Kym Ottewell

Department of Parks and Wildlife | DPaW · Science and Conservation Division

Conservation translocation is a valuable management tool for conserving and restoring biodiversity. Conservation managers and researchers strive for translocation success and spend considerable time and energy planning for a positive outcome. However, many translocations fail. Defining what makes a translocation ‘successful’ can be challenging. Cri...

Genetic diversity is the foundation of biodiversity, and preserving it is therefore fundamental to conservation practice. However, global conservation efforts face significant challenges integrating genetic and genomic approaches into applied management and policy. As collaborative partnerships are increasingly recognized as key components of succe...

Over the past decade, the development of genetic and genomic tools for conservation management has come forward in leaps and bounds. Once considered a ‘nice to have’, genetic data are fast becoming an essential tool for informing and managing translocations. However, due to the complexity of the field, easily using genetic data for decision‐making...

Animal social relationships affect animal survival, reproduction, and resource exploitation, and are important to translocation success, but little is known on how they are impacted in reintroduced populations. Here, we investigate the social genetic structure in a reintroduced population of boodies (Bettongia lesueur), one of few social burrowing...

Ninu (greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis ) are desert-dwelling, culturally and ecologically important marsupials. In collaboration with Indigenous rangers and conservation managers, we generated the Ninu chromosome-level genome assembly (3.66 Gbp) and genome sequences for the extinct Yallara (lesser bilby, Macrotis leucura ). We developed and tested a...

For threatened species that occur across multi-use landscapes, a coordinated cross-tenure management approach is desirable to achieve long-term conservation outcomes. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the progress towards achieving conservation priorities for the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis) in the Pilbara region of Western Australia...

Ghost bats of Western Australia's Pilbara region are widespread, although patchily distributed, and are threatened with local extirpation, largely in part due to the expanding mining footprint across the region. The extensive data collected to inform environmental impact assessments for mineral exploration projects, however, provides a key source o...

The Pilbara leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia ‘Pilbara form’) is a threatened insectivorous microbat endemic to the Pilbara region of Western Australia. It is at risk of significant population decline, particularly due to habitat loss from mining. To address its key threats, stakeholders from a range of backgrounds collectively listed and prio...

Kenngoor (Phascogale calura) persist in < 1% of their original distribution, occupying highly fragmented remnant habitat in south-west Western Australia, with very little known of the genetic diversity of the remaining wild populations. Recently, the species has been translocated to managed reserves to improve its conservation. Understanding geneti...

Genetic tagging from scats is one of the minimally invasive sampling (MIS) monitoring approaches commonly used to guide management decisions and evaluate conservation efforts. Microsatellite markers have traditionally been used but are prone to genotyping errors. Here, we present a novel method for individual identification in the Threatened ghost...

The Ninu (Greater bilby, Macrotis lagotis ) is a desert-dwelling, culturally and ecologically important marsupial. In collaboration with Indigenous rangers and conservation managers, we generated the first Ninu chromosome-level genome assembly (3.66 Gbp) and genome sequences for the extinct Yallara (lesser bilby, Macrotis leucura ) to understand th...

Using genetic information to develop and implement conservation programs is vital for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Evaluation of the genetic variability within and among remnant populations can inform management of both natural and translocated populations to maximise species’ adaptive potential, mitigate negative impacts of i...

Translocation programmes are increasingly being informed by genetic data to monitor and enhance conservation outcomes for both natural and established populations. These data provide a window into contemporary patterns of genetic diversity, structure and relatedness that can guide managers in how to best source animals for their translocation progr...

Conservation translocations have become increasingly popular for ‘rewilding’ areas that have lost their native fauna. These multispecies translocations are complex and need to consider the requirements of each individual species as well as the influence of likely interactions among them. The Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological Restoration P...

Kenngoor ( Phascogale calura ) persist in < 1% of their original distribution, occupying highly fragmented remnant habitat in south-west Western Australia, with very little known of the genetic health of remaining wild populations. Recently, the species has been translocated to managed reserves to improve its conservation. Understanding genetic str...

Landscape genetics is increasingly transitioning away from microsatellites, with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) providing increased resolution for detecting patterns of spatial-genetic structure. This is particularly pertinent for research in arid-zone mammals due to challenges associated with unique life history traits, boom-bust populatio...

Black-flanked rock-wallabies (Petrogale lateralis lateralis) exist in small and isolated populations across Western Australia, making them highly susceptible to loss of genetic diversity and increased extinction risk. Conservation translocations are frequently implemented to improve threatened species population sizes with ongoing monitoring requir...

