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These articles are the latest published in the journal. Wildlife Research is published under a continuous publication model. More information is available on our Continuous Publication page.

Published online 16 May 2025

WR25010Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia: editorial

Jack Pascoe , Marlee Hutton, Sarah Legge , Emilie Ens, Hannah Cliff and Stephen van Leeuwen

 

This editorial highlights progress and the further need for Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia. It also introduces the major themes covered by the papers in this Collection including: (1) putting Country stewardship first through promotion of Indigenous priorities; (2) opportunities and benefits for wildlife research that come from working on Country in partnership with Indigenous Australians; and (3) the need for research partnerships with Indigenous Australians to prioritise respect and equity in benefit sharing.

This article belongs to the collection: Indigenous and cross-cultural wildlife research in Australia.

WR25010 Abstract  |  WR25010 Full Text  | WR25010PDF (715 KB)

Published online 13 May 2025

WR24159Power and the passion: assessing statistical power with simulations to optimise monitoring of a threatened lizard

Jack Bilby , Joshua S. Martin , Kelly Arbon, Ryan Baring, Jessica Clayton and Lucy F. R. Clive

 

Effective monitoring is critical for the conservation of cryptic and endangered species. This study aimed to optimise survey methods for the endemic and endangered pygmy bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis) by using data simulations to determine optimal quadrat size for detecting population changes. The results demonstrated that 50 × 50-m quadrats balanced survey effort with statistical power, offering a robust framework for ongoing monitoring and conservation strategies. Photograph by Jack Bilby.

WR24159 Abstract  |  WR24159 Full Text  | WR24159PDF (1.5 MB)  | WR24159Supplementary Material (347 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 13 May 2025

WR24051Genetic characteristics of translocated Indian bison (Bos gaurus gaurus) from the core area of the Kanha Tiger Reserve to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve in central India

Puneet Pandey, Sujeet Kumar Singh, Rahul De , Reeta Sharma, B. Navaneethan, M.P. Manjrekar, R. Vishwakarma , J. S. Chauhan, H. S. Negi, H. S. Pabla, Aseem Shrivastava, P. Nigam, K. Sankar, Bilal Habib and S. P. Goyal

 

The reintroduction of individuals has been a standard tool for restoring species population and genetic variability for effective conservation planning. This study assessed the baseline genetic diversity and population genetic structure of the reintroduced Indian bison or gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus) in a central Indian forest following extirpation. These results suggest moderate genetic diversity, non-random mating, and habitat connectivity in the source population. Image by S. P. Goyal.

WR24051 Abstract  | PDF (1.7 MB) - $35.00 

Published online 12 May 2025

WR24196City life does not change a small mammal community composition

Rebecca Rimbach , Kerrin Heinze, Lars Poorthuis, Jules Petit and Melanie Dammhahn

 

Urbanization is one of the most important global drivers of environmental change altering biological communities. Our study showed that small mammal community composition, species diversity and evenness do not change along an urbanization gradient. The overall neutral results are likely to be due to generalist species expressing high phenotypic plasticity to bypass the urban filters. Photograph by Rebecca Rimbach.

WR24196 Abstract  | PDF (4.5 MB) - $35.00   | WR24196Supplementary Material (1.2 MB)

Published online 09 May 2025

WR24143Motivations and motivational typologies of Tennessee small game hunters

Kiley M. D. Fryman and Neelam C. Poudyal

 

Understanding small game hunters’ motivations could help improve hunter recruitment and retention. This study sought to understand the motivations of Tennessee small game hunters and identify existing motivational-based typologies. On the basis of our findings, we make recommendations on what agencies can do to enhance the experience of small game hunters with various motivations. Photograph by Land Between the Lakes.

WR24143 Abstract  | PDF (333 KB) - $35.00   | WR24143Supplementary Material (431 KB)

Published online 06 May 2025

WR24136Seasonal patterns of adult and subadult white shark presence at coastal aggregation sites in central California

Samantha Andrzejaczek , Taylor K. Chapple, Alexandra E. DiGiacomo , Salvador J. Jorgensen, Scot D. Anderson, Michael Castleton, Paul E. Kanive, Theodore E. J. Reimer, Timothy D. White and Barbara A. Block

 

We used acoustic tracking to examine seasonal habitat use of subadult and adult white sharks in central California, focusing on aggregation patterns near pinniped colonies. Data from 355 tags, deployed between 2006 and 2022, showed that adult males displayed the highest residency and earlier seasonal peaks, whereas subadults demonstrated higher coastal affinity year-round. The differences in habitat use among demographic groups are likely to be due to varying foraging and reproductive strategies, with expanded tracking showing new potential aggregation sites. Photograph by Samantha Andrzejaczek.

This article belongs to the collection: White Sharks Global proceedings and recent advances in white shark ecology and conservation.

WR24136 Abstract  | PDF (3.1 MB) - $35.00   | WR24136Supplementary Material (3 MB)

Published online 05 May 2025

WR24140Call broadcast surveys monitor owls with more precision than passive surveys by citizen scientists or acoustic recording units

V. F. Sperring , M. Wilson, B. Isaac, N. A. Macgregor and R. H. Clarke

 

Monitoring programs that can effectively detect population trends are an essential part of conservation management, yet they are regularly overlooked or poorly designed and executed. This study assessed the precision of three monitoring techniques for a Critically Endangered owl, the management of which requires the ability to detect very small changes in population size. We highlight the capacity of call broadcast to achieve high detectability relative to passive approaches and recommend the use of call-broadcast surveys in this case study. Photograph by Rohan Clarke.

WR24140 Abstract  |  WR24140 Full Text  | WR24140PDF (549 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 17 April 2025

WR24030Factors affecting the detection probability of a critically endangered flying-fox: consequences for monitoring and conservation

A. Dorrestein , H. P. R. Rust, N. A. Macgregor , B. Tiernan, A. Jankowski, J. C. Z. Woinarski , D. J. James, S. Flakus, M. Schulz, S. Pahor, A. Mann, B. Desmond and J. A. Welbergen

 

Population monitoring is crucial for assessing trajectory of decline and the effectiveness of conservation efforts, yet it is subject to imperfect detection. This study aimed to assess what affects the detection probability of the Christmas Island flying-fox, and showed that environmental, spatiotemporal and other factors had significant impacts. This knowledge can be used when designing monitoring programs to maximise accuracy of estimates derived from monitoring. Photograph by Samantha Wright.

WR24030 Abstract  |  WR24030 Full Text  | WR24030PDF (1.9 MB)  | WR24030Supplementary Material (1.4 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 11 April 2025

WR23089Predicting cassowary–vehicle collision in the Wet Tropics of Australia

Bruce L. Webber , Matt Bradford, Noboru Ota and David Westcott

 

Vehicle collision is a significant mortality source for threatened wildlife. We analysed major determinants of vehicle collisions with southern cassowaries, and found that road density at the landscape scale and high cover of higher-quality habitats along straight sections of road were positively associated with collisions at the local scale. Mitigation measures at very few locations could avoid most vehicle collisions with cassowaries. Photograph by Ruchira Somaweera (CSIRO).

WR23089 Abstract  |  WR23089 Full Text  | WR23089PDF (2.1 MB)  | WR23089Supplementary Material (343 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 April 2025

WR24114Hunter movement and habitat use affect observation rate of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

Alyssa Meier, Andrew R. Little, Kenneth L. Gee, Stephen Demarais, Stephen L. Webb and Dustin H. Ranglack

 

Understanding what hunter behaviors lead to greater harvest success can be a powerful tool, thereby maintaining hunting as a viable management option, especially in areas with overabundant deer. Our objectives were to assess hunter behavior and evaluate how these behaviors influenced deer observation rates. Our results suggest that hunter movement and habitat use influence the number of deer observed during a hunt. Image by Alyssa Meier

WR24114 Abstract  |  WR24114 Full Text  | WR24114PDF (1.1 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 April 2025

WR24184Trap evaluation to optimize wild pig removal efforts in remote settings

Michael J. Lavelle , Nathan P. Snow, Michael P. Glow, Justin W. Fischer, Steven C. Hess and Kurt C. VerCauteren

 

Wild pigs (Sus scrofa) are a destructive invasive species that are exceptionally detrimental to flora and fauna native to isolated islands, especially in rugged and remote terrain where population control is difficult. Better wild pig control methods are needed for remote situations where use of high-tech traps utilizing cell phone technology are not an option. We compared corral traps, box traps, and passive net traps and found that passive net traps increased the effectiveness and efficiency for removing wild pigs. Photograph by Justin Fischer.

WR24184 Abstract  |  WR24184 Full Text  | WR24184PDF (2.3 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 08 April 2025

WR24179Cat among the birds and trees: feral cat movements respond to variation in spatiotemporal productivity in a large island ecosystem

Cyril R. E. Scomparin , Matthew D. Pauza and Menna E. Jones

 

Feral cats are a highly adaptable invasive species, widespread across mainlands and islands in Australia and globally. We aimed to test the influence of the landscape and migration of seabirds on the cat movement on lunawanna-alonnah/Bruny Island, Tasmania, Australia. The sudden change in prey following seabird migration could present a threat to native wildlife if cats prey-switch, but offer an opportunity for lethal control because cats will be hungry, more mobile, and therefore more likely to encounter control activities. Photograph by Matthew Pauza.

