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Malleefowl data
We
have amassed 2861 records of the occurrence of Malleefowl in the Western
Australian wheatbelt (see map below).
Community groups provided much of this data - 1397 records (53% of
records) - with the balance coming from various government agencies. Considerable data was provided also
indirectly via the knowledge of farmers - 51 records (2%) - or through bird
observers - 230 records (8%).
This
data records presence of Malleefowl, but not absence. The dataset was collected largely from opportunistic
sightings, rather than from a structured program. As a result, the level of effort varied
greatly over time and space, greatly limiting the interpretations that
could be made from the data.
We
have made use of the presence-only dataset where possible (such as use of
BIOCLIM to establish the climatic envelope of the species), but have also
converted presence-only data to presence-absence data. We used extensive postal and phone
surveys of areas within the Western Australian wheatbelt to establish past
and present occurrence of Malleefowl and made use of past Birds Australia
Atlas 2 data to derive sites of bird survey that did not contain
Malleefowl.
Results
from analyses are summarised in the final
report and detailed in manuscripts in press in the scientific
literature. Key analyses include:
·
an assessment of extent of range contraction over
time;
·
differences in climate across the range of the
species and the possible future effects of climate change;
·
habitat preferences; and
·
the likely impact of fire frequency and extent on
Malleefowl in the Western Australian wheatbelt.
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