Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Small Australian desert vertebrate responses to grazing intensity during La Niña

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Ecological Research

Abstract

Few studies have examined how grazing intensity affects small Australian desert vertebrates, despite the large extent of the grazing industry and its potential effects on native biota. We examined small reptile, amphibian and mammal responses to two intensities (“grazed” and “less-grazed”) of cattle grazing in the stony plains system of arid South Australia. The study was undertaken during wet La Niña conditions when abundance of most species was expected to be highest. Total rainfall over the study period was over twice the mean yearly rainfall. Small vertebrates were sampled with pitfall and Elliott traps. Responses of individual species were compared among three grazed and three less-grazed sites. One agamid species (Ctenophorus gibba) was captured more frequently at grazed sites, and two skink species (Ctenotus olympicus and Menetia greyii) at less-grazed sites. Mus musculus (an exotic mammal) was caught most frequently at grazed sites. No native mammal species responded to grazing intensity. Low-moderate livestock grazing in this study system, during periods of high rainfall, did not have a negative effect on most species studied. Complementary studies should compare responses during drought.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams M, Foster R, Hutchinson MN, Hutchinson RG, Donnellan SC (2003) The Australian Scincid lizard Menetia greyii: a new instance of widespread vertebrate parthenogenesis. Evolution 57:2619–2627

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Asner GP, Elmore AJ, Olander LP, Martin RE, Harris AT (2004) Grazing systems, ecosystem responses, and global change. Annu Rev Env Resour 29:261–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Beauvais GP, Buskirk SW (1999) Modifying estimates of sampling effort to account for sprung traps. Wildlife Soc B 27:39–43

    Google Scholar 

  • Böhm M, Collen B, Baillie JEM, Bowles P, Chanson J, Cox N, Hammerson G et al (2013) The conservation status of the world’s reptiles. Biol Conserv 157:372–385

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brandle R (1998) A biological survey of the stony deserts, South Australia 1994–1997. Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Brandle R, Moseby KE, Adams M (1999) The distribution, habitat requirements and conservation status of the plains rat, Pseudomys australis (Rodentia: Muridae). Wildlife Res 26:463–477

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burbidge AA, McKenzie NL (1989) Patterns in the modern decline of Western Australia’s vertebrate fauna: causes and conservation implications. Biol Conserv 50:143–198

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Bureau of Meteorology (2012) Bureau of Meteorology. http://www.bom.gov.au/. Accessed 18 Nov 2012

  • Cole JR, Woinarski JCZ (2000) Rodents of the arid Northern Territory: conservation status and distribution. Wildlife Res 27:437–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Leung LK-P (2000) Status, ecological attributes and conservation status of native rodents in Queensland. Wildlife Res 27:333–346

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Predavec M, Downey FJ (1995) Long-range movements of small mammals in arid Australia: implications for land management. J Arid Environ 31:441–452

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Mahon PS, Masters P, Gibson DF (1999) Long-term dynamics of rodent populations in arid Australia: the influence of rainfall. Wildlife Res 26:389–403

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Lunney D, Matthews A (2000) Ecological attributes and conservation of native rodents in New South Wales. Wildlife Res 27:347–355

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Dickman CR, Greenville AC, Tamayo B, Wardle GM (2011) Spatial dynamics of small mammals in central Australian desert habitats: the role of drought refugia. J Mammal 92:1193–1209

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Drewry JJ (2006) Natural recovery of soil physical properties from treading damage of pastoral soils in New Zealand and Australia: a review. Agri Ecosys Environ 114:159–169

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Evans DM, Redpath SM, Elston DA, Evans SA, Mitchell RJ, Dennis P (2006) To graze or not to graze? Sheep, voles, forestry and nature conservation in British uplands. J Appl Ecol 43:499–505

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fleischner TL (1994) Ecological costs of livestock grazing in western North America. Cons Biol 8:629–644

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Flemming M (1998) European land use: domestic stocking in the stony desert. In: Brandle R (ed) A biological survey of the stony deserts, South Australia, 1994-1997. Heritage and Biodiversity Section, Department for Environment, Heritage and Aboriginal Affairs, Adelaide, pp 39–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Frank ASK, Dickman CR, Wardle GM, Greenville AC (2013) Interactions of grazing history, cattle removal and time since rain drive divergent short-term responses by desert biota. PLoS One. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0068466

    Google Scholar 

  • Freeland WJ (1990) Large herbivorous mammals: exotic species in northern Australia. J Biogeo 17:445–449

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gee P (2000) A history of pastoralism in the Lake Eyre South drainage basin. Royal Geographical Society of South Australia Incorporated, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Hagenah N, Prins HHT, Olff P (2009) Effects of large herbivores on murid rodents in a South African Savanna. J Tropic Ecol 25:483–492

