Impact pathway diagrams based on conceptual ecological modelling are an important tool for identifying where effective conservation strategies can be designed and targeted to mitigate the impacts of an invasive species on a native species. These are particularly useful when the eradication of the invasive species may not be possible. Here we apply this approach to identify the impacts of feral water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) on the northern long-necked turtle (Chelodina rugosa) in the Arafura Swamp Indigenous Protected Area in northern Australia. Understanding the pathways leading to deleterious effects is even more critical when the impact of the invasive species, in this case the buffalo, is not a direct one but rather indirect impacts that occur from the buffalo's role as an 'ecosystem engineer'. Conceptual modelling of the physical, chemical and biotic changes caused by buffalo to the habitats utilised by C. rugosa over its life stages, and associated responses, indicated the main pathways leading to population decline. These included a reduction in C. rugosa reproductive success and decreased resilience to extended aestivation periods. Buffalo-mediated soil modification may directly increase adult and egg mortalities and interfere with conditions required for successful aestivation and embryo development. Other stressors include predation by other feral species and climate variability. With the pathways leading to population decline identified, mechanisms to address the impacts of buffalo can be designed and effective strategies developed to conserve this culturally significant turtle species. This approach is an effective tool for land managers where species-specific and place-based conservation strategies are needed and is critical to conservation where the stressor cannot be effectively removed.

Aim: We examine the phylogeographic genetic structure of the endangered pig-nosed turtle Carettochelys insculpta, the last remaining member of a once globally widespread family, now restricted to northern Australia and southern New Guinea, a region with a complex geological and eustatic history. We examine their historical biogeography, demographic history and genetic status of threatened populations. Location: Northern Australia, Southern New Guinea. Methods: We reconstruct phylogenetic relationships and patterns of genetic diversity using a genome-wide dataset of 15,081 single nucleotide polymorphisms and two mitochondrial loci from samples spanning the full species' range. Results: The Australian, Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua turtles are recovered as three distinct lineages; the Australian lineage diverged from the New Guinea lineages ca 660 Kya, while the Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua Province lineages diverged ca 564 Kya. Although the fossil record shows that C. insculpta has been a long-standing representative of the Australia and New Guinea fauna (since at least the Miocene), extant lineages diverged later in the Middle Pleistocene. Both the Australian and Papua New Guinea lineages were likely shaped by bottlenecks, isolation and genetic drift, which in the Australian lineage greatly reduced effective population sizes to 48-88. Main Conclusions: The contemporary genetic structure of C. insculpta is most consistent with a vicariance model whereby a large interchanging population occupying northern Australia and New Guinea came to be fragmented and diverged into Australian, Papua New Guinea and Indonesian Papua lineages. Subsequent dispersal via paleodrainages of the submerged continental shelf under the influence of Pleistocene sea-level change is thought to have been impeded by the isolation of the Akimeugah and Arafura Basins. All populations of the Australian lineage show low genetic diversity without contemporary gene flow, suggesting they are vulnerable to inbreeding and reduced fitness, requiring the consideration of genetic rescue.

Introductions of non-native fish are intended to have positive social outcomes, although they can also result in negative environmental consequences. Recently, incidental introduction of tilapia ( Oreochromis cf. niloticus ) was recorded in the Kikori River, Papua New Guinea. This study investigated the abundance of Oreochromis cf. niloticus relative to native fish species in the Kikori Town market, and interviewed market vendors to gauge the local perception of Oreochromis cf. niloticus . Market data were collected over eight days with 1474 individual fish observed. Oreochromis cf. niloticus comprised 11.4% (n = 168) of fish and was the largest contributor of biomass (40.2%). Market vendors reported that Oreochromis cf. niloticus was easy to catch and sell, and ranked it highly in sale preference compared to native species. There is potential to explore export markets for Kikori River Oreochromis cf. niloticus in PNG’s highland provinces to expand economic opportunities for local communities.

