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Creators/Authors contains: "Harris, Stephen"

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  1. Free, publicly-accessible full text available December 1, 2025
  2. Abstract Understanding the long-term interactions between people and the ecosystem in which they live is vital for informing present-day ecosystem management plans. The use of pollen data for palaeoecological reconstructions is often limited by the low taxonomic resolution of pollen, which often reduces the detail of reconstructions of human influence on past vegetation. This is true for Australia where Myrtaceae, particularly Eucalyptus species, dominate the landscape, but their pollen is difficult to differentiate. We present a pollen record with high taxonomic resolution of Myrtaceae pollen from the Bass Strait area of southeast Australia, focusing on the period of major human occupation there during the Late Glacial transition. These results were compared to records of hydrology, fire, sediment deposition, herbivore abundance and human occupation. We found that Indigenous burning practices promoted open, subgenus Monocalyptus Eucalyptus woodland at the expense of dense subgenus Symphomyrtus Eucalyptus forest. Previous studies have shown the need for management of the vegetation of southeast Australia guided by Indigenous people, to promote ecosystem resilience and reduce the risk of wildfires. Our results reveal that in addition to reducing wildfires, cultural burning by Indigenous people has the potential to promote the diversity of ecosystems and habitats. 
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  3. Abstract Weasels (genusMustelaandNeogale) are of management concern as declining native species in some regions and invasive species in others. Regardless of the need to conserve or remove weasels, there is increasingly a need to use non‐invasive monitoring methods to assess population trends.We conducted a literature review and held the first ever International Weasel Monitoring Symposium to synthesise information on historical and current non‐invasive monitoring techniques for weasels. We also explored current limitations, opportunities, and areas of development to guide future research and long‐term monitoring.Our literature search revealed that in the past 20 years, camera traps were the most commonly used non‐invasive monitoring method (62% of studies), followed by track plates or scent stations designed to collect footprints (23%) and walking transects for tracks in snow or soil (8.7%).Experts agreed that the most promising non‐invasive monitoring techniques available include use of citizen scientist reporting, detection dogs, detecting tracks, non‐invasive genetic surveys, and enclosed or unenclosed camera trap systems. Because each technique has benefits and limitations, using a multi‐method approach is likely required.There is a need for strong commitment to dedicated monitoring that is replicated over space and time such that trend data can be ascertained to better inform future management action. The diversity of non‐invasive monitoring methods now available makes such monitoring possible with relatively minor commitments of funding and effort. 
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