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James CD (2003) Response of vertebrates to fenceline contrasts in grazing intensity in semi-arid woodlands of eastern Australia. Austral Ecol 28:137–151

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • James CD, Landsberg J, Morton SR (1999) Provision of watering points in the Australian arid zone: a review of effects on biota. J Arid Environ 41:87–121

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Keesing F (1998) Impacts of ungulates on the demography and diversity of small mammals in central Kenya. Oecologica 116:381–389

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kemper C, Reardon T, Queale L (2000) Mammals. In: Robinson AC, Hutchinson MN, Casperson KD (eds) A list of the vertebrates of South Australia. Department for Environment and Heritage, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Landsberg J, James CD, Morton SR, Müller WJ, Stol J (2003) Abundance and composition of plant species along grazing gradients in Australian rangelands. J Appl Ecol 40:1008–1024

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lange R (1969) The piosphere: sheep track and dung patterns. J Range Manage 22:396–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Letnic M, Dickman CR (2010) Resource pulses and mammalian dynamics: conceptual models for hummock grasslands and other Australian desert habitats. Biol Rev 85:501–521

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Letnic M, Crowther MS, Koch F (2009) Does a top-predator provide an endangered rodent with refuge from an invasive mesopredator? Anim Conserv 12:302–312

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McDonald PJ, Pavey CR, Fyfe G (2012) The lizard fauna of litter mats in the stony desert of the southern Northern Territory. Aust J Zool 60:166–172

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morton SR, Gillam MW, Jones KR, Fleming MR (1988) Relative efficiency of different pit-trap systems for sampling reptiles in spinifex grasslands. Aust Wildlife Res 15:571–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mott JJ, McComb AJ (1974) Patterns in annual vegetation and soil microrelief in an arid region of Western Australia. J Ecol 62:115–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nano CEM, Pavey CR (2013) Refining the ‘pulse-reserve’ model for arid central Australia: seasona rainfall, soil moisture and plant productivity in sand ridge and stony plains habitats of the Simpson Desert. Austral Ecol 38:741–753

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Owens HM, Read JL (1999) Mammals of the Lake Eyre South region. Royal Geographical Society of South Australia Incorporated, Adelaide

    Google Scholar 

  • Pavey CR, Nano CM (2013) Changes in richness and captures of rodents and native predators in response to extreme rainfall in arid Australia. Austral Ecol 38:777–785

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavey CR, Eldridge SR, Heywood M (2008) Population dynamics and prey selection of native and introduced predators during a rodent outbreak in arid Australia. J Mammal 89:674–683

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pavey CR, Cole JF, McDonald PJ, Nano CEM (2014) Population dynamics and spatial ecology of a declining desert rodent, Pseudomys australis: the importance of refuges for persistence. J Mammal 95:615–625

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Pestell AJL, Petit S (2007) Methods and ethical considerations of pitfall trapping for the western pygmy possum (Cercartetus concinnus Gould) (Marsupialia: Burramyidae), with observations on capture patterns and nest sites. Wildlife Res 34:296–305

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit S, Waudby HP (2012) Standard Operating Procedures for aluminium box, wire cage, and pitfall trapping, handling, and temporary housing of small wild rodents and marsupials. Aust J Zool 60:392–401

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit S, Waudby HP, Walker AT, Zanker R, Rau G (2012) A non-mutilating method for marking small wild mammals and reptiles. Aust J Zool 60:64–71

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read JL (1992) Influence of habitats, climate, grazing and mining on terrestrial vertebrates at Olympic Dam, South Australia. Range J 14:143–156

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read JL (2002) Experimental trial of Australian arid zone reptiles as early warning indicators of overgrazing by cattle. Austral Ecol 27:55–66

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Read JL, Cunningham R (2010) Relative impacts of cattle grazing and feral animals on an Australian arid zone reptile and small mammal assemblage. Austral Ecol 35:314–324

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Robinson AC, Kemper CM, Medlin GC, Watts CHS (2000) The rodents of South Australia. Wildlife Res 27:379–404

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rosenstock SS (1996) Shrub-grassland small mammal and revegetation responses to rest from grazing. J Range Manage 49:199–203

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith GT, Arnold GW, Sarre S, Abensperg-Traun M, Steven DE (1996) The effect of habitat fragmentation and livestock grazing on animal communities in remnants of gimlet Eucalyptus salubris woodland in the Western Australian wheatbelt. II. Lizards. J Appl Ecol 33:1302–1310

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smyth AK, Brandle R, Chewings V, Read J, Brook A, Fleming M (2009) A framework for assessing regional biodiversity condition under changing environments of the arid Australian rangelands. Range J 31:87–101

