Habitat preferences of arboreal mammals in box-ironbark forest during maternal and non-maternal periods
Ross L. Goldingay
A * , Darren G. Quin A and Karen J. Thomas B
A
B
Abstract
Artificial tree cavities may be installed to restore habitat quality for tree-cavity-dependent wildlife. Knowledge of the habitat preferences of species can improve such management. We used detections of the brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) and the inland sugar glider (Petaurus notatus) in nest boxes at 40 sites over a 6-year period to investigate the influence of the surrounding box-ironbark forest on nest box use. We specifically considered whether preferences changed between non-maternal and maternal periods. We observed phascogales in an average of 20% of boxes and gliders within 33% of boxes per year. Few tree hollows on habitat plots were adequate for these species to occupy. Habitat variation had no influence on sugar glider detection, suggesting all available habitat was suitable. Female phascogales were positively influenced by the number of nest boxes present at a site in both periods and by the abundance of large (≥30 cm DBH) red ironbark (Eucalyptus tricarpa) stems in the maternal period. Habitat had less influence on male phascogales. Our study suggests that artificial hollows can play a role in restoring degraded habitat for these species and provides some new insights for habitat restoration.
Keywords: artificial hollow, degraded forest, forest restoration, Greater Bendigo Regional Park, nest boxes, occupancy modelling, tree cavity, tree hollow.
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