Koala feeding and roosting trees in the Campbelltown area of New South Wales.

2001 ◽  
Vol 23 (2) ◽  
pp. 173 ◽  
Author(s):  
AF Sluiter ◽  
RL Close ◽  
SJ Ward
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Quality ◽  
New South ◽  
Relative Importance ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Separate Study ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Preferred Species

IN assessing habitat quality for koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus), the relative importance of trees used for food and for roosting must be established. Robbins and Russell (1978) and Hindell et al. (1985) suggested that trees in which P. cinereus roosted by day reliably predicted the trees they browsed. Tun (1993) and Hasegawa (1995), however, using leaf cuticle analysis of P. cinereus faecal pellets, questioned that suggestion . Phillips and Callaghan (2000) investigated preferences of P. cinereus in the Campbelltown area, 40 km southwest of Sydney, by recording the presence of faecal pellets beneath trees in survey quadrats. They concluded that Eucalyptus punctata (grey gum) and E. agglomerata (blue-leaved stringy bark) were preferred species on shale-based soils. However, this method still does not distinguish between trees used for roosting and those used for feeding. Cuticle analysis was therefore used at Campbelltown as a test of dietary preference (Table 1). These data on species use were compared with sightings from a radio-tracking study of the same individuals (Table 2), in a separate study (Ward 2002).

The protocols for koala research using radio-collars: a review based on its application in a tall coastal forest in New South Wales and the implications for future research.

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 187 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. L. Radford ◽  
J. McKee ◽  
R. L. Goldingay ◽  
R. P. Kavanagh
Keyword(s):  
Best Practice ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Future Research ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Research Committee ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Current Form ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Pine Creek

In 1996, guidelines were produced for capture and radio-tracking protocols for koala (Phascolarctos cinereus) research within New South Wales (NSW). An integrated project commenced in 1998 to examine P. cinereus ecology and health status in Pine Creek State Forest. This project utilised intensive clinical and pathological assessment protocols on captured P. cinereus in combination with radio-tracking and ecological investigations. The methods used in this project were referred to the NSW Koala Research Committee (KRC) for review in mid 1999 due to the political profile of the study area. The KRC assessed the project protocols and reviewed the original guidelines incorporating some of the protocols used in the Pine Creek project. The outcome is a new set of protocols for P. cinereus research within NSW which are more explicit and restrictive than those applied to P. cinereus research elsewhere or to research on other species. In their current form the new guidelines require a substantial investment in time, equipment, personnel and finance; factors that may deter or restrict future, comprehensive ecological research on P. cinereus populations. They inadequately provide for some practices we believe important in minimising the invasiveness of P. cinereus capture. We propose amendments to the guidelines in the areas of personnel required, behavioural assessment, capture methods, processing safety and tracking frequency. We suggest that these amendments will render the guidelines more accessible to a broader range of projects, and easier to apply under field conditions while preserving the intent to maintain P. cinereus welfare and research best practice.

Habitat preference, diet and demography of the smoky mouse, Pseudomys fumeus (Rodentia : Muridae), in south-eastern New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 89 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fred Ford ◽  
Andrew Cockburn ◽  
Linda Broome
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Preference ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Habitat Choice ◽  
Early Spring ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Dietary Preference ◽  
Winter Diet ◽  
South Wales ◽  
High Level

The smoky mouse, Pseudomys fumeus, is an endangered rodent for which ecological information is lacking across much of its range. This paper provides the first detailed study of the local diet and habitat preference of P. fumeus since 1980, conducted on the recently discovered Nullica population in New South Wales. Diet and trap-revealed movements were examined in conjunction with 18 characteristics of habitat to determine the factors influencing habitat choice. Multiple logistic regression of habitat variables and capture locations revealed a floristically determined preference for heath habitat characterised by Epacris impressa, Monotoca scoparia, Leptospermum trinervium, Xanthorrhoea spp. and a variety of legumes. Hypogeal fungi and seeds were the most common food items in the diet of P. fumeus. Fungi were most abundant in winter diet, while seeds and fruit became dominant in late spring and summer. The spring and summer preference for ridge-top heath habitats observed in this study is probably the result of this dietary preference. Resident females constituted 71% of the population in early spring. However, there was a severe decline in numbers of female mice during early spring, and resident males also disappeared from the population. Causes of the decline were unclear. Five of eleven males captured during this study were transient, while no transient females were caught. The sudden decline in the study population, combined with the patchy distribution of suitable habitat and high level of male transience, suggests that P. fumeus form a metapopulation in the Nullica region.

Further Studies of Lung Parasites (Nematoda) From Australian Marsupials.

