Editing Taunton National Park (section)

==Biology and ecology==
The park occurs in the Northern Brigalow 'Tropical Savannah' ecoregion, which is so named for the predominant flora species of the region; 'brigalow', hereafter referred to as ''Acacia harpophylla''.<ref name=WWF />  Vegetation clearance throughout this district and in fact the whole Brigalow Belt, has resulted in an extensive [[loss of biodiversity]] and overall ecosystem degradation.<ref name=Biodiversity>{{cite journal|author=McAlpine, C. A. |author2=Fensham, R. J. |author3=Temple-Smith, D. E. |title=Biodiversity conservation and vegetation clearing in Queensland: principles and thresholds.|journal=The Rangeland Journal|year=2002|volume=24|issue=1|pages=36–55|doi=10.1071/RJ02002}}</ref>  Despite considerable regional agricultural and pastoral development, a large proportion of the park's vegetation remained intact or was exposed to minimal disturbance prior to the reserve being established.<ref name=Diet2 />  The park has high regional significance today as only 17% of vegetation within the park had been removed by 1975 (approximately), thereby conserving once prevalent, regionally representative ecosystems and vegetation communities, which are now often restricted to bush fragments and reserves.<ref name=DERM /><ref name=wallabydiet1 /><ref name=WWF />

The region that the park is located in has been demonstrated to have one of the highest rate of annual clearance, when compared with other subregions within Queensland.<ref name=Extent>{{cite journal|author=Wilson, B. A. |author2=Neldner, V. J. |author3=Accad, A. |title=The extent and status of remnant vegetation in Queensland and its implications for statewide vegetation and legislation.|journal=The Rangeland Journal|year=2002|volume=24|issue=1|pages=6–35|doi=10.1071/RJ02001}}</ref>  This high clearance rate has contributed to a number of Brigalow-typical ecosystems becoming otherwise at risk or endangered, which highlights the importance of the parks biodiversity, as 12 of the regions ecosystems are represented within the reserve.<ref name=DERM /><ref name=wallabydiet1 />  Endangered open forest or woodland ecosystems in the park include; vegetation associations dominated by ''A. harpophylla'' with either belah (''[[Casuarina cristata]]'') or dawson gum (''[[Eucalyptus cambageana]]''), or in combination with wilga (''[[Geijera parviflora]]'') and false sandalwood (''[[Eremophila mitchellii]]'').<ref name=DERM />  Brigalow shrubland/forest assemblages of ''A. harpophylla'' with yellow-wood (''[[Terminalia oblongata]]'') and false sandalwood, are also endangered, having undergone wide-scale clearing throughout the 1900s.<ref name=DERM /><ref name=Biodiversity />  Ecosystem communities represented within the park which are considered to be 'of concern' include; open and grassy woodlands dominated by poplar box (''E. populnea'') and grassy or scrubby woodlands that are dominated by ''Eucalyptus spp.'' with or without ''Corymbia spp''.<ref name=DERM /><ref name=Extent />

===Flora===
The reserve supports a wide diversity of flora, with over 190 species recorded.<ref name=DERM />  Typical brigalow communities which are found in the park include; grassy and shrubby woodlands or open forests, whipstick brigalow, sucker brigalow, and open forests where ''A. harpophylla'' and another species such as yellow-wood, belah or various ''Eucalyptus spp.'' dominate.<ref name=Rediscovery />   Endangered plant species protected inside the park include the ''[[Solanaceae]] Solanum adenophorum'' and the ''Solanaceae Solanum elachophyllum''.<ref name=DERM />  In addition to these, another two species have been identified as 'near threatened'; the ''Apocynaceae Cerbera dumicola'' and the ''Poaceae Dichanthium setosum''.<ref name=DERM />

Dense acacia forests or 'brigalow scrub' encompass 30% of the parks area, with species typical of the endangered Brigalow shrubland/forest ecosystem described previously, or can include combinations of ''A. harpophylla'' with dawson gum or poplar box.<ref name=wallabydiet1 />  The most dominant vegetation association, covering 39% of the parks area, is the grassy eucalypt woodlands which are dominated by poplar box in combination with the silver-leaved ironbark (''[[E. melanophloia]]''), the narrow-leaved ironbark, (''[[E. crebra]]''), the long-fruited bloodwood (''[[E. polycarpa]]'') and the grey box (''[[E. moluccana]]'').<ref name=wallabydiet1 /><ref name=Rediscovery />  The transitional zones between the Acacia dominated forests and Eucalpyt dominated woodlands are composed of combinations of characteristics particular to each ecosystem type, and only contribute to 14% of the parks total area.<ref name=wallabydiet1 />  The remaining land was previously cleared and is undergoing natural regeneration, primarily by ''A. harpophylla''.<ref name=wallabydiet1 />

