How much habitat and what configuration maintains natural levels of connectivity in southeast Australian native birds?

  • Sunnucks, Paul (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI))
  • Radford, James (Chief Investigator (CI))
  • Joseph, Leo (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • Melville, Jane (Partner Investigator (PI))
  • Newell, Graeme (Partner Investigator (PI))

Project: Research

Project Details

Project Description

In fragmented landscapes, wildlife must move between habitat patches to exchange genes, supplement declining populations and recolonise vacant habitat. The realised movement of individuals (functional connectivity) may not correspond with the physical continuity of habitat as is often assumed. We will use molecular techniques to quantify functional connectivity for selected bird species in agricultural landscapes with different levels of habitat loss and fragmentation, and to relate effective population sizes and population trajectories to landscape attributes. This information will be used to evaluate restoration scenarios designed to improve ecological sustainability in agricultural landscapes leading to improved conservation strategies.
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date10/10/0717/08/12

Funding

  • Australian Research Council (ARC): A$477,226.00
  • Museums Board of Victoria (trading as Museums Victoria) : A$36,000.00
  • Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) (Victoria): A$90,000.00
  • Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action (DEECA) (Victoria): A$30,000.00
  • Parks Victoria: A$18,000.00
  • North Central Catchment Management Authority (NCCMA) (Victoria): A$15,000.00
  • Goulburn Broken Catchment Management Authority (GBCMA) (Victoria): A$9,000.00
  • Deakin University