Journal articles on the topic 'Hollow bearing tree'
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1
J. Eyre, Teresa. "Hollow-bearing trees in large glider habitat in south-east Queensland, Australia: Abundance, spatial distribution and management." Pacific Conservation Biology 11, no. 1 (2005): 23. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc050023.
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This study examined factors influencing the distribution of live and dead trees with large diameter hollows (>10 cm) in a productive coastal lowland forest of south-east Queensland. Forest age and type, historic logging rules and topographic position influenced the distribution of live hollow-bearing trees across the landscape. Also, some tree species (Eucalyptus acmenoides, Corymbia intermedia and C. trachyphloia) contained hollows at smaller diameters than others (C. citriodora, E. siderophloia and E. fibrosa), suggesting variation in rates of hollow formation among species. The average number of live hollow-bearing trees throughout the forest was 3.4 � 0.4 per ha (mean � s.e.), which is lower than the number of hollow-bearing trees to be retained during logging operations as specified by the Queensland Code of Practice for Native Forest Timber Production. The dead hollow-bearing tree resource is therefore important, and made up 42.3% of the total hollow-bearing tree resource. Dead hollow-bearing trees were available predominantly due to intensive silvicultural treatment conducted throughout the forest >50 years ago. However, the abundance of dead hollow-bearing trees appears to be influenced by fire management. If current management practices persist, it is predicted that in 50 years the dead hollow-bearing tree resource will be depleted. If so, the hollow-bearing tree resource for the Yellow-bellied Glider Petaurus australis and in particular, the Greater Glider Petauroides vofans, will be critically limited in the study area.
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F. Bennett, A., L. F. Lumsden, and A. O. Nicholls. "Tree hollows as a resource for wildlife in remnant woodlands: spatial and temporal patterns across the northern plains of Victoria, Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 1, no. 3 (1994): 222. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc940222.
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Hollows in living or dead trees are an important resource for a range of animal species in Australia. They are used for diurnal and nocturnal shelter and as breeding sites, and the availability of hollows may be a limiting factor for some populations. This study examined patterns in the distribution of tree hollows at 185 sites, each of 1.0 ha, in remnant woodlands across the northern plains, Victoria, a rural region where little remains of the natural woodland cover. Spatial and temporal variation in the abundance of tree hollows is evident at several scales including that of the individual tree, the landscape and the region. For individual trees, the number of holes increased with tree diameter, and the slope of this relationship differed between tree species. The percentage of trees that are hollow-bearing also differs between species. Large trees have a higher proportion of holes with a large entrance diameter (>10 cm) and a lower proportion of small holes (?2 cm diameter) than do small trees. At the landscape scale, hollow-bearing trees were not evenly distributed throughout remnant woodlands. Significant variables in a regression model of the abundance of hollow-bearing trees included: the number of large trees (>70 cms diameter), woodland tree species composition and mean annual rainfall. At the regional scale, the availability of hollows is influenced by the patchy distribution of remnant woodlands. Large tracts are mainly associated with public land along river systems and contrast with extensive areas of farmland where woodlands are sparse or absent. The abundance of hollows at the landscape and regional scale is strongly influenced by the impact of land management on two key processes; the loss of existing hollow-bearing trees and the recruitment of new trees. On privately managed land, generally grazed by domestic stock, large trees with hollows are often present, but the scarcity of saplings and small trees raises concern over the recruitment of future hollow-bearing trees, and indeed the long-term persistence of woodland vegetation. Conversely, most sites in large blocks of public land have ample regeneration but relatively fewer hollow-bearing trees due to the loss of larger trees from timber harvesting activities. In both situations, the abundance of trees with hollows is the consequence of management practices, and their future availability is directly amenable to management action. Some implications of the patterns of distribution of hollows for wildlife are discussed.
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Goldingay, Ross L. "Characteristics of tree hollows used by Australian arboreal and scansorial mammals." Australian Journal of Zoology 59, no. 5 (2011): 277. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo11081.
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Many species of non-flying mammal depend on tree hollows (cavities or holes) for shelter and survival. I reviewed the published literature on tree hollow use by Australian non-flying arboreal and scansorial mammals to provide a synthesis of tree hollow requirements, to identify gaps in knowledge and to stimulate future research that may improve the management of these species. The use of hollows was described in some detail for 18 of 42 hollow-using species. Most information was for possums and gliding possums, whereas dasyurid marsupials and rodents were largely neglected. The paucity of data for many species must be addressed because it represents an impediment to their conservation. Hollow abundance appears to be the primary determinant of tree preferences. This accounts for the frequent use of standing dead trees by most species. Most hollow-bearing trees used as dens were at least 100 years of age. Further studies that describe the dynamic processes that govern the availability of tree hollows are needed. The few studies that document attrition of hollow-bearing trees suggest that land managers need to improve strategies for the effective retention and long-term replacement of these trees.
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Goldingay, Ross L. "Characteristics of tree hollows used by Australian birds and bats." Wildlife Research 36, no. 5 (2009): 394. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08172.
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Many hundreds of species of wildlife worldwide are dependent on tree hollows (cavities) for their survival. I reviewed the published literature for hollow-using Australian birds and microbats to document their tree-hollow requirements and to guide future research and management. Such information is vital to the conservation of these species. The hollow requirements of only 35 of 114 hollow-using bird species and 15 of 42 hollow-using microbat species were documented in some detail. This overall paucity of information limits the ability to manage for the future requirements of species. However, some generalisations can guide management until further studies are conducted. Most species used a variety of available tree species, and the extensive use of dead trees probably reflects the high likelihood of these trees containing hollows. Birds (other than large parrots) and bats chose hollow entrances of a size close to body width. Large parrots require large hollows, with a preference for large vertical spouts and trunk hollows. Few birds or bats demonstrated an absolute requirement for high (>10 m) tree hollows, with most (70%) using some hollows with entrances ≤5 m above ground. Temperature has been postulated to influence roost selection among microbats because it enables passive rewarming from torpor and there is some evidence from Australian bats to support this. Many studies suggest a future shortage of hollow-bearing trees. Currently, artificial hollows appear to be the most likely interim solution to address this. Knowledge of the natural hollow requirements of species can be used to refine artificial-hollow designs. An increase in research effort is needed to address the many gaps in knowledge that currently exist. Priorities for research include (1) many additional studies to document the characteristics of the hollow-bearing trees used by species of microbat, (2) the need to conduct long-term bioregional studies of hollow-bearing tree attrition to help identify where management responses are most needed and (3) investigating whether fire plays a significant role in the creation of tree hollows of a range of size classes and therefore may have a management use. Such information has broad relevance because it will provide ecological insight that can be applied to the management of hollow-using birds and bats elsewhere in the world.
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Wood, M. S., and R. L. Wallis. "Potential Competition for Nest Sites Between Feral European Honeybees (Apis mellifera) and Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula)." Australian Mammalogy 20, no. 3 (1998): 377. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am98377.
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The potential for feral Honeybees (Apis mellifera) to competitively exclude Common Brushtail Possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) from tree hollows was examined in the You Yangs Regional Park, Victoria. The characteristics and occupancy of 77 hollow-bearing trees and 250 hollows were recorded in six 2 ha sites and used to compare the extent of overlap in nest site selection between bees and posssums. Colonies of feral A. mellifera occupied 25 % of all hollow-bearing trees and 8 % of useable hollows, yielding a density of 1.66 colonies per ha, the highest recorded so far in Australia. Trichosurus vulpecula utilised 74 % of hollow-bearing trees and 48 % of useable hollows. Nest site characteristics of bees and possums overlapped in several dimensions, especially in the size of tree and height of nest. Relatively few vacant hollows were suitable for T. vulpecula, whereas many were available to Honeybees. Only 35% of bee nests were in hollows unsuitable for possums, indicating a relatively high potential for competition.
