Context. The adoption of camera trapping in place of traditional wildlife survey methods has become common despite inherent flaws in equipment and a dearth of research to test their fit for purpose. Overwhelmingly, the development of commercial camera traps has been driven by the needs of North American hunters. Camera-trap models and features are influenced by these market forces that drive the changes in designs as new technologies develop. This focus on recreation, rather than research has often frustrated wildlife professionals as the equipment has rarely met minimum standards for scientific application.

Aims. We investigated the demand for white-flash camera traps around the world to highlight the demand for such camera traps in wildlife research to the manufacturing industry. We also compiled the camera-trap specifications required by scientists through the world in an effort to influence and improve the quality of camera traps for research.

Methods. We carried out an internet-based survey of biologists, zoologists, conservationists and other wildlife researchers by using a questionnaire to gather baseline market data on camera-trap use and demand. We also conducted an informal survey of scientists via email and in person, asking for their preferences and features of an ultimate camera-trap design.

Key result. Infrared camera traps are widely used and more so than white-flash camera traps, although the demand for white flash remains significant. Cost, speed, size, ease of use, versatility and the range of settings were the key features identified in a good camera trap.

Conclusions. The present paper describes and discusses the desired features and specifications as defined by over 150 scientists using camera traps around the world. Data gathered also provide some insight into the market demand for camera traps by biologists, zoologists, conservationists and other wildlife researchers around the world. These design features are discussed under the guise of the ultimate camera trap for wildlife research, with the disclaimer that no such camera trap currently exists.

Implications. The information provided in the paper has and will be a useful guide to future camera-trap designs, although it is unlikely that all of the features required will ever be produced in a cheap camera trap.

Context. Invasive mammalian predators are often associated with fragmented landscapes, and can compound the impacts of habitat loss and fragmentation on native fauna. Knowledge of how invasive predators are influenced by different landscape structures can assist in the mitigation of their impacts.

Aims. The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of landscape structure and site-scale habitat attributes on the frequency of feral-cat and red-fox detections in fragmented agricultural landscapes.

Methods. Field surveys of the frequency of red-fox and feral-cat visitation at a site scale were stratified for six different habitat types in six study subregions. The habitat types were large remnant patch interior, large remnant patch edge, small remnant patch, roadside verge, regrowth patch and open agricultural land adjacent to a remnant patch. Sites were centred in a 1-km buffer area from which landscape composition and configuration were calculated. We applied a generalised linear model and an information-theoretic approach to determine the effect size and importance and rank of the explanatory variables on red-fox, feral-cat and pooled cat and fox detection rates.

Key results. The most important factors influencing detection rates had a positive effect and included: the dominance of cropping in the landscape (cat, fox, pooled cat and fox); and the density of vegetation at a site scale (fox, pooled cat and fox). The number of native habitat patches was also an important factor in the models of red foxes and pooled invasive predators.

Conclusion. Spatially heterogeneous cropping landscapes incur higher rates of invasive-predator detections than do intact native-woodland and pasture landscapes at the 1-km scale. At a site scale, elevated invasive-predator detections occurred at sites with dense vegetation, characteristic of narrow woodland and the edges of large woodland patches.

Implications. The research findings highlight that vertebrate pest management needs to target highly fragmented agricultural landscapes that are more likely to have elevated levels of invasive-predator activity. Landscape restoration efforts need to consider the redesign of landscapes to make them less suitable for predators and more hospitable for native wildlife.

Context . Translocation has become an increasingly common tool in the conservation of species. Understanding the movement patterns of some species can be important to minimise loss of individuals from the translocation release site.

Aims . To describe seasonal and sex-biased movements within populations of an endangered Australian lizard.

Methods . We monitored seasonal movement in the endangered pygmy bluetongue lizard (Tiliqua adelaidensis) by using pitfall trapping, with a total of 49 440 trap-nights from three sites over 2 years. Other studies have shown that individual pygmy bluetongue lizards normally remained closely associated with their spider burrow refuges, with very little movement. Thus, we interpreted any captures detected through pitfall trapping as out of burrow movements. We investigated whether there was any seasonal, age or sex bias in moving individuals.

Key results . We found that male pygmy bluetongue lizards were more likely to move than were females. After adults, neonates were the second-most captured age class. Spring was the peak movement time for adults, whereas movement of neonates occurred in autumn.

Key conclusions . The majority of movement can be attributed to males in the breeding season, whereas females move very little.

Implications . The present study provides some baseline data that would allow more informed decisions about the most appropriate individuals in a population to choose for a translocation program and the times to conduct translocations to allow the maximum chance for establishment.

