Monitoring Threatened Species and Ecological Communities

19 – Parks Australia monitoring for threatened species^265

Termite presence was significantly related to burrow persistence; inactive sites rarely
were close to termite structures. Termite calic structures were present within 2.5 m
for only three burrow systems (all active). When looking at a larger scale, the
presence of termite calic structures within 10 m of the centre of a burrow system,
was significantly related to status. Over the course of the monitoring period, several
inactive burrows became active. This could be due to a variety of factors including
suitability of vegetation or ground cover and reduced predation pressure.
Recruitment levels were generally low throughout the survey period (0–24% and
rarely reaching above 20%). Mean recruitment rate throughout the study period was
10%. The low level of reactivation of burrows combined with the low breeding
rates observed indicates that the tjakura population is not likely to be expanding.
In this study, the average length of time that a burrow system remained
continually active was 2.43 years. The longest continual activity recorded was 8
years and occurred in three separate burrow systems. Although the complexity of a
tjakura burrow system may provide a degree of protection from the initial effects of
fire, post-fire impacts may result in population losses. The varying nature of ground
cover remaining after a fire may influence occupancy and breeding success. The
absence of ground cover leaves individuals susceptible to greater predation pressure
when foraging, basking, dispersing or searching for mates during the breeding
season. Being near active termite colonies (a food source) may be necessary to
sustain multigenerational tjakura burrows. In addition, the risk of predation may be
reduced if tjakura have no need to forage widely. Cats are important predators of
tjakura in spinifex habitats (Dennison et al. 2015).

Management recommendations
The development and implementation of an integrated fire strategy consisting of
small patch burning that aims to maximise ground cover within tjakura habitat by
reducing the frequency, intensity and size of fires is recommended. A greater
understanding of the challenges facing tjakura might be reached through future
work on understanding the ecological distribution of termites and tjakura diet.

25

20

15

10

5

Number of ac 0

tive burrows

Year

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

30

35

Fig. 19.4. Impact of a large wildfire (in 2012) on active burrows for the next few years.