A critique of the use of nest boxes for the conservation of Leadbeater's possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy

Abstract

The provision of nest boxes has been proposed as a conservation strategy to overcome the predicted shortage of nest sites for the arboreal marsupial Leadbeater's possum, Gymnobelideus leadbeateri. Here estimates of the longevity of nest boxes are coupled with data on the habitat requirements of G. leadbeateri. This approach is used to predict the number of boxes required in a nest box programme for the conservation of the species. The practicality of implementing a nest box programme based on these predictions is discussed.