===Fauna===
[[File:Merops ornatus -Australia-8.jpg|thumb|Rainbow bee eater, ''Merops ornatus'']]
[[File:Squatter Pigeons Cement Mills.JPG|thumb|Squatter Pigeons, ''Geophaps scripta scripta'']]
[[File:Golden Tailed Gecko.jpg|thumb|Golden Tailed Gecko, ''Strophurus taenicauda'']]
The protection of Taunton National Park has provided an important refuge and habitat for a wide range of biodiversity including various [[Macropodidae|macropod]] species (kangaroos and wallabies etc.) and other mammals, over 70 species of bird and numerous reptiles and snakes.<ref name=DERM />  Notable bird species known to inhabit the reserve include the [[Vulnerable species|vulnerable]] Southern subspecies of [[squatter pigeon]] (''Geophaps scripta scripta'') and the migratory [[rainbow bee-eater]] (''Merops ornatus''), which is protected under various international migratory bird agreements.<ref name=DERM />  Reptile species of significance inhabiting the reserve include the vulnerable [[brigalow scaly-foot]] lizard (''Paradelma orientalis'') and the [[arboreal]] golden-tailed gecko (''Strophurus taenicauda'') (NPRS) which is classified as [[near threatened]].<ref name=DERM />  In addition to the bridled nailtail wallaby, a number of [[Macropodidae|macropods]] have a [[distribution range]] which extends through the reserve.<ref name=Parasites>{{cite journal|author1=Turni, C. |author2=Smales, L. R. |title=Parasites of the bridled nailtail wallaby (''Onychogalea fraenata'')(Marsupialia: Macropodidae).|journal=Wildlife Research|year=2001|volume=28|issue=4|pages=403–411|doi=10.1071/WR99108}}</ref>  These can include the [[black-striped wallaby]] (''Macropus dorsalis''), the [[eastern grey kangaroo]] (''M. giganteus''), the [[common wallaroo]] (''M.robustus'') and the [[swamp wallaby]] (''Wallabia bicolour'').<ref name=Parasites /> Other mammals found in the park include the [[large-eared pied bat]] (''Chalinolobus dwyeri''), which is listed as vulnerable, and the iconic Australian [[koala]] (''Phascolarctos cinereus'') <ref name=DERM /><ref name=DERM2>{{cite web|last=Department of Environment and Resource Management.|title=National recovery plan for the Large-eared Pied Bat ''Chalinolobus dwyeri''|url=http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/pubs/large-eared-pied-bat.pdf|date=2011b|work=Australian Government:Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities|publisher=Queensland Government|access-date=8 April 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322144617/http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/threatened/publications/recovery/pubs/large-eared-pied-bat.pdf|archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>  More common bird species found in the park include; populations of spotted bower bird (''[[Chlamydera maculata]]''), the variegated fairy-wren (''[[Malurus lamberti]]''), superb fairy-wren (''[[Malurus cyaneus]]'') and red-backed fairy-wren (''[[Malurus melanocephalus]]'').<ref name=Fairywren /><ref name=Bowerdecs /><ref name=BowerLocation>{{cite journal|author1=Miles, A. J. |author2=Madden, J. R. |title=Bower location by the spotted bowerbird (''Chlamydera maculata'')|journal=Emu|year=2002|volume=10|issue=2|pages=187–193|doi=10.1071/MU00039|s2cid=84366245}}</ref><ref name=BowerTraditions>{{cite journal|author=Madden, J. R. |author2=Lowe, T. J. |author3=Fuller, H. V. |author4=Dasmahapatra, K. K. |author5=Coe, R. L. |title=Local traditions of bower decoration by spotted bowerbirds in a single population.|journal=Animal Behaviour|year=2004|volume=68|issue=4|pages=759–765|doi=10.1016/j.anbehav.2003.12.007|s2cid=51947323}}</ref>

