Context. Monitoring is crucial for understanding population trends of threatened species and for assessing the effectiveness of conservation efforts. However, population monitoring is subject to detection probabilities that can vary across factors such as time, type of vegetation cover, weather conditions and observer.

Aims. In this study, we investigated the impact of environmental factors (e.g. wind and rain), spatiotemporal factors (e.g. time of night and geographical location) and observer variability, on the detection probability of Pteropus natalis (Christmas Island flying-fox), a critically endangered species that has been monitored across its single (135 km²) island range since 2006, by using active aural and visual detection of foraging individuals.

Methods. Surveys were conducted at four visits to 133 sites across Christmas Island, representing the environmental variation of the island, over a 2-month survey period. The survey was conducted in 9 years between 2006 and 2022.

Key results. Variable importance analysis showed that distance from the coast, year, and time of night were key predictors of P. natalis detection probability. Detection probability was higher on calmer nights, suggesting higher flying-fox activity or better sound transmission. Detection probability was also higher near roosts earlier and later in the night, indicating that P. natalis gradually moves away from and returns to roosts over the night. Detection probabilities varied between 2012 and 2022 across vegetation types, potentially reflecting changes in diet or phenology. Experienced observers were more likely to detect P. natalis, likely due to familiarity with their vocalisations or visual cues. Analyses excluding environmental and spatiotemporal factors suggested a slight increase in detections since 2012; however, once these factors were included, a significant decrease in detection probability between 2019 and 2022 emerged.

Conclusions. Our findings highlighted how environmental and spatiotemporal factors can affect detection probability and, consequently, survey results of a mobile, threatened small-island endemic.

Implications. This study demonstrated the importance of considering environmental and spatiotemporal factors when designing a monitoring program and, in subsequent analysis, to maximise the accuracy and precision of estimates derived from monitoring programs.

Context. The Indian bison or gaur (Bos gaurus gaurus), one of the three extant subspecies, was once widely distributed. Gaur populations have significantly declined throughout India owing to poaching and other human pressures. The reintroduction of individuals is a standard tool for restoring a species population. The gaur population was declared locally extinct in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR), central India, in 1998. Therefore, the Indian Government decided to rebuild its population by translocating individuals from the Kanha Tiger Reserve (KTR) in central India. Genetics has been an integral part of ensuring population viability for a species; however, there is a lack of studies on wild gaur of KTR and the implications for translocations.

Aim. We investigated the utility of bovine microsatellites for the genetic assessment of reintroduced gaur population in KTR.

Methods. We used blood samples from 19 gaur individuals belonging to two subpopulations within the core area of the KTR, which were collected under the gaur reintroduction plan to the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve (BTR) in central India.

Key results. We observed moderate genetic diversity (H_o = 0.58), a large proportion of unrelated individuals (71–78%), a lack of population structuring, no indication of inbreeding. This suggests the existence of non-random mating and the presence of connectivity between the two subpopulations.

Conclusions. Our results suggest the presence of a panmictic gaur gene pool because of their ability to disperse across subpopulations through the undisturbed, inviolate, high-quality habitat of the core area of the KTR.

Implications. The study has the following observation implications (i) regular monitoring of the habitat connectivity of the gaur to ensure nonrandom mating in KTR, (ii) retaining the founder genetic diversity considering the baseline genetic characteristics data of the reintroduced population of BTR, and (iii) use of optimized and harmonized bovid microsatellites to assess the population genetic structure of gaur across different geographical regions in the country using comparable data for augmentation of BTR population in future.

Context. Gaining insights into seasonal aggregations of marine megafauna and how patterns vary among demographic groups is pivotal for evaluating anthropogenic risk exposure and modeling populations and ecosystem dynamics. In California, adult and subadult white sharks recurrently aggregate on the coast near pinniped colonies in fall and winter months, facilitating comprehensive long-term field studies.

Aims. In this study, we used over 15 years of passive acoustic telemetry data to compare the seasonal dynamics of coastal habitat use for white sharks tagged in central California among four demographic groups (adult females, adult males, subadult females, and subadult males).

Methods. sAcoustic tags were deployed on 355 white sharks at coastal aggregation sites and monitored across a coastal array of underwater receivers from 2006 to 2022. The main aggregation sites of the Northeast Pacific (Año Nuevo, the Farallon Islands and Tomales) were continuously monitored, with an expansion of the acoustic network to the south in the latter years of the study.

Key results. White sharks were tracked for an average duration of 594 ± 552 days (mean ± s.d.), with total track durations ranging up to 3235 days. Notably, adult male sharks exhibited the highest residency to central California coastal aggregation sites and demonstrated earlier seasonal peak densities in late October. Adult female presence peaked in early December. Adult sharks displayed distinct seasonal gaps in detection where they have been shown with satellite tags to migrate offshore, with females displaying much longer average detection gaps than for males (averaging 1.5 years vs 0.7 years). In contrast, subadults exhibited higher coastal affinity with more consistent and widespread detections across a higher number of coastal sites throughout the year, often extending beyond the main aggregation areas outside of the peak aggregation season.

Conclusions. We hypothesize that the observed differences between demographic groups are attributed to sex- and size-specific foraging and reproductive strategies. The extended receiver network also showed expansive coastal movements and identified potential undescribed aggregation sites.

Implications. Insights from our extensive acoustic dataset represent a significant advancement in assessing the timing of anthropogenic interactions and modeling both ecosystem and population dynamics.

Context. Population monitoring that effectively detects population changes is an important component of threatened species management. Call broadcast surveys are regularly used for robust monitoring of vocal or territorial species; however, they can be resource intensive. Passive monitoring approaches involving citizen scientists and acoustic recording units may be less costly, and consequently these methods are increasingly being advocated.

Aims. This study investigated the utility of three different monitoring approaches to detect population trends in the Critically Endangered Norfolk Island morepork Ninox novaeseelandiae undulata. It compared the effectiveness of call broadcast with that of passive citizen scientist and acoustic recording surveys.

Methods. Between November and December 2020, we trialled each technique on Norfolk Island. The coefficient of variation in the number of moreporks heard per survey, and the mean detectability at each site were calculated as the core metrics for each technique. The statistical power of each technique to detect population trends over time was also calculated to compare efficacy. An extensive island-wide call broadcast survey, roost searching, and GPS tracking program were used to establish an independent population estimate.

Key results. We established a population estimate of 25 individuals. The call broadcast approach had the highest precision and highest site detectability. This approach was also assessed as being capable of detecting a change of just two or three moreporks per year, after three years of monitoring. By contrast, approaches using passive citizen science surveys and acoustic recording units would require at least ten years of monitoring to detect similar population trends.

Conclusions. Call broadcast surveys had a greater capacity to achieve high detectability and precise monitoring, relative to the passive approaches.

Implications. The high precision of call broadcast appears to justify the higher resource requirements relative to other methods examined in this study, where the target species is territorial and extremely rare. Call broadcast surveys are recommended for long-term monitoring of Norfolk Island moreporks.

Context. Participation declines in small game hunting are worrying because of the subsequent decline in conservation funding generated from hunting and social tradition. To address declines, it is critical to understand the motivations of small game hunters. Literature on hunter motivations has primarily focused on big game and waterfowl hunters, which may not apply to small game hunters.

Aims. The aim of this article was to understand what motivates small game hunters to participate and to identify existing motivational-based typologies.

Methods. Following the end of the 2019–2020 small game hunting season, a sample of 15,115 Tennessee hunters and trappers were asked to participate in a mix-mode questionnaire.

Key results. A total of 3994 individuals responded to the questionnaire and 1440 reported that they participated in the 2019–2020 hunting and trapping season, of which 634 hunted small game. A multivariate cluster analysis identified the following four motivational clusters: overall enthusiasts (39%), social-nature hunters (22%), less-engaged hunters (11%), and social-experiential hunters (28%).

Conclusion. Our findings showed that Tennessee small game hunters possess a variety of motivations beyond harvesting an animal. The importance of various motivations differed among clusters.

Implications. Rather than managing for the ‘average small game hunter,’ agencies should aim to provide experiences that satisfy a variety of motivations. Because appreciative and affiliative motivations were important to most clusters, agencies may want to focus on addressing these motivations because these are more likely to meet the desires of multiple groups.

Context. Effective ecological surveying is a crucial component of the conservation management of cryptic and threatened species. Ensuring that a survey design has adequate statistical power to confidently detect changes is often overlooked. The pygmy bluetongue (Tiliqua adelaidensis) is an endangered species likely to benefit from increased survey optimisation and structured monitoring efforts across its fragmented and limited distribution.

Aims. We compared multiple quadrat sizes on simulated populations of T. adelaidensis at varying densities to evaluate sample sizes and detection rates required to achieve optimal statistical power and assess the ideal quadrat size and number for detecting population changes at Tiliqua Nature Reserve, South Australia.

Methods. We employed power analyses to assess the number of 30 × 30-m, 50 × 50-m, and 100 × 100-m quadrats required to detect 10%, 25%, and 50% declines in a simulated population of T. adelaidensis. On the basis of these analyses, we conducted the first site-wide monitoring survey for this species at Tiliqua Nature Reserve and, with the assistance of volunteer citizen scientists, surveyed 25 50 × 50-m quadrats over 5 days, achieving the expected sample size required to detect changes in the population size and estimate population densities for the site.

Key results. Our results suggested that 50 × 50-m quadrats were comparable or had significantly higher statistical power than did other quadrat sizes within the survey area and during the sampling period.

Conclusions. This study demonstrated that 50 × 50-m quadrats were the most effective survey strategy for detecting significant population declines of the endangered T. adelaidensis at Tiliqua Nature Reserve. This quadrat size balances survey effort and statistical power, providing a reliable method for long-term monitoring.

Implications. The optimised survey design using 50 × 50-m quadrats provides a robust framework for annual monitoring at Tiliqua Nature Reserve and is likely to be a viable method for other properties. This approach to determining survey effort can be applied to similar conservation efforts for other cryptic and threatened species, ensuring more effective use of resources and timely detection of population changes to inform conservation actions.

Context. Urbanization is a global phenomenon with profound forms of land-use change. Urban areas are characterized by habitat fragmentation and replacement of natural habitat by human-made structures, which alter environmental conditions such as natural resources, light and noise levels, and ambient temperature. Animal communities respond to urbanization in various ways, often showing shifts towards generalist species and declines in species richness. However, mixed results are found in the literature, with neutral or even positive effects on species diversity.

Aims. Our goal was to investigate whether community composition, species diversity and evenness of terrestrial small mammals vary with increasing levels of urbanization, approximated as impervious surface cover and human population density.

Methods. We conducted a camera trap survey in 33 gardens in the city of Münster, Germany, and its surroundings. We recorded a total of 25,982 photos with animals (excluding pets). For analysis, we included only photos of the same species captured at least 60 s apart, resulting in a final dataset of 7090 photos.

Key results. Eight taxa were recorded, with Apodemus spp. dominating (72.6%). The probability of occurrence of all species was not affected by increasing impervious surface cover. We found that community composition, species diversity and evenness do not vary with changing impervious surface cover or human population density. Although associations among species were mostly neutral, trends included a positive association between Myodes glareolus and Crocidura spp., and negative associations between Apodemus spp. and Crocidura spp., and Rattus norvegicus and Sciurus vulgaris.

Conclusions. Our results suggest that composition, species diversity and evenness of this small mammal community are not affected by the two measures of degree of urbanization, impervious surface cover and human population density. The small mammal community of Münster is likely to be the result of generalist species expressing high phenotypic plasticity to bypass the urban filters explaining our overall neutral results.

Implications. Urban gardens can harbor a small mammal community as diverse as gardens outside of the city, highlighting the importance of these green areas in the urban matrix. Further studies will be needed to address whether our findings are generalizable to multiple cities in Europe.

This special collection of Wildlife Research focuses on the importance of Indigenous inclusion and leadership in the stewardship of Australian ecosystems. It highlights the urgent need for collaborations in conservation to address the declining health of our environment and the limitations of historical and current approaches to land management. The issue emphasises that Indigenous Australians hold unique, deep, spiritual and kinship connections to Country steeped in millennia of experience and experimentation, making their voices crucial in shaping the future of environmental management. The collection outlines three key themes. (1) Putting Country first: Indigenous priorities are central to wildlife research and management, prioritising culturally significant entities (CSEs) that hold immense cultural, symbolic, and spiritual value for Indigenous Australians. (2) Opportunities for researchers working on Country: collaboration with Indigenous Australians offers significant opportunities for researchers to learn from Indigenous deep knowledge of the land, enhance research effectiveness, and embrace a more holistic perspective of ecosystems. (3) Respect and reciprocity: successful partnerships with Indigenous Australians are based on respect for culture, cultural obligations to care for Country, Traditional Ecological Knowledge, and community aspirations. This includes adhering to principles of Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), safeguarding Indigenous Cultural and Intellectual Property (ICIP), and ensuring fair representation in authorship and benefit sharing. The issue emphasises the vital role that Indigenous knowledge and perspectives play in achieving sustainable and culturally appropriate solutions for managing Australia’s natural environment.