Enhancing climate resilience of vertebrate communities in the Fitz-Stirlings

Start date: 01/01/2025
End date: 30/06/2027
NESP funding: $480,000 (GST-exclusive)

This project aims to enhance the resilience of threatened fauna in south-west Western Australia, a region experiencing significant biodiversity loss due to climate change, habitat degradation and fragmentation. Rising temperatures, declining rainfall and the extensive clearing of vegetation have contributed to local extinctions, with further losses expected as climate change intensifies. Riparian habitats, essential for species movement and survival, are particularly vulnerable, with stream flows predicted to decline by up to 85%. To help address these threats, the project will investigate the effectiveness of large-scale restoration efforts and explore how these initiatives can be improved to promote species connectivity and climate resilience. 

A bobtail (Tiliqua rugosa) from the Fitz-Stirling region. Photo: Jarrod Kath.

The study will focus on species of national environmental significance, including chuditch (Dasyurus geoffroii), quokka (Setonix brachyurus), dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) and malleefowl (Leipoa ocellata), as well as lesser-studied reptile and ant communities. It will use a variety of survey methods, such as remote-sensing cameras, autonomous recording units (ARUs), artificial refuge surveys and genetic sampling, across 50 sites in the Fitz-Stirling region. The project aims to establish a comprehensive species inventory and assess factors that limit gene flow, particularly between restored and remnant habitats.

Key research areas

To improve the resilience of vertebrate communities in the Fitz-Stirlings and enhance the outcomes of large-scale restoration, this project is:

• mapping habitat suitability to better understand species’ requirements for survival and dispersal, and developing resistance maps to identify barriers to connectivity 
• using genetic data from reptiles to assess the impact of habitat fragmentation and guide future restoration efforts by pinpointing areas where connectivity can be improved
• evaluating the role of artificial habitats, such as tin, timber and carpet refuges as survey tools, as well as their role in enhancing habitat suitability in degraded areas or during early-stage restoration.

Pathway to impact

The research will inform on-ground conservation strategies by:

1. providing updated species inventories, high-resolution habitat suitability maps, and insights into the genetic impact of fragmentation
2. assessing the effectiveness of artificial habitats to support threatened fauna in degraded environments.