Comparing the thermal suitability of nest-boxes and tree-hollows for the conservation-management of arboreal marsupials

2017 ◽  
Vol 209 ◽  
pp. 341-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica A. Rowland ◽  
Natalie J. Briscoe ◽  
Kathrine A. Handasyde
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Management ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials

Do feathertail gliders show a preference for nest box design?

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (6) ◽  
pp. 484 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Matthew J. Grimson ◽  
Geoffrey C. Smith
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Local Populations ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
North East ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eucalypt Plantations ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Breeding Groups

Although nest boxes have considerable application in the research and management of hollow-using arboreal marsupials, few studies have assessed whether species show a preference for particular nest box designs. This study aimed to determine whether the feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus) showed a preference when offered four different designs, each of which had been used in earlier studies. We established one of each design in 45 plots across five locations, spanning north-east New South Wales and south-east Queensland. Feathertail gliders used 34 nest boxes at four locations but avoided a medium-sized rear-entry box with a 45-mm-diameter entrance. No clear preference was shown for three designs with narrow (≤25 mm) entrances. Feathertail gliders used 15 small rear-entry boxes, 10 large slit-entrance boxes and 9 wedge-shaped bat boxes. A slight preference was shown by breeding groups to occur in the non-wedge boxes compared with the wedge boxes. Squirrel gliders (Petaurus norfolcensis) used 51% of medium rear-entry boxes at four locations. This may account for the avoidance of this box design by feathertail gliders at these locations. Breeding and prolonged use of nest boxes by resident feathertail gliders and squirrel gliders at two locations in eucalypt plantations suggest that nest boxes can support local populations of arboreal marsupials where tree hollows are absent or scarce.

Use of Tree Hollows by Two Sympatric Gliding Possums, The Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis and The Sugar Glider, P. breviceps.

1998 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 79
Author(s):  
B.J. Traill ◽  
A. Lill
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Nest ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Forestry Practices ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Sugar Glider ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Petaurus Breviceps ◽  
Artificial Nest Boxes

Populations of the Squirrel Glider, Petaurus norfolcensis and the Sugar Glider, P. breviceps, are often sympatric and the two species are potential competitors for tree hollows. Their use of hollows and artificial nest-boxes was examined in a Box-Ironbark forest where natural hollows are scarce due to past forestry practices. We found gliders used hollows in the boles and branches of trees and in coppicing stumps. There was considerable interspecific overlap in the use of hollows and nest-boxes, both by gliders and other birds and mammals. Both gliders preferred hollows and nest-boxes with narrow entrances (<50 mm diameter). Petaurus breviceps preferred nest-boxes and possibly natural tree hollows with entrances too narrow for the larger P. norfolcensis. When abundant nest-boxes of this type were introduced at the study site, P. breviceps numbers increased and then decreased when the nest-boxes were removed. The results suggest that the larger P. norfolcensis monopolise the best available hollows. Petaurus breviceps numbers may have been limited by a lack of suitable hollows.

The value of nest boxes in the research and management of Australian hollow-using arboreal marsupials

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Georgia L. Beyer ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
Management Tool ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Species Introduction ◽  
Management Tools ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Survey Techniques ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus ◽  
Key Aspects

Nest boxes have been recognised as research and management tools for arboreal marsupials in Australia for over 20 years. We review the published literature with the aim of describing the scope of studies conducted in Australia thus far and providing guidance to future research. We recognise three types of application in research: (1) detection of species, (2) study of a species’ ecology, and (3) investigation of box designs preferred by different species. Several species of arboreal marsupial may be detected more readily in nest boxes than by conventional survey techniques, allowing description of key aspects of their ecology; e.g. feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), eastern pygmy possum (Cercartetus nanus) and brush-tailed phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa). Identifying the most favoured nest-box design for any species has implications for detection and management uses of nest boxes. More research is needed but preliminary findings suggest that species prefer narrow entrance holes, while height of the nest box above 3 m may be inconsequential. We recognise three types of management application: (1) species introduction, (2) support of populations of endangered species, and (3) strategic placement such as to enhance habitat connectivity. Currently there have been few attempts to use nest boxes to manage arboreal marsupials but further research is needed to realise their potential as a management tool.

