What the study found
The study found that a highway through a conservation reserve was associated with different responses among native medium-sized mammals. The strongest occupancy change was seen in the vulnerable parma wallaby, while some species showed small detection changes and one species was detected more often near the highway.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors conclude that an occupancy approach can be used to investigate wildlife responses to roads. The study suggests that further work is needed to better understand whether major roads through conservation reserves have an adverse influence on wildlife populations.
What the researchers tested
The researchers asked whether eight species of native mammals were influenced by a highway through a conservation reserve in north-east New South Wales, Australia. They used camera-trapping over 17 months at sites along the highway and at sites 0.5-10 km away along service roads through adjoining forest.
What worked and what didn't
Evidence for a highway response based on occupancy was strongest for the vulnerable parma wallaby, with occupancy rising from 0.5 at highway sites to 0.96 at sites more than 3 km into the forest interior. For the vulnerable long-nosed potoroo and the swamp wallaby, detection increased by 10% from the highway to the forest interior, but season or recent wildfire caused greater variation in detection. The mountain brushtail possum was detected more often near the highway than in the forest interior, and the endangered spotted-tailed quoll was detected at 80% of sites but too infrequently to assess its response well.
What to keep in mind
The abstract reports that some species were detected too infrequently to fully assess their response, including the spotted-tailed quoll. The available summary does not describe other limitations beyond the need for further studies.
Key points
- The study examined eight native mammal species near a highway in a conservation reserve.
- Parma wallaby occupancy increased from highway sites to forest-interior sites.
- Long-nosed potoroo and swamp wallaby detection was slightly higher farther from the highway.
- Mountain brushtail possum detection was higher near the highway than in the forest interior.
- Spotted-tailed quolls were detected at many sites, but not often enough for a clear highway response.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Highway use was linked to different mammal responses in a conservation reserve
- Authors:
- Ross L. Goldingay, Jonathan Parkyn, Dusty McLean, Lachlan Cooper
- Institutions:
- Australian Synchrotron, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University, Southern Cross University
- Publication date:
- 2026-03-05
- DOI:
- 10.1071/am25044
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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