The Australian freshwater turtle fauna is dominated by species in the family Chelidae. The extant fauna comprises a series of distinct lineages, each of considerable antiquity, relicts of a more extensive and perhaps diverse fauna that existed when wetter climes prevailed. Several phylogenetically distinctive species are restricted to single, often small, drainage basins, which presents challenges for their conservation. Specific threats include water resource development, which alters the magnitude, frequency, and timing of flows and converts lentic to lotic habitat via dams and weirs, fragmentation of habitat, sedimentation, nutrification, and a reduction in the frequency and extent of floodplain flooding. Drainage of wetlands and altered land use are of particular concern for some species that are now very restricted in range and critically endangered. The introduced European red fox is a devastatingly efficient predator of turtle nests and can have a major impact on recruitment. In the north, species such as the northern snake-necked turtle are heavily depredated by feral pigs. Other invasive animals and aquatic weeds dramatically alter freshwater habitats, with consequential impacts on freshwater turtles. Novel pathogens such as viruses have brought at least one species to the brink of extinction. Species that routinely migrate across land are impacted by structural simplification of habitat, reduction in availability of terrestrial refugia, fencing (including conservation fencing), and in some areas, by high levels of road mortality. We report on the listing process and challenges for listing freshwater turtles under the Australian Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act, summarize the state of knowledge relevant to listing decisions, identify the key threatening processes impacting turtles, and identify key knowledge gaps that impede the setting of priorities. We also focus on how to best incorporate First Nations Knowledge into decisions on listing and discuss opportunities to engage Indigenous communities in on-ground work to achieve conservation outcomes.

Comprehensive assessments of species' extinction risks have documented the extinction crisis(1) and underpinned strategies for reducing those risks(2). Global assessments reveal that, among tetrapods, 40.7% of amphibians, 25.4% of mammals and 13.6% of birds are threatened with extinction(3). Because global assessments have been lacking, reptiles have been omitted from conservation-prioritization analyses that encompass other tetrapods(4-7). Reptiles are unusually diverse in arid regions, suggesting that they may have different conservation needs(6). Here we provide a comprehensive extinction-risk assessment of reptiles and showthat at least 1,829 out of 10,196 species (21.1%) are threatened-confirming a previous extrapolation(8) and representing 15.6 billion years of phylogenetic diversity. Reptiles are threatened by the same major factorsthat threaten othertetrapods-agriculture, logging, urban development and invasive species-although the threat posed by climate change remains uncertain. Reptiles inhabiting forests, where these threats are strongest, are more threatened than those in arid habitats, contrary to our prediction. Birds, mammals and amphibians are unexpectedly good surrogates for the conservation of reptiles, although threatened reptiles with the smallest rangestend to be isolated from other threatened tetrapods. Although some reptiles-including most species of crocodiles and turtles-require urgent, targeted action to prevent extinctions, efforts to protect other tetrapods, such as habitat preservation and control of trade and invasive species, will probably also benefit many reptiles.

The increase in availability of industrialised products in Papua New Guinea (PNG) has exacerbated its waste issues in both remote towns and villages. This study quantified and categorised the waste...

BACKGROUND:Chronic respiratory disorders are highly prevalent in Aboriginal Australian population, including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and bronchiectasis. However, there is paucity of information in the literature among Aboriginal patients with underlying COPD with and without bronchiectasis. AIMS:In this retrospective study we evaluated the demographic and clinical characteristics of adult Aboriginal Australian patients with a clinical diagnosis of COPD with and without bronchiectasis from the remote communities of the Northern Territory of Australia. METHODS:Clinical records were reviewed to extract information on demographics, respiratory and medical comorbid conditions, COPD directed treatment, hospital admission frequency and exacerbations. Chest radiology were reviewed to evaluate the presence or absence of bronchiectasis. Spirometry results, sputum culture and cardiac investigations were also recorded. RESULTS:Of the 767 patients assessed in the remote community respiratory outreach clinics 380 (49%) patients had a clinical diagnosis of COPD. Chest X-ray and computed tomography scan were available to evaluate the presence of bronchiectasis in 258 patients. Of the 258/380 patients, 176/258 (68.2%) were diagnosed to have COPD alone and 82/258 (31.8%) had bronchiectasis along with COPD. The mean age was 56 and 59 years among patients with and without bronchiectasis, respectively, and 57% were males with bronchiectasis. Patients with bronchiectasis had lower body mass index (22 vs 24 kg/m2 ), frequent hospital admissions (2.0 vs 1.5/year) and productive cough (32.1% vs 28.9%). Spirometry showed 77% had forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1 )/forced vital capacity ratio <0.7. In 81% and 75% of patients with and without bronchiectasis the FEV1 /forced vital capacity ratio was <0.7 and the mean FEV1 was 39% and 43% respectively. CONCLUSIONS:About 32% of Aboriginal Australians had co-existent bronchiectasis with COPD. Lower body mass index, productive cough, frequent hospital admission and marginally more severe reduction in lung function were noted among patients with COPD and bronchiectasis compared to those with COPD in isolation.

