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Globally, grasslands, savannas, and wetlands are degrading rapidly and increasingly being replaced by woody vegetation. Woody Plant Encroachment (WPE) disrupts natural landscapes and has significant consequences for biodiversity, ecosystem functioning, and key ecosystem services. This review synthesizes findings from 159 peer-reviewed studies identified through a PRISMA-guided systematic literature review to evaluate the drivers of WPE, its ecological impacts, and the remote sensing (RS) approaches used to monitor it. The drivers of WPE are multifaceted, involving interactions among climate variability, topographic and edaphic conditions, hydrological change, land use transitions, and altered fire and grazing regimes, while its impacts are similarly diverse, influencing land cover structure, water and nutrient cycles, carbon and nitrogen dynamics, and broader implications for ecosystem resilience. Over the past two decades, RS has become central to WPE monitoring, with studies employing classification techniques, spectral mixture analysis, object-based image analysis, change detection, thresholding, landscape pattern and fragmentation metrics, and increasingly, machine learning and deep learning methods. Looking forward, emerging advances such as multi-sensor fusion (optical– synthetic aperture radar (SAR), Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR)–hyperspectral), cloud-based platforms including Google Earth Engine, Microsoft Planetary Computer, and Digital Earth, and geospatial foundation models offer new opportunities for scalable, automated, and long-term monitoring. Despite these innovations, challenges remain in detecting early-stage encroachment, subcanopy woody growth, and species-specific patterns across heterogeneous landscapes. Key knowledge gaps highlighted in this review include the need for long-term monitoring frameworks, improved socio-ecological integration, species- and ecosystem-specific RS approaches, better utilization of SAR, and broader adoption of analysis-ready data and open-source platforms. Addressing these gaps will enable more effective, context-specific strategies to monitor, manage, and mitigate WPE in rapidly changing environments.

Threatening processes, such as disease, can drive major changes in population demographics of the host. Chytridiomycosis, caused by the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has led to the decline of at least 500 amphibian species across the globe and has been shown to truncate host age structure by lowering adult survival rates. This results in heavy reliance on annual recruitment and the inability to recover in the event of periodic recruitment failure. We used skeletochronology to determine the age structure, growth, and survival rates of populations of an endangered amphibian, Litoria raniformis, with endemic chytridiomycosis, across two climatically disparate regions in south‐eastern Australia: semi‐arid and temperate. Contrary to predictions, populations in the semi‐arid region (in which chytrid prevalence is substantially lower due to high temperatures) displayed a more truncated age structure than populations in the temperate study regions. Maximum recorded age was only two years in the semi‐arid region compared with up to four years in the temperate region. Wetland hydroperiod and average seasonal air temperature were correlated with age, and males had a slightly higher survival rate than females (0.31 for males and 0.27 for females). Despite the previously documented differences in chytrid prevalence between the two climatic regions, water availability and wetland hydroperiods appear the over‐riding determinants of the age structure and survival rates of L. raniformis. Targeted management which ensures water availability and improves survival of 1‐year‐old frogs into their second and third breeding season would reduce the impact of stochastic events on L. raniformis, and this may be true for numerous frog species susceptible to chytridiomycosis. Populations of a chytrid‐infected amphibians, Litoria raniformis, are dominated by relatively young individuals at both the semi‐arid and temperate extent of their range. Hydroperiod and average seasonal air temperature are key environmental drivers of age and survival rates.

This study aimed to determine the integrative characterisation of nematodes from three species of edible flathead fishes (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) in New South Wales, Australia, and describe nematode communities within three species of flatheads. Tiger (Platycephalus richardsoni (Castelnau); n = 20) and sand flatheads (Platycephalus bassensis (Cuvier); n = 20), sourced from the Nelson Bay area, and dusky flathead (Platycephalus fuscus (Cuvier); n = 20) from the Manning River, Taree, were examined for the presence of nematodes. The nematodes were initially classified morphologically as 12 different morphotypes belonging to the families Anisakidae (Anisakis types I, II, and III, Contracaecum type II, Terranova types I and II), Raphidascarididae (Hysterothylacium types IV, VI, VIII, and H. zhoushanense larva), and Gnathostomatidae (Echinocephalus sp. larva), Capillariidae (Capillaria sp.), followed by genetic identification through sequencing of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS-1, 5.8S, ITS-2) regions. Phylogenetic analyses revealed the evolutionary relationship between the identified larval specimens in the present study with available GenBank larval and adult nematodes. Sand flathead was 90% infected with nematodes followed by tiger flathead at 85% and dusky flathead at 15%. Nematodes infecting estuarine dusky and oceanic sand and tiger flatheads contrasted markedly. The analysis of similarities (ANOSIM) showed significant differences (p < 0.001) in the composition of taxa within nematode communities between the three species of flatheads (global R = 0.208) with the highest difference being between sand and dusky flatheads (R = 0.308, p < 0.001). The findings of the present study provide a foundation for future investigations of the community composition, life cycles, and distribution of nematode populations in edible fish in Australia and explore and clarify their significance to public health.

This study determines the occurrence and molecular characterisation of Monogenea from three commercially important Australian fish: Australian sardine Sardinops sagax (Jenyns), Australian anchovy Engraulis australis (White), and eastern school whiting Sillago flindersi McKay. Earlier studies have provided only morphological species identification, whereas this study combines both morphological and molecular methods. A total of 247 fish across 3 species, sourced from the New South Wales and Victorian coasts, were examined for Monogenea. A total of 187 monogenean parasites were recovered from the gills. The overall prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance were 34%, 2.23, and 0.78, respectively. The parasites were initially classified morphologically as three species across two families. Family Mazocraeidae was represented by Mazocraes australis Timi et al. J Parasitol 85:28–32, 1999, and family Microcotylidae by Polylabris sillaginae (Woolcock, Parasitology 28:79–91, 1936) Dillon, Hargis, and Harrises, 1983 and P. australiensis Hayward, 1996. Molecular identification of parasites was conducted through sequencing of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene. The fish hosts in the present study were also barcoded (mitochondrial cox1 gene) to confirm specific identities. There was no comparable cox1 sequence available in GenBank for the parasites found in the present study. However, the phylogenetic tree clustered the monogenean species identified in this study according to their familial groups of Mazocraeidae and Microcotylidae. The presence of M. australis on E. australis and S. sagax was confirmed in this study. Polylabris australiensis was only found on S. sagax but Si. flindersi was found to be a host for both Polylabris species. This study is the first to explore the mitochondrial cox1 genes of these three-monogenean species. These findings will serve as a foundation for future monogenean research in Australian waters and elsewhere.

This study describes the occurrence and molecular identification of Monogenea from blue-spotted flathead Platycephalus caeruleopunctatus (McCulloch) (Scorpaeniformes: Platycephalidae) from waters off the NSW coast, Australia. Platycephalus spp. are favoured by consumers for delicate, white, mild flavoured flesh and therefore are commercially important species within Australia. Platycephalus spp. are also extensively targeted by Australian recreational fishers. There has been no previous study that has exclusively focused on Pl.caeruleopunctatus in Australia or globally. Although a single study by Dillon (1985), of monogeneans infecting Platycephalus spp. from Australian waters, identified Microcotyle bassensis Murray, 1931 in Pl. caeruleopunctatus. The present study combines both morphological and molecular methods to identify both host and parasites. A total of 116 fish, sourced from the waters off the coast of New South Wales, Australia, were examined. A total of 1498 Monogenea were recovered from the gills. The overall prevalence, mean intensity, and mean abundance were 72%, 18.05, and 12.91, respectively. Monogenea were initially classified morphologically as two different species M. bassensis (family: Microcotylidae) and Platycephalotrema bassense (Hughes, 1928) Kritsky & Nitta, 2019 (family: Ancyrocephalidae). Molecular identification of Monogenea was conducted through sequencing of their mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) and nuclear 28S genes. The specific identification of host Pl. caeruleopunctatus was confirmed through sequencing the cox1 gene. There was no comparable sequence for cox1 and 28S genes available in GenBank for the monogenean species found in the present study. Only a single sequence (obtained from the nuclear ITS2-rDNA) was deposited in GenBank for M. bassensis. However, the phylogenetic analyses of mitochondrial and nuclear sequences revealed that the identified Monogenea clustered according to their familial groups. Platycephalotrema bassense was identified for the first time in Pl. caeruleopunctatus in the present study. This study has provided the first evidence for the exploration of both cox1 and 28S sequences of all Monogenea. The findings of this study serve as a foundation for future monogenean research on other Platycephalus spp. from Australian waters.

The aim of this study was to examine the personality structure of domestic ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) by using owner-based reporting of personality traits. A total of 743 ferret owners participated in an online questionnaire, with a total of 1029 ferrets being assessed. Respondents rated 67 adjectives based on their ferret(s) behavioural traits and personality. Principal component analysis (PCA) of these trait ratings identified four underlying personality dimensions, which accounted for 47.1% of the total variance. These were labelled according to the traits that they encompass: Extraversion, Sociability, Attentiveness, and Neuroticism. Details about ferret sex, de-sexing status, age, and coat colour were also sought, and General Linear Mixed Models were used to test the main effects of these characteristics on the personality dimensions. It was found that sex (p < 0.01) and age (p < 0.001) significantly influenced certain personality components, whereas de-sexing did not. Sociability, Attentiveness, and Neuroticism were found to differ based on sex, whereby males were rated as more sociable than females, but females were rated higher on the Attentiveness and Neuroticism subscales. Finally, Extraversion was found to generally decrease with age. We can use the findings of this study to make cross-species comparisons and further inform the discussion regarding the adaptive relevance of animal personality. Identifying differences in personality types can improve welfare by using this information to satisfy the different needs of individuals.

