South-western Australia’s species are adapted to a predictable climate that is now experiencing increasing temperatures and declining rainfall. Population parameters for most of 29 reptile species, evaluated in situ, are documented to assist in interpreting species performance and predicting persistence under ongoing habitat modification and a varying climate.

This project, extending over five decades, developed an authoritative vegetation classification and mapped plant fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Using Muir’s classification approach, field surveys were conducted with aerial photography in hand. Thirty-three vegetation units were identified, described, mapped, and photographed. Defining attributes and taxa were identified for each unit. Vegetation mapping has been a valuable aid for phytogeographical placement of the Reserve, for managers and for fire planning.

This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia.

Understanding the habitat relationships of humpback whales in the Great Barrier Reef is key for conservation. This study compares species distribution models based on different opportunistic sightings datasets, revealing distinct significance of environmental factors. The findings inform strategies to protect humpback whale populations in the face of changing environmental conditions.

This project, extending over five decades, aimed to develop an authoritative flora list and acquire data on phenology, threatened species, endemism, old and young landscapes, phytogeography, old lineages, and fire responses at Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. Intensive field work by many collectors was involved. Floristic survey recovered 853 taxa, 3 declared rare species, 20 conservation priority species and various short-range endemics, old clades, and natural hybrids. Continued avoidance of prescribed burning is advocated.

This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia.

The Kaputar rock skink (Egernia roomi) was only formally recognised as a species in 2019, with little known about its distribution and ecology. Given its miniscule distribution, it was federally listed as Critically Endangered, despite no further formal survey work. Here, we use field surveys as well as species distributional modelling to ascertain the species’true range and its threats.

Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve comprises ~5000 ha of wetlands, heathlands, granite outcrops, sand dunes, beaches, cliffs, and islands. Two species, the Djimaalap/noisy scrub-bird and Ngilgaitch/Gilbert’s potoroo, were believed extinct for over 100 years before being rediscovered on the Reserve. Since the Reserve was established in 1967, rainfall has decreased, while minimum and maximum temperatures have increased. We ask what the climate change means for managers of conservation areas such as Two Peoples Bay.

This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia.

In 1984 we searched comprehensively for bryophytes at seven major habitats on Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve. A total of 38 species of mosses and ten species of liverworts included two moss species (Distichium inclinatum and Tortella dakinii) previously unknown from Western Australia. Another represented a new species (Pleurophascum occidentale) in a heretofore monotypic order. This, the first listing published of bryophytes on a Reserve in Western Australia, indicates the potential rewards for further survey of bryophytes.

This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia.

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander readers should be aware that this document may contain sensitive information, images or names of people who have since passed away.

Future co-management of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve Reserve with Aboriginal peoples is likely, although very little information on the Noongar cultural heritage of the Reserve has been published and thus is available for stewardship guidance. Published for the first time, a rich trove of women’s and men’s stories from the Merningar Knapp family about Two Peoples Bay includes Wiernyert/Dreaming stories with classical human moral dilemmas, trading of gidj/spears, and stone structures on granite. Some Noongar names for landforms are provided.

This article belongs to the Collection The Natural History of Two Peoples Bay Nature Reserve, Western Australia.