Koalas

Project outline
The NSW Roads and Maritime Services recently completed works to widen and upgrade the existing Nelson Bay Road (MR108) between Cromarty Lane, Bobs Farm and Port Stephens Drive, Anna Bay to a divided dual carriageway. The project was opened to traffic in March 2015.
The Koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) was identified as an issue for the construction and operation of the duplicated and upgraded Nelson Bay Road (Niche 2014). Evidence of Koala use of the area came from Koala road fatality records, and observations of Koalas or Koala signs in adjacent and nearby habitat. The pre- existing two lane road provided no protection for Koalas and therefore additional measures were put in place to minimise Koala/vehicle interactions. These were floppy-top fauna fencing, round-bar grids across driveways and local roads, the construction of two fauna underpasses and ecological monitoring of the Koala within the local landscape.
Monitoring commenced during construction and continued through the first year of road operation. The aims of Koala monitoring work were to:
1. Provide data to help protect Koalas during construction works.
2. Examine habitat use by the Koala in the project area (which covers the Tomaree Peninsula adjacent
to Stage 3) and to identify critical habitat components for these Koalas.
3. Collect data to help determine the population size.
4. Monitor the Koala in the project area to detect any changes in the population that could be attributed to the Nelson Bay Road Upgrade.
5. Determine if the underpasses provided as mitigation for the Nelson Bay Road Upgrade are effective in reducing the mortality of the Koala on Nelson Bay Road.
Three main strategies were employed to achieve these aims:
 Nine Koalas were fitted with GPS/radio collars to provide long term observations of individual Koalas in regards to their use of the environment, including the underpasses.
 The underpasses and adjacent areas were monitored continuously for a year with automated game cameras to record use of these structures by Koalas and any other fauna.
 Koala surveys by spotlight and faecal pellet counts were continued on a subset of sites established for the initial project assessment in order to detect changes in Koala densities.
Summary of Results
Individual tracked Koalas were found to maintain small territories (mean FK95% 1.98 ha). However, most individuals also made occasional longer expeditions into the surrounding areas. With one exception, these expeditions brought the koalas into contact with roads. One tracked Koala made numerous crossings of Nelson Bay Road over a year during the construction phase before being fatally struck by a car three months into the operational phase.
The automated game cameras found no evidence of Koalas using the fauna underpasses. Feral and domestic mammals were the main users of the underpasses (Fox, Cat and Rabbit). However the Short- beaked Echidna, Lace Monitor and an unidentified skink were also observed to transit through the underpasses. Notably, the entrances to the underpasses were also used for non-transitory purposes (e.g. shelter and foraging) by a wide range of birds and mammals.
Koala presence or absence remained largely steady across the monitoring sites. However, some of the sites more distant from the Nelson Bay Road project site showed a decline in Koala presence late in the study.
This study has documented the typical movement and ranging patterns of Koalas in the Bobs Farm to Anna Bay area. Interactions with roads were relatively few within the study period. The study period appears to have been undertaken following a period of decline in the local Koala population.
Conclusion and declaration
Measures to avoid impacting Koalas during the construction phase were successful with no Koala deaths or injuries recorded during that period. The barriers to minimise Koala collisions with cars appear to have had some success with a lower strike rate than for the five years preceding construction. However, Koalas were still falling victim to vehicle strikes during the operational phase. The underpasses were not effective in facilitating Koala passages in the area as the Koala was not recorded using them.
The future of the Koala population in the study area is unknown, however, a continuing decline seems likely based on modelling looking at factors unrelated to roads or the Nelson Bay Road Upgrade Stage 3. Koalas are still breeding successfully in the area and good habitat still contains a moderate density of Koalas.
Although the fauna fencing was installed in accordance with the Review of Environmental Factors Addendum (November 2013), extension of the fauna fencing to the east of Binder Road would improve its effectiveness and reduce the likelihood of future vehicle strikes in this area. Improvements to the fence design, such as removing climb over points and re-working gates to tighter tolerance, would also benefit the operation of the fencing system.
Overall however, the monitoring was unable to detect any changes in the Koala population that could be attributed to the Nelson Bay Road Upgrade Stage 3.

Koalas (Phascolarctidae) are uncommon elements within the Australian fossil record. The earliest representatives are recorded from late Oligocene rainforest assemblages of central Australia. In contrast, the extant Koala Phascolarctos cinereus Blainville, 1816 (the only surviving member of a once diverse family) is found only in eastern Australian open woodlands. Extinction of koalas from rainforests was previously thought to have occurred after the middle Miocene. Recent systematic cave excavations at Mt. Etna, central eastern Queensland, Australia, have revealed several remarkable new middle Pleistocene vertebrate assemblages that are dominated by rainforest-adapted taxa. Within one of the deposits, we have identified a new, but archaic, genus and species of koala. Invictokoala monticola gen. et sp. nov. shares affinities with the most plesiomorphic member of the family, Madakoala Woodburne et al., 1987 (late Oligocene), but is distinguished by possessing higher-crowned upper molars, with a tricsupate (rather than linear) paraconule on M2 (autapomorphic condition within koalas), closely positioned stylar cusps, and better-developed posterior cingulae. Thus, not only does I. monticola represent a ?holdover? from an Oligocene ancestor, but the Madakoala?Invictokoala stem represents a ?ghost? lineage within the Phascolarctidae, with no representatives known between the late Oligocene and middle Pleistocene. Previously, it was thought that the post-middle Miocene loss of koalas from rainforests may have been a result of a co-evolved dependence of koalas to open eucalypt woodlands, and/or competitive exclusion with koala-like rainforest-adapted ringtail possums. However, the inferred diet of middle Pleistocene I. monticola (i.e. non-Eucalyptus) and coeval occurrence with numerous rainforest-adapted ringtail possums does not support that hypothesis. It appears more likely that koalas had always been closely associated with rainforests, at least until the late Quaternary extinction of I. monticola. Generally, the paucity of rainforest faunal assemblages, and specifically, records of fossil koalas through the late Cenozoic drastically limits our understanding of their evolution.

This study contrasts the actual conservation spending and the Australian public’s demand for conservation funding for two Australian mammal species, the koala and the northern hairy-nosed wombat. It involves a survey of 204 members of the Australian public. Willingness to fund conservation action to protect the northern hairy-nosed wombat was found to be higher than that for the koala despite the koala’s immense popularity. The critically endangered status of the northern-hairy nosed wombat and the more secure conservation status of the koala is a factor likely to have influenced the comparative willingness-to-pay decisions. Actual annual conservation expenditure for both species is lower than the estimated aggregate willingness-to-pay for their conservation. Furthermore, conservation funding for the koala is much more than that for the northern hairy-nosed wombat even though the estimated public willingness-to-pay (demand) for funding koala conservation was less than for this wombat species. Reasons for this are suggested. They may also help to explain misalignment between demand for conservation funding of other species involving differences in charisma and endangerment.

Anyone who has always wanted to deal with an economic assessment of the value of the koala should take a closer look at the book "Economics and Environmental Change-The Challenges We Face". With numerous practical examples, mainly from his home country, the Australian economist Clement A. Tisdell provides a basic overview of various topics in environmental economics. He links these in part with institutional aspects of the human economy and, in addition, sheds light on individual issues that he regards as particularly relevant, such as the protection of biodiversity and the effects of climate change. Through a historical review, Tisdell succeeds in portraying the significance of the theme described in the book about the ever-threatening influence of humanity on the environment. By dealing with the term "Sustainable (Economic) Development", he also manages to work out the manifold views on the necessary intervention. The methods for evaluating ecosystem services are sometimes described in more detail (for example, Travel Cost Method) and sometimes less (as in the case of the Hedonic Pricing Model). Nevertheless, it becomes clear how difficult it is to evaluate interventions in nature. Due to the limited scope of the book, definitions, methods and economic approaches are not always fully explained. An economic knowledge is therefore quite helpful. A positive feature is the linking of the aspects of environmental economics with the implications of institutional economics. Here, it is excellently pointed out that currently dominating social structures as well as economic structures have a decisive negative influence on the interaction of humans with their environment. Among other things, this book criticizes globalization and free market economy because they result in the individual experiencing a sense of powerlessness over the system and lack of opportunities for change. Unfortunately, the author limits himself largely to the description of the limitations of the status quo in the Western world and provides only limited approaches to changing or eliminating the causes of market failure. The theoretical foundations presented in the first chapters are subsequently directly applied again in the separately considered topics, such as the protection of biodiversity and the effects of climate change. This is helpful in demonstrating, by means of tangible examples, the difficulties in assessing ecosystem services and the implications of social structures. However, due to the intrinsic complexity of the topic and the relatively small size of the book, insight into these topics can only be made in a flash. In summary, it is recommended the book for readers who have a basic knowledge of (environmental) economics and want to get a quick overview of further approaches and issues. While the reading can cover many topics only superficially due to the limited scope, it still provides valuable food for thought for further deepening. And last but not least, you learn more about the economic value of the koala

