Taggart, DavidOstendorf, BertramCroxford, Adam (unaffiliated)Werner, Lauren Elizabeth2025-06-032025-06-032024https://hdl.handle.net/2440/144950Advancing the ecological knowledge of Australia’s unique marsupial species is vital to inform efficient and effective conservation management strategies as climate change continues to have an impact. This thesis examined the effect of habitat connectivity on yellow-footed rock-wallaby (YFRW; Petrogale xanthopus xanthopus) populations to identify areas in their distribution at greatest risk from climate change, and to identify the ecological factors which may influence their future viability. The bulk of this thesis was informed by data obtained from Italowie Gap in the Vulkathunha-Gammon Ranges National Park (highly connected) and at Bimba Hill in the Bimbowrie Conservation Park (isolated outcrops), where trapping was conducted in 2021/22 to examine the impacts of habitat connectivity and rainfall. Additionally, scat surveys were conducted to identify significant YFRW habitat characteristics, and the outcomes used to develop a species distribution model (SDM) to identify areas in the YFRWs distribution at greatest risk from climate change. Some key findings associated with habitat connectivity involved population demographics and genetic diversity. Results indicated that sub-adult YFRWs were less prevalent in the highly connected Italowie Gap, compared to the isolated Bimba Hill colony, suggesting habitat connectivity influences population demographics through potential migration pathways. Genetic diversity was higher at Italowie Gap than at Bimba Hill, likely also influenced by migration rates and gene flow. Concerningly, Bimba Hill showed similar levels of genetic diversity to that of a captive YFRW population, indicating that as climate change progresses and populations become more fragmented, genetic management will likely be required to maintain isolated YFRW colonies. Other key findings from this project concerning diet, blood biochemistry, and faecal microbiome, were associated with rainfall and local vegetation communities. The detection of herb species in diet samples was common throughout. However, dietary diversity increased during dry periods with more shrub species being detected. Blood biochemistry and diet were found to be tightly linked. Urea, creatinine and some antioxidants were influenced by high rainfall which triggered a pulse of resource abundance, and altered vegetation nutrient content. Faecal microbiome was also influenced by diet, where microbial composition varied in response to the dominant plant species detected in diet samples. Faecal microbiome was significantly different between study sites, with Italowie Gap having higher microbial richness throughout. This is, however, also likely influenced by population genetic diversity which is known to effect faecal microbial diversity and richness. Scat survey data suggested that terrain ruggedness is most indicative of YFRW habitat, with mean annual temperature also having an influence. Through the use of an SDM, the distribution of the YFRW is predicted to contract towards high quality, connected habitat as climate change progresses. Some connected habitat in the southern Flinders Ranges is predicted to become more suitable for habitation, with large contractions of poor-quality habitat occurring in the isolated populations in the Gawler and Olary Ranges, and western New South Wales. As issues with genetic and faecal microbial diversity were identified as limiting factors in isolated populations, climate change is expected to pose a significant further risk to the viability of these YFRW populations. The implementation of management practices now in these high-risk populations to alleviate the impacts of climate change is recommended, such as the implementation of genetic management practices. Although this thesis has provided a detailed understanding of two colonies in connected and isolated habitat, on-going monitoring into the future will be needed to determine the ecological changes that occur in these colonies due to climate change. Using these colonies as models will enable the information gathered to be used across the wider YFRW distribution.enrock-wallabyecologyhabitat connectivityclimate changegeneticsspecies distribution modellingmicrobiomedietblood biochemistryantioxidantspopulation demographicsThesis