Quantifying predation attempts on arboreal marsupials using wildlife crossing structures above a major road
Kylie Soanes A C , Briony Mitchell B and Rodney van der Ree B
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3052, Australia.
B Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria, South Yarra, Vic. 3141, Australia.
C Corresponding author. Email: ksoanes@unimelb.edu.au
Australian Mammalogy 39(2) 254-257 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM16044
Submitted: 26 August 2016 Accepted: 26 October 2016 Published: 5 December 2016
Abstract
We review eight years of monitoring data to quantify the number of predation attempts on arboreal marsupials using canopy bridges and glider poles across a major road in south-east Australia. We recorded 13 488 detections of arboreal marsupials on the structures, yet only a single (and unsuccessful) predation attempt was recorded.
Additional keywords: canopy bridge, glider pole, predator–prey interaction, road ecology.
References
Ball, T. M., and Goldingay, R. L. (2008). Can wooden poles be used to reconnect habitat for a gliding mammal? Landscape and Urban Planning 87, 140–146.Bax, D. (2006). Karuah Bypass, fauna crossing report. Thiess Pty Ltd. NSW Roads and Traffic Authority, Sydney.
Clemann, N., and Loyn, R. (2001). Barking owl, Ninox connivens. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, No. 116, Melbourne.
Forman, R. T. T., Sperling, D., Bissonette, J. A., Clevenger, A. P., Cutshall, C. D., Dale, V. H., Fahrig, L., France, R., Goldman, C. R., Heanue, K., Jones, J. A., Swanson, F. J., Turrentine, T., and Winter, T. C. (2003). ‘Road Ecology. Science and Solutions.’ (Island Press: Washington, DC.)
Goldingay, R. L., Rohweder, D., and Taylor, B. D. (2013). Will arboreal mammals use rope-bridges across a highway in eastern Australia? Australian Mammalogy 35, 30–38.
| Will arboreal mammals use rope-bridges across a highway in eastern Australia?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Little, S. J., Harcourt, R. G., and Clevenger, A. P. (2002). Do wildlife passages act as prey-traps? Biological Conservation 107, 135–145.
| Do wildlife passages act as prey-traps?Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Loyn, R. H., McNabb, E. G., Volodina, L., and Willig, R. (2001). Modelling landscape distribution of large forest owls as applied to managing forests in north-east Victoria, Australia. Biological Conservation 97, 361–376.
| Modelling landscape distribution of large forest owls as applied to managing forests in north-east Victoria, Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Mata, C., Bencini, R., Chambers, B. K., and Malo, J. E. (2015). Predator–prey interactions at wildlife crossing structures: between myth and reality. In ‘Handbook of Road Ecology’. (Eds R. van der Ree, D. J. Smith and C. Grilo.) pp. 190–197. (Wiley-Blackwell: London.)
Soanes, K., and van der Ree, R. (2015). Reducing road impacts on tree-dwelling animals. In ‘Handbook of Road Ecology’. (Eds R. van der Ree, D. J. Smith and C. Grilo.) pp. 334–340. (Wiley-Blackwell: London.)
Soanes, K., Lobo, M. C., Vesk, P. A., McCarthy, M. A., Moore, J. L., and van der Ree, R. (2013). Movement re-established but not restored: inferring the effectiveness of road-crossing mitigation for a gliding mammal by monitoring use. Biological Conservation 159, 434–441.
| Movement re-established but not restored: inferring the effectiveness of road-crossing mitigation for a gliding mammal by monitoring use.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Soanes, K., Vesk, P. A., and van der Ree, R. (2015). Monitoring the use of road-crossing structures by arboreal marsupials: insights gained from motion-triggered cameras and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags. Wildlife Research 42, 241–256.
| Monitoring the use of road-crossing structures by arboreal marsupials: insights gained from motion-triggered cameras and passive integrated transponder (PIT) tags.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Taylor, B. D., and Goldingay, R. L. (2012). Restoring connectivity in landscapes fragmented by major roads: a case study using wooden poles as “stepping stones” for gliding mammals. Restoration Ecology 20, 671–678.
| Restoring connectivity in landscapes fragmented by major roads: a case study using wooden poles as “stepping stones” for gliding mammals.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Ree, R. (2002). The population ecology of the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis, within a network of remnant linear habitats. Wildlife Research 29, 329–340.
| The population ecology of the squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis, within a network of remnant linear habitats.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
van der Ree, R., Smith, D. J., and Grilo, C. (2015). ‘Handbook of Road Ecology.’ (Wiley Blackwell: London.)
Webster, A., and Lowe, K. (1999). Powerful owl, Ninox strenua. Department of Natural Resources and Environment, No. 92, Melbourne.
Weston, N., Goosem, M., Marsh, H., Cohen, M., and Wilson, R. (2011). Using canopy bridges to link habitat for arboreal mammals: successful trials in the Wet Tropics of Queensland. Australian Mammalogy 33, 93–105.
| Using canopy bridges to link habitat for arboreal mammals: successful trials in the Wet Tropics of Queensland.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
Yokochi, K., and Bencini, R. (2015). A remarkably quick habituation and high use of a rope bridge by an endangered marsupial, the western ringtail possum. Natureza & Conservação 11, 79–94.
| A remarkably quick habituation and high use of a rope bridge by an endangered marsupial, the western ringtail possum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |
