• Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
  • Read Our Newspapers Online
    • Read the Latest Western Port News
    • Read the Latest Mornington News
    • Read the Latest Southern Peninsula News
    • Read the Latest Frankston Times
    • Read the Latest Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Trending
  • Win drought ends for Langy
  • Brown has another talented stayer on his hands
  • Pythons win a close one, Kangaroos clear on top
  • An update on activities in Balnarring
  • Morris calls on Wynne to ‘end’ Ryman application
  • Happy finish to greyhound’s run
  • Prom catch threat to bays’ whiting
  • Experts fancy strait flight for parrots
Facebook Twitter
MPNEWSMPNEWS
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
MPNEWSMPNEWS
Home»Feature»Citizen scientists sought for koala study
Feature

Citizen scientists sought for koala study

By Stephen TaylorSeptember 27, 2021Updated:September 29, 2021No Comments3 Mins Read
Counting koalas: Federation University student Kelly Smith wants volunteers to help with a genetic study of koalas on the Mornington Peninsula.
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

“KOALAS on the Mornington Peninsula are under threat and in order to protect them we need to understand them.”

So says Kelly Smith, from Federation University, who is conducting a genetic study of the Mornington Peninsula koala population.

The peninsula forms part of the Gippsland plain bioregion that extends into South Gippsland, including the Strzelecki and Wilsons Promontory bioregions, which contain a remnant koala population of special significance because of its high genetic diversity, Ms Smith said.

“Prior to European settlement in the 1800s koalas were interconnected across the entire Gippsland plain, but are now separated by extensive areas of cleared agricultural land. The original peninsula koala population crashed after European settlement, mostly due to the clearing of habitat and koalas being hunted for their fur.

“To reintroduce koalas to the peninsula, the animals were brought over from French Island. The current peninsula population is thought to be entirely derived from French Island koalas which have very low genetic diversity.

“However, there is evidence to suggest some koalas from the original population may still remain on the peninsula. If so, then it will be important to protect their genetic integrity and to conserve them as an insurance population. Individuals could be used for genetic outbreeding or genetic rescue of populations where genetic diversity is low.”

Ms Smith is looking for volunteers to help collect koala scats (“Yes, poo”), especially those who have koalas regularly visiting their property.

“By analysing koala scats we can find out information, such as the gender, presence of disease, genetic diversity and ancestral origin of each koala,” she said.

“This type of genetic sampling is more ethical because it is not bothering the koala and is very cost effective.”

The Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation group is involved in this citizen science project, but more people are needed to find koala scats, particularly in Arthurs Seat State Park, bushland reserves at Mount Martha and Mount Eliza, and agricultural land around Moorooduc, Hastings, Baxter and Pearcedale.

“It’s really important to find volunteers who can help with this project because more than 70 per cent of koala habitat is on private property [which] is difficult to access without permission,” Ms Smith said.

Residents with koalas on their properties or those who regularly see koalas when bushwalking and who would like to be a part of this project can contact Ms Smith on 0432 530 443 or Mornington Peninsula Koala Conservation on mpkoalatreeplanting@outlook.com for details and a collection kit.

First published in the Southern Peninsula News – 28 September 2021

Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

Related Posts

Happy finish to greyhound’s run

May 17, 2022

Experts fancy strait flight for parrots

May 17, 2022

Saving soles from landfill

May 16, 2022

Federal Elections 2022

May 16, 2022
Add A Comment

Comments are closed.

Weather
May 20, 2022 - Fri
Mornington, Australia
14°C
scattered clouds
scattered clouds
1 m/s, ESE
56%
774.82 mmHg
fri05/20 sat05/21 sun05/22 mon05/23 tue05/24
scattered clouds
14/11°C
sky is clear
12/10°C
sky is clear
13/11°C
few clouds
12/11°C
sky is clear
14/10°C
Peninsula Essence Magazine

Click here to read

April 27, 2022
Peninsula Kids Magazine

Click here to read

March 2, 2022
Council Watch

Shire offers $500,000 to performing arts

May 2, 2022

Mayor claims record in trust appointment

April 26, 2022
Elections 2022

Shire accused of being off track with pledges

May 17, 2022

Security takes precedence

May 17, 2022

Liberals slide as independents climb

May 17, 2022
Interview

Volunteers track koalas for science

May 2, 2022
Property of the Week

278 Dundas Street, Rye

May 11, 2022
100 Years Ago This Week

An update on activities in Balnarring

May 17, 2022
Contact
Street: 63 Watt Road, Mornington, 3931
Mailing: PO Box 588, Hastings, 3915
Menu
  • Home
  • News
  • Sport
  • Entertainment
  • Local History
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us
  • About Us
  • Subscribe
About

Established in 2006, Mornington Peninsula News Group (MPNG) is a locally owned and operated, independent media company.

MPNG publishes five weekly community newspapers: the Western Port News, Mornington News, Southern Peninsula News, Frankston Times and Chelsea Mordialloc Mentone News.

MPNG also publishes two glossy magazines: Peninsula Essence and Peninsula Kids.

Facebook Twitter
© 2022 Mornington Peninsula News Group.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.