Substantial investments have been made into constructing pest-proof netting fences (‘cluster fences’) around multiple grazing properties in western Queensland. Effective control of many vertebrate pests (e.g. wild dogs, kangaroos, feral pigs and feral goats) is now possible across large areas, by denying immigration, offering widespread and substantial benefits to agriculture and the environment. Similar fences are proposed for more arid areas in southern rangelands of WA, but the optimal cluster size and likely benefits for particular land types and production systems are unknown. This project brings together and expands the scope of existing studies to inform future cluster fencing activities.
Completed
Malcolm has worked in the field of ecology for over twenty years. He undertook a Bachelor of Science (Hons) at Macquarie University and PhD in Natural and Rural Systems Management at the University of Queensland. He has been employed in a range of roles in universities and private and government conservation organisations, and worked across invasion ecology, predation and fire ecology. He is now employed as a Research Officer with Biosecurity Queensland. His current research includes a strong focus on wild dog management but also includes work on large feral herbivores, feral pigs and new incursions.
Malcolm is the Project Leader for the Queensland Cluster Fencing project.
The project receives funding from the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
February 2021 update:
Modelling procedures have been established to run sensitivity analysis for multiple clusters for multiple years with the option of changing domestic livestock and macropod density independently. Interim simulation modelling suggests that the sensitivity of cover to changes in total grazing pressure is low (less than 10% for a 40% change in total grazing pressure in the Morven cluster).
Wild dog activity inside the Morven cluster continues to be significantly lower than the activity detected outside the cluster. There is no evidence of an increase in other predator activity inside the cluster in response to lower wild dog activity.
August 2020 update:
Wild dog activity inside and outside the Morven cluster is very low. Removal of wild dogs has occurred since 2014, with decreasing number strapped each year. The reduction in wild dogs at Morven is positively associated with an increase in kangaroo activity but not with meso-predator release of either feral cats or foxes. Limited change inside and outside of clusters for other monitored taxa. The Tambo cluster has similar population trends, apart from April-August 2018, when activity outside the fence was high. Dry conditions have resulted in low wildlife activity at both sites.
Kangaroo density at the Morven cluster is much lower than at Tambo, higher activity inside the clusters at both sites is most likely due to more fertile land within the clusters. Cattle producers at the Morven cluster have utilised lower kangaroo numbers by stocking sheep and goats, while maintaining cattle numbers. Sheep production within the Morven cluster has declined due to below average rainfall. The Tambo cluster received higher rainfall, though cold weather resulted in losses of drought-affected sheep and a large reduction in lambing rates.
February 2019:
In the Morven region, weather conditions have been very dry, resulting in poor pasture conditions. Pasture dry matter is being monitored inside and outside the Morven cluster. Prior to closure of the cluster fence, pasture biomass was higher outside, but that difference is less now.
Since the Morven cluster was closed in 2015, the number of wild dogs captured inside the fenced area has declined rapidly. Contract trappers removed 16 wild dogs from within the Morven cluster during 2018. A total of 523 wild dogs have been trapped and destroyed since fence construction commenced.
Wild dog activity across multiple properties in the Tambo cluster shows the expected annual breeding peaks in activity in autumn but there is an encouraging underlying trend of a gradual reduction over time inside the cluster. This suggests producers or sub-clusters are making incremental progress at removing this problem species.
The estimated abundance of kangaroos inside and outside of the Morven cluster has declined substantially since August 2017. The pattern for kangaroo density at Tambo is similar to that found in Morven with consistently higher densities inside the clusters than outside. This is attributable to the combined impacts of drought, predation and less productive land being located outside clusters.
August 2019 update:
Pasture, wild dog and wildlife monitoring, assessment of livestock productivity and economic analysis are currently underway for the Morven and Tambo cluster sites.
Wild dog activity inside and outside the Morven cluster is very low. Removal of wild dogs has occurred since 2014, with decreasing numbers trapped each year. The Tambo cluster has similar population trends, apart from April-August 2018, when activity outside the fence was high. Dry conditions have resulted in low wildlife activity at both sites.
Kangaroo density at the Morven cluster is much lower than at Tambo, higher activity inside the clusters at both sites is most likely due to more fertile land within the clusters. Cattle producers at the Morven cluster have utilised lower kangaroo numbers by stocking sheep and goats, while maintaining cattle numbers. Sheep production within the Morven cluster has declined due to below average rainfall. The Tambo cluster received higher rainfall, though cold weather resulted in losses of drought-affected sheep and a large reduction in lambing rates.
Remotely-sensed vegetation cover at a paddock scale is not well correlated with visual observations at the small plot scale. The reasons are being investigated. Bird species abundance and richness is being sampled. Potential positive and negative effects of the cluster fences may influence different species.
February 2020 update:
A post-doctorate position has been filled, allowing the economic analysis to commence and ensuring that all project components are now underway. Other components underway include pasture monitoring via satellite, monitoring of wild dogs, kangaroos and other wildlife, and assessment of livestock productivity.
Wildlife
Wild dog activity inside and outside the Morven is very low. Dry conditions have resulted in low wildlife activity at both sites. Kangaroo abundance in the Morven and Tambo clusters is higher than outside the clusters. Existing differences in habitat suitability for kangaroos inside and outside the two clusters are likely to account for the disparities.
The impacts of cluster fencing on diversity of granivorous birds has proved challenging to assess. Emus are being investigated as a potential species to monitor. Long-term, broad-scale aerial survey data for emus and kangaroos available will be analysed for trends in abundance in areas with and without cluster fences.
Productivity
Within the Morven cluster, where the fence was completed in 2013, sheep numbers and lambing rates reached a peak in 2015, but then declined to pre-fence levels in line with successive years of below average rainfall. The Tambo properties have received more rain over the same period which enabled them to maintain sheep numbers and lambing rates.
The absence of sheep properties outside of the clusters has prevented comparison of sheep and wool production on properties within clusters with that of sheep properties which do not have exclusion fencing. Given this, monitoring of livestock productivity is being expanded to include beef cattle.
Vegetation
Field surveys carried out in the Morven and Tambo clusters have recorded the lowest biomass during the five years that has been collected. Remote sensing of vegetation cover is ongoing. Remotely sensed vegetation cover at a paddock scale is not well correlated with visual observations at the small plot scale. The differences can be attributed to remote sensing recording litter and woody debris, which does not break down in low rainfall conditions.
Scientific Publications: