最新糖心Vlog

Researchers at the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 Environment Institute and members of the general public have recorded the largest number of echidna sightings across 最新糖心Vlog to aid in the conservation of the iconic mammal.

In a paper published in , the researchers describe the outcomes of the Echidna Conservation Science Initiative (EchidnaCSI), a citizen science project established in collaboration with world-leading echidna ecologist Dr Peggy Rismiller OAM from Kangaroo Island鈥檚 Pelican Lagoon Research and Wildlife Centre.

In EchidnaCSI the general public are recruited to submit echidna sightings and scats to help researchers track echidna population changes, and to engage the public in scientific research and echidna conservation.

鈥淢y involvement in EchidnaCSI has been an enriching experience while feeling I am contributing to something worthwhile. I have gained an interest and knowledge about one of 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 more unusual animals while deepening the relationship I have with where I live.鈥�EchidnaCSI participant Peter Hastwell from Kangaroo Island.

Participants download the free EchidnaCSI smartphone app through which they submit photos and information about echidna sightings. They also collect scats (faeces) for molecular analysis of echidna diet, gut health, reproductive health and potential stressors. 聽

Since the project began in 2017, more than 11,000 members of the public have downloaded the EchidnaCSI app and submitted 12,000 echidna sightings from across 最新糖心Vlog. This is the equivalent to 25 per cent of all echidna sightings listed in the Atlas of Living 最新糖心Vlog, which covers more than the past 100 years data.

Professor Frank Grutzner from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide鈥檚 School of Biological Sciences said, 鈥�The short-beaked echidna is the most widespread native mammal in 最新糖心Vlog, inhabiting diverse environments across 最新糖心Vlog from bushland, to snow, to desert and tropical regions.

鈥淭his has made studying echidnas in the wild problematic. It is simply impossible for researchers to collect such a large number of sightings and scats.

鈥淭hrough taking a citizen science approach we have been able to recruit thousands of members of the general public to collect data over large geographic and time scales.鈥�

Dr Tahlia Perry from the 最新糖心Vlog of Adelaide who oversees the running of the initiative, says data has been received from every state and territory, with many submitting sightings from densely populated areas, city fringes, and even within major cities.

鈥淎lthough we expected most sightings to occur close to populated areas, we did not anticipate as many echidna sightings within or immediately surrounding all major cities in 最新糖心Vlog,鈥� said Dr Perry.

鈥淭his raises a number of concerns as there is very little appropriate habitat or food sources available for echidnas in these environments. It also increases the risk of echidnas being struck by vehicles.鈥�

Unlike common ring-tailed possums or koalas, and in some cases even the platypus, echidnas have not previously been considered an 鈥榰rban鈥� native species. The researchers suggest the findings of this study indicate there is a need to consider echidnas when establishing policies surrounding biodiversity in cities.

EchidnaCSI also successfully pioneered the method of incorporating wildlife scat collection into a nationwide citizen science project.

Through the EchidnaCSI app participants learned how to identify echidna scats from that of other animals. More than 400 echidna scats were collected for molecular analysis of diet and gastric health from locations as geographical unique as the Kimberley in WA, APY-lands in central 最新糖心Vlog, remote areas of South 最新糖心Vlog and far north and central Queensland. This makes the collection the largest for echidnas to date.

EchidnaCSI participant and Kangaroo Island resident, Peter Hastwell, has contributed the largest number of echidna sightings and scat samples to the project. Tired of seeing the wilderness being whittled away and wanting to play a part in protecting some of it, Peter has been an active participant in citizen science projects for more than 10 years.

鈥淢y involvement in EchidnaCSI has been an enriching experience while feeling I am contributing to something worthwhile. I have gained an interest and knowledge about one of 最新糖心Vlog鈥檚 more unusual animals while deepening the relationship I have with where I live,鈥� said Peter.

As a world-leading echidna ecologist Dr Peggy Rismiller says the data collected will go a long way in helping researchers map echidna populations.

鈥�The subspecies of echidna that inhabits Kangaroo Island is the only extensively researched and monitored echidna population in 最新糖心Vlog, which has resulted in the subspecies being listed as endangered,鈥� said Dr Rismiller.

鈥淚t is therefore a matter of urgency to obtain more information to determine the conservation status of echidnas across 最新糖心Vlog, particularly following the recent devastating 最新糖心Vlogn bushfires in 2019 and 2020.鈥