The design of the reserve provides a unique opportunity to investigate the effect of different grazing and predation treatments on the local ecosystem. Treatments include, reintroduced species only (the main Exclosure, First and Northern Expansion areas of the reserve); rabbits, cats and foxes (outside the reserve on the mine lease); rabbits, cats, foxes and cattle (outside the reserve on pastoral stations); rabbits, cats, foxes, cattle and dingoes (outside the reserve north of the dog fence) and an 8 sq km control area inside the reserve with no reintroduced species, rabbits, cats, foxes, cattle or dingoes (Second Expansion).
Reintroduced Species Monitoring
Burrowing Bettongs, Greater Bilbies, Greater Stick-nest Rats and Western Barred Bandicoots are monitored through quarterly track transects. Tracks are swept the day before counting with a chain dragged behind a quad bike. All tracks that cross over this dragged line are then counted the following day. Bettongs and bandicoots are also monitored through annual cage trapping. Bilby and Bettong Burrows and Greater Stick-nest Rat nests are also monitored regularly for activity, size and co-occupants.
Small Vertebrate Monitoring
Small vertebrates are monitored annually through the use of pitfall and elliott traps. There are 39 sites located inside the reserve, within the second expansion (control) site and outside the reserve. They are monitored for one week in February each year.
In the early years of the reserve there was little difference between native mammal captures inside and outside the reserve, however these rates have been steadily changing and we are now recording up to five times as many small mammals inside the reserve compared to outside. The majority of these mammal captures are Spinifex Hopping-mice and Bolam's Mice, with Plains Rats also increasing within the reserve over the last few years.
Bird Monitoring
Bird numbers are monitored each year by the University of Adelaide. Birds are also monitored opportunistically by Arid Recovery staff.
Results since 2003 suggests that some parrot species are more abundant outside the exclosure. Birds that are more abundant inside the exclosure include the Crested Bellbird, Rufous Fieldwren, Variegated Fairy-wren, Cinnamon Quailthrush and Chirruping Wedgebill. These species either nest close to the ground or spend a large amount of time on the ground, so the reserve is likely to be providing them with increased protection from introduced predators such as foxes and cats.
An increasing amount of observations of nocturnal birds (Barn Owl, Spotted Nightjar, Tawny Frogmouth, Boobook Owl) have been recorded each year, most likely due to the increase in food supply (i.e. small mammals). Other interesting bird observations since 2003 have included Scarlet-chested Parrots, Hooded Robins, Australian Bustards, Western Ringnecks, Banded Lapwings, Splendid Fairy-wren and a Gibberbird.
Feral Species
Arid Recovery conducts feral track monitoring outside the reserve to gather data on general trends of Feral Cats, Foxes, Rabbits and Wild Dogs. This monitoring covers an area which incorporates Roxby Downs Station, Andamooka Station, Stuart Creek Station and the Olympic Dam Special Mining Lease.
To monitor the feral animals on these transects the spoor (tracks) of the animal are recorded as being either present or absent from the transect.
Transects are split into two categories; the Baited Zone and the Control. Transects within the baited zone are done throughout areas which are baited on a quarterly basis and the control transects are done in areas where no baiting occurs. This provides comparisons on the effectiveness of the baiting program that Arid Recovery is currently employing. Visit feral species control.