Context . Urbanisation is recognised as a primary cause of biodiversity loss. Roads are an inherent element of this, creating partial or complete barriers to animal movement. Urban landscapes of eastern Australia are typified by a dense road network interspersed with remnant patches of bushland. Inter-patch movement by tree-dependent gliding mammals may be halted and, consequently, population viability threatened, when canopy gaps over roads exceed gliding ability.

Aims . We test the notion that a metapopulation of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) in southern Brisbane can persist within a highly fragmented urban landscape with large road canopy gaps.

Methods . We used the population modelling software VORTEX to investigate the influence of inter-patch movement (dispersal) and wildfire on the probability of extinction. Wildfire is an inherent characteristic of this landscape.

Key results . Our modelling suggests that a lack of inter-patch movement as a result of road barriers, in tandem with wildfire, is associated with a high probability of local extinction. However, a small rate of inter-patch movement can substantially reduce the likelihood of extinction.

Conclusions . Road-crossing structures are the most plausible means available to link remnants to enable inter-patch movement for squirrel gliders in this landscape because of inadequate road-side tree height. Simulation studies such as the present study that test population viability are critical to convince land managers that action must be taken.

Implications . The need to conserve urban biodiversity will increase over time, so land managers must consider the likely benefits to population persistence conferred by installing wildlife crossing structures into existing roads.

Context . The conservation status of the whale shark, Rhincodon typus, remains uncertain. Throughout their range, whale sharks are a focus for wildlife tourism and many identification photographs taken by tourists have become available online, presenting a potentially valuable source of data for monitoring populations using mark–recapture techniques. However, the suitability of these photographs for mark–recapture models has yet to be investigated.

Aims . We explore the suitability of identification-photographs available from online databases to produce assessments of life-history parameters and conservation status of whale sharks in the Maldives.

Methods. To test the validity of using publically sourced images, we used photo-identification images collected from both experienced researchers and tourists between 2003 and 2008 to construct two databases. Images taken by tourists were compiled from online databases. Researcher and public databases were analysed separately and the results of mark–recapture models then compared.

Key results. The dataset constructed from online public databases did not violate the assumptions of mark–recapture modelling. Estimates of parameters and abundance obtained from models using these data were similar to those produced using data provided by experienced researchers.

Conclusions . Publically sourced data allowed for the accurate estimation of abundance of whale sharks. These estimates were not confounded by the suitability of photographs, probably because of the high encounter rate in the aggregation, the high residency rate of sharks and the retrospective nature of photo-identification, which limited heterogeneity in capture probability between marked and unmarked sharks.

Implications. Our findings support the use of publically sourced data for use in mark–recapture studies of whale sharks, at least in situations where sharks are resident to the location. This approach will be useful in regions where data collected by tourists are available online, and research funding is limited.

Context . The increasing intensity and extent of anthropogenically mediated salinisation in freshwater systems has the potential to affect freshwater species through physiological and ecological processes. Determining responses to salinisation is critical to predicting impacts on fauna.

Aims . We aimed to quantify the response of wild-caught turtles from freshwater lakes that had become saline in the lower Murray River catchment.

Methods . Plasma electrolytes of all three species of freshwater turtle from South Australia were compared among two freshwater sites (Horseshoe Lagoon and Swan Reach), a brackish lake (Lake Bonney) and a saline lake (Lake Alexandrina).

Key results . Chelodina longicollis, C. expansa and Emydura macquarii from a brackish lake had higher concentrations of plasma sodium and chloride than those from freshwater habitats. However, osmolytes known to increase under severe osmotic stress (urea and uric acid) were not elevated in brackish sites. Turtles from the highly saline lake were colonised by an invasive marine worm which encased the carapace and inhibited limb movement.

Conclusions . Freshwater turtles in brackish backwaters had little response to salinity, whereas the C. longicollis in a saline lake had a significant physiological response caused by salt and further impacts from colonisation of marine worms.

Implications . Short periods of high salinity are unlikely to adversely affect freshwater turtles. However, secondary ecological processes, such as immobilisation from a marine worm may cause unexpected impacts on freshwater fauna.

Context. Whether trophy hunting is beneficial or a threat to the conservation of species is an open and hotly debated question. The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is in charge of assessing the need for species protection at the global scale and providing a useful guide for sustainable exploitation and conservation. Consideration of the IUCN status in wildlife management and its consequences on the attractiveness of trophy-hunted species remains to be quantified.

Aims. The present study investigated the link between the IUCN status of the trophy species and its exploitation in 124 taxa. We expected that the number of trophies should be inversely correlated with the IUCN vulnerability status across species.

Methods. Using the database of the Safari Club International, one of the largest hunting associations worldwide, we investigated the effect (1) of the first status attribution and (2) of an upgrade of the IUCN status on the number of trophies recorded by the Safari Club International, by comparing the average number of trophies 5 years before and after a status change.

Key results. First, we found that the status attributed by the IUCN in a given year had no effect on the number of recorded trophies during the following 5 years. Second, upgrading the IUCN status led to an important decrease in the number of recorded trophies for most species (75%), except for the most vulnerable ones (African elephant, Loxodonta africana; banteng, Bos javanicus; lelwel hartebeest, Alcelaphus buselaphus lelwel; European bison, Bison bonasus).

Conclusions. Our results suggest that although a protective IUCN status lowers the exploitation of the moderately threatened species, hunting pressure on the most threatened one increases instead. The findings support the possibility of an anthropogenic Allee effect (AAE), i.e. a disproportionate exploitation of the rarest species.

Implications. The highly profitable exploitation of rare species could have harmful consequences, unless appropriate management actions and protection rules are enforced.

Context. Rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) are major pests in the semiarid grasslands of eastern South Island. As the benefits of a viral biological control agent (rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus) introduced in 1997 begin to wane, landowners are again faced with the costs of controlling rabbits.

Aim. The study aimed to measure the extent of vegetation growth as rabbit and sheep densities changed to enable land managers to better justify decisions on pest and stock management.

Methods. We investigated the relationship between seasonal growth of vegetation at two replicate sites within each of three rabbit-prone areas in Otago. At these sites, the ambient densities of lagomorphs varied naturally and in response to pest-control operations, whereas the density of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) varied according to the farmers’ husbandry needs. The vegetation was highly degraded at one of the areas studied. Rabbits were present at all three sites and hares (Lepus europaeus) at two sites. At each site, we established exclosures that excluded either all herbivores or just sheep. The observed rates of vegetation growth were modelled as a function of prevailing herbivore densities, season and site. The fitted model was used to infer expected rates of change in vegetation biomass at the sites, under varying sheep and lagomorph density indices, and seasons.

Key results. In the absence of herbivores, vegetation was predicted to grow in all seasons apart from winter at the degraded sites. In the absence of sheep but in the presence of up to ∼10 lagomorphs seen per kilometre of spotlight transect, accumulation of vegetation biomass follows the same seasonal pattern as in the absence of herbivores. As lagomorph counts reach 50 per kilometre, vegetation biomass accumulates only in spring and summer and only at the least degraded sites. The maximum stocking rates for sheep for which positive biomass accumulation could be maintained under varying lagomorph densities was predicted from the model.

Conclusions. At the least degraded sites some sheep could be grazed while maintaining positive pasture growth, even at high rabbit densities, except in winter if rabbit-density indices exceeded ∼30 per kilometre. At the most degraded sites, a very low density of sheep could be maintained, but only in spring and only if lagomorph density indices were below ∼10 per kilometre.

Context. Prescribed burning is routinely performed within the Sydney Basin as a method of fire-hazard mitigation. Despite the widespread use of prescribed fire, knowledge of the impact of prescribed fire on most fauna species remains unclear. This is particularly the case for bandicoot species.

Aims. To determine the impact of a low-intensity prescribed fire on the survival of the long-nosed bandicoot, Perameles nasuta, and the southern brown bandicoot, Isoodon obesulus obesulus (hereafter abbreviated to I. obesulus), immediately after the fire and at 5 weeks, 5 months and 13 months following the fire. To document the spatial ecology and nesting requirements of I. obesulus and P. nasuta before and after fire.

Methods. One I. obesulus and seven P. nasuta (five female and two male) individuals were radio-tracked. Animals were tracked before, during and following a hazard-reduction burn to assess the impact of fire on home range, survival and nesting behaviour.

Key results. Post-fire survival of P. nasuta and I. obesulus was high and the population remained stable up to 5 months following the fire. All animals tracked within the burn area (three female P. nasuta) survived the passage of fire. The home range for one male I. obesulus was found to be 2.35 ha 50% kernel-density estimate (KDE) and 12.35 ha 95% KDE. Female P. nasuta (n = 5) had a home range of 1.3 ha ± 0.2 s.e. 50% KDE and 7.5 ha ± 1.7 s.e. 95% KDE. Male P. nasuta (n = 1) had a home range of 1.1 ha 50% KDE and 6.5ha 95% KDE. Nesting for both species tended to occur in dense vegetation, with a slight shift to non-combustible refuge sites post-fire. Animals tended to maintain exclusive and relatively stable core home ranges, although overlap of non-core home ranges was common.

Conclusions. The survival of bandicoots following a low-intensity hazard-reduction fire was high in the short term; however, further research is required to determine how the components of a fire regime affect native species, in particular peramelids.

Implications. Hazard-reduction fires should be used with caution to manage the isolated and endangered northern Sydney population of I. obesulus, so as to ensure the persistence of this species.