Choricotyle australiensis Roubal, Armitage & Rohde, 1983, a diclidophorid monogenean species, is redescribed and genetically characterised using the partial nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA gene (28S rRNA) and a fragment of mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1 (cox1) gene sequences for specimens collected from Chrysophrys auratus (Forster) off Australia and New Zealand. Previous studies have either provided morphological or genetic results, whereas this study combines morphological and advanced molecular methods. A total of 70 Ch. auratus were examined with 22 individuals of C. australiensis recovered from the gills (overall prevalence of 23%). This study has provided the first evidence for the exploration of mitochondrial cox1 region for C. australiensis. Comparison of the newly generated sequences with other available data supported the distinction of C. australiensis among diclidophorid Furhmann, 1928 species thus confirming its taxonomic status.

Chytridiomycosis, the disease caused by the aquatic fungus Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd), has caused large declines in amphibian populations globally. The pathogen often interacts with other threatening processes to exacerbate declines, including predation by introduced species, habitat loss and fragmentation, and regulation of river systems. In the highly regulated floodplains of south‐western New South Wales, Australia, Bd has been detected in populations of the southern bell frog Litoria raniformis (vulnerable; IUCN Red List of Threatened Species, version 2020–3), despite the region's hot, semi‐arid climate. However, the effect of chytridiomycosis on the long‐term persistence of L. raniformis populations in this region is unknown. To ameliorate the effects of flow regulation, water is diverted into certain wetlands by water managers, a process called environmental water delivery. Given the higher prevalence of Bd infection occurring in winter and spring, the timing of environmental water delivery could influence disease prevalence. We developed a stochastic population model to test the impact of the timing of environmental water delivery on the extinction risk of L. raniformis. Our simulations suggested populations are less likely to go extinct when environmental water is delivered in spring compared to late winter. Modeled inflow of cold (~10°C) river water in August produced a 0.13 probability of local extinction within the 50‐year forecast window. When inflows were ~15°C (September) or ~20°C (October), the probability of local extinction was more than halved to 0.05 and 0.04, respectively. This outcome indicates that in addition to the frequency and scale of environmental water delivery, timing flows to coincide with warmer conditions should be a component of environmental‐water planning to reduce the negative impacts of chytridiomycosis on threatened amphibians in floodplain systems. We developed a stochastic population model to test the impact of the timing of environmental water delivery on the extinction risk of L. raniformis impacted by amphibian chytrid fungus. Our simulations suggested populations are less likely to go extinct when environmental water is delivered in spring compared to late winter. This outcome indicates that, in addition to the frequency and scale of environmental water delivery, timing flows to coincide with warmer conditions should be a component of environmental‐water planning to reduce the negative impacts of chytridiomycosis on threatened amphibians in floodplain systems.

For many floodplain rivers, reinstating wetland connectivity is necessary for ecosystems to recover from decades of regulation. Environmental return flows (the managed delivery of wetland water to an adjacent river) can be used strategically to facilitate natural ecosystem connectivity, enabling the transfer of nutrients, energy, and biota from wetland habitats to the river. Using an informal adaptive management framework, we delivered return flows from a forested wetland complex into a large lowland river in south-eastern Australia. We hypothesized that return flows would (a) increase river nutrient concentrations; (b) reduce wetland nutrient concentrations; (c) increase rates of ecosystem metabolism through the addition of potentially limiting nutrients, causing related increases in the concentration of water column chlorophyll-a; and (d) increase the density and species richness of microinvertebrates in riverine benthic habitats. Our monitoring results demonstrated a small increase in the concentrations of several key nutrients but no evidence for significant ecological responses was found. Although return flows can be delivered from forested floodplain areas without risking hypoxic blackwater events, returning nutrient and carbon-rich water to increase riverine productivity is limited by the achievable scale of return flows. Nevertheless, using return flows to flush carbon from floodplains may be a useful management tool to reduce carbon loads, preparing floodplains for subsequent releases (e.g., mitigating the risk of hypoxic blackwater events). In this example, adaptive management benefited from a semi-formal collaboration between science and management that allowed for prompt decision-making.

The regulation of river systems alters hydrodynamics and often reduces lateral connectivity between river channels and floodplains. For taxa such as frogs that rely on floodplain wetlands to complete their life cycle, decreasing inundation frequency can reduce recruitment and increase the probability of local extinction. We virtually reconstructed the inundation patterns of wetlands under natural and regulated flow conditions and built stochastic population models to quantify the probability of local extinction under different inundation scenarios. Specifically, we explored the interplay of habitat size, inundation frequency, and successive dry years on the local extinction probability of the threatened southern bell frog Litoria raniformis in the Murray River floodplains of South Australia. We hypothesized that the changes to wetland inundation resulting from river regulation are driving L. raniformis declines in this semiarid system. Regulation has reduced the inundation frequency of essential habitats below critical thresholds for the persistence of many fresh water‐dependent species. Successive dry years raise the probability of local extinction, and these effects are strongest in smaller wetlands. Larger wetlands and those with more frequent average inundation are less susceptible to these effects. Elucidating these trends informs the prioritization of intervention sites and the frequency of conservation interventions. Environmental water provision (through pumping or the operation of flow‐regulating structures) is a promising tool to reduce the probability of breeding failure and local extinction. Our modeling approach can be used to prioritize the delivery of environmental water to L. raniformis and potentially many other frog species.