Addressing potential cumulative impacts of development on threatened species: the case of the endangered black-throated finch

Vanderduys, Eric Peter, Reside, April E., Grice, Anthony, and Rechetelo, Juliana (2016) Addressing potential cumulative impacts of development on threatened species: the case of the endangered black-throated finch. PLoS ONE, 11 (3). e0148485. pp. 1-19.

[img]
Preview
PDF (Published Version) - Published Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution.

Download (5MB) | Preview
View at Publisher Website: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0...
 
8
1147


Abstract

Where threatened biodiversity is adversely affected by development, policies often state that "no net loss" should be the goal and biodiversity offsetting is one mechanism available to achieve this. However, developments are often approved on an ad hoc basis and cumulative impacts are not sufficiently examined. We demonstrate the potential for serious threat to an endangered subspecies when multiple developments are planned. We modelled the distribution of the black-throated finch (Poephila cincta cincta) using bioclimatic data and Queensland's Regional Ecosystem classification. We overlaid granted, extant extractive and exploratory mining tenures within the known and modelled ranges of black-throated finches to examine the level of incipient threat to this subspecies in central Queensland, Australia. Our models indicate that more than half of the remaining P. cincta cincta habitat is currently under extractive or exploratory tenure. Therefore, insufficient habitat exists to offset all potential development so "no net loss" is not possible. This has implications for future conservation of this and similarly distributed species and for resource development planning, especially the use of legislated offsets for biodiversity protection.

Item ID: 44031
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1932-6203
Additional Information:

© 2016 Vanderduys et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Date Deposited: 06 Apr 2016 07:34
FoR Codes: 41 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES > 4104 Environmental management > 410402 Environmental assessment and monitoring @ 50%
31 BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES > 3103 Ecology > 310307 Population ecology @ 50%
SEO Codes: 96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960510 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Sparseland, Permanent Grassland and Arid Zone Environments @ 30%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9605 Ecosystem Assessment and Management > 960505 Ecosystem Assessment and Management of Forest and Woodlands Environments @ 30%
97 EXPANDING KNOWLEDGE > 970105 Expanding Knowledge in the Environmental Sciences @ 40%
Downloads: Total: 1147
Last 12 Months: 89
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page