Comparison of microhabitat use in young regrowth and unlogged forest by the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus)
Bradley Law A D , Mark Chidel A B , Alf Britton C and Caragh Threlfall A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Forest Science Unit, NSW Department of Industry – Lands, Locked Bag 5123, Parramatta, NSW 2124, Australia.
B Present address: The Hills Shire Council, PO Box 7064, Baulkham Hills 2153, Australia.
C Forestry Corporation NSW, PO Box 168, Wauchope, NSW 2446, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: brad.law@dpi.nsw.gov.au
Submitted: 23 August 2016 Accepted: 20 January 2017 Published: 21 February 2017
Abstract
We describe microhabitat use and response to disturbance by the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) in heathy dry sclerophyll forest using spool-and-line-tracking. We compared unlogged forest with forest regenerating four years after selective logging. Structural and floristic attributes were scored along spool lines and compared with a random line for each possum. We found that possums (n = 23) selected areas based on both structural and floristic attributes. Possums selected dense understorey, especially that comprising flowering hairpin banksia (Banksia spinulosa) and Gymea lily (Doryanthes excelsa). Fallen logs were not selected by nocturnally active possums. Spool lines in regrowth forest had less eucalypt cover and more understorey cover (e.g. D. excelsa and B. spinulosa) than unlogged forest. Conversely, cover of Banksia serrata was less in regrowth than unlogged forest. Spool lines were commonly found both at ground level (mean = 52–57% of lengths) and above the ground (43–48% of lengths). There was no difference in the mean spool height between the logging treatments (regrowth: 0.47 ± 0.14 m; unlogged: 0.49 ± 0.10 m; ± s.e.). Overall, our results suggest that the dense, flowering understorey that regenerates after selective logging is suitable for use and is the primary attribute selected by active pygmy-possums.
Additional keywords: banksia, coarse woody debris, nectar, regrowth, spools.
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