April Reside

Threatened reptiles of the Darling Downs

Half of the Australian reptiles most at risk of extinction occur in Queensland; and five are grassland earless dragons (genus Tympanocryptis). However, the threatening processes for most of Queensland’s threatened reptiles remain unknown. Threatened reptiles persisting in highly modified landscapes are those most likely at highest risk, such as the Endangered reptiles inhabiting the southern Brigalow Belt which contains some of the most productive agricultural land in the state, producing over a quarter of Queensland’s agricultural output.

The Condamine earless dragon (Tympanocryptis condaminensis) is one of the threatened reptiles restricted to the Darling Downs in the southern Brigalow Belt, which primarily occur on privately owned agricultural land. Land use and management leading to habitat loss, degradation & fragmentation; and invasive species (namely cats and foxes), are listed as major threats. However, there has been no investigation into the severity and relative impact of threats to this and the other threatened reptile species in this region.

This project will build upon our preliminary work to investigate habitat requirements, ecology, and threats to the Condamine earless dragon and the other threatened reptile species of this region.

Microbat community ecology and conservation

Healthy, functioning ecosystems containing a broad range of insectivores play a substantial role in pest control as widely documented across the world. Far less research has been conducted on insectivore ecosystem services in Australia, meaning it is still unclear how to optimise key habitat features that support these services while also maximising agricultural productivity. This work would investigate the community of microbats across multi-use landscapes, to understand their role as pest controllers, and to identify landscape features and management that support their conservation.

Black-throated finch and other woodland birds: conservation and ecology

Understanding how to manage habitats for woodland birds, including restoration of cleared and degraded habitat, and managing the impact of threats such as invasive species. Priorities include investigating breeding ecology, and population dynamics; and focus on Black-throated finch.