Habitat Requirements for the Conservation of Arboreal Marsupials in Dry Sclerophyll Forests of Southeast Queensland, Australia
Authors: Wormington K.R.1; Lamb D.2; McCallum H.I.3; Moloney D.J.4
Source: Forest Science, Volume 48, Number 2, 1 May 2002 , pp. 217-227(11)
Abstract:
The habitat requirements of arboreal marsupials were investigated in the dry sclerophyll forests of southeast Queensland, Australia. Species richness and abundance of arboreal marsupials was correlated to the proportion of total stand basal area occupied by lemon-scented gum (Corymbia citriodora), the height of the tallest trees, and density of hollow-bearing trees. The first two factors suggested that the most productive forests were also the most suitable habitats for arboreal marsupials. Importantly, the number of hollow-bearing trees was a significant factor in determining species richness and abundance of arboreal marsupials in this study, with the maximum number of species reached at sites containing
4 hollow-bearing trees/ha, and maximum abundance occurring at sites with6 hollow-bearing trees/ha. The proportion of C. citriodora was significant for the presence of the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), greater glider (Petauroides volans), and the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis), while understory Acacia sp. density was important for the presence of the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). The yellow-bellied glider was also affected by two other variables: the density of hollow-bearing trees >50 cm diameter at breast height (dbh), and the time since the last logging. Current “Codes of Practice” regulating the density of hollow-bearing trees and silvicultural practices in state-owned timber production forests appear to provide adequate protection for arboreal marsupials, but the recently introduced increase in timber extraction rates within state forests may be detrimental to the animals. Also, protective prescriptions do not apply to the privately owned and leasehold estates, which contain the majority of the dry sclerophyll forests in southeast Queensland. FOR. SCI. 48(2):217–227.
Keywords: Arboreal marsupials; hollow-bearing trees; habitat; habitat trees; eucalyptus forest; environmental management; forest; forest management; forest resources; forestry; forestry research; forestry science; natural resources; natural resource management
Document Type: Miscellaneous
Affiliations: 1: Department of Botany, The University of Queensland, Australia, 4072, Phone: 61-7-33461450; Fax: 61-7-33651699 k.wormington@botany.uq.edu.au 2: Department of Botany, The University of Queensland, Australia, 4072, Phone: 61-7-33652045 d.lamb@botany.uq.edu.au 3: Department of Zoology and Entomology, The University of Queensland, Australia, 4072, Phone: 61-7-33652450 hmccallum@zoology.uq.edu.au 4: Environmental Management and Conservation Branch, Maroochy Shire Council, Queensland, Australia, 4560, Phone: 61-7-54418206 moloneyd@maroochy.qld.gov.au