Turtles and tortoises (chelonians) have been integral components of global ecosystems for about 220 million years and have played important roles in human culture for at least 400,000 years. The chelonian shell is a remarkable evolutionary adaptation, facilitating success in terrestrial, freshwater and marine ecosystems. Today, more than half of the 360 living species and 482 total taxa (species and subspecies combined) are threatened with extinction. This places chelonians among the groups with the highest extinction risk of any sizeable vertebrate group. Turtle populations are declining rapidly due to habitat loss, consumption by humans for food and traditional medicines and collection for the international pet trade. Many taxa could become extinct in this century. Here, we examine survival threats to turtles and tortoises and discuss the interventions that will be needed to prevent widespread extinction in this group in coming decades.

Subash S Heraganahally 1–4 Sanjiwika LWasgewatta Kelly McNamara 2,3 Carla C Eisemberg 5 Richard C Budd Sumit Mehra 1,3,6 Dimitar Sajkov 1Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Royal Darwin Hospital, Darwin, NT, Australia; 2Flinders University College of Medicine and Public Health, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 3Northern Territory Medical School, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; 4Darwin Respiratory and Sleep Health, Darwin, NT, Australia; 5Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia; 6Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Flinders Medical Centre, Adelaide, SA, Australia; 7Australian Respiratory and Sleep Medicine Institute, Adelaide, SA, Australia Background: The Aboriginal population of Australia has a higher burden of chronic health conditions than non-Aboriginal Australians. However, there is a paucity of data on clinical and demographic characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in this population. Method: In this retrospective study we evaluated the clinical, demographic and environmental influences in adult Aboriginal patients with COPD living in the regional and remote communities of the Northern Territory of Australia. Results: There were 380 patients (49%) with a diagnosis of COPD of the 767 patients referred to specialist respiratory outreach clinics. The mean age was 57 years (56% were female) and mean±SD BMI was 24.30±7.01 kg/m. Smoking history was noted in 93% of the study cohort. The most common respiratory symptom was shortness of breath in 62%, and inhaled medications (salbutamol, tiotropium, salmeterol/fluticasone) were used by 79%, 44% and 58% of patients, respectively. Spirometry showed obstructive impairment (FEV1/ FVC <0.7) in 79% (0.56±0.17), with mean FEV1 42% of predicted, and a bronchodilator response was present in 28.6%. Comorbid bronchiectasis was diagnosed in 49.8% along with COPD. The relationship between COPD and community demography showed a higher proportion of smokers and those with underlying bronchiectasis to have lower FEV1/FVC ratios. Communities with a higher proportion of asthma were younger and had higher smoking rates. Mortality increased with increasing number of exacerbations and hospital admissions. Conclusion: The Aboriginal population with COPD has a higher prevalence of smoking, moderate to severe airflow obstruction on spirometry and frequently co-diagnosed bronchiectasis with increased severity of ventilatory impairment.

Background The Aboriginal population of Australia has a higher burden of chronic health conditions than non-Aboriginal Australians. However, there is a paucity of data on clinical and demographic characteristics of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in this population. Method In this retrospective study we evaluated the clinical, demographic and environmental influences in adult Aboriginal patients with COPD living in the regional and remote communities of the Northern Territory of Australia. Results There were 380 patients (49%) with a diagnosis of COPD of the 767 patients referred to specialist respiratory outreach clinics. The mean age was 57 years (56% were female) and mean±SD BMI was 24.30±7.01 kg/m2. Smoking history was noted in 93% of the study cohort. The most common respiratory symptom was shortness of breath in 62%, and inhaled medications (salbutamol, tiotropium, salmeterol/fluticasone) were used by 79%, 44% and 58% of patients, respectively. Spirometry showed obstructive impairment (FEV1/FVC <0.7) in 79% (0.56±0.17), with mean FEV1 42% of predicted, and a bronchodilator response was present in 28.6%. Comorbid bronchiectasis was diagnosed in 49.8% along with COPD. The relationship between COPD and community demography showed a higher proportion of smokers and those with underlying bronchiectasis to have lower FEV1/FVC ratios. Communities with a higher proportion of asthma were younger and had higher smoking rates. Mortality increased with increasing number of exacerbations and hospital admissions. Conclusion The Aboriginal population with COPD has a higher prevalence of smoking, moderate to severe airflow obstruction on spirometry and frequently co-diagnosed bronchiectasis with increased severity of ventilatory impairment.

The Brazilian Government established the Amazon Turtle Project (Projeto Quelonios da Amazonia - PQA) in 1975 to monitor and protect the main nesting sites of Amazon River turtles. The PQA has become the largest-scale and longest-term wildlife conservation initiative in the Brazilian Amazon. We evaluated the outcomes of the PQA across 11 protected localities over 30 years (1977-2008). Inside the protected localities, one population of Podocnemis expansa has declined and four have seen an increase in numbers. The PQA conservation efforts for P. unifilis were not as successful as those of Podocnemis expansa, but were sufficient to stabilize or increase populations. These results suggest that there is a minimum effort necessary for positive conservation outcomes, which was not achieved for Podocnemis sextuberculata. Given the lack of correlation between initial nesting numbers and positive population trends, the current level of success in a given locality cannot be used as a tool to prioritize future protection efforts. We recommend that the PQA should maintain or increase its coverage due to the high levels of local unpredictability. If current harvest trends are maintained, it is likely the only surviving populations of P. expansa will be within protected areas. Considering the scope of the PQA and the period that it has been operational, it is surprising how little recognition it has received; the lack of national and international awareness of its achievements may be one of the main reasons behind the lack of support from the Brazilian Government.

The amphibian chytrid fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (chytrid) has caused the most widespread, disease-induced declines and extinctions in vertebrates recorded to date. The largest climatically suitable landmass that may still be free of this fungus is New Guinea. The island is home to a sizeable proportion of the world's known frog species (an estimated 6%), as well as many additional, yet-to-be-described species. Two decades of research on the chytrid fungus have provided a foundation for improved management of amphibian populations. We call for urgent, unified, international, multidisciplinary action to prepare for the arrival of B dendrobatidis in New Guinea, to prevent or slow its spread within the island after it arrives, and to limit its impact upon the island's frog populations. The apparent absence of the fungus in New Guinea offers an opportunity to build capacity in advance for science, disease surveillance, and diagnosis that will have broad relevance both for non-human animal health and for public health.

We present a review and analysis of the conservation status and International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) threat categories of all 360 currently recognized species of extant and recently extinct turtles and tortoises (Order Testudines). Our analysis is based on the 2018 IUCN Red List status of 251 listed species, augmented by provisional Red List assessments by the IUCN Tortoise and Freshwater Turtle Specialist Group (TFTSG) of 109 currently unlisted species of tortoises and freshwater turtles, as well as re-assessments of several outdated IUCN Red List assessments. Of all recognized species of turtles and tortoises, this combined analysis indicates that 20.0% are Critically Endangered (CR), 35.3% are Critically Endangered or Endangered (CR+EN), and 51.9% are Threatened (CR+EN+Vulnerable). Adjusting for the potential threat levels of Data Deficient (DD) species indicates that 56.3% of all data-sufficient species are Threatened. We calculated percentages of imperiled species and modified Average Threat Levels (ATL; ranging from Least Concern = 1 to Extinct = 8) for various taxonomic and geographic groupings. Proportionally more species in the subfamily Geoemydinae (Asian members of the family Geoemydidae) are imperiled (74.2% CR I EN, 79.0% Threatened, 3.89 ATL) compared to other taxonomic groupings, but the families Podocnemididae, Testudinidae, and Trionychidae and the superfamily Chelonioidea (marine turtles of the families Cheloniidae and Dermochelyidae) also have high percentages of imperiled species and ATLs (42.9-50.0% CR+EN, 73.8-100.0% Threatened, 3.44-4.06 ATL). The subfamily Rhinoclemmydinae (Neotropical turtles of the family Geoemydidae) and the families Kinosternidae and Pelomedusidae have the lowest percentages of imperiled species and ATLs (0%-7.4% CR+EN, 7.4%-13.3% Threatened, 1.65-1.87 ATL). Turtles from Asia have the highest percentages of imperiled species (75.0% CR+EN, 83.0% Threatened, 3.98 ATL), significantly higher than predicted based on the regional species richness, due to much higher levels of exploitation in that geographic region. The family Testudinidae has the highest ATL (4.06) of all Testudines due to the extinction of several species of giant tortoises from Indian and Pacific Ocean islands since 1500 CE. The family Testudinidae also has an ATL higher than all other larger polytypic families (>= 5 species) of Reptilia or Amphibia. The order Testudines is, on average, more imperiled than all other larger orders (>= 20 species) of Reptilia, Amphibia, Mammalia, or Ayes, but has percentages of CR FEN and Threatened species and an ATL (2.96) similar to those of Primates and Caudata (salamanders).