Context. Population-monitoring programs often use direct (e.g. live capture or spotlighting) or indirect (e.g. scats sightings) observations to estimate population abundance. Such methods, however, are often inadequate for rare, elusive, or cryptic species due to the difficulty in achieving sufficient encounters or detection rates. The mala (Lagorc...

Landscape‐scale conservation that considers metapopulation dynamics will be essential for preventing declines of species facing multiple threats to their survival. Toward this end, we developed a novel approach that combines occurrence records, spatial–environmental data, and genetic information to model habitat, connectivity, and patterns of genet...

Landscape genetics is increasingly transitioning away from microsatellites, with Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) providing increased resolution for detecting patterns of spatial-genetic structure. This is particularly pertinent for research in arid-zone mammals due to challenges associated with unique life history traits, boom-bust populatio...

Abstract Mammal declines across northern Australia are one of the major biodiversity loss events occurring globally. There has been no regional assessment of the implications of these species declines for genomic diversity. To address this, we conducted a species‐wide assessment of genomic diversity in the northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an E...

The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is Australia’s largest echolocating bat. It is restricted to several disjunct populations in the north of the continent, including a population in the Pilbara region of Western Australia. In 2016 the ghost bat was listed as Vulnerable under Australian federal legislation, owing to declining numbers across many regio...

The bat fauna of Australia comprises some 25% of all terrestrial species, yet we know very little of the demography, dispersal, and movement dynamics of most bat species. The Pilbara leaf-nosed bat (Rhinonicteris aurantia Pilbara form) is a threatened microbat that roosts exclusively in caves that occur in mineral rich deposits in the Pilbara regio...

Globally, species and ecosystems continue to decline, and the impact on threatened species is increasing [...]

Monitoring programs for populations of small or medium-sized animals often use live-capture or photo-monitoring trapping methods to estimate population size. The banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus), a small macropodiform marsupial, does not readily enter traps or have individually unique distinguishing physical features and is consequently...

Globally, 15,521 animal species are listed as threatened by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature, and of these less than 3% have genomic resources that can inform conservation management. To combat this, global genome initiatives are developing genomic resources, yet production of a reference genome alone does not conserve a speci...

The loss of genetic variation and genetic divergence from source populations are common problems for reintroductions that use captive animals or a small number of founders to establish a new population. This study evaluated the genetic changes occurring in a captive and a reintroduced population of the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis) that were est...

Sound taxonomy is important for providing a scientific basis for the listing of threatened taxa and allowing informed decisions for conservation management. The Australian fieldwrens (Acanthizidae: Calamanthus spp.), small passerines of shrublands across mesic to arid southern Australia, have been challenging in this respect. Difficulties in interp...

The taxonomy of Australian Isoodon bandicoots has changed continuously over the last 20 years, with recent genetic studies indicating discordance of phylogeographic units with current taxonomic boundaries. Uncertainty over species relationships within southern and western Isoodon, encompassing I. obesulus, I. auratus, and I. fusciventer, has been o...

Many Australian mammal species now only occur on islands and fenced mainland havens free from invasive predators. The range of one species, the banded hare-wallaby (Lagostrophus fasciatus), had contracted to two offshore islands in Western Australia. To improve survival, four conservation translocations have been attempted with mixed success, and a...

Translocation is an increasingly common component of species conservation efforts. However, translocated populations often suffer from loss of genetic diversity and increased inbreeding, and thus may require active management to establish gene flow across isolated populations. Assisted gene flow can be laborious and costly, so recipient and source...

The Dirk Hartog Island National Park Ecological Restoration Project (DHINPERP) or “Return to 1616” aims to translocate 12 species of mammal(ten known to be locally extinct) and one species of locally extinct bird to Dirk Hartog Island (DHI) in an effort to improve their conservation status and help restore ecological processes to the island. Follow...

The ghost bat (Macroderma gigas) is endemic to Australia but is under threat, with scarce information available on the genetic health of remaining populations. Here, we develop molecular assays for microsatellite genotyping and molecular sexing of non-invasive samples as a genetic monitoring tool to identify individuals, measure genetic diversity a...

Southern brown (Isoodon obesulus) and golden (Isoodon auratus) bandicoots are iconic Australian marsupials that have experienced dramatic declines since European settlement. Conservation management programs seek to protect the remaining populations; however, these programs are impeded by major taxonomic uncertainties. We investigated the history of...

This study focused on a reintroduced population of south-western common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) to assess genetic variability and inform future management strategies. Individuals were translocated to Matuwa Kurarra-Kurarra Indigenous Protected Area, Western Australia, from four source populations, but subsequent monitori...

Small and isolated populations are subject to the loss of genetic variation as a consequence of inbreeding and genetic drift, which in turn, can affect the fitness and long-term viability of populations. Translocations can be used as an effective conservation tool to combat this loss of genetic diversity through establishing new populations of thre...