The use of nest boxes by arboreal marsupials in the forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (3) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
C. I. MacGregor ◽  
R. B. Cunningham ◽  
R. D. Incoll ◽  
M. Crane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Mountain Ash ◽  
The Common ◽  
Central Highlands ◽  
Leadbeater's Possum ◽  
Ringtail Possum

The results are reported of a nest-box study conducted in two locations in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria (south-eastern Australia) to compare usage of different nest-box designs located at different heights in trees. A total of 96 nest boxes was established using a rigorous experimental design – two regions (Powelltown and Toolangi State Forests), two forest age classes (20-year post-logging regrowth and 60-year fire- and salvage-logging regrowth), two nest-box designs (large boxes with large entrance holes and small boxes with small entrance holes), and two heights at which nest boxes were attached to trees (3 m and 8 m above the ground). The study entailed setting out four nest boxes at each of 24 sites to meet the design criteria. Evidence of occupancy by vertebrates was recorded in a total of 19 of 96 boxes on 11 of 24 sites site during regular inspections over more than three years. Thirteen boxes were used by Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri), six by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus cunninghami) and seven by the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus). The common ringtail possum and mountain brushtail possum were seen only in high–large boxes but Leadbeater's possum used all but the low–large boxes. There was evidence of spatial dependence in usage patterns, with all four boxes at a given site showing signs of eventually being occupied. Only two nest boxes located in mountain ash forest regenerating after the 1939 wildfires were occupied. Relatively limited use of nest boxes supports concerns about the use of a nest box over large scales and long timeframes as an effective recovery tool for species threatened by the loss and subsequent shortage in the numbers of naturally occurring hollows.

The use of hollows and dreys by the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in different vegetation types

2008 ◽  
Vol 56 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
David B. Lindenmayer ◽  
Christopher MacGregor ◽  
Alan Welsh ◽  
Christine F. Donnelly ◽  
Darren Brown
Keyword(s):  
Nest Site Selection ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Nesting Biology ◽  
Study Region ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Tree hollows are a key habitat component for a large number of Australian vertebrates and understanding how these resources are used is critical for developing successful management and conservation strategies for particular species or sets of species. Some hollow-using vertebrates are capable of using other kinds of nest sites. The common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) is one of these species and it is known to use tree hollows and also to construct nests (dreys) made from sticks and leaves. Nest site selection by P. peregrinus may be a function of hollow availability. This proposition and several related questions were tested in a radio-tracking study that examined patterns of tree hollow and drey use by P. peregrinus in a range of vegetation types in Booderee National Park in Jervis Bay Territory. In addition, this study explored whether hollow and drey use was influenced by a wildfire that occurred in the study region in late 2003. It was found that use of hollows or dreys appeared to be a function of the availability of these resources. Most individuals were either primarily hollow users or primarily drey users. These patterns conformed to differences we recorded in hollow abundance between vegetation types: drey use was most pronounced in shrubland where hollows were rare and hollow use was most prevalent in forest where hollows were abundant. We found no evidence to suggest that hollow or drey use was influenced by fire. There was a trend pattern in our data suggesting that home-range size of P. peregrinus was larger in burnt versus unburnt sites but this effect was not statistically significant. Evidence was found that P. peregrinus selected particular kinds of trees as nest sites. Hollows in dead trees were more often used than those in living trees. Smaller dreys were most likely to be used. Several kinds of nest-selection effects that were contrary to the findings of studies of other arboreal marsupials were identified. These included more frequent use of smaller diameter trees with fewer cavities. The reasons for these unexpected results remain unclear. Findings such as those quantifying gender differences in the frequency of drey use, as well as marked between-vegetation-type differences in nest-type selection, indicate that nest use and nesting behaviour in P. peregrinus may be more complex than previously recognised. These findings also indicate that a deep understanding of the nesting biology of a species may require careful studies of both sexes, across a range of environments, and where disturbances have and have not occurred.

Does nest box design influence use by the eastern pygmy-possum?