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Ball, Tina, Ross L. Goldingay, and Judith Wake. "Den trees, hollow-bearing trees and nest boxes: management of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) nest sites in tropical Australian woodland." Australian Mammalogy 33, no. 1 (2011): 106. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am10050.
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The squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) is an arboreal marsupial potentially impacted throughout its geographic range by the loss of hollow-bearing trees. We investigated the use of den trees and the availability of hollow-bearing trees near Mackay in the tropical north of the squirrel glider range where information was deficient. Mean den tree size (41.1 ± 2.9 cm (s.e.), diameter at breast height (dbh)) was significantly larger than that of available trees (27.5 ± 0.9 cm). Dead trees (stags) comprised 52% of 27 dens but comprised only 12% of available trees. This likely reflects the greater frequency of hollows in dead trees compared with other trees. Surveys found that 59% of 720 available trees contained hollows. A much lower percentage of trees in the 10–30-cm dbh size class were hollow-bearing (22%) compared with trees >30 cm (77%), and we view these smaller trees as those providing future den trees. Their density varied from 17 to 95 ha–1 among sites, which suggests that most sites have an adequate supply of future hollows. We installed 56 nest boxes to determine use by squirrel gliders. Only 20% were used after 3 years, but use was not influenced by the availability of tree hollows. Tree hollow availability appears adequate for the squirrel glider in these tropical woodlands but further studies are needed to understand the dynamic processes that govern this resource.
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Koch, Amelia, Sarah Munks, and Don Driscoll. "The use of hollow-bearing trees by vertebrate fauna in wet and dry Eucalyptus obliqua forest, Tasmania." Wildlife Research 35, no. 8 (2008): 727. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08007.
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The loss of hollow-bearing trees in production forest areas can have large impacts on animal populations that rely on them for shelter. This study facilitates the selection of appropriate trees for retention by examining the proportion and type of trees that were used by vertebrate fauna in mature wet and dry Eucalyptus obliqua forest in Tasmania. Felled trees were searched for hollows and secondary evidence of use by fauna. Classification Trees and Bayesian logistic regression modelling were used to examine the site and tree attributes that best explained the use of a tree by fauna. We did two separate analyses: one using attributes expected to be causally related to hollow use, and a second using attributes that might be correlated with hollow use and could be easily assessed in standing trees. In all, 28% of hollow-bearing trees examined showed evidence of use, which is at the lower end of the scale found in other areas of Australia. The variables most strongly related to the use of a tree were hollow abundance, tree size and senescence. Random Forest modelling indicated that the likelihood of a hollow being used increased with hollow size, particularly hollow depth. Counting the number of hollows in standing trees was the best way to identify a tree that is likely to be used by fauna and this was particularly important for younger and healthier trees. It was recommended that trees to be retained should contain at least one large hollow. It was estimated that 8–15 trees per hectare were used by hollow-using fauna in mature wet and dry E. obliqua forest in Tasmania.
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Owers, Christopher J., Rodney P. Kavanagh, and Eleanor Bruce. "Remote sensing can locate and assess the changing abundance of hollow-bearing trees for wildlife in Australian native forests." Wildlife Research 41, no. 8 (2014): 703. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14168.
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Context Hollow-bearing trees are an important breeding and shelter resource for wildlife in Australian native forests and hollow availability can influence species abundance and diversity in forest ecosystems. A persistent problem for forest managers is the ability to locate and survey hollow-bearing trees with a high level of accuracy at low cost over large areas of forest. Aims The aim of this study was to determine whether remote-sensing techniques could identify key variables useful in classifying the likelihood of a tree to contain hollows suitable for wildlife. Methods The data were high-resolution, multispectral aerial imagery and light detection and ranging (Lidar). A ground-based survey of 194 trees, 96 Eucalyptus crebra and 98 E. chloroclada and E. blakelyi, were used to train and validate tree-senescence classification models. Key results We found that trees in the youngest stage of tree senescence, which had a very low probability of hollow occurrence, could be distinguished using multispectral aerial imagery from trees in the later stages of tree senescence, which had a high probability of hollow occurrence. Independently, the canopy-height model used to estimate crown foliage density demonstrated the potential of Lidar-derived structural parameters as predictors of senescence and the hollow-bearing status of individual trees. Conclusions This study demonstrated a ‘proof of concept’ that remotely sensed tree parameters are suitable predictor variables for the hollow-bearing status of an individual tree. Implications Distinguishing early stage senescence trees from later-stage senescence trees using remote sensing offers potential as an efficient, repeatable and cost-effective way to map the distribution and abundance of hollow-bearing trees across the landscape. Further development is required to automate this process across the landscape, particularly the delineation of tree crowns. Further improvements may be obtained using a combination of these remote-sensing techniques. This information has important applications in commercial forest inventory and in biodiversity monitoring programs.
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Parnaby, Harry, Daniel Lunney, Ian Shannon, and Mike Fleming. "Collapse rates of hollow-bearing trees following low intensity prescription burns in the Pilliga forests, New South Wales." Pacific Conservation Biology 16, no. 3 (2010): 209. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc100209.
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Hollows in trees are recognized as a critical and threatened resource for a wide range of fauna in Australian forests and woodlands, yet little data are available on the impact of fire on hollow-bearing trees. We report an opportunistic, post-fire assessment of the proportion of burnt, hollow-bearing trees that collapsed in stands near roads following low intensity prescription burns in three areas of mixed eucalypt forest in the Pilliga forests. Mean collapse rates on 29 plots (40 by 50m), separated by burn Area, ranged from 14?26% for a total of 329 burnt hollow-bearing trees. Collapse rates on individual plots ranged from 0?50%. Collapsed, hollow-bearing trees were predominantly older, with 40% of senescent trees and 44% of live stags collapsing. The best predictor in models of tree collapse was the presence of a basal fire entry point. We cannot determine the extent to which collapse rates on our plots are representative of burnt areas away from containment roads due to sampling limitations, but they appear to be higher than those reported from wildfire and more intense prescription burns in southern Australia. Our results point to an urgent need for comprehensively designed studies to address the impacts of prescribed burns on hollow-bearing trees.
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Radford, I. J., S. L. J. Oliveira, B. Byrne, and L. A. Woolley. "Tree hollow densities reduced by frequent late dry-season wildfires in threatened Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae) breeding habitat." Wildlife Research 48, no. 6 (2021): 511. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr20108.
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Abstract Context. Tree hollows are a key habitat resource for hollow-nesting species, including the northern Australian Gouldian finch (Erythrura gouldiae). Certain fire and disturbance regimes limit tree hollow availability in the northern Australian savannas. Aims. This study investigated the influence of fire regime and vegetation structure on the density of tree hollows at Gouldian finch breeding sites. Methods. Fire scars were mapped across breeding sites by using LANDSAT images. Vegetation plots within sites were spatially stratified according to three fire-regime attributes, namely, fire frequency, late dry-season wildfire frequency and time since the last fire. Tree hollow and vegetation structural attributes were measured at each vegetation plot. We modelled the relationship among hollow density, fire and vegetation attributes by using general linear mixed models with site as the random factor. Key results. We found that the highest tree-hollow density was found at plots with high eucalypt tree density and cover and with the lowest frequency of late dry-season wildfires (<1 wildfire over 5 years). Tree-hollow density declined after >2 years without fire. Hollow density was not directly related to total fire frequency. Conclusions. This study adds to previous work on grass seed resources in highlighting the importance of fire in Gouldian finch ecology. This study particularly highlighted the importance of reducing the impacts of high-intensity late dry-season wildfires because of their negative impacts on tree-hollow density, which is a key resource for breeding Gouldian finches. Implications. We recommend the use of a network of interconnected annual patchy early dry-season prescribed burns for protecting Gouldian breeding habitat from threat of high-intensity wildfires. We do NOT recommend fire exclusion from Gouldian finch breeding habitats. This is because fire risks to hollow-bearing trees, and grass seed resources, increase with the long-term accumulation of savanna litter fuels in the absence of fire.