====Bridled nail-tail wallaby====
The park contains the only naturally occurring population of Australia's most endangered macropod; the bridled nailtail wallaby.<ref name=Ferals>{{cite journal|author1=Wang, Y. |author2=Fisher, D. O. |title=Dingoes affect activity of feral cats, but do not exclude them from the habitat of an endangered macropod.|journal=Wildlife Research|year=2012|volume=39|issue=7|pages=611–620|doi=10.1071/WR11210|s2cid=86277567}}</ref>  The wallaby is now restricted to less than 1% of its former distribution, which originally extended from the [[Murray River]] near the [[New South Wales]] border, up to [[Charters Towers]] in northern Queensland.<ref name=Conservation /><ref name=Ferals />  Causes for the original population decline are complex, but are generally thought to have arisen from a combination of interacting factors including predation and drought.<ref name=wallabydiet1 /><ref name=Drought />  The wallaby population impacts from these processes have been further exacerbated by habitat fragmentation and degradation caused by wide-scale vegetation clearance, and increased competition for food resources with domestic animals, particularly sheep.<ref name=wallabydiet1 /><ref name=Demography /><ref name=Rediscovery /><ref name=Conservation />

Between 1979 and the late 1980s, population numbers were estimated to be between 1000 and 1400 individuals.<ref name=Conservation /><ref name=Ferals />  Despite concerted efforts and various management approaches population numbers have continued to decline, a situation which is often attributed to the sustained drought which occurred in the early 1990s.<ref name=Drought />  Droughts are known to directly impact the wallaby through the reduced availability of food resources, while also indirectly increasing predation pressure as the level of protective habitat cover is decreased and overall prey numbers continue to decline.<ref name=Drought /> Known predators of the wallaby include; feral cats and dogs, dingoes (''[[Canis lupus]]'') wedge-tailed eagles (''[[Aquila audax]]'') and large pythons.<ref name=Demography /><ref name=TopPred>{{cite journal|author=Wallach, A. D. |author2=Murray, B. R. |author3=O'Neill, A. J. |title=Can threatened species survive where the top predator is absent?|journal=Biological Conservation|year=2009|volume=142|issue=1|pages=43–52|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2008.09.021}}</ref>  To reduce predation, dingo and wild dog baiting is regularly conducted, and the Sporting Shooters Association of Australia also carries out hunting expeditions, targeting the feral species and dingoes in the park and surrounding areas.<ref name=DERM /><ref name=Ferals />  
[[File:Bridle.JPG|thumb|Bridle nailtail wallaby, ''Onychogalea fraenata'']]

More recent population estimates for the bridled nailtail wallaby suggest that numbers within the park are around 500 individuals.<ref name=Genetics>{{cite journal|last=Sigg|first=D. P.|title=Reduced genetic diversity and significant genetic differentiation after translocation: Comparison of the remnant and translocated populations of bridled nailtail wallabies (Onychogalea fraenata).|journal=Conservation Genetics|year=2006|volume=7|issue=4|pages=557–589|doi=10.1007/s10592-005-9096-3|s2cid=25611443}}</ref><ref name=Translocations>{{cite journal|author=Sigg, D. P. |author2=Goldizen, A. W. |author3=Pople, A. R. |title=The importance of mating system in translocation programs: reproductive success of released male bridled nailtail wallabies.|journal=Biological Conservation|year=2005|volume=123|issue=3|pages=289–300|doi=10.1016/j.biocon.2004.11.017}}</ref>  Two translocated wild populations exist; one at Idalia National Park and the other a privately owned cattle property - 'Avocet', with additional captive breeding populations in [[Townsville]], Rockhampton and the [[Gold Coast, Queensland|Gold Coast]].<ref name=Conservation /><ref name=Translocations />  All of these external populations were originally sourced from Taunton National Park, with the aim of increasing the range extent and total number of populations, to reduce the risk of any chance event causing extinction.<ref name=Genetics />  In spite of these contingencies, the wild population at Taunton National Park is still considered the most important for the continued survival of the species as it has the highest levels of [[genetic diversity]], and is therefore an important source for supplementing [[gene pool]]s of the translocated populations.<ref name=Genetics />