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Dryland biodiversity is increasingly threatened by habitat loss, land use change, and climate extremes, particularly drought. The endangered eastern subspecies of the endemic Pink Cockatoo (Cacatua leadbeateri leadbeateri) is a rarely studied, iconic parrot inhabiting Australia's drylands. This study used passive acoustic monitoring and artificial intelligence to investigate the spatial and temporal habitat use of Pink Cockatoos across three dryland ecosystems in eastern Australia. A total of 91,646 h of recordings, collected from an array of 26 sensors for the spatial analysis and eight sensors for the temporal analysis, were processed using a convolutional neural network recogniser, with detections related to environmental variables including rainfall, temperature, vegetation greenness, and distance to water. Detections were highest in riparian habitats, with proximity to permanent water and River Red Gum +/- Coolabah vegetation emerging as key predictors. Tree diameter at breast height was also significant, suggesting a reliance on mature hollows for nesting. Detection rates increased during droughts and declined after rainfall, highlighting reliance on climate refugia and potential dispersal or population decline after drought. These findings demonstrate the importance of riparian zones and large trees for dryland specialists and show the value of ecoacoustic monitoring for conservation in remote regions. The study provides critical ecological insight into a declining species and informs future habitat protection and climate-adaptive conservation planning in arid Australia.
At least 40 Australian mammal spcies have been driven to extinction since European colonization in 1788. For conservation management to be effective, it is vital that the reasons for historical extinctions and ongoing declines are understood and remedied. A recent article (Wallach and Lundgren 2025) concluded that there was no compelling evidence that two introduced predators (domestic cats and red foxes) were primary causes of these mammal losses. We refute that article, finding substantial flaws in its premises, analyses, data, interpretations, and conclusions. Using multiple lines of evidence, we show that these two predators are strongly implicated in most Australian mammal extinctions and in the ongoing imperilment of numerous extant species. The devastating impact of cats and foxes on Australia's mammals has been widely recognized by conservation managers who have, in response, implemented national programs to control these predators, producing widely recognized benefits for one of the world's most remarkable native mammal faunas.
The acceleration of artificial intelligence (AI) has reshaped the marketing landscape. Today, optimised content can be created with a single prompt, advertising campaigns can be automated from start to finish, and websites can be designed in minutes. But how much of a discipline built on human emotion, decisionmaking and behavioural insight should be handed over to machines? Where do we draw the line? This paper explores one of the most pressing challenges for modern marketers: maintaining authenticity in an era dominated by algorithmic feeds and automation. It highlights the balancing act of keeping pace with rapidly evolving technologies while retaining the foundational elements of effective marketing that require slower, more strategic thought. Drawing on global research and industry insights, the paper presents a practical five-part framework to help marketing leaders integrate AI in ways that increase trust, strengthen brand narratives and improve long-term audience relationships. Throughout, the paper provides examples of how AI can be deployed to enable, not erode, authenticity in marketing practice. This article is also included in The Business & Management Collection which can be accessed at http://hstalks.com/business.
Planigales are the smallest marsupials in the world. Seven species are currently recognized, six that occur in Australia (Planigale ingrami, P. gilesi, P. kendricki, P. maculata, P. tealei and P. tenuirostris) and one that occurs only in New Guinea (P. novaeguineae). Genetic studies using mitochondrial and nuclear DNA fragments have suggested cryptic diversity within both the P. ingrami and P. maculata species complexes that warrant formal taxonomic revision. Here, we addressed the unrecognized diversity in the P. ingrami complex using comprehensive genetic sampling and morphological assessments of specimens from museum collections. We built on previous studies by obtaining DNA sequences from the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA locus and thousands of nuclear single nucleotide polymorphism loci for >220 individuals, comprehensively sampling across species distributions. Phylogenetic analyses and species delimitation approaches were used to define species boundaries and assess divergence between existing and novel species. This was coupled with a thorough morphological examination of museum specimens, including cranial and external morphometrics. We found three diagnosable forms within the P. ingrami species complex. We reinstate Planigale subtilissima, occurring in the Kimberley, from synonymy, synonymize P. ingrami brunnea, and describe a new and highly distinctive species, Planigale petrophila sp. nov., from Arnhem Land in northern Australia.
Context. Mammals inhabiting arid and semi-arid regions are often exposed to extreme conditions and may rely on refuges for survival. The greater stick-nest rat (Leporillus conditor) is a threatened, nest-building rodent that once occupied large parts of semi-arid Australia. The species became restricted to two offshore islands, but has now been translocated several times, with translocation failures attributed to predation, unsuitable habitat and drought. Aims. We studied a translocated population of greater stick-nest rats at Australian Wildlife Conservancy's predator-proof fenced area at Mt Gibson Wildlife Sanctuary in Western Australia. We documented the population trajectory over time, characterised and modelled the thermal properties of above-ground stick-refuges and recorded data on habitat use. Methods. We used live trapping data to estimate population abundance over time. We documented the structure and thermal and humidity profiles of stick-refuges and conducted vegetation surveys comparing areas inhabited by greater stick-nest rats to adjacent uninhabited areas. Results. We found that: (i) greater stick-nest rat abundance declined to a barely detectable level during a severe hot drought; (ii) internal refuge temperatures were typically cooler than external temperatures, but the buffering effect was ineffective on extremely hot days; and (iii) stick-nest rats inhabited sites with a relatively high abundance of salt-tolerant shrubs, which are highly susceptible to drought and of which there is limited availability within the fenced area. Conclusions. Extreme heat wave conditions and drought were related to a sharp population decline. Stick-refuges occupied by greater stick-nest rats at our study site provided limited thermal buffering, and the drought likely reduced the availability of food resources. As the extent of salt-tolerant shrubland is limited within the fenced area at Mt Gibson, a lack of suitable habitat may have contributed to the observed population decline during the hot, dry period. Implications. Our findings suggest that regions with more moderate climates and larger areas of suitable vegetation may be better suited as translocation sites for this species in the future. More broadly, our study highlights the need for further research on how Australia's rodents will respond to elevated temperatures and increased drought as climate change progresses.
