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Black-flanked rock-wallabies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) exist in small and isolated populations across Western Australia, making them highly susceptible to loss of genetic diversity and increased extinction risk. Conservation translocations are frequently implemented to improve threatened species population sizes with ongoing monitoring required to assess their short- to long-term demographic and genetic success. From 2016 to 2018, 72 wallabies from two widely-separated locations (WA Wheatbelt, Cape Range NP) were translocated to Kalbarri NP. Just prior to the translocation, an extant population of rock-wallabies was discovered in the Murchison River gorge within Kalbarri NP. We used 15 microsatellite markers to investigate genetic structure amongst populations and whether genetic diversity was bolstered by introducing multiple source populations as part of the translocation process. A population viability analysis was used to model admixture within translocated populations over a 10 year period post-translocation. Twenty-five new animals were trapped during post-translocation monitoring including three indigenous to Kalbarri and four sired by Kalbarri males. Merging Wheatbelt and Cape Range wallabies, with the addition of Kalbarri individuals in the breeding pool, resulted in translocated populations showing higher genetic diversity at the end of the monitoring period (He = 0.578—0.663, AR = 2.7—3.1) and in the simulated populations 10 years post-translocation (He = 0.572—0.613, AR = 2.6—2.8), relative to the two main Wheatbelt source populations. Whilst parentage analysis demonstrated successful breeding between Kalbarri and Wheatbelt individuals, it is important to monitor the survival of offspring to assess sustainability of the population and possible outbreeding depression effects.

Abstract Chromosome rearrangements can result in the rapid evolution of hybrid incompatibilities. Robertsonian fusions, particularly those with monobrachial homology, can drive reproductive isolation amongst recently diverged taxa. The recent radiation of rock-wallabies (genus Petrogale) is an important model to explore the role of Robertsonian fusions in speciation. Here, we pursue that goal using an extensive sampling of populations and genomes of Petrogale from north-eastern Australia. In contrast to previous assessments using mitochondrial DNA or nuclear microsatellite loci, genomic data are able to separate the most closely related species and to resolve their divergence histories. Both phylogenetic and population genetic analyses indicate introgression between two species that differ by a single Robertsonian fusion. Based on the available data, there is also evidence for introgression between two species which share complex chromosomal rearrangements. However, the remaining results show no consistent signature of introgression amongst species pairs and where evident, indicate generally low introgression overall. X-linked loci have elevated divergence compared with autosomal loci indicating a potential role for genic evolution to produce reproductive isolation in concert with chromosome change. Our results highlight the value of genome scale data in evaluating the role of Robertsonian fusions and structural variation in divergence, speciation, and patterns of molecular evolution.

1. Species' distribution modelling relies on adequate data sets to build reliable statistical models with high predictive ability. However, the money spent collecting empirical data might be better spent on management. A less expensive source of species' distribution information is expert opinion. This study evaluates expert knowledge and its source. In particular, we determine whether models built on expert knowledge apply over multiple regions or only within the region where the knowledge was derived. 2. The case study focuses on the distribution of the brush-tailed rock-wallaby Petrogale penicillata in eastern Australia. We brought together from two biogeographically different regions substantial and well-designed field data and knowledge from nine experts. We used a novel elicitation tool within a geographical information system to systematically collect expert opinions. The tool utilized an indirect approach to elicitation, asking experts simpler questions about observable rather than abstract quantities, with measures in place to identify uncertainty and offer feedback. Bayesian analysis was used to combine field data and expert knowledge in each region to determine: (i) how expert opinion affected models based on field data and (ii) how similar expert-informed models were within regions and across regions. 3. The elicitation tool effectively captured the experts' opinions and their uncertainties. Experts were comfortable with the map-based elicitation approach used, especially with graphical feedback. Experts tended to predict lower values of species occurrence compared with field data. 4. Across experts, consensus on effect sizes occurred for several habitat variables. Expert opinion generally influenced predictions from field data. However, south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales experts had different opinions on the influence of elevation and geology, with these differences attributable to geological differences between these regions. 5. Synthesis and applications. When formulated as priors in Bayesian analysis, expert opinion is useful for modifying or strengthening patterns exhibited by empirical data sets that are limited in size or scope. Nevertheless, the ability of an expert to extrapolate beyond their region of knowledge may be poor. Hence there is significant merit in obtaining information from local experts when compiling species' distribution models across several regions.