2012 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niels N. Rueegger ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Lyndon O. Brookes
Keyword(s):  
Local Population ◽  
Adult Males ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Horizontal Cavity ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus ◽  
Vertical Cavity

Managing the availability of shelter sites is central to the conservation of vertebrate wildlife dependent on tree hollows (cavities) because hollow abundance has been reduced in many landscapes and trees do not typically acquire hollows until they are at least 100 years old. Artificial hollows (nest boxes) provide one option to offset local shortages in tree hollows. However, knowledge of preferred designs is required for this to be effective. We investigated nest box preference by the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus), a small marsupial recognised as threatened across part of its geographic range in eastern Australia. We installed nest boxes of four different designs in each of 30 plots where tree hollows were scarce. Designs showed no significant difference in thermal profile. We captured 223 adult and subadult pygmy-possums within 78% of the 120 boxes. Breeding females used boxes more frequently than adult males and showed a preference among the designs whereas males did not. Females favoured plywood nest boxes over a PVC design offering a horizontal cavity. Use of the PVC design increased when repositioned to present a vertical cavity. Thus, breeding females are selective of the cavities used to rear young, which may limit local population size.

How hot do nest boxes get in the tropics? A study of nest boxes for the endangered mahogany glider

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 441 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Isaac ◽  
M. Parsons ◽  
B. A. Goodman
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Extreme Temperatures ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Naturally Occurring ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Management Plans ◽  
Study Sites ◽  
The Tropics ◽  
Recovery Program

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.

Does temperature variation influence nest box use by the eastern pygmy-possum?

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (1) ◽  
pp. 77
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay
Keyword(s):  
Heat Stress ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Maximum Temperature ◽  
Occupancy Modelling ◽  
Nest Box ◽  
Ambient Temperatures ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Maximum Temperatures ◽  
Cercartetus Nanus

Cavity-using birds and mammals reliant on nest boxes may be negatively affected by the poor thermal buffering of nest boxes. I investigated whether nest box use by the eastern pygmy-possum (Cercartetus nanus) over a 4-year period was influenced by maximum ambient temperature, which ranged from 15.6 to 34.9°C during survey occasions. Occupancy modelling of 144 site detections over 30 survey occasions suggested that a model that included maximum temperature had little support whereas a model involving time-varying detection (i.e. detection differed across sample occasions) was the most plausible. I also investigated how temperatures in nest boxes and tree hollows varied over the four hottest days of summer, including one day when the temperature reached 40.6°C. Maximum temperatures were 3–4°C cooler in plywood nest boxes and 5–8°C cooler in tree hollows compared with ambient temperatures. Together, these results suggest that eastern pygmy-possums using nest boxes in coastal areas are unlikely to experience heat stress. Cavity-using species are a heterogeneous group such that empirical studies are required to identify those that may be vulnerable to heat stress if nest boxes are used to provide population support.

Den trees, hollow-bearing trees and nest boxes: management of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) nest sites in tropical Australian woodland

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tina Ball ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Judith Wake
Keyword(s):  
Size Class ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Breast Height ◽  
Nest Sites ◽  
Nest Boxes ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Tropical Woodlands ◽  
Tree Hollow

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.

Relationships between bird species and characteristics of woodland remnants in central New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 95 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. A. Seddon ◽  
S. V Briggs ◽  
S. J. Doyle
Keyword(s):  
Conservation Management ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Bird Species ◽  
Shrub Cover ◽  
Woodland Birds ◽  
Retention Management ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Future Viability

This study investigated relationships between birds and characteristics of woodland remnants in the central wheat/sheep belt of New South Wales, in order to provide information for conservation management of woodland birds and their habitats in this region. Birds were surveyed in standard area plots in 36 woodland remnants, which ranged from 1 to 1 376 hectares in size, in the central Lachlan catchment in the wheat/sheep belt of New South Wales. Habitat (e.g., shrub cover) and landscape (measures of isolation) characteristics of the remnants were recorded also. Presence/absence occurrences of 20 or more bird species, mostly woodland birds, were positively related to remnant area, shrub cover, number of shrub species, pine cover, fallen logs and branches, and number of remnants within two and five kilometres of the survey remnant. Species of birds that are habitat generalists showed negative or no relationships with these habitat and landscape variables. Richness of all bird species was positively related to remnant area and shrub cover. Number of woodland bird species was positively related to remnant area, shrub cover and tree hollows. Lower species diversities in smaller remnants were most likely caused by lower chances of survival or of successful breeding in small remnants, effects of isolation on the ability of birds to recolonize smaller remnants, small remnants being of insufficient area for some species to form territories, and generally poor habitat quality in small remnants. Retention, management and enhancement of woodland remnants 10 to 20 hectares or larger in size with good understorey cover are necessary for the future viability of woodland birds in the wheat/sheep belt of New South Wales.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document