We trialed the collection of blow samples using a waterproof electric multirotor (quadcopter) drone from two free‐ranging dolphin species, the abundant and approachable bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) and the less common and boat shy humpback dolphin (Sousa sahulensis). This drone was fast, maneuverable, and quiet compared to other drones com...

Dispersal plays an important role in the population structure and resilience of species. To gain a better understanding of dispersal in the endangered Australian marsupial, the dibbler (Parantechinus apicalis), we screened 199 individuals from seven locations within the Fitzgerald River National Park, Western Australia, for genetic variation at 17...

The use of multiple source populations provides a way to maximise genetic variation and reduce the impacts of inbreeding depression in newly established translocated populations. However, there is a risk that individuals from different source populations will not interbreed, leading to population structure and smaller effective population sizes tha...

Urbanisation is one of the most pervasive agents of contemporary landscape change globally. Rapid land use change and competing land uses pose multiple challenges for biodiversity conservation, particularly in peri-urban fringe areas where suburban development encroaches into natural habitats. The quenda (Isoodon fusci-venter) is one of the very fe...

Landscape topography and the mobility of individuals will have fundamental impacts on a species’ population structure, for example by enhancing or reducing gene flow and therefore influencing the effective size and genetic diversity of the population. However, social organisation will also influence population genetic structure. For example, specie...

Aim The complexity and biologically challenging nature of arid landscapes can generate high inter‐ and intra‐species diversity, although these biomes remain poorly studied. We investigated whether prominent geomorphic features in an Australian arid landscape had similar influences on patterns of intra‐specific genetic diversity of three small mamma...

Aim Understanding the spatial distribution of genetic variation across a species’ range is a central tenet in evolutionary biology and the ability to predict such patterns is valuable to conservation management. Genetic diversity and differentiation may be explained by present‐day niche centrality, historical processes, or morphological variation a...

The rapid and large-scale urbanization of peri-urban areas poses major and complex challenges for wildlife conservation. We used population viability analysis (PVA) to evaluate the influence of urban encroachment, fire, and fauna crossing structures, with and without accounting for inbreeding effects, on the metapopulation viability of a medium-siz...

Extended information on the metapopulation model parameterization. (DOCX)

Additional results. (DOCX)

Expected minimum abundance under different management scenarios estimated using RAMAS and Vortex software. (DOCX)

Allele frequency and genetic diversity in the study metapopulations. (DOCX)

Environmental disturbances, both natural and anthropogenic, have the capacity to substantially impact animal behavior and abundance, which can in turn influence patterns of genetic diversity and gene flow. However, little empirical information is available on the nature and degree of such changes due to the relative rarity of longitudinal genetic s...

Additional information on sample extraction and microsatellite allele calls. (DOCX)

Example pre-2010 assignment plots demonstrating a lack of clear support for higher suggested optimal values of K in determining regional population structure. (TIF)

Novel molecular data and morphological studies have provided support for the segregation of numerous genera from Cleome s. l. (Cleomaceae). Corynandra has been proposed as a segregate genus including Indian and Australian species based on floral and seed morphology. Contrasting seed coat micro-morphology between Indian and Australian species includ...

Omura's whale (Balaenoptera omurai), described in 2003, is a putatively rare rorqual species known mostly from waters in the lower latitudes of the Indo-Pacific. A small (5.68 m) baleen whale that stranded near Exmouth on the northwestern coast of Australia in March 2015 was initially thought to be a small Omura's whale (although unknown for the ar...

Australian members of Cleomaceae form a monophyletic clade that has speciated across tropical Australia, presumably from a single dispersal event to the continent. Contrasting patterns of morphological and molecular variation have been identified using a combination of micromorphology, nuclear and plastid sequence data and phylogenomic analyses. Th...

The sub-specific status of different populations of Isoodon obesulus has been questioned in several genetic studies utilising mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and nuclear gene sequence data, leading to a proposal to revise the current distribution of the eastern Australian sub-species I. o. obesulus to include additional localities in South Australia (SA)...

Frugivorous animals frequently generate clumped distributions of seeds away from source trees via 'destination-based' dispersal processes. For example, use of traditional sleeping trees by white-bellied spider monkeys Ateles belzebuth generates high densities of seeds of a preferred food source, the palm Oenocarpus bataua, at these sites. Little is...

Aim Maintaining genetic diversity and evolutionary processes are important goals in plant conservation. Genetic studies are increasingly undertaken but results from such studies are still rarely implemented as management actions in the field. We address this ‘research‐implementation gap’ by developing a plain‐language genetic assessment approach fo...