Experimental surveys were used to gather evidence on the likeability of the focal species, the stated willingness of survey participants to contribute funds for the conservation of species and the impact of information pro­ vision on these factors. Information was given to participants to increase their knowledge about the focal species, including their conservation status.
After providing some general background on the focal species, the methodology is outlined. The willingness to pay for the conservation of the species (the demand results) obtained from the experimental survey is then reported. This is followed by an estimate of actual expenditures in Queensland (at the time of the surveys) on the conservation of koalas and hairy-nosed wombats and these are compared with the estimated willingness-to-pay figures. Discrepancies are observed and then discussed and possible limitations of the study are outlined.

Pathogenic diseases may threaten the viability of wild animal populations, especially when already vulnerable. The mitigation of risks associated with pathogenic infections in populations is an important factor in conservation strategies. Koalas are of conservation concern across the north of their range and are affected by two main pathogens; Chlamydia pecorum and the koala retrovirus (KoRV). This study tested whether DNA from C. pecorum and KoRV could be detected in genetic material isolated from koala scats. Detection of C. pecorum in scat isolated DNA samples was compared with results obtained from urogenital swabs collected from the same individuals as part of an independent study. The ability to detect KoRV in scats from both northern and southern regions of the koa-la's range was also assessed. There was a high level of concordance (5/6) between the detection of C. pecorum in DNA isolated from scats and urogenital swabs from the same individual. In positive samples, C. pecorum ompA genotypes were identical between DNA from scats and urogenital swabs in two out of three cases. In samples from the south of the koala's range, KoRV copy number was higher in DNA isolated from scats compared to DNA isolated from ear tissue, potentially indicating the detection of horizontally acquired infections. Our results demonstrate the ability to detect C. pecorum and KoRV in DNA isolated from koala scats. This method will be useful for studying the prevalence, transmission and impact of these pathogens in wild populations which may subsequently inform conservation management strategies. Keywords Non-invasive pathogen detection Á Faecal samples Á Chlamydia pecorum Á Koala retrovirus (KoRV) Á Wildlife health monitoring Á Wildlife conservation Á Quantitative PCR

Koalas (Phascolarctidae, Marsupialia) are generally rare components of the Australian fossil record. However, new specimens of fossil koalas were recovered during recent systematic excavations from several eastern Plio-Pleistocene deposits of Queensland, eastern Australia, including the regions of Chinchilla, Marmor and Mt. Etna. The new records are significant in that they extend the temporal and geographic range of Plio-Pleistocene koalas from southern and southeastern Australia, to northeastern central Queensland. We provide the first unambiguous evidence of koalas in the Pliocene Chinchilla Local Fauna (phascolarctid indet. and Ph. ?stirtoni): important additions to an increasingly diverse arboreal mammalian assemblage that also includes tree kangaroos. The persistence of koalas and local extinction of tree kangaroos in the Chinchilla region today suggests that significant habitat and faunal reorganization occurred between the Pliocene and Recent, presumably reflecting the expansion of open woodlands and grasslands. Other koala records from the newly U/Th-dated Middle Pleistocene Marmor and Mt. Etna fossil deposits (Phascolarctos sp. and Ph. ?stirtoni), along with independent palaeohabitat proxies, indicate the former presence of heterogeneous habitats comprised of rainforests, open woodlands and grasslands. The lack of such habitat mosaics in those regions today is likely the product of significant Middle Pleistocene climate change.

