Macropod carrying capacity for Maria Island National Park – A Review

A review of scientific literature resulted in ten concepts for carrying capacity, with the most appropriate being: the density where herbivore populations reach equilibrium with their resources, predators and competitors. Three different approaches for estimating carrying capacity have been assessed: 1) the use of Dry Sheep Equivalents (DSE); 2) the use of Ecosystem Modelling; and, 3) results from a Stochastic Ricker Model. Estimates for the common wombat Vombatus ursinus have been included where possible due to the additional grazing impacts on Maria Island NP from an estimated 1667 wombats (J. Ingram, Unpublished Data).