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Beyer, Georgia L., Ross L. Goldingay, and David J. Sharpe. "The characteristics of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) den trees in subtropical Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 56, no. 1 (2008): 13. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo08053.
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Effective management of tree-hollow-dependent wildlife requires a sound knowledge of the characteristics of the trees used for shelter or breeding. We used radio-tracking to identify the den trees of squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) in south-east Queensland (Qld) and north-east New South Wales (NSW). Squirrel gliders used dead trees as well as 13 species of living tree for dens across the two locations. Dead trees accounted for a large percentage of dens (54% of 48 dens in Qld, and 50% of 18 dens in NSW) despite comprising only 3–10% of the forest (trees >20 cm diameter at breast height (dbh)) at each location. This preference is largely due to dead trees being more likely to contain hollows, accounting for 26–44% of available hollow-bearing trees. Mean den tree size (dbh) was 48.9 ± 2.4 cm in Qld and 62.8 ± 5.6 cm in NSW. Den entrance height averaged 6.8 ± 1.2 m in Qld and 11.9 ± 1.3 m in NSW. Fissures in the trunk and holes in branches were the most common of six hollow types used. At one location branch end hollows were ignored relative to their availability. Den entrances varied in size (2.5–12 cm wide) but most were ≤5 cm in diameter. Entrance size of hollows appears to be the hollow attribute of most importance to squirrel gliders. Monitoring of these den trees over several years revealed the collapse of three dead den trees at each location, which is equivalent to an annual loss of 3% of den trees. Further research is needed to determine whether this will lead to a future shortage of den trees.
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Clews, Lukas L. "Observations on roost use by the yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) in northern New South Wales, Australia." Australian Mammalogy 39, no. 1 (2017): 95. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/am15048.
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Hollow-bearing trees are recognised as essential habitat features for insectivorous bats and provide sites for mating, the rearing of young, hibernation, protection from predators, and social interaction. The characteristics of hollow-bearing trees used as roosts by insectivorous bats in Australia are poorly known. To help fill this gap, this note presents data on tree roost characteristics for the yellow-bellied sheathtail-bat (Saccolaimus flaviventris) obtained from northern New South Wales, Australia. Of the 19 roost trees observed, most were live Eucalyptus albens trees with an incomplete crown with substantial numbers of dead limbs. Roosts selected were, on average, 9.3 m high with an entrance diameter of 12.7 cm in trees with a mean diameter at breast height of 49.5 cm. All entrance hollows were located at the end of a rotten spout formed when a branch had broken off the tree. These observations are some of the first to document the characteristics of roost trees for this species in New South Wales and this information can be used by land managers to identify and retain suitable roosting habitat for S. flaviventris in the landscape.
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Goldingay, Ross L., and Jane R. Stevens. "Use of artificial tree hollows by Australian birds and bats." Wildlife Research 36, no. 2 (2009): 81. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08064.
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Artificial tree hollows (nest or roost boxes) may be of considerable importance to the conservation and management of Australian hollow-using birds and microbats. This is suggested by recognition that the rate of collapse of hollow-bearing trees may exceed replacement in some landscapes. We review the published literature to synthesise current information on the use of artificial hollows by Australian birds and bats, and to provide guidance to future research and management. The use of artificial hollows has been documented in some detail for 15 native bird and eight microbat species. A range of hollow designs has been employed but there is a limited understanding of favoured designs. General designs (e.g. front-entry plywood boxes) have been used extensively by some species and should continue to be used until more effective designs are identified. Species tend to use artificial hollows that have entrance sizes just sufficient for their body size, and this should guide hollow design. Competitive interactions with a range of non-target species (native and non-native) may have a pronounced influence on artificial hollow use and must be considered in any management program involving artificial hollows. We highlight some design elements that may reduce interference by non-target species. Temperature inside artificial hollows may have a particular influence on their use by bats due to the role of microclimate in bat thermoregulation. Trials are needed to investigate this factor and to inform general approaches to positioning of artificial hollows. Several distinct management uses exist for artificial hollows, including assisting threatened species recovery, e.g. Kangaroo Island glossy black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus lathami halmaturinus) and orange-bellied parrot (Neophema chrysogaster). Artificial hollows offer an interim solution to hollow shortage but their full potential will only be realised when preferences for different designs are better understood. This will require a commitment to monitoring and should be conducted in an adaptive management context. Increased knowledge of the use of artificial hollows by Australian birds and bats should be of global relevance to the management of hollow-using species because it provides an independent test of ideas and strengthens any generalisations.
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Harper, Michael J., Michael A. McCarthy, and Rodney van der Ree. "The use of nest boxes in urban natural vegetation remnants by vertebrate fauna." Wildlife Research 32, no. 6 (2005): 509. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr04106.
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Nest boxes are routinely installed as a substitute for natural tree hollows to provide den and nest sites for a range of hollow-utilising fauna. We installed 120 nest boxes in 20 patches of indigenous vegetation (remnants) across the urban/suburban landscape of Melbourne, south-eastern Australia, and investigated their use by indigenous and exotic vertebrate species over a period of 12 months. Nest-box use was dominated by the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and the common myna (Acridotheres tristis), an aggressive introduced bird. We found that brushtail and ringtail possums utilised nest boxes all year round but more frequently in cooler months (May–August). Common mynas dominated nest-box use during spring/summer, potentially reducing the availability of this resource to indigenous species. We found evidence that the probability of a nest box being occupied by either species of possum was greater in remnants with abundant possum populations. Brushtail possums preferred thick-walled pine nest boxes over thin-walled plywood nest boxes, most likely owing to differences in their thermal insulation properties. Although considerable economic costs would be involved in using nest boxes as a long-term substitute for hollow-bearing trees, nest boxes may provide a temporary hollow resource until hollow-bearing trees are recruited in urban remnants.
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Honey, Reannan, Christopher M. McLean, Brad R. Murray, Michael N. Callan, and Jonathan K. Webb. "Choice of monitoring method can influence estimates of usage of artificial hollows by vertebrate fauna." Australian Journal of Zoology 69, no. 1 (2021): 18. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo21012.
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The loss of hollow-bearing trees is a key threat for many hollow-dependent taxa. Nesting boxes have been widely used to offset tree hollow loss, but they have high rates of attrition, and, often, low rates of usage by target species. To counter these problems, chainsaw carved hollows (artificial cavities cut into trees) have become a popular alternative, yet little research has been published on their effectiveness. We examined the usage of 150 chainsaw carved hollows by cavity-dependent fauna in the central west of New South Wales using observations from traditional inspection methods and remote cameras. Between October 2017 and April 2019, we detected 21 species of vertebrates (two reptile, one amphibian, 10 bird, and eight mammal species) inside chainsaw carved hollows, but the number of species detected was dependent on the chosen monitoring method. We detected six species inside hollows during physical inspections, whereas remote cameras detected 21 species entering hollows. Cameras detected eight species using hollows as breeding sites, whereas physical inspections detected just four species. Cameras detected two threatened mammals (squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) and greater glider (Petauroides volans)) raising young inside hollows, yet we failed to detect these species during physical inspections. For birds, the two methods yielded equivalent results for detection of breeding events. Overall, our study showed that few cavity-dependent species used chainsaw carved hollows as breeding sites. This highlights how artificial hollows are not a substitute for retaining naturally occurring hollows in large trees and revegetation programs.
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Francis, Mitchell J., Peter G. Spooner, and Alison Matthews. "The influence of urban encroachment on squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis): effects of road density, light and noise pollution." Wildlife Research 42, no. 4 (2015): 324. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr14182.
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Context Loss and degradation of habitat from urban development is a key threat to the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis), because its distribution coincides where most people live in Australia. Squirrel gliders are known to occur in or around urban fringes where native vegetation is retained; however, little is known about specific anthropogenic factors that may affect their persistence. Aims We investigated the relative influence of biophysical and urban factors on the use of large hollow-bearing Eucalyptus trees, which are a key resource for squirrel gliders. The study was located in a typical urban growth area located in southern New South Wales. Methods A stratified random sampling approach was used to survey squirrel gliders in urban and rural areas. Infrared, motion-sensor cameras were placed in 34 selected trees for 17 nights to record squirrel glider occupancy and activity. Data on urban (e.g. light and noise pollution levels, road and housing density) and biophysical (e.g. tree height, hollow-bearing tree density, vegetation cover) variables were recorded at each survey tree. Data were statistically analysed using general linear modelling approaches. Key results Squirrel gliders were detected more frequently in the rural matrix (23.4% of camera trap-nights) than in urban areas (9.5%). Model results showed that tree height, and the distance to neighbouring trees, had a significant influence on the occurrence and activity of squirrel gliders. Road density and light pollution were included in ‘best’ models to explain glider activity (a negative influence), and noise pollution negatively influenced glider occurrence. Although gliders used large trees in both urban and rural areas, activity generally decreased as levels of urbanisation increased. Conclusions and implications Access to and availability of key resources such as tall, hollow-bearing trees is critical for gliders to persist in urban environments. Squirrel gliders will tolerate human stressors such as roads, noise and light pollution to a certain extent, but impacts on population viability remain largely unknown. Novel solutions need to be developed to lessen the effects of anthropogenic factors (such as light and noise) on patches of native vegetation retained in urban areas for conservation purposes.
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Rueegger, Niels, Ross Goldingay, and Brad Law. "Physical and microclimate characteristics of Nyctophilus gouldi and Vespadelus vulturnus maternity-roost cavities." Wildlife Research 45, no. 7 (2018): 611. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr18101.
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Context Tree cavities suitable to rear young are a key resource in managed landscapes to support viable populations of tree cavity-roosting bats. Little is known about the selection of cavities for maternity roosts, presumably because of the difficulty in accessing such roosts. Aims Our study investigated physical and microclimate characteristics of maternity roosts of two species, namely, Gould’s long-eared bat (Nyctophilus gouldi) and little forest bat (Vespadelus vulturnus). Methods Maternity-roost cavities were identified in a timber-production landscape in south-eastern Australia. Roost trees (V. vulturnus n=5; N. gouldi n=9) and a subsample of available cavity-bearing trees (n=16) were climbed to obtain cavity characteristics. Key results Vespadelus vulturnus used tree hollows exclusively, whereas N. gouldi used both tree hollows (n=7) and thick loose bark (n=2). No significant difference in roost-cavity characteristics was detected between the species. However, V. vulturnus selected significantly narrower cavity entrances (mean: 16±3mm) than those of the available cavities. Temperature did not differ between maternity roosts and available cavities when investigated after the maternity season. However, a V. vulturnus maternity roost occupied for 33 consecutive days was warmer than mean roost and available cavities, suggesting that long-term roost use may be influenced by the thermal property of a cavity. Conclusions Our study has provided the first detailed tree-cavity description of maternity roosts of N. gouldi and V. vulturnus. The nightly roost switching and the large variation of tree-cavity characteristics used by N. gouldi suggest that this species requires a high density of non-specific tree cavities that are large enough for colony formation, whereas preferred roost cavities for V. vulturnus are likely to be hollows comprising narrow entrances that facilitate long-term use. Implications Our results highlighted the likely importance of narrow roost entrances for V. vulturnus, presumably for predator protection, and the conservation of tree cavities large enough for colonies to congregate. The formation of such hollows is likely to take many decades. Poor silvicultural practices, land clearing and inappropriate management of veteran trees have the potential to have an impact on this hollow resource. Our study also highlighted the need to further assess the importance of cavity microclimate for maternity-roost selection in warm climates.
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Lindenmayer, David B., Lachlan McBurney, Wade Blanchard, Karen Marsh, Elle Bowd, Darcy Watchorn, Chris Taylor, and Kara Youngentob. "Elevation, disturbance, and forest type drive the occurrence of a specialist arboreal folivore." PLOS ONE 17, no. 4 (April 13, 2022): e0265963. http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0265963.
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Quantifying the factors associated with the presence and abundance of species is critical for conservation. Here, we quantify the factors associated with the occurrence of the Southern Greater Glider in the forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria, south-eastern Australia. We gathered counts of animals along transects and constructed models of the probability of absence, and then the abundance if animals were present (conditional abundance), based on species’ associations with forest type, forest age, the abundance of denning sites in large old hollow-bearing trees, climatic conditions, and vegetation density. We found evidence of forest type effects, with animals being extremely uncommon in Alpine Ash and Shining Gum forest. In Mountain Ash forest, we found a negative relationship between the abundance of hollow-bearing trees and the probability of Southern Greater Glider absence. We also found a forest age effect, with the Southern Greater Glider completely absent from the youngest sites that were subject to a high-severity, stand-replacing wildfire in 2009. The best fitting conditional abundance model for the Southern Greater Glider included a strong positive effect of elevation; the species was more abundant in Mountain Ash forests at higher elevations. Our study highlights the importance of sites with large old hollow-bearing trees for the Southern Greater Glider, although such trees are in rapid decline in Mountain Ash forests. The influence of elevation on conditional abundance suggests that areas at higher elevations will be increasingly important for the conservation of the species, except where Mountain Ash forest is replaced by different tree species that may be unsuitable for the Southern Greater Glider.
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Saunders, Denis A., Peter R. Mawson, and Rick Dawson. "Use of tree hollows by Carnaby’s Cockatoo and the fate of large hollow-bearing trees at Coomallo Creek, Western Australia 1969–2013." Biological Conservation 177 (September 2014): 185–93. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2014.07.002.
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Durant, Rebecca, Gary W. Luck, and Alison Matthews. "Nest-box use by arboreal mammals in a peri-urban landscape." Wildlife Research 36, no. 7 (2009): 565. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr09058.
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Context. Nest boxes provide important nesting, denning and shelter sites for many fauna species worldwide, but we know little about the factors that influence the suitability of nest boxes for particular species. Such information is crucial in urban landscapes where natural hollows are scarce. Aims. The aim of this study was to record the use of nest boxes by sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps), squirrel gliders (P. norfolcensis) and other fauna in a peri-urban landscape in northern Victoria and examine factors at multiple spatial scales that may influence nest-box use. Methods. We monitored the use of 102 nest boxes over three seasons in 2006. Attributes that may influence nest-box occupancy were measured at five different spatial scales: (i) landscape; (ii) the habitat beyond 20 m of the nest box; (iii) the habitat within 20 m of the nest box; (iv) the tree that the nest box was located in; and (v) the nest box. Key results. At the landscape scale, topography influenced nest-box occupancy with squirrel gliders using boxes in flat or gully areas, and sugar gliders using boxes in gully, mid-slope or ridge areas. For habitat beyond 20 m of the nest box, sugar gliders were more likely to occupy boxes with a higher density of surrounding nest boxes and a higher density of residential dwellings. Within 20 m of the nest box, boxes occupied by sugar gliders were more likely to occur in areas with a higher density of acacia shrubs and lower density of hollow-bearing trees, whereas the presence of acacia did not influence nest-box use by squirrel gliders. At the scale of the nest-box tree, boxes occupied by sugar gliders were more likely to be on smaller trees (based on height and diameter) and on box (e.g. red box Eucalyptus polyanthemos) species. The only nest-box characteristic to have a strong relationship with occupancy was date of establishment, with longer established boxes more likely to be occupied. Conclusions. Our study demonstrates that various factors influence nest-box use at different scales and nest boxes remain an important conservation and management tool in heavily modified landscapes. Implications. Land managers and groups should be aware that nest boxes may help to alleviate some of the negative impacts of the loss of hollow-bearing trees in low density urban areas, but nest-box use will vary depending on landscape context, habitat factors, box design, and the ecological traits of the target species. Each of these factors must be considered to maximise the conservation benefits of nest-box programs.
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Gonsalves, Leroy, Bradley Law, and Rachel Blakey. "Experimental evaluation of the initial effects of large-scale thinning on structure and biodiversity of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forests." Wildlife Research 45, no. 5 (2018): 397. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr17168.
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Context Multi-use management of global forests has seen even-aged, high-stem density regrowth represent >50% of the world’s forest cover. Large areas of river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) forests have declined in ecological condition. Thinning has been promoted as a tool to reduce competition in dense, young stands of E. camaldulensis regrowth, yet responses of forest structure and fauna to large-scale thinning are largely unclear. Aims To establish a before-after-control-impact experiment to assess responses of forest structure and fauna to large-scale (compartment-level; ~440 ha) silvicultural thinning. Methods We measured immediate (<2 yrs) responses of forest structural components (living, dead and hollow-bearing stem densities, coarse woody debris (CWD) density and volumes and ground cover) and components of biodiversity (bats, birds, volant insects and non-volant mammals) before and after thinning within five control and three impact compartments. Key results Thinning reduced stem density by approximately two-thirds and was associated with a substantial increase in activity and richness of bats and a change in bat species composition. There was no change in richness for birds and non-volant mammals, nor insect biomass in relation to thinning. However, thinning affected composition of non-volant mammals, with the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and red fox (Vulpes vulpes) less active post-thinning at impact plots relative to control plots. Thinning reduced the density of dead stems, though these were predominantly small (~13 cm diameter at breast height over bark, or dbhob) and mostly lacked hollows. Hollow-bearing tree density was not affected by thinning. Although thinning increased CWD densities, volume of CWD did not change, indicating that thinning contributed small-sized CWD. Thinning did not affect densities of hollow- and fissure-bearing CWD or ground cover, which was low (<7%) in control and impact plots. There were no other negative effects on biodiversity detected. Conclusions Short-term fauna responses to thinning were generally neutral or positive. Implications Ongoing monitoring is required to detect long-term changes that may result from colonisation or altered breeding success after thinning. We recommend that some unthinned stands should be retained throughout the landscape to provide a mosaic forest structure suitable for a diverse fauna.
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Pigott, J. Patrick, Grant P. Palmer, Alan L. Yen, Arn D. Tolsma, Geoff W. Brown, Matt S. Gibson, and John R. Wright. "Establishment of the Box-Ironbark Ecological Thinning Trial in north central Victoria." Proceedings of the Royal Society of Victoria 122, no. 2 (2010): 111. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/rs10020.
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An ecological thinning trial was established in 2003 in north-central Victoria as part of the development of an ecological management strategy to support the newly created Box-Ironbark Parks and Reserves System. The objective of the trial was to restore diversity of habitat structure to declining Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands. Three ecological thinning techniques were designed around several principles: reducing total basal-area of trees and retaining levels of patchiness whilst retaining large trees. Thinning treatments were implemented in 30 ha plots at four conservation reserves south of Bendigo, Victoria. A range of ecosystem components were monitored before and after thinning. A woody-debris removal treatment was also set-up at a 1 ha scale within thinning treatments. Prior to thinning, plots were dominated by high numbers of coppice regenerated trees with few of the trees sampled considered large, resulting in low numbers of tree hollows and low loadings of coarse woody debris. It is anticipated that the establishment of the ecological thinning trial (Phase I), is the beginning of long-term monitoring, as effects of thinning on key habitat values may not be apparent for up to 50 years or more. The vision for restoration of Box-Ironbark forests and woodlands is one of a mosaic landscape with a greater diversity of habitat types including open areas and greater numbers of larger, hollow-bearing trees. This paper summarises the experimental design and the techniques adopted in Phase I of this project during 2003-2008.
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McConville, Anna, Bradley S. Law, and Michael J. Mahony. "Mangroves as maternity roosts for a colony of the rare east-coast free-tailed bat (Mormopterus norfolkensis) in south-eastern Australia." Wildlife Research 40, no. 4 (2013): 318. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr12222.
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Context Maternity roosts of insectivorous bats (where females raise young) are critical to the conservation of threatened species as roost quality can influence reproductive success. Additionally, threatened species may have specialised requirements or unusual behaviour, which may be overlooked without targeted investigation. Aims To explore which factors influence the roost selection of Mormopterus norfolkensis, by comparing day roosts, identified via radio-tracking, with environmental variables collected at tree, patch and landscape scales. Methods We collected a range of variables describing maternity roosts and surrounding patches, including internal measurements of hollows and microclimate. Additionally, we derived landscape-scale variables using a geographic information system. We then explored which variables best explained roost occurrence using logistic regression. Key results Nineteen lactating females and two male M. norfolkensis were tracked to 40 roost trees, mostly grey mangrove, Avicennia marina subsp. australasica. Lactating females were found to be faithful to two patches of mangrove forest close to where they were captured, regularly switched roosts and roosted in hollows singularly or in small groups. The attributes of mangrove patches, especially a high proportion of hollows, better predicted roosting by lactating females than roost-tree or landscape characteristics. Additionally, although the microclimate of roost hollows was not significantly different from ambient mangrove conditions, the mangrove forest was slightly more stable and had higher humidity than did other nearby habitats. Conclusions Contrary to predictions, maternity roosting group sizes were relatively small, indicating that bats were not deriving thermoregulatory benefits from communal living. However, we suggest that lactating females may benefit from the operation of a fission–fusion society among the colony as a whole. Additionally, the mature mangrove forest could offer unique roosting opportunities for bats because they support high densities of hollow-bearing trees, a stable microclimate and potentially low abundances of predators and competitors. Implications This is one of few international bat–mangrove studies and it illustrates that threatened species can behave unexpectedly and may be overlooked in conservation strategies that are based largely on anecdotal observations. We encourage further research into the value of mangrove forests to terrestrial fauna globally.
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Salmona, Joe, Kelly M. Dixon, and Sam C. Banks. "The effects of fire history on hollow-bearing tree abundance in montane and subalpine eucalypt forests in southeastern Australia." Forest Ecology and Management 428 (November 2018): 93–103. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2018.06.026.
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Cawthen, Lisa, and Sarah Munks. "The use of hollow-bearing trees retained in multi-aged regenerating production forest by the Tasmanian common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula fuliginosus)." Wildlife Research 38, no. 8 (2011): 687. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr10125.
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Context Hollow-bearing trees are frequently retained in timber-production areas as part of measures to mitigate against the impacts of forest harvesting on fauna, yet few studies have investigated the effectiveness of such measures. Such studies are essential for adaptive forest management. Aims The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of hollow-bearing trees retained in harvested and unharvested forest as den sites by the Tasmanian common brushtail possum. In particular, we examined the distribution and types of hollow-bearing trees used as den sites and whether or not their use in harvested sites was influenced by time since harvest. Methods Thirty brushtail possums were radio-tracked to their day-time den sites between March 2007–July 2007 and July 2008–October 2008, at five dry Eucalyptus forest sites (three regenerating after partial harvest with hollow-bearing trees retained inside the coupe and two in relatively undisturbed forest) in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia. Key results The brushtail possums tracked in the study denned primarily in hollow-bearing trees at both the harvested and unharvested sites. At sites regenerating 8 and 10 years after harvest, most den site locations were in trees retained outside the harvest area, in large patches. In contrast, at the site regenerating 17 years after harvest, isolated trees and small patches within the harvested area were used. Conclusions Hollow-bearing trees retained within harvest areas do provide habitat for hollow-dependent fauna such as the common brushtail possum and enable recolonisation of harvested areas in the medium term. However, in the short term these trees may not be used and hollow-bearing trees retained in the surrounding landscape are important for providing refuge as the harvested area regenerates. Implications The retention of hollow-bearing trees in harvested areas may be an effective measure at enabling recolonisation of harvested areas once suitable habitat regenerates, but it is also important to ensure that large patches of mature forest (containing hollows) are retained in the surrounding landscape to ensure the persistence of hollow-using fauna.
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Gorrod, E. J., P. Childs, D. A. Keith, S. Bowen, M. Pennay, T. O'Kelly, R. Woodward, A. Haywood, J. P. Pigott, and C. McCormack. "Can ecological thinning deliver conservation outcomes in high-density river red gum forests? Establishing an adaptive management experiment." Pacific Conservation Biology 23, no. 3 (2017): 262. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc16040.
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Newly protected areas often have land-use legacies that affect their capacity to deliver conservation outcomes into the future. The management actions required to achieve conservation outcomes may be uncertain. This uncertainty may be resolved through experimental adaptive management that draws on knowledge of the ecology and history of the ecosystem. In New South Wales, Australia, river red gum (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) floodplain forests were gazetted as National Park in 2010, including Murray Valley National Park. Land-use legacies had resulted in one-third of river red gum forests and woodlands occurring as high-stem-density (>400 stems ha−1) stands at the time of gazettal. High-stem-density stands are characterised by dominance of narrow straight trees, a paucity of large and hollow-bearing trees, modified understorey vegetation and reduced coarse woody debris. A simple state-and-transition process model captured knowledge of the processes that led to the high-stem-density river red gum forest state being widespread. We describe the establishment of a manipulative experiment to evaluate whether ecological thinning can achieve conservation outcomes in high-stem-density stands of river red gum floodplain forest. The experiment was designed to reduce intrastand competition for water and other resources, and encourage development of spreading tree crowns. Future results will inform management decisions in high-stem-density stands of river red gum floodplain forests. The adaptive management approach employed provides a template for using knowledge of the ecosystem to resolve uncertainty about management, particularly in newly protected areas.
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Ray Wormington, Kevin, David Lamb, Hamish Ian McCallum, and Damien John Moloney. "The status of hollow-bearing trees required for the conservation of arboreal marsupials in the dry sderophyll forests of south-east Queensland, Australia." Pacific Conservation Biology 11, no. 1 (2005): 38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc050038.
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At 38 sites in the dry sclerophylJ forests of south-east Queensland, Australia, hollow-bearing trees were studied to determine the effects of past forestry practices on their density, size and spatial distribution. The density of hollow-bearing trees was reduced at sites that had been altered by poisoning and ringbarking of unmerchantable trees. This was especially the case for living hollow-bearing trees that were now at densities too low to support the full range of arboreal marsupials. Although there are presently enough hollow-bearing stags (i.e., dead hollow-bearing trees) to provide additional denning and nesting opportunities, the standing life of these hollow-bearing stags is lower than the living counterparts which means denning and nesting sites may be limited in the near future. The mean diameter at breast height (DBH) of hollow-bearing stags was significantly less than that of living hollow-bearing trees. This indicated that many large hollow-bearing stags may have a shorter standing life than smaller hollow-bearing stags. Hollow-bearing trees appear to be randomly distributed throughout the forest in both silviculturally treated and untreated areas. This finding is at odds with the suggestion by some forest managers that hollow-bearing trees should have a clumped distribution in dry sclerophyll forests of south-east Queensland.
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Isaac, J. L., M. Parsons, and B. A. Goodman. "How hot do nest boxes get in the tropics? A study of nest boxes for the endangered mahogany glider." Wildlife Research 35, no. 5 (2008): 441. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr08016.
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As hollow-bearing trees become scarcer due to habitat loss, the use of nest boxes as a management tool for hollow-dependent species is likely to increase. However, nest-box use can be variable among species and habitats, and one possible reason may be that nest boxes offer little protection against extreme temperatures compared with natural hollows; this may be particularly important in the tropics. Here, we measured the microclimate of 16 nest boxes, installed as part of a recovery program for an endangered arboreal marsupial, the mahogany glider, during the summer in tropical north Queensland. We also measured the microclimate of 14 naturally occurring refuges (hollows in standing and fallen trees) at the same study sites. Nest boxes were significantly hotter during the day than were natural refuges (either in fallen or standing live trees) and experienced a greater range of temperatures. The most important factors explaining variation in daytime temperature in boxes was box aspect and the amount of canopy cover directly above the box: boxes that faced north, and those with greater canopy cover, were up to 7°C cooler than those that faced south or had little cover. We discuss our results in relation to the use of nest boxes in management plans for arboreal marsupials in the tropics.
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Nelson, JL, and BJ Morris. "Nesting Requirements of the Yellow-Tailed Black-Cockatoo, Calyptorhynchus Funereus, in Eucalyptus Regnans Forest, and Implications for Forest Management." Wildlife Research 21, no. 3 (1994): 267. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr9940267.
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The nesting requirements of the yellow-tailed black-cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus funereus) were studied at 68 sites in Eucalyptus regnans forest in the Strzelecki Ranges, South Gippsland, Victoria. Nest trees were located and their characteristics related to forest stand variables. Eighteen nest hollows were found. Nest trees had a mean diameter at breast height of 2.5 m, a mean estimated age of 221 years, a mean height of 58 m and for live nest trees a mean crown diameter of 22 m. The currently proposed rotation time for silvicultural systems of 80-150 years will reduce the number of hollow-bearing trees suitable for nesting yellow-tailed black-cockatoos. Adequate numbers of trees must be retained in logged areas and wildlife corridors and reserves, and protected to ensure a continual supply for yellow-tailed black-cockatoos and other hollow-dependent species. If agonistic behaviour is operating between female yellow-tailed black-cockatoos, nesting potential may be enhanced if trees retained on coupes are evenly distributed rather than clumped. Silvicultural systems that facilitate the protection of trees retained on coupes would benefit the conservation of the yellow-tailed black-cockatoo.
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Whitford, K. R., D. Wiseman, W. L. McCaw, and F. J. Bradshaw. "Characteristics of nest trees and nest hollows used by the forest red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) in south-west Western Australia: comments on Johnstone et al. (2013)." Pacific Conservation Biology 21, no. 2 (2015): 133. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc14911.
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Johnstone et al. (2013) (Pacific Conservation Biology 19, 122–141) make a substantial contribution to the knowledge of the forest red-tailed black cockatoo (Calyptorhynchus banksii naso) (FRTBC), presenting data on nest hollows and nest tree attributes. They discuss the threats to the current and future breeding hollows and conclude that ‘we are facing a major crisis in southern forests’. Although there are sound reasons for concern over the conservation of cockatoo species, the imminence of a crisis is not established by the data presented. We provide spatial and management context and present data relevant to discussion of threats to FRTBC hollows in south-west Western Australia. The primary strategy for providing habitat across the publicly owned forests is reservation, which formally excludes timber harvesting from more than 50% (1.3 million ha) of the forest, informally protects a further 11%, and protects habitat trees within harvested areas. Timber harvesting in these forests generally involves partial cutting, which retains trees of a wide range of size and age classes. A realistic minimum age for trees bearing hollows used by FRTBC in the jarrah (Eucalyptus marginata) forest is ~120–150 years (trees diameters of 50–60 cm), well below the 209 years highlighted by Johnstone et al. (2013). Most nest hollows occur in intermediate-sized trees. Clustering of FRTBC nest trees was not demonstrated in their data but is worthy of further investigation. Improved estimates of nest tree availability and loss would provide perspective on the threats to FRTBC, as would knowledge of population size and age structure of the FRTBC. The protection of known nest trees and control of feral competitors, where possible, would benefit FRTBC.
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Kelly, Luke T., and Andrew F. Bennett. "Habitat requirements of the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes) in box - ironbark forest, Victoria, Australia." Wildlife Research 35, no. 2 (2008): 128. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr07088.
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Understanding the habitat requirements of a species is critical for effective conservation-based management. In this study, we investigated the influence of forest structure on the distribution of the yellow-footed antechinus (Antechinus flavipes), a small dasyurid marsupial characteristic of dry forests on the inland side of the Great Dividing Range, Australia. Hair-sampling tubes were used to determine the occurrence of A. flavipes at 60 sites stratified across one of the largest remaining tracts of dry box–ironbark forest in south-eastern Australia. We considered the role of six potential explanatory variables: large trees, hollow-bearing trees, coppice hollows, logs, rock cover and litter. Logistic regression models were examined using an information-theoretic approach to determine the variables that best explained the presence or absence of the species. Hierarchical partitioning was employed to further explore relationships between occurrence of A. flavipes and explanatory variables. Forest structure accounted for a substantial proportion of the variation in occurrence of A. flavipes between sites. The strongest influence on the presence of A. flavipes was the cover of litter at survey sites. The density of hollow-bearing trees and rock cover were also positive influences. The conservation of A. flavipes will be enhanced by retention of habitat components that ensure a structurally complex environment in box–ironbark forests. This will also benefit the conservation of several threatened species in this dry forest ecosystem.
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Westerhuis, Erin L., Christine A. Schlesinger, Catherine E. M. Nano, Stephen R. Morton, and Keith A. Christian. "Characteristics of hollows and hollow-bearing trees in semi-arid river red gum woodland and potential limitations for hollow-dependent wildlife." Austral Ecology 44, no. 6 (May 1, 2019): 995–1004. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aec.12765.
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Zdenek, Christina, Celina Cacho, Jason Searle, Harry Nevard, and Lauren Dibben. "Field methods to identify Palm Cockatoo nest hollows." Australian Field Ornithology 39 (2022): 113–24. http://dx.doi.org/10.20938/afo39113124.
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Within Australia, the iconic Palm Cockatoo Probosciger arterrimus macgillivrayi occurs only on the Cape York Peninsula, Queensland, has recently been listed as Endangered, and requires large, old hollow-bearing trees for nesting. Surveys for these trees are crucial for management purposes. Typical surveys rely on following auditory (vocalisations) and visual (sightings) cues to determine the presence of birds or nests. However, nesting hollows can easily be inadvertently overlooked during such surveys because of false absences caused by biennial nesting, decreased vocal activity during nesting, and silent flushing from active nests when approached. We developed a systematic, grid-based transect methodology that maximises the likelihood of identifying potential, used, and confirmed Palm Cockatoo nest hollows and this has been implemented on western Cape York Peninsula since 2015. This method does not rely on bird presence at the time of surveys, but instead relies on multiple, specific signs of recent Palm Cockatoo nesting activity, to the exclusion of other large, sympatric parrots. We tested this method on novice observers and found that it enabled them to rapidly learn how to detect Palm Cockatoo hollows in the landscape. Thus, for ecological surveys on Cape York Peninsula, we propose that this method should supersede previous auditory/ visual surveys to identify Palm Cockatoo nesting sites, and we hope that this improves the conservation of this species in Australia.
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van der Ree, R., and R. H. Loyn. "The influence of time since fire and distance from fire boundary on the distribution and abundance of arboreal marsupials in Eucalyptus regnans-dominated forest in the Central Highlands of Victoria." Wildlife Research 29, no. 2 (2002): 151. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr98055.
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The impact of time since fire after two consecutive wildfires 44 years apart (1939 and 1983) within the same area, and the distance from the fire boundary (<100 m or 500-2000 m), were investigated in relation to the distribution and abundance of arboreal marsupials in 1994. Arboreal marsupials were censused by stagwatching and spotlighting in two relatively young age classes of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) dominated forest in the Central Highlands of Victoria. Five species of arboreal marsupial were detected, but only three were detected in sufficient numbers to determine habitat preferences. Petauroides volans (greater glider) was statistically more abundant in 1939 regrowth forests, while Trichosurus caninus (mountain brushtail possum) showed no significant preference for either age class of forest. All but one record of Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Leadbeater's possum) came from young forest, though the effect of age-class was not statistically significant. Distance from fire boundary explained little or no variation in mammal distribution or abundance. While the actual number of hollow-bearing trees was similar in both age classes of forest, the long-term lifespan of hollow-bearing trees in more recently burnt forest is predicted to be lower than in unburnt or not recently burnt forest. Post-fire salvage logging following the 1983 wildfires appears to have reduced the number of hollow-bearing trees at sites burnt in 1983.
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Harley, Dan K. P. "A role for nest boxes in the conservation of Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri)." Wildlife Research 33, no. 5 (2006): 385. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/wr04038.
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A combination of fires and logging mean that more than 80% of the montane ash forests inhabited by Leadbeater’s possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri) in the Victorian Central Highlands consist of ecologically young stands possessing few trees with hollows. As a consequence, there have been predictions of a substantial decline in Leadbeater’s possum populations over the next 40 years. If this is to be averted, or reduced in extent, then an immediate means of increasing den site availability for the species is required. The results of a recent investigation into nest-box use by the species in lowland swamp forest demonstrate that high rates of occupancy can be achieved by targeting established colonies at sites where the vegetation structure is suitable for box installation. This suggests that nest boxes can be an effective means of increasing den-site availability for the possum, and therefore have considerable potential to contribute to the species’ conservation in the short term. Such measures should be applied in conjunction with altered forestry practises that better provide for the retention and future provision of mature hollow-bearing trees.
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Isaac, Bronwyn, John White, Daniel Ierodiaconou, and Raylene Cooke. "Urban to forest gradients: Suitability for hollow bearing trees and implications for obligate hollow nesters." Austral Ecology 39, no. 8 (July 3, 2014): 963–72. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aec.12164.
