Robyn Wilson

Importance of canopy connectivity for home range and movements of the rainforest arboreal ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides)

Roads and powerline corridors destroy canopy connectivity in the rainforest of north-east Australia. We tested the hypotheses that linear barriers affect (a) the alignment of home ranges, (b) use of habitat either side of linear barriers, and (c) the crossing of them by the strictly arboreal lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), which is known to be vulnerable to habitat fragmentation. Radio-tracking and a translocation experiment were conducted at a narrow 7-m-wide road and an 80-m-wide powerline. Homes ranges of lemuroid ringtails ranged from 0.15 to 1.67 ha (minimum convex polygon) and were aligned with the road but not powerline corridors. When lemuroid ringtails were experimentally translocated, wider canopy clearings over roads reduced their capacity to return to their original home range, and the powerline corridor was a nearly insurmountable barrier. No possums were observed crossing roads or the powerline corridor at ground level or residing in the intervening matrix, indicating that loss of canopy connectivity has a negative impact on their movements.

Using canopy bridges to link habitat for arboreal mammals:successful trials in the Wet Tropics of Queensland

We investigated the use of inexpensive aerial bridges (rope canopy bridges) above roads and a highway by arboreal mammals in the Wet Tropics of Queensland, Australia. Three rope bridge designs were trialed, including a single rope, ladder-like bridges and tunnel-shaped bridges. Nine mammal species were recorded using canopy bridges, including five species or subspecies endemic to the Wet Tropics and three species listed as rare under State nature conservation legislation. Most of these species suffer severely from either the fragmentation or mortality impacts caused by roads. Over 50 crossings above a 15-m-wide tourist road were observed on an elevated ladder-like bridge. Longer (~40 m) rope bridges were used on several occasions by four species. Our observations suggest that canopy bridges can assist rare arboreal mammals to cross roads in the Wet Tropics, thereby reducing both the risk of road-kill and the potential for subpopulation isolation. Further research is required to ascertain the level of benefit afforded by canopy bridges for arboreal mammal populations. It is likely that rope canopy bridges will have broad application for a range of arboreal mammal species.

The impact of climate change on reef-based tourism in Cairns, Australia – adaptation and response strategies for ahighly vulnerable destination

Australias Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is the worlds most spectacular coral reef ecosystem and is a major international and domestic tourist destination. It is recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and is frequently cited as one of the eight wonders of the natural world. However, despite the level of protection afforded by its World Heritage status and high level of management through its status as a marine park, it is not immune to the impacts of climate change. It is recognized as a critical tourist destination under threat from anthropogenic induced climate change and other human pressures, including nutrient and sediment runoff from adjacent river catchments into the GBR lagoon (Lewis et al., 2007; Scott et al., 2007; UNESCO WHC, 2007). In this chapter we present a synthesis of existing knowledge on anticipated biophysical changes to the GBR due to anthropogenic climate change over the next 10, 40 and 60 years with implications for the reef-based tourism industry based in the Cairns region. On the basis of the existing knowledge of likely biophysical impacts of climate change on the GBR, we present fi ndings of stakeholder interviews and a social learning workshop used to identify and prioritize adaptation strategies and responses for the Cairns tourist industry for the three timeframes into the future.