Contraception has an established role in managing overabundant populations and preventing undesirable breeding in zoos. We propose that it can also be used strategically and selectively in conservation to increase the genetic and behavioral quality of the animals. In captive breeding programs, it is becoming increasingly important to maximize the retention of genetic diversity by managing the reproductive contribution of each individual and preventing genetically suboptimal breeding through the use of selective contraception. Reproductive suppression of selected individuals in conservation programs has further benefits of allowing animals to be housed as a group in extensive enclosures without interfering with breeding recommendations, which reduces adaptation to captivity and facilitates the expression of wild behaviors and social structures. Before selective contraception can be incorporated into a breeding program, the most suitable method of fertility control must be selected, and this can be influenced by factors such as species life history, age, ease of treatment, potential for reversibility, and desired management outcome for the individual or population. Contraception should then be implemented in thepopulation following a step-by-step process. In this way, it can provide crucial, flexible control over breeding to promote the physical and genetic health and sustainability of a conservation dependent species held in captivity. For Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii), black-flanked rock wallabies (Petrogale lateralise and burrowing bettongs (Bettongia lesueur), contraception can benefit their conservation by maximizing genetic diversity and behavioral integrity in the captive breeding program, or, in the case of the wallabies and bettongs, by reducing populations to a sustainable size when they become locally overabundant. In these examples, contraceptive duration relative to reproductive life, reversibility, and predictability of the contraceptive agent being used are important to ensure the potential for individuals to reproducefollowing cessation of contraception, as exemplified by the wallabies when their population crashed and needed females to resume breeding. La anticoncepción tiene un papel establecido en el manejo de poblaciones sobreabundantes y en la prevención de reproducción indeseada en los zoológicos. Proponemos que también puede usarse estratégica y selectivamente en la conservación para incrementar la calidad genética y de comportamiento de los animales. En los programas de reproducción en cautiverio es cada vez más importante maximizar la retención de la diversidad genética manejando la contribución reproductiva de cada individuo y previniendo la reproducción subóptima genéticamente por medio del uso de la anticoncepción selectiva. La represión reproductiva de individuos selectos en los programas de conservación tiene más beneficios, como permitir a los animales ser alojados en grupo en recintos extensos sin interferir con las recomendaciones reproductivas, lo que reduce la adaptación al cautiverio y facilita la expresión de comportamientos y estructuras sociales de vida libre. Antes de que la anticoncepción selectiva pueda ser incorporada a un programa de reproducción, se debe elegir el método de control de la fertilidad más adecuado, y esto puede estar influenciado por factores como la historia de vida de la especie, la edad, la facilidad de manejo, el potencial para la reversibilidad, y el resultado deseado de manejo para el individuo o la población. Después de esto se debe implementar la anticoncepción dentro de la población siguiendo un proceso de paso-por-paso. De esta manera, puede proporcionar un control decisivo y flexible sobre la reproducción para promover la salud física y genética y la sustentabilidad de una especie dependiente de la conservación que se encuentra en cautiverio. Para los demonios de Tasmania (Sarcophilus harrisii), los walabíes de las rocas de flancos negros (Petrogale lateralis), y las ratas canguro de nariz corta (Bettongia lesueur), la anticoncepción puede beneficiar su conservación al maximizar la diversidad genética y la integridad conductual en el programa de reproducción en cautiverio, o, en el caso de los walabíes y las ratas canguro, al reducir a las poblaciones a un tamaño sustentable cuando se vuelvan sobreabundantes localmente. En estos ejemplos, la duración de la anticoncepción en relación a la vida reproductiva, la reversibilidad, y la predictibilidad del agente anticonceptivo que se usa son importantes para asegurar el potencial de reproducción de los individuos una vez que cese la anticoncepción, como se ejemplifica con los walabíes cuando su población colapsó y necesitó de hembras para reanudar su reproducción. 节育是动物园管理数量过多动物神群数量和避免不恰当繁殖的ー项措施。我们认为节育也可以战略性和 选择性地用于动物保护, 以提高动物遗传和行为的质量。在圈养繁育项目中，通过控制每个个体参与繁殖来保留 最高的遗传多祥性，并通过选择性节育防止非最优的繁殖已变得越来越重要。保护项目中选择性地抑制个体繁 殖有利于动物在大围栏内集群生活，而不会破坏繁育计划，这不仅能减少了动物对圈养环境的适应，而且能促进 它们展现野生生活的行为和社会结构。在将选择性节育纳入繁育项目之前，我们应选出最适合的节育方法,而这 会受到物种的生活史、年龄、处理难度及可逆性潜力和对个体或种群预期的管理结果等因素的影_。接下來 节育应在种群中逐步推行。这样可以有效且灵活地控制动物的繁殖，以提高依赖于圈养保护物神的身体健康、遗传健康和可持续性。对于袋獾(Sarcophilus harrisii)、黑胁小岩袋鼠(Petrogale lateralis) 和穴居草原袋鼠 (Bettongia lesueur)，节育可以最大化它们在圈养繁育项目中的遗传多祥ÍÉ和行为完整性,而对于小袋鼠和草原 袋鼠，节育使局部地区数量过多的种群減少到可持续的数量，有利于物种的保护。在这些例子中，要碥保个体在 节育终止后可以繁殖，节育持续的时间相对于繁殖年限、可逆性和采取节育方式的可预见性非常重要，这ー点在 小袋m 群崩溃、需要雌性来重新恢复繁殖时有所体现。