WR24179 Abstract  |  WR24179 Full Text  | WR24179PDF (2.5 MB)  | WR24179Supplementary Material (336 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 03 April 2025

WR24060Using citizen science records from iNaturalist to document geographical range outliers in Australian skinks

Feliks Ozolina , Shai Meiri, Jules E. Farquhar and David G. Chapple

 

Understanding and accurately describing species distributions is an ongoing challenge. We used the citizen science website iNaturalist.org to locate geographically anomalous records of Australian skinks. Our study provides a novel and versatile method for locating populations undocumented in the literature. Photograph by Jules E. Farquhar.

WR24060 Abstract  |  WR24060 Full Text  | WR24060PDF (755 KB)  | WR24060Supplementary Material (311 KB)   Open Access Article

Published online 01 April 2025

WR24085Behavioral plasticity in detection height of an invasive, arboreal snake based on size, condition, and prey

Melia G. Nafus , Levi N. Gray, Page E. Klug , Gordon H. Rodda and Scott M. Goetz

 

Habitat use by wildlife may depend on health, food availability, and predation threat. We found that an arboreal snake used microhabitat, as measured by estimated height of detection, based on size, individual condition, and prey counts. Snakes had lower detection heights when prey was less available or their condition scores were lower, and as their size increased. Arboreality as measured by detection height was a plastic behavior that changed in response to prey availability, individual condition, and snake size. Image by Scott Goetz and Melia Nafus.

WR24085 Abstract  |  WR24085 Full Text  | WR24085PDF (11 MB)   Open Access Article

Published online 20 March 2025

WR24135Fire regimes drive population trends of a threatened lizard in the central and western deserts of Australia

Darren M. Southwell , Danae Moore, Steve McAlpin, Edward M. J. Blackwood , Andrew Schubert, Kiwirrkurra Rangers, Adam S. Smart, Samuel D. Merson, Margarita Goumas, Nicholas A. Macgregor and Rachel M. Paltridge

 

Understanding the drivers and trends of plant and animal populations is an essential part of conservation management. This study assessed the effects of fire, rainfall and vegetation condition on the long-term trends of a threatened lizard in the central and western deserts of Australia. Our results showed contrasting trends in populations, with fire extent and frequency a major driver of population change. Photograph by Rachel Paltridge.

WR24135 Abstract  |  WR24135 Full Text  | WR24135PDF (656 KB)  | WR24135Supplementary Material (4.6 MB)   Open Access Article

More content

Just Accepted

These articles have been peer reviewed and accepted for publication. They are still in production and have not been edited, so may differ from the final published form.

WR24211, Accepted 21 May 2025

Chum dine with me: assessing the effects of wildlife tourism on non-target fish assemblages

Sasha Whitmarsh , Thomas Clarke , Mollie Owens, Jamie Hicks, Danny Brock, Caitlin Fox, Lauren Meyer and Charlie Huveneers

 

WR24211Abstract

WR24207, Accepted 16 May 2025

Sympatric ray species show different temporal patterns for accessing provisioned food

Joni Pini-Fitzsimmons , Molly White, Nathan Knott and Culum Brown

 

WR24207Abstract

WR24081, Accepted 14 May 2025

Monitoring the Endangered wiliji (Petrogale lateralis kimberleyensis) on Nyikina Mangala Country (Western Australia) using camera traps

Tyrone Lavery , Darraga Watson, Nyikina Mangala Rangers, Lane Broome, Raymond Charles, Mark Eldridge, Jeremiah Green, Pius Gregory, Sarah Legge , Shaquille Millindee, David Pearson, Tyrese Skeen, Daniel Smuskowitz, Darren Southwell , Albert Watson, Alexander Watson, William Watson, Nick Weigner , John Woinarski , Leigh-Ann Woolley and David Lindenmayer

 

WR24081Abstract

WR25024, Accepted 11 May 2025

Aerial shooting does not cause consistent changes in feral pig (Sus scrofa) movements

Andrew Bengsen , Sebastien Comte , Troy Crittle, Suzie Holbery, Darren Marshall, Lachlan Marshall, Lee Parker and David Forsyth

 

WR25024Abstract

WR24145, Accepted 14 April 2025

Transoceanic dispersal and connectivity of a white shark (Carcharodon carcharias) between Southern Africa and Southeast Asia

Dylan Irion , Oliver Jewell , Alison Towner, Fahmi Fahmi , G. Fischer, Enrico Gennari , Madison Stewart, John Tyminski and Alison Kock

 

WR24145Abstract

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1. The relationship between the presence of people, fire patterns and persistence of two threatened species in the Great Sandy Desert

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3. Current and emerging feral cat management practices in Australia

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4. The influence of severe wildfire on a threatened arboreal mammal

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13. The effect of collar weight and capture frequency on bodyweight in feral cats (Felis catus)

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    Ned L. Ryan-Schofield , Katherine E. Moseby , Todd J. McWhorter , Sarah M. Legge , Hugh W. McGregor

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Collections

Collections are a curation of articles relevant to a topical research area