Wildlife research in Australia: Practical and applied methods

The book, Wildlife Research in Australia: Practical and Applied Methods, is a remarkable andcomplete guide for planning and conducting wildlife research in Australia and for Australianresearchers completing studies in other countries. It contains the contributions of over 200authors and experts in their field – a veritable who’s who of wildlife researchers in Australia– across all wildlife taxa used for research as well as navigating the complex processes forengaging with and gaining ethics approvals from Animal Ethics Committees (AECs).Across its 600 plus pages, the book covers everything one would need to design, gainapproval for, conduct and report on wildlife research. It is well structured in three sections:Animal Ethics and Australian Wildlife Research; Research Methods; and Species Profiles. Thefirst section does not intend to cover the need or requirement for ethics when using wildlifefor research but points the reader to other material including the Australian Code for the Careand Use of Animals for Scientific Research (National Health and Medical Research Council,AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2672013). Instead, this section provides a practical guide to preparing for and gaining ethicsapproval, from understanding relevant legislation and policy at the Commonwealth andstate levels, to experimental design and research competencies. Indeed, the book has a signifi-cant focus on AECs, their role, membership, reviewing applications and ongoing manage-ment of approved projects. The book is unique in this respect, being a practical guide fornew AEC members and also as a necessary resource for those new practitioners embarkingon a career in wildlife research.The second section contains a collection of articles that provides a comprehensive reviewof available animal research methods, from wildlife tagging and tracking to remote survey.Notable chapters in this section include: Emerging and evolving dilemmas in wildliferesearch; citizen science and education; and veterinary procedures suitable for use on Austra-lian wildlife.The third section provides best practice survey and research methods for all terrestrial ver-tebrates, marine and freshwater fishes as well as cephalopods, crustaceans, sharks, rays andchimaeras, including feral and exotic species. Profiles are provided for each species clade asit relates to physical characteristics, biology and behaviour, capture and handling, veterinaryconsiderations and general operating procedures (techniques that minimise negative animalwelfare impacts). The book has an emphasis on practical application of methods, which pro-vides the necessary justification for employing certain survey and capture techniques overothers in the field. For those who have had to respond to questions from AECs about prefer-encing one survey method over others, this justification is priceless. For example, one sectionidentifies that the only practical method to capture Numbats (Myrmecobius fasciatus) is tosearch for individuals from a slow-moving vehicle during the day and when one is sighted,proceed on foot until it shelters within a hollow log from which it can then be extractedusing cages and/or hose and net (p. 396). Advice such as this will prove invaluable tothose designing a suitable survey program or conducting research on such cryptic andtrap-shy species.The book is an invaluable addition to any budding researcher or consultant who isembarking on a career in wildlife research and for those seasoned practitioners who wishto refresh their in-house fauna survey guidelines and to inform their ethics applicationswith the most up to date and best practice methods. It is not a book that will sit on a shelfgathering dust, rather it will be lying open where it can be easily and readily consulted as needed.