1984 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 283 ◽  
Author(s):  
DM Spratt
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Single Species ◽  
Northern Territory ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Monotypic Genus ◽  
New Host ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Histological Sections ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Host Parasite

Seven new taxa in two families of metastrongyloid nematodes are described from the lungs of five host species belonging to the Dasyuridae, Phalangeridae and Macropodidae. Filaroides (Filaroides) athertonensis, sp. nov., (Filaroididae) is described from Thylogale stigmatica Gould in north Queensland. The following species of Marsupostrongylus Mackerras & Sandars, 1953, (Angiostrongylidae) are described as new: M. parallelus, sp. nov., from Satanellus hallucatus (Could) in the Northern Territory; M. pseudominesi, sp. nov., from Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii (Ramsay) in north Queensland; M. vandiemeni, sp. nov., from macro pus rufogriseus rufogriseus (Desmarest) in Tasmania; and M. wallabiae, sp. nov., from Wallabia bicolor (Desmarest) and Macropus rufogriseus banksianus (Quoy & Gaimard) in New South Wales. To the formerly monotypic genus Filostrongylus Mackenas, 1955, (Angiostrongylidae) is added F. tridendriticus, sp. nov., described from Trichosurus vulpecula (Kerr) in Tasmania. The genus Cosmostrongylus (Angiostrongylidae) is described as new, with a single species C. conspectus, sp. nov., from Thylogale stigmatica Gould in north Queensland. Durikainema sp. (Muspiceoidea: Robertdollfusidae) is diagnosed in histological sections of the lungs of Phascolarctos cinereus (Goldfuss), Macropus agilis (Could) and M. giganteus Shaw. Keys to the genera of lung parasites and to all species of Filaroides, Marsupostrongylus and Filostrongylus known from Australian marsupials, new host and new geographic records of known taxa, and a host-parasite list of lung parasites of Australian marsupials, including those known only from histological sections of lung tissue, are provided.

Tree species preferences of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) in the Campbelltown area south-west of Sydney, New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (5) ◽  
pp. 509 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
Nutrient Status ◽  
Limiting Factors ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
South West ◽  
Independent Field ◽  
Preferred Species ◽  
Species Preferences

Tree species preferences of a koala population inhabiting a small area of forest and woodland in the Campbelltown area, south-west of Sydney, were investigated over a two-year period. In total, 2499 trees from 45 independent field sites were assessed, with tree species preferences determined on the basis of a comparative analysis of proportional data relating to the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets. The results established that grey gum (Eucalyptus punctata) and blue-leaved stringybark (E. agglomerata) were most preferred by koalas in the study area, but only when growing on shale-based substrates. The preferential utilisation of E. punctata and E. agglomerata on substrates derived from shales, compared with that recorded for the same species on sandstones, suggests that their use by koalas was influenced by differences in nutrient status between substrates. Regression analyses further identified a trend for use of at least one of the preferred species (E. punctata) to be more commonly associated with larger trees. Results are discussed in terms of their relevance to issues of resource availability and the need to reconsider, by way of a hierarchical approach, the use of food trees by koalas generally. The presence of E. punctata and E. agglomerata and their occurrence in conjunction with shale-based substrates are considered to be important limiting factors affecting the present-day distribution and abundance of koalas in the Campbelltown area.

Variation in the home-range size of the squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis)

2010 ◽  
Vol 32 (2) ◽  
pp. 183 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David J. Sharpe ◽  
Matt D. J. Dobson
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
Habitat Quality ◽  
New South ◽  
Home Range Size ◽  
Range Size ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Minimum Convex Polygon ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Range Estimate

The home-range area of animals may vary geographically and in response to habitat quality. We investigated the size of squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) home ranges near Brisbane, Queensland, and at Tea Gardens on the central coast of New South Wales. Habitat at both sites had been partially cleared and had been subjected to grazing for several decades. Twelve gliders were tracked over an average of 3.5 months in Brisbane. The fixed kernel (FK95%) home-range estimate averaged 4.6 ± 0.7 (s.e.) ha while the minimum convex polygon (MCP100%) averaged 6.7 ± 1.5 ha. Six gliders were tracked over 1 month at Tea Gardens. The FK95% home-range estimate averaged 14.8 ± 2.4 ha while the MCP100% averaged 13.3 ± 3.1 ha. The Tea Gardens values are derived from relatively short periods and are likely to underestimate the areas used. This study demonstrates that home-range size can vary substantially in the squirrel glider. This has implications for understanding how this species responds to variation in habitat quality and highlights the need for site-specific studies to inform aspects of management.

Aversive behaviour by koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) during the course of a music festival in northern New South Wales, Australia

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (2) ◽  
pp. 158 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips
Keyword(s):  
Home Range ◽  
New South ◽  
Monitoring Program ◽  
Home Ