As the footprint from human populations increases, the associated modification and conversion of natural landscapes in a changing climate places significant pressure on terrestrial wildlife. Since areas of high biodiversity are most affected by urbanisation, there is a need to identify future challenges for species in these regions in the context of intensifying climate change. We investigated habitat dynamics for seven macropod species found in the rapidly urbanising, biodiverse Southeast Queensland (SEQ) region of Australia. Habitat suitability was modelled using presence-only occurrence data in combination with bioclimatic and landscape variables. We evaluated a ‘balanced’ Random Forest algorithm to fit distribution models, predict potential areas of current distribution, and highlight factors that may influence current and future conservation management. Over one third of predicted current suitable habitat for eastern grey kangaroos, swamp wallabies and red-necked wallabies is within the urban footprint, a greater amount than is in protected areas. Conversely, most current suitable habitats for the other species were predicted to occur in protected areas. Worryingly, a decline in suitable habitat (83-96% reduction) is projected for all seven species under future climate scenarios. Our results reveal the vulnerability of macropods in the region which face compounded threats from urbanisation and climate-induced habitat loss. This study’s findings highlight a complex set of factors that could hinder macropod species’ adaptability to future environmental changes, elevating ‘least concern’ species to ‘of concern’. Combined pressures from climate change, urbanisation, and habitat loss necessitate a broad, adaptive approach to wildlife conservation in human-dominated landscapes.

Understanding the genetic processes underlying divergence and connectivity among species is crucial for identifying evolutionary histories and informing conservation strategies. The Santalum genus, exhibits distinct genetic variations across the complex geographic regions of Australia, Asia, and the Pacific Islands. This study leveraged genome-wide SNP markers to explore the genetic relationships within critically endangered and non-threatened species in an Austral-Pacific sandalwood complex, including Santalum lanceolatum, S. leptocladum, and S. macgregorii. Our findings revealed significant geographic partitioning and genetic divergence mostly aligned with current taxonomic classifications. However notably, we showed S. macgregorii populations in Papua New Guinea (PNG) were divided into two distinct genetic groups: one in the Central and Gulf provinces and another in the Western Province, which shows a closer genetic relationship with S. lanceolatum from Australia’s Northern Peninsula Area (NPA). This genetic connection suggests a history of secondary contact and potential hybridization, influenced by historical land bridges and geological events. Our study highlighted that the sandalwood trees from the Western Province may represent a divergent lineage of S. lanceolatum, the S. macgregorii populations in the Central and Gulf provinces display vicariant divergence due to geographic isolation. These insights underscore the evolutionary complexity of sandalwoods and emphasise the need for tailored conservation strategies. Our results advocate for genetic rescue programs involving NPA S. lanceolatum to enhance reproductive success in threatened sandalwood populations, offering crucial guidance for conservation and management efforts in Australasia.