El presente trabajo busca identificar a través de la aplicación del programa MaxEnt cómo cambia la distribución de la especie Phascolarctos Cinereus en comparación con el presente, aplicando dos diferentes escenarios del futuro RCP 2.6 y RCP 8.5. Para ello se usaron los variables de las bases de datos WorldClim (capas bioclimáticas para ingresar a ArcMap) y los datos de la base de GBIF (distribución de la especie, convertido en un documento .CSV). Los resultados permiten predecir el futuro desarrollo de la especie a lo largo del tiempo en el que el cambio climático va influyendo las condiciones del hábitat. Tomando este enfoque, es importante tomar en cuenta la complejidad de los diferentes variables y analizar los escenarios críticamente a base de informaciones e investigaciones de la actualidad.

It would be fair to say that the Australian koala lives its life in the slow-lane. With a typical day comprising nearly 19 hours of sleeping and lazing about in the tree-tops, koalas have earned themselves the unenviable reputation of beingmental lightweights, with their ecological role frequently compared to that of a sloth. At the same time they’re cute, they’re cuddly, they’re iconic, and we love them. But where did Australia’s endearing marsupial come from?

Black, K.H. 2016. Middle Miocene origins for tough-browse dietary specialisations in the koala (Marsupialia, Phascolarctidae) evolutionary tree: description of a new genus and species from the Riversleigh World Heritage Area. Memoirs of Museum Victoria 74: 255–262. Stelakoala riversleighensis gen. et sp. nov. is described on the basis of an isolated M 1 from the middle Miocene Jim's Jaw Site of the Riversleigh World Heritage Area, northwestern Queensland. The new genus shares affinities, particularly in its possession of a metastylid fold, with a specialised clade of phascolarctids that includes species of Litokoala and the modern genus Phascolarctos. Dental specialisations of Stelakoala riversleighensis include a high molar crown, the presence of large accessory blades and cuspids, and the development of lingual ribs on the entoconid and metaconid. These features effectively increase both the number and available surface area of the molar cutting blades. Of particular note is the reinforcement of the primary cutting blade through the development of ribs on the lingual cuspids. These structures foreshadow the condition found in Phascolarctos, and may represent an early stage in the transition to a more fibrous, highly specialised diet in the evolutionary history of koalas.

The koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) is a charismatic, high-profile species whose conservation needs are commonly perceived to be incompatible with logging. However, koala biology and the results of chronosequence studies elsewhere suggest that this species may tolerate a degree of habitat alteration caused by logging. In this study, 30 koalas, five in each of six areas available for logging within a mixed white cypress pine (Callitris glaucophylla)–Eucalyptus forest in north-western New South Wales, were radio-tracked for one year during 1997–1998 to determine their movements, home-range sizes and tree preferences. Five months after the study began, three of these areas were logged selectively for sawlogs and thinnings of the white cypress pine, a tree that is important to koalas for daytime shelter. This removed about one-quarter of the stand basal area, but the eucalypt component was unaffected. The remaining three areas were left undisturbed as controls. Radio-tracking continued i...

Modelling and mapping of koala habitat based on koala sightings data and forest utilisation. A koala threat map was also developed based on 5 criteria including density of roads, lot size for urbanisation, fire frequency and fire hazard, vegetation clearing, and koala injury. Applying a confidence check through proximity analysis, showed that 96% of all high precision records and 96% of all low precision records were within 500 m of mapped koala habitat.

Over-browsing by Koala's in riverine habitats on Kangaroo Island in South Australia cause tree deaths and exacerbate existing land management problems, adversely impact endemic biodiversity and threaten the survival of of the Koala population.

Considerable resources are invested in conserving species that may be locally, but not globally, threatened. There are a variety of motivations for such parochial conservation practices and policies, though they can be ineffective or inefficient in achieving meaningful conservation outcomes at either local or broad scales. The koala in Australia is an example of this problem as it is a species which is highly valued by the public, is only threatened over a portion of its range, and yet attracts considerable conservation effort in the portions of its range where it is in decline. We review the conservation status of the koala and critically evaluate prescriptive and incentive-based policies for koala management in rural and urban contexts. We identify several approaches to koala conservation that are likely to be ineffective in advancing koala conservation and suggest possible reasons for their continued use. We also identify opportunities for relatively cost-effective rural conservation that have not been adequately explored. Long-term declines of koala populations in some regions imply that existing management strategies are ineffective. We conclude that several key challenges must be addressed to facilitate effective resource investment and improve conservation outcomes.