The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve: Final

ecords for the species that deposits the scat. Due to the unknown time delay between prey ingestion
and defecation, the location in which the prey animals lived cannot be accurately known, so this
technique is useful only for detecting the species presence within a general area. Lunney et al. (2002)
showed that on average dogs and foxes defecate within a two kilometre radius of the site of prey
ingestion.
Predator scats encountered were collected, placed in paper envelopes, labelled and sent to specialist
Barbara Triggs for analysis. Skeletal remains were identified where possible and hair samples were
identified using the techniques described by Brunner and Coman (1974). Identifications were
classified into three levels of reliability: definite, probable and possible.
The location of herbivore scats was also noted on an opportunistic basis to indicate the presence of an
animal. If there was any doubt in herbivore scat identification in the field, samples were brought back
for identification by an expert.
Incidental Records
Incidental records are point localities of fauna encountered opportunistically during the survey. This is
an opportunity to augment the number of records of species that are not well sampled by standard
systematic survey techniques, such as large ground mammals, raptors, non-vocalising birds and
secretive or cryptic species. The date, time, observer, map grid location (usually obtained from a GPS)
and microhabitat of the animal were recorded on a data sheet.
Roadkill
Roads and road verges were scanned for roadkilled animals which if found were either identified in
situ or in the case of damaged or incomplete specimens were collected for later identification.
2.4.4 Survey timing
The 2010-11 BSP systematic and targeted field surveys were undertaken between February and May
2011. Table 3 summarises the timing of all BSP systematic and targeted survey techniques.
Table 3: Timing of BSP systematic and targeted fauna surveys within JKCR
18
Timing Systematic techniques employed Targeted and opportunistic
techniques employed
7-11 February
2011
21-25 February
2011
Diurnal bird survey, diurnal herpetofauna
search, nocturnal site spotlighting, harp
trapping, bat ultrasonic call recording and
nocturnal call playback.
Diurnal bird survey, diurnal herpetofauna
search, nocturnal site spotlighting, harp
trapping, bat ultrasonic call recording, nocturnal
call playback, nocturnal streamside search.
Cave inspection, Anabat recording at
cave entrances, infra-red camera
trapping, aquatic mammal observation,
owl pellet collection, searches of small
caves and overhangs, incidental
sightings, scat collection.
Cave inspection, Anabat recording at
cave entrances, searches of small caves
and overhangs, incidental sightings, scat
collection.
11-12 April 2011 Nocturnal call playback. Set up of hair-tube sampling, set up of
infra-red camera trapping, incidental
sightings.
4-5 May 2011 Diurnal bird survey, diurnal herpetofauna
search, nocturnal site spotlighting, nocturnal call
playback.
2.4.5 Survey site locations
Cave inspection, retrieval of hair-tube
sampling, retrieval of infra-red camera
trapping, incidental sightings.
A total of 44 systematic sites were established and surveyed in JKCR as part of the current survey.
Not all techniques were undertaken at all sites and sites were sometimes unevenly distributed in order
to fulfil the key survey objective of targeting cave-dwelling fauna. Table 4 shows the number of OEH
standard systematic survey sites located in each statewide vegetation class as at June 2011, including
sites from the CRA program, the SCA Special Area fauna survey program, the BSP program, Herr
(2000a,b) and the Mixophyes surveys. Point-based targeted survey techniques that have been
entered into the BSS of the Atlas of NSW Wildlife are also shown in Table 4. Map 4 and Map 5 detail
the location of systematic survey sites and Map 6 shows the location of targeted survey techniques
that have been entered into the BSS.
The Vertebrate Fauna of Jenolan Karst Conservation Reserve