Climate change in the northern jarrah forest of southwest WA: Implications for a riparian habitat specialist, the quokka
Dundas, S.J., Fleming, P. and Adams, P. (2012) Climate change in the northern jarrah forest of southwest WA: Implications for a riparian habitat specialist, the quokka. In: 25th Australasian Wildlife Management Society Conference, 27 - 29 November, Adelaide, Australia.
Since the 1970s, there has been a decreasing trend in annual rainfall coupled with increasing temperatures in southwest Western Australia. Over the last decade, this region has experienced three drought years. Models of future groundwater levels in the northern jarrah forest show decreasing groundwater availability, which is particularly apparent within riparian zones. These changes will affect vegetation assemblages present and the fauna which rely on this habitat. The quokka, a Vulnerable medium-sized macropod relies on dense riparian assemblages for food and refuge. This study presents data predicting potential impacts of ongoing reductions in water availability and potential forest management options in a drying climate. These management options will have direct impacts on quokkas, based on their known habitat preferences, and will potentially influence survival of the already fragmented populations of these iconic animals.
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|Murdoch Affiliation:||School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences|
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