Our objectives were to ascertain the patterns of movement and habitat use in upland populations of the regionally restricted Johnstone River Snapping Turtle, Elseya irwini, in tropical Queensland, Australia. Between October 2014 and October 2015, we radio tracked eight (four male and four female) Eiveya irwini in the headwaters of the Johnstone River in far north Queensland. Over this time, we made 342 radio fixes for males and 353 for the four females, with fixes varying between 78 and 90 per animal. There was not a significant relationship between the distances a turtle moved from its point of release and the number of days since release, suggesting turtles restrict their movements to a home range. While the movement of males was more variable than females, male movement did not differ significantly from females in linear range span or total linear distance. Linear home range of the eight turtles varied between 387 and 1128 m. Daily displacement distances were small (9-31 m) with the four individuals with the largest and smallest displacement distances being male. Other than one male, which disappeared from the area for a period of six weeks, there was no indication of long-range migratory movements. This species appears to be largely sedentary with small home ranges and short daily movements. Long range movements do occur but appear to be extremely rare. A sedentary lifestyle potentially makes this turtle more susceptible to localized negative impacts such as habitat degradation, disease, and feral animal predation of nests.

The dietary preference of most crocodilians is generally thought to be fairly broad.However, the head morphology of slender-snouted crocodilians limits their ability to process large and complex prey.The slender-snouted Australian freshwater crocodile is known to be a dietary specialist consuming small aquatic prey, particularly aquatic arthropods and fish.Here, we report observations of predation events by Australian freshwater crocodiles on medium-and large-sized mammals in the Kimberley region of Western Australia including macropods, a large rodent and an echidna.We discuss the significance of our observations from an ecological and morphological perspective and propose that terrestrial mammalian prey may be a seasonally important prey item for some populations of freshwater crocodiles.

Amazon rivers can be divided into three groups (black, white and clear waters) according to the origin of their sediment, dissolved nutrient content, and vegetation. White water rivers have high sediment loads and primary productivity, with abundant aquatic and terrestrial plant life. In contrast, black water rivers are acid and nutrient-poor, with infertile floodplains that support plant species exceptionally rich in secondary chemical defences against herbivory. In this study, we reviewed available information on the diet of Amazon sideneck river turtles (Family Podocnemididae). Our aim was to test the relationship between water type and diet of podocnemidids. We also took into account the effects of season, size, age, sex and phylogeny. Based on our review, turtles of this family are primarily herbivorous but opportunistic, consuming from 46 to 99% (percent volume) of vegetable matter depending on species, sex, season and location. There was no significant correlation between the maximum carapace size of a species and vegetable matter consumed. When the available information on diet, size and habitat was arranged on the podocnemidid phylogeny, no obvious evolutionary trend was evident. The physicochemical properties of the inhabited water type indirectly influence the average volume of total vegetable matter consumed. Species with no specialised stomach adaptations for herbivory consumed smaller amounts of hard to digest vegetable matter (i.e. leaves, shoots and stems). We propose that turtles with specialized digestive tracts may have an advantage in black water rivers where plant chemical defences are more common. Despite limitations of the published data our review highlights the overall pattern of diet in the Podocnemididae and flags areas where more studies are needed.

ABSTRACT In turtle species with temperature‐dependent sex determination, hatchling sex ratios skewed toward males could threaten populations where females are vulnerable to harvest. We tested the efficiency of black plastic covers in producing more female hatchlings from nests of the six‐tubercle Amazon River turtle ( Podocnemis sextuberculata ) at the Mamirauá Reserve, Amazonas, Brazil, during September to November 2003. Covered nests produced 37% more females and midnest average temperatures were 1° C higher than control nests. Incubation period was 3 days shorter, but survivorship was 12% lower in nests with black plastic. This technique could be an inexpensive, local alternative for short‐term sex‐ratio manipulation in endangered male‐biased populations with temperature‐dependent sex determination. © 2017 The Wildlife Society.

Recent research has demonstrated that some freshwater turtles vocalize underwater, but the taxonomic breadth of this mode of communication in freshwater turtles is unknown, hindering our understanding of its evolution. The Pig-nosed Turtle (Carettochelys insculpta), a monotypic genus inhabiting tropical Australia and New Guinea, is a likely candidate for producing underwater sounds because it exhibits social behavior while feeding, nesting, and thermoregulating. We tested the hypothesis that C. insculpta vocalizes using an omnidirectional hydrophone. We recorded C. insculpta emitting sounds underwater in the field and in captivity in northern Australia in May 2014. Analysis revealed that the 182 sounds produced by seven individuals could be separated into three sound categories. The sounds were simple and characteristic of a contact call, and were similar to those recently reported in other species of aquatic turtles. Further research should focus on the role of sound production in social activities.