Many of the world's terrestrial mammal species are imperilled, but recent extinctions and declines have been most severe in Australia. In particular, arid-dwelling marsupials in a critical weight range (35–5500 g) have declined dramatically following European settlement. In the absence of long-term monitoring, documenting these declines or distribution shifts and their causes often relies on occurrence data from multiple sources. Using atlas records, we compared the distributions of all currently extant marsupials in the critical weight range in Australia's arid Northern Territory pre- and post-1975. For taxa with evidence of range contraction, we evaluated alternative hypotheses to explain this contraction (i.e. competition, predation, productivity, climate) using several techniques to improve our confidence in the results. Despite a substantial increase in the number of mammal records across the study region post-1975, the bilby Macrotis lagotis and desert form of the common brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula appear to have contracted in distribution by 25 and 40%, respectively. These changes in distribution were best explained by hypotheses of competition and climate-change, respectively. Macrotis lagotis was more likely to occur on land without a history of cattle grazing and with low rabbit densities, while T. vulpecula has contracted to parts of its distribution that experience cooler maximum temperatures over the hottest months of the year. For five other taxa (including the vulnerable black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis) we recorded increases in distribution post-1975, probably reflecting increased survey effort rather than actual range expansion. We conclude that models using multiple-source occurrence data can provide key insights into the patterns and drivers of contemporary species' declines, and represent useful tools for conservation.

Prey can enhance their survival by eliciting an appropriate response to predators. Theoretically, prey should distinguish odors of predators and nonpredators. The manifestation of defensive antipredator behaviors has been extensively researched in domestic species (i.e., the relationship between laboratory-bred rats and domestic cats). However, little is known about the expression of these behaviors in wild rodents. Studies have so far focused on quantitative assessments of cost—benefit trade-offs or giving-up densities. We examined the expression of finescale defensive behaviors in Arnhem rock rats (Zyzomys maini) in response to fecal cues from 2 predators (the northern quoll [Dasyurus hallucatus] and the dingo [Canis dingo]), a nonpredator (the short-eared rock-wallaby [Petrogale brachyotis]), and a control (water). We adapted a predator-odor avoidance apparatus that has been widely used for domestic rodent studies to film the behavior of wild rock rats in a captive environment. Rock rats did not alter their behavior in the presence of odors of nonpredators, predators, or controls. In the current study, individual rock rats behaved in a consistent manner across time, and we identified 3 individually consistent behaviors which may suggest the existence of personality traits in this species. We suggest that these individual differences may influence wild rock rat behavior more than predation risk. These differences should therefore be taken into consideration when investigating behavioral responses to predators in wild populations.