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Craig, Michael D., Angela M. Benkovic, Andrew H. Grigg, Giles E. St J. Hardy, Patricia A. Fleming, and Richard J. Hobbs. "How many mature microhabitats does a slow-recolonising reptile require? Implications for restoration of bauxite minesites in south-western Australia." Australian Journal of Zoology 59, no. 1 (2011): 9. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo10046.
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If we are to accelerate the recolonisation of restored areas by slow-recolonising species, we must provide suitable microhabitats at appropriate densities. Previous research in south-western Australia has shown that Napoleon’s skink (Egernia napoleonis) rarely recolonises restored areas. We trapped Napoleon’s skink in restoration and unmined forest to confirm the species was late successional. We also radio-tracked six skinks in unmined forest, to determine types and characteristics of used microhabitats, and estimated home ranges to determine required microhabitat densities, with the aim of accelerating skink recolonisation of restored areas. All tracked skinks used logs and hollow-bearing trees. Used logs were larger, and used trees were larger and taller than random samples, probably because large logs and trees were more likely to contain cracks and hollows that provide a refuge from predators. Extrapolations from home-range estimates indicated that a minimum of four logs ha–1 are required in restored areas to facilitate recolonisation by skinks, with skink densities likely to increase with log densities. Our study demonstrated that not all fauna will naturally recolonise restored areas and management of these areas is required to provide suitable habitat for late-successional species. Our approach could potentially be applied to other ecosystems or species.
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Treby, Donna Louise, and James Guy Castley. "Distribution and abundance of hollow-bearing trees in urban forest fragments." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 14, no. 3 (2015): 655–63. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2015.06.004.
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LINDENMAYER, D. B., R. B. CUNNINGHAM, H. A. NIX, M. T. TANTON, and A. P. SMITH. "Predicting the abundance of hollow-bearing trees in montane forests of southeastern Australia." Austral Ecology 16, no. 1 (March 1991): 91–98. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1442-9993.1991.tb01484.x.
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Harper, Michael J., Michael A. McCarthy, Rodney van der Ree, and Julian C. Fox. "Overcoming bias in ground-based surveys of hollow-bearing trees using double-sampling." Forest Ecology and Management 190, no. 2-3 (March 2004): 291–300. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2003.10.022.
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Harper, Michael J., Michael A. McCarthy, and Rodney van der Ree. "The abundance of hollow-bearing trees in urban dry sclerophyll forest and the effect of wind on hollow development." Biological Conservation 122, no. 2 (March 2005): 181–92. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.biocon.2004.07.003.
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Bilney, Rohan J. "Geographic variation in the diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) at a local scale." Australian Journal of Zoology 61, no. 5 (2013): 372. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/zo13048.
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This study reports the diet of the powerful owl (Ninox strenua) in East Gippsland, from a dataset of 2009 vertebrate prey items collected from 53 sites. Mammals dominated the diet at all sites, but birds were also consumed regularly. The greater glider (Petauroides volans) was the dominant dietary item across the region in terms of both frequency of consumption and biomass contribution. There was geographical dietary variation between coastal and foothill forest sites, with the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) and birds consumed more frequently in foothill forests, whereas the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) was frequently consumed only in coastal forests. Typically, a higher percentage of powerful owl diet comprised birds closer to cleared land. The dietary reliance upon hollow-dependent mammals in foothill forests (averaging >70%) is of conservation concern, especially when non-hollow-dependent prey are rare. Forest management activities, especially logging, that reduce densities of hollow-bearing trees in the landscape are therefore likely to decrease the long-term carrying capacity of the landscape for the powerful owl.
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Beaven, Utete, and Mwedzi Tongayi. "Availability of hollow bearing trees and their utilization by small animals in Cawston Ranch, Zimbabwe." African Journal of Ecology 51, no. 2 (October 8, 2012): 295–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aje.12035.
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Beaven, Utete, and Mwedzi Tongayi. "Availability of hollow-bearing trees and their utilization by small animals in Cawston ranch, Zimbabwe." African Journal of Ecology 51, no. 3 (December 20, 2012): 466–70. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/aje.12057.
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Treby, DonnaLouise, JamesGuy Castley, and Jean-Marc Hero. "Forest Conservation Policy Implementation Gaps: Consequences for the Management of Hollow-bearing Trees in Australia." Conservation and Society 12, no. 1 (2014): 16. http://dx.doi.org/10.4103/0972-4923.132122.
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Gibbons, P., and D. B. Lindenmayer. "Issues associated with the retention of hollow-bearing trees within eucalypt forests managed for wood production." Forest Ecology and Management 83, no. 3 (July 1996): 245–79. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/0378-1127(95)03692-x.
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Suchocka, Marzena, Magdalena Wojnowska-Heciak, Magdalena Błaszczyk, Agnieszka Gawłowska, Joanna Ciemniewska, Agata Jarska, Jakub Heciak, and Beata Pachnowska. "Old trees are perceived as a valuable element of the municipal forest landscape." PeerJ 10 (January 12, 2022): e12700. http://dx.doi.org/10.7717/peerj.12700.
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Urban trees are important to maintain biodiversity and, therefore, need public acceptance. Few studies, however, have addressed the topic of social acceptability of old trees. The aim of this research was to examine city residents’ perception of old trees, including hollow-bearing ones, mainly in the aspect of safety and aesthetics. A total of 448 Warsaw municipal forest’ users expressed their opinions by completing an online questionnaire. Several methods were used to analyse the results of the study: the Chi-square test of independence, the Kruskal–Wallis H test, the Mann–Whitney U test and the Quartimax method of factor rotation analysis. The results revealed a correlation between the frequency of forest visits and the level of sensitivity toward old trees, which translates to less radical notion of danger and less radical decisions about cutting such trees down. Age of the respondents (56+) was a factor contributing to higher willingness to protect and care for old trees. The results also indicated that outdoor activity in the urban forest may increase ancient trees acceptance by developing emotional connection with them, and eventually contribute to their protection.
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Treby, Donna Louise, and James Guy Castley. "The impacts of historical land-use and landscape variables on hollow-bearing trees along an urbanisation gradient." Urban Forestry & Urban Greening 15 (2016): 190–99. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2016.01.002.
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Rueegger, Niels, Ross L. Goldingay, Brad Law, and Leroy Gonsalves. "Limited use of bat boxes in a rural landscape: implications for offsetting the clearing of hollow-bearing trees." Restoration Ecology 27, no. 4 (January 13, 2019): 901–11. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/rec.12919.
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Cotsell, Nigel, Mark Fisher, David Scotts, and Mark Cameron. "Identifying High Value Arboreal Habitat in forested areas using high-resolution digital imagery." Pacific Conservation Biology 22, no. 4 (2016): 367. http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/pc15031.
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Old-growth forest is recognised as a high-value habitat in conservation assessment programs because of its importance to hollow-dependent species. Previous mapping undertaken at regional scales does not map patches of old forest smaller than 5 ha. While small patches of old forest may not be as ecologically important as large areas they provide opportunities for connectivity and specific habitat resources for arboreal wildlife within a broader landscape matrix. Previously, smaller patches of old forest have been overlooked because the tools have not been available to map at finer scales. This study incorporates a methodology using recent advances in technology, including aerial photography, to map old forest at a fine scale for the purposes of land-use assessment and planning. The term ‘High Value Arboreal Habitat’ is introduced to convey the ecological importance of hollow-bearing trees as part of a wider identification and mapping of high-value habitats across the landscape. The assessment was undertaken across the forested areas of the Coffs Harbour Local Government Area using high-resolution digital imagery. It is anticipated that the High Value Arboreal Habitat mapping process will be adopted by a range of stakeholders and natural resource managers to better manage and conserve these old forests across the landscape whatever their size.