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suominen O, Danell K (2006) Effects of large herbivores on other fauna. In: Danell K, Bergström R, Duncan P, Pastor J (eds) Large herbivore ecology, ecosystem dynamics and conservation. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 383–412

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Tabeni S, Ojeda RA (2003) Assessing mammal responses to perturbations in temperature aridlands of Argentina. J Arid Environ 55:715–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Taddese G, Mohamed Saleem MA, Ayalneh W (2002) Effect of livestock grazing on physical properties of a cracking and self-mulching vertisol. Aust J Exp Agri 42:129–133

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thompson SA, Thompson GG, Withers PC (2005) Influence of pit-trap type on the interpretation of fauna diversity. Wildlife Res 32:131–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wardle GM, Pavey CR, Dickman CR (2013) Greening of arid Australia: new insights from extreme years. Austral Ecol 38:731–740

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waudby HP (2013) Effects of cattle grazing on the biodiversity of cracking-clay gibber-gilgai systems in the arid South Australian rangelands. Ph.D. Thesis, University of South Australia, Adelaide

  • Waudby HP, Petit S (2011) Comments on the efficacy and use of visible implant elastomer (VIE) for marking lizards. South Aust Nat 85:7–13

    Google Scholar 

  • Waudby HP, Petit S, Robinson G (2012) Pastoralists’ perceptions of biodiversity and land management strategies in the arid Stony Plains region of South Australia: implications for policy-makers. J Environ Manag 112:96–103

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waudby HP, Petit S, Robinsons G (2013a) Pastoralists’ knowledge of plant palatability and grazing indicators in an arid region of South Australia. Range J 35:445–454

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Waudby HP, Petit S, Brown G (2013b) Use of creeks and gilgaied stony plains by cattle in arid rangelands during a wet summer: a case study with GPS/VHF radio collars. Range Manag Agrofor 34:101–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson S, Swan G (2010) A complete guide to reptiles of Australia. New Holland, Sydney

    Google Scholar 

  • Woinarski JCZ, Ash AJ (2002) Responses of vertebrates to pastoralism, military land use and landscape position in an Australian tropical savanna. Austral Ecol 27:311–323

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woinarski JCZ, Fisher A (2003) Conservation and the maintenance of biodiversity in the rangelands. Range J 25:157–171

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Woinarski JCZ, Burbidge AA, Harrison PL (2015) Ogoing unraveling of a contintenal fauna: decline and extinction of Australian mammals since European settlement. In: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. doi:0.1073/pnas.1417301112

Download references

Acknowledgments

Sincere thanks to the Greenfield family of Billa Kalina for hosting us. Thank you also to our field assistants: Matt Gill, Ali Fairlamb, Hannah Spronk, Cam Forster, Jane Addison, Michael Heath, Kevin Lintern, Katie Ryan, Michael Jervois, Kim McArthur, Kath Hastie, Linda Rennie, Ashley Walker, and Tiffany Godfrey. We are grateful for the assistance of Mark Hutchinson, Cath Kemper, David Stemmer, and Graham Medlin from the South Australian Museum, and to Peggy Rismiller and Mike McKelvey of Pelican Lagoon Wildlife Research Centre. We are indebted to Rob Brandle who helped us locate our study site, and provided advice on working in the SPR. Chris Dickman and Gufu Oba kindly edited an earlier version of the manuscript. Two anonymous reviewers provided valuable comments. This research was funded by the Hermon Slade Foundation, the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment, the Nature Conservancy Applied Conservation Award and the Thomas Foundation, the South Australian chapter of the Australian Federation of University Women, the Nature Foundation of South Australia, the Australian Geographic Society, the Royal Geographical Society of South Australia, and the Wildlife Preservation Society of Australia. We acknowledge S. Kidman and Co. and the School of Natural and Built Environments at the University of South Australia for their support. This research was conducted under a National Parks and Wildlife Scientific Permit G25603 2, and ethics approval (72/08) from the Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science Animal Ethics Committee.

Author information

Author notes

  1. Helen P. Waudby

    Present address: Institute for Land, Water and Society, Charles Sturt University, Albury, NSW, 2640, Australia

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sustainable Environments Research Group, School of Natural and Built Environments, University of South Australia, Mawson Lakes, SA, 5095, Australia

    Helen P. Waudby & Sophie Petit

Authors
  1. Helen P. Waudby
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sophie Petit
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Helen P. Waudby.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

Supplementary material 1 (PDF 187 kb)

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Waudby, H.P., Petit, S. Small Australian desert vertebrate responses to grazing intensity during La Niña. Ecol Res 30, 715–722 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-015-1274-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11284-015-1274-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation