17 – Saving our Species^233Closing the loop: informing decision making
Informing decision making is a key driver of monitoring and evaluation (e.g.
McCarthy and Possingham 2007; Possingham et al. 2012). SoS investment in
species conservation projects is re-assessed annually based on the evaluation of
monitoring data. Projects are continually refined to ensure that they ref lect best
available information at the time, but, most importantly, any part of the project
Based on this conceptual model, and an extremely small baseline population
(2001), the bristlebird population is expected to increase in response to adequate
vertebrate pest control and fire management (although it is currently a non-
treatment site as part of an adaptive management design). This has been validated
by 15 years of monitoring data. Given current understanding of the species and
habitat availability at this site, experts predict that the population is nearing carrying
capacity. The upper bound of the long-term target population has been set at 2.3
observations per 500 m, based on the highest observed density in other populations
where threats are well managed. The lower bound has been set at 1.6 observations
per 500 m, based on the average density recorded from other populations and
relevant literature (e.g. Baker 1997).F i g. 17. 4. Eastern bristlebird Dasyornis brachypterus. Photo: D. Charley.