The record of mammal declines and extinctions in Australia raises concerns regarding geographically restricted and poorly known taxa. For many taxa, the existing data are insufficient to assess their conservation status and inform appropriate management. Concerns regarding the persistence of the subspecies of yellow-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale xanthopus celeris, which is endemic to Queensland, have been expressed since the 1970s because of red fox Vulpes vulpes predation, competition with feral goats Capra hircus and land clearing. This rock-wallaby is rarely observed, occupies rugged mountain ranges and, prior to our surveys, had not been surveyed for 25 years. We surveyed 138 sites across the range of this rock-wallaby during 2010–2023, including revisiting sites surveyed in the 1970s–1980s and locations of historical records. We examined occurrence in relation to habitat variables and threats. Occupancy and abundance remained similar over time at most sites. However, by 2023 the subspecies had recolonized areas in the north-east of its range where it had disappeared between surveys in the 1980s and 2010s, and three south-western subpopulations that were considered extinct in the 1980s were rediscovered. Recolonization and increases in abundance at numerous sites between the 2010s and 2020s are associated with declines in feral goat abundance, indicating dietary and habitat competition are major threats. Exclusion fences erected since 2010 could limit genetic exchange between rock-wallaby subpopulations whilst allowing domestic goats to be commercially grazed. Petrogale xanthopus celeris should remain categorized as Vulnerable based on these ongoing threats. Repeated monitoring approximately every decade should underpin management of this endemic taxon.

Noninvasive genetic sampling (genetic tagging) of individuals is one of the most powerful and ethical tools for threatened species population monitoring. A recent review of the threats to Australia’s rock-wallabies ( Petrogale spp.) and the methods for their monitoring stated that noninvasive genetic sampling (faecal DNA analysis) is not viable for estimating population size and trends for species in this genus. We feel that it is important to respond as such statements have the potential to stifle the development and application of an important tool for threatened species monitoring and lead to lost opportunities for collection of high-quality data to inform conservation of these species. We take the opportunity to describe the breadth of successful application of noninvasive genetic sampling for monitoring rock wallabies and other mammal taxa, the research and development requirements for successful implementation of noninvasive DNA-based population monitoring and thoughts on why this powerful approach has not been implemented to its full potential in many jurisdictions. We need to be careful not to dismiss one of the most powerful and ethical threatened species monitoring tools due to lack of familiarity with the requirements for its implementation.

Active management is essential to the survival of many threatened species globally. Captive breeding programmes can play an important role in facilitating the supplementation, translocation and reintroduction of wild populations. However, understanding the genetic dynamics within and among wild and captive populations is crucial to the planning and implementation of ex situ management, as adaptive potential is, in part, driven by genetic diversity. Here, we use 14 microsatellite loci and mitochondrial Control Region sequence to examine the population genetics of both wild populations and captive colonies of the endangered warru (the MacDonnell Ranges race of the black-footed rock-wallaby Petrogale lateralis) in central Australia, to understand how historical evolutionary processes have shaped current diversity and ensure effective ex situ management. Whilst microsatellite data reveal significant contemporary differentiation amongst remnant warru populations, evidence of contemporary dispersal and relatively weak isolation by distance, as well as a lack of phylogeographic structure suggests historical connectivity. Genetic diversity within current captive populations is lower than in the wild source populations. Based on our genetic data and ecological observations, we predict outbreeding depression is unlikely and hence make the recommendation that captive populations be managed as one genetic group. This will increase genetic diversity within the captive population and as a result increase the adaptive potential of reintroduced populations. We also identify a new site in the Musgrave Ranges which contains unique alleles but also connectivity with a population 6 km away. This novel genetic diversity could be used as a future source for supplementation.

This study investigates the role of human agency in the gene flow and geographical distribution of the Australian baobab, Adansonia gregorii. The genus Adansonia is a charismatic tree endemic to Africa, Madagascar, and northwest Australia that has long been valued by humans for its multiple uses. The distribution of genetic variation in baobabs in Africa has been partially attributed to human-mediated dispersal over millennia, but this relationship has never been investigated for the Australian species. We combined genetic and linguistic data to analyse geographic patterns of gene flow and movement of word-forms for A. gregorii in the Aboriginal languages of northwest Australia. Comprehensive assessment of genetic diversity showed weak geographic structure and high gene flow. Of potential dispersal vectors, humans were identified as most likely to have enabled gene flow across biogeographic barriers in northwest Australia. Genetic-linguistic analysis demonstrated congruence of gene flow patterns and directional movement of Aboriginal loanwords for A. gregorii. These findings, along with previous archaeobotanical evidence from the Late Pleistocene and Holocene, suggest that ancient humans significantly influenced the geographic distribution of Adansonia in northwest Australia.