Factors driving the distribution of the koala in a modified landscape Rivera, Paola 2020, Factors driving the distribution of the koala in a modified landscape, B.Science (Hons) thesis, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University. Attached Files Name Description MIMEType Size Downloads Title Factors driving the distribution of the koala in a modified landscape Author Rivera, Paola Institution Deakin University School School of Life and Environmental Sciences Faculty Faculty of Science, Engineering and Built Environment Degree type Honours Degree name B.Science (Hons) Thesis advisor Whisson, Desley orcid.org/0000-0002-4221-0706 Date submitted 2020-04-23 Keyword(s) acoustic surveys koala landscape modification human impacts habitat use geographic information systems Summary Context: Koalas face multiple threats in modified landscapes. Their conservation in such landscapes requires an understanding of how they respond to site and landscape characteristics. Aims: To determine site and landscape-scale factors influencing koala distribution in a modified landscape. Methods: Passive acoustic surveys were conducted at 123 sites across the Mornington Peninsula (Vic) from September to December 2019 (i.e. a single koala breeding season). The proportion of preferred food trees and an index of daytime noise were estimated for each site. Characteristics of the landscape (within a kilometre of each site) were derived in a Geographic Information System. Occupancy models were run to determine factors affecting koala site occupancy. Key results: Forest cover had a positive influence on koala site occupancy, whereas road length had a negative effect. There was an interaction effect of fragmentation and daytime noise. In highly fragmented landscapes, site occupancy decreased with increasing noise. In landscapes with low fragmentation, daytime noise had no influence. The proportion of preferred food trees at a site, and watercourse length in the landscape also had no effect on koala site occupancy. Conclusions: Koalas are most likely to be present in landscapes with at least 60% forest cover, few roads and no anthropogenic noise. Implications: Koala conservation in modified landscapes requires action to maintain high levels of forest cover and to mitigate anthropogenic noise. However, koalas are unlikely to persist in areas with numerous roads. Language eng Indigenous content off Field of Research 0602 Ecology Description of original 52 p. Copyright notice ©All rights reserved Persistent URL http://hdl.handle.net/10536/DRO/DU:30139130 Document type: Thesis Collection: Honours Theses (School of Life and Environmental Sciences)   Unless expressly stated otherwise, the copyright for items in DRO is owned by the author, with all rights reserved. Versions Version Filter Type Tue, 16 Jun 2020, 08:30:43 EST Tue, 16 Jun 2020, 09:31:18 EST Tue, 16 Jun 2020, 11:46:19 EST Filtered Full Citation counts:   Cited 0 times in TR Web of Science Cited 0 times in Scopus Search Google Scholar Access Statistics: 414 Abstract Views, 0 File Downloads  -  Detailed Statistics Created: Tue, 16 Jun 2020, 08:30:19 EST by Bernadette Admin Houghton

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