain the expression levels of four potential hub genes, which were subsequently normalized to actin copies. Notably, all seven koalas exhibited distinct expression signatures for the hub genes, especially, KIF23 and CCNB2 show the highest expression in healthy koala PBMC, and POLR3F shows the highest expression in koala with lymphoma (K1). Conclusion Thus, it can be concluded that multiple KoRV subtypes affect disease progression in koalas and that the predicted hub genes could be promising prognostic biomarkers for pathogenesis.
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Simpson, S.J., 2024. Vaccination against chlamydiosis: An effective disease management tool in wild koala populations? (Doctoral dissertation). https://hdl.handle.net/2123/33208
The koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, is classified as endangered following population declines due to numerous threats, one prominent threat being chlamydiosis, caused by Chlamydia pecorum infection. This has necessitated the exploration of effective management solutions to address chlamydiosis in wild koala populations. Vaccination offers the most promise to deliver immediate outcomes. Currently there is limited evidence that vaccination is efficacious in wild koala populations affected by chlamydiosis. The central aim of this thesis was to assess the suitability vaccination as a management tool to address chlamydiosis in wild koala populations, with the overarching goal of enhancing conservation management for the koala. This thesis evaluated the ability of two vaccines to reduce chlamydial shedding, prevent infection, and minimise the development and progression of chlamydiosis in diverse populations, in two field-based blinded randomised placebo-controlled trials. The vaccines examined in this thesis did not significantly reduce chlamydial shedding, prevent infection, or prevent or mitigate chlamydiosis when compared to a placebo-control cohort. The conclusion reached from this body of work is that these vaccines are not effective as standalone tools for managing chlamydiosis. It is hypothesised that these vaccines did not stimulate an appropriate immune response to confer beneficial effects. This prompted investigation of the immunological profiles of koalas naturally infected with C. pecorum and comparisons were made to vaccine-elicited immune responses. The findings revealed differences between diseased, infected and non-diseased, infected koalas, offering insights into vaccine trial outcomes. The findings of this thesis contribute knowledge that will allow for advancements in vaccine efficacy and highlight prospective areas for future research, essential for the use of vaccination as a management strategy to address chlamydiosis within wild koala populations.
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Neto, C.S., Can we help koalas survive our cities? A multi-prong approach to koala conservation in the urban environment (Doctoral dissertation, University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland). https://research.usc.edu.au/esploro/outputs/991067193902621
Despite covering 0.69% of the Earth’s total land surface, urban areas can play an important role in species survival. However, urbanisation presents complex and evolving challenges for native species as they have to adapt to fast changing ecosystems. With land conversion to urban uses projected to double or even triple in the next 25 years compared to 2015, the pressure on local wildlife populations will significantly escalate. One of the most prominent concerns is the disturbance of animal movement. Urban development often results in habitat modification and fragmentation, reducing connectivity between habitat patches and altering the movement patterns of individuals across the landscape. Failure to rapidly adapt to this new environment puts wildlife populations at risk of becoming isolated in small habitat fragments, leading to numerous negative effects, such as increased disease spread, reduced resource availability and genetic erosion. To date, limited findings were reported on how connectivity can modify movement behaviours, habitat selection, and genetic patterns of habitat specialist and low-mobile species inhabiting urban ecosystems.
This study explored the relationship between connectivity, habitat selection and movement patterns, as well as the impact of different land uses on movement behaviours and the genetic consequences of altered connectivity. We selected the koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) as a study case because they provide great opportunities for applying our insights to on-ground conservation efforts. Koalas are known for inhabiting urban environments and are currently under threat of extinction in three of the four Australian states and territories where they are found. As a low-mobile habitat specialist, they heavily depend on their ability to move through anthropogenic landscapes to access their specific food resource and locate suitable mates. Here, we monitored two populations of koalas living in urban and natural ecosystems. We predicted the connectivity of their habitats based on their real movement mechanisms, habitat suitability, and mortality risks. Using hidden Markov models, we unveiled movement behaviours from GPS telemetry data. Additionally, we explored how connectivity influenced the ability of koalas to move beyond their natal range, considering the degree of genetic relatedness (i.e., kinship) between individuals. Our findings indicated that koalas preferred well-connected areas as destination. In addition, the hidden Markov models suggested that koalas may adjust their movement behaviours in response to the diel pattern of human activities, but are less responsive to land use changes in their habitat.
Furthermore, we provided further support to that notion that urbanisation restricts movements of male koala, forcing them to live near more related individuals. Altogether, our results illustrated that low-mobile habitat specialists may develop complex strategies to minimize the risks imposed by urbanisation, such as increased mortality and lower reproductive success compared to natural environments, despite facing restrictions when moving. They show preference for better-connected habitats, where the gene-flow is facilitated. Koalas, and likely other arboreal, low mobile, specialist species, may also perceive human activities as more threatening than modifications to the landscape, leading them to adjust their movement behaviours to avoid peaks of human activity periods, but not to human land uses. While this mechanism may decrease the likelihood of negative human-wildlife interaction such as vehicle collisions and agonistic human encounters, it might not fully mitigate the risks associated with reduced connectivity, like elevated inbreeding rates and the rapid spread of diseases.
Our research offers valuable insights for effective connectivity mapping grounded in real movement data and tailored to the unique traits of specific wildlife populations. We emphasize that city plans and wildlife conservation initiatives should consider the risks associated with modified animal behaviour and evolutionary changes resulting from urbanisation. By accounting for these factors, conservation programs can better safeguard the survival of urban wildlife populations in the short and long-term.
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Gonsalves, L., Law, B. and Slade, C., 2024. Landscape-scale monitoring for forest fauna is achievable: a case study using remote sensors, artificial intelligence and robust analytics. Australian Zoologist, 43(4), pp.526-544. https://doi.org/10.7882/AZ.2024.033
Landscape-scale monitoring is used to track changes in the status of fauna populations, including identifying when and where change is occurring over large areas. Yet few programs at this scale exist despite calls for long-term monitoring, especially after the ‘black summer’ fires of 2019/20. Landscape monitoring often sits in the ‘too hard and too expensive basket’. To encourage land managers to maintain existing programs or establish new ones, it is important to demonstrate approaches that can cost-effectively monitor fauna and assess the level of investment required to adequately assess trends. We used passive acoustic and ultrasonic monitoring with artificial intelligence to semi-automate the detection of vocalisations from Koalas, Yellow-bellied Gliders, Powerful Owls and Sooty Owls and echolocation calls from two threatened bat species (Eastern Falsistrelle and Little Bent-wing Bat) as part of a pilot study for forest monitoring at a landscape-scale. Analyses that accounted for imperfect detection were used to: (1) generate detection probability and initial occupancy estimates for selected priority fauna species, and (2) undertake power analyses to inform sampling effort, and duration required to detect a commonly applied trend (30% decline over 10 years). Cost-effectiveness of sampling with remote sensors and traditional methods was also examined. Several thousand detections of priority species were recorded, with the number of detections varying by species and season. This translated to differences in detection probability and occupancy for each species. Detection probability was sensitive to the sampling intensity (number of surveys/sensors) deployed at a given site and this varied between seasons, with >95% probability of detection achieved for most species when multiple subplots were sampled for a 2-week period. Power analyses revealed trade-offs between sampling effort (number of sites) and duration (number of visits) required to detect a trend. Only a modest investment was needed to monitor widespread species that are moderately detectable using remote sensors with artificial intelligence and this investment was 2-11 times lower than monitoring using traditional methods for the priority species examined. For very rare species that are not widespread, localised monitoring and/or targeted research may be more suitable. Nevertheless, landscape-scale monitoring for many forest fauna is achievable using cost-effective remote sampling, artificial intelligence and robust analytics that account for imperfect detection. Now, more than ever, we urge support for and implementation of landscape monitoring for biodiversity.
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Duffy, J., Stragliotto, T. and Mella, V.S., 2024. On the nose: validating a novel, non-invasive method to identify individual koalas using unique nose patterns. Wildlife Research, 51(11). https://doi.org/10.1071/WR24131
Context Non-invasive identification of individual animals in wild populations can occur in species with unique coat patterns (e.g. zebras, giraffes, jaguars). However, identification in other species often relies on capture-mark–recapture techniques, involving physical handling of animals. Identification of individual koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) is difficult and has so far relied mostly on invasive methods such as ear tagging, microchipping and/or collaring, which require capture. The validation of a non-invasive method to identify koalas could improve monitoring of individuals in the wild, allowing targeting of specific koalas in disease and survival studies, reducing the need to capture individuals. Aims This study describes a novel effective method to identify koalas from their nose markings, specifically using the unpigmented pattern of the nose to determine unique features of individuals. Methods Photographs of koalas from different populations in Victoria and New South Wales (NSW), Australia, were examined in the study. Nose patterns were traced from photographs and matched through visual assessment if they were thought to belong to the same individual. Differences in identification success between datasets from different populations and the effect of sex on match success were evaluated statistically. For the NSW koalas, the effect of lighting conditions and photographic angle were also assessed. Key results Overall identification success was 89.7% (range 87.1–91.8%) and was not affected by any of the variables tested, demonstrating that nose patterns can be used reliably to identify individual koalas. Conclusions The proposed non-invasive method is simple, yet accurate and stable over time, hence it offers a vital tool for monitoring endangered koalas whilst minimising human interference. Implications Pattern-based recognition of koalas is cost-effective, reduces stress on the animals, has the potential to improve data collection and allows involvement of citizen scientists in monitoring of populations or individuals.
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Koala Science In Brief
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Tkaczynski, A., 2024. Koala tourism: a review and call for conservation action. https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14394/54904
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Mathews, K.O., Phalen, D., Sheehy, P.A., Norris, J.M., Higgins, D.P. and Bosward, K.L., 2024. Molecular Detection and Characterisation of Coxiella burnetii in Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) Urogenital Tract Swabs. Pathogens, 13(10), p.873. https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens13100873
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Connolly, J., 2024. Narrandera koala count. https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/en/publications/narrandera-koala-count
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Previous Koala News & Science here: https://www.wildkoaladay.com.au/koala-news-science/koala-news-science-september-2024/
Written by Janine Duffy President, Koala Clancy Foundation.
with support from Cheryl Egan, Organiser, Wild Koala Day.
Please send your positive, important news & publications to president@koalaclancyfoundation.org.au before 29th of each month for possible inclusion.
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