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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 33(2)

Nest-tree selection by the threatened brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) (Marsupialia : Dasyuridae) in a highly fragmented agricultural landscape

Rodney van der Ree A B , Andrew F. Bennett A and Todd R. Soderquist C D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Ecology and Environment, Deakin University, 221 Burwood Highway, Burwood, Vic. 3125, Australia.

B Present address: Australian Research Centre for Urban Ecology, Royal Botanic Gardens, Melbourne, Australia, c/o School of Botany, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Vic. 3010, Australia. Email: rvdr@unimelb.edu.au

C Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Bendigo, Vic. 3550, Australia.

D Present address: Department of Environment and Conservation, PO Box 2111, Dubbo, NSW 2830, Australia.

Wildlife Research 33(2) 113-119 https://doi.org/10.1071/WR05007
Submitted: 18 January 2005  Accepted: 14 February 2006   Published: 12 April 2006

Abstract

The conservation of roosting and nesting resources is of critical concern for many hollow-dependent species around the world. We investigated the nest-tree requirements of the threatened brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa) in a highly cleared agricultural landscape in south-eastern Australia. We documented the physical characteristics of selected nest trees and describe the spatial and temporal patterns of nest-tree use as revealed by radio-tracking. Nine phascogales (seven females, two males) were radio-tracked between March and July 1999 in an area where most woodland habitat is confined to linear strips along roads and streams or small patches and scattered trees in cleared farmland. Female phascogales were monitored for 13–35 days over periods of 5–15 weeks and two males were monitored for 2 and 9 days respectively. A total of 185 nest-tree fixes was collected and all nests occupied by phascogales were in standing trees. Eighty-three nest trees were identified, ranging in diameter at breast height (dbh) from 25 to 171 cm, with a mean dbh for the trees used by each individual phascogale of >80 cm. Phascogales did not discriminate between canopy tree species in selecting nest trees, but showed highly significant selection for trees in the largest size class. All individuals used multiple nest trees, with the seven females occupying an average of 11.4 nest trees from a mean of 25 diurnal locations. The number of nest trees continued to increase throughout the study, suggesting that more would be identified during a longer or more intensive study. Occupied nest trees were located throughout each individual’s home range, highlighting the importance of a continuous spatial distribution of suitable nest trees across the landscape. Nest trees were also located in adjacent farmland up to 225 m from roadside vegetation, demonstrating the value that scattered clumps and even single trees in farmland can have for wildlife conservation.


Acknowledgments

We thank Mark Venosta for assistance with trapping and radio-tracking and for access to unpublished data. We are most grateful to Ray Thomas for accommodation in the field, and Jim Tehan and Bob Hemming for unrestricted access to their properties. Thanks also go to Rod Anderson, Kim Lowe and Jenny Nelson of the Department of Sustainability and Environment who facilitated the project, and to Michael Harper and two anonymous referees for comments on the manuscript. Trapping and radio-tracking were conducted under Flora and Fauna Permit Number 10000430 and Deakin University Animal Experimentation and Ethics Committee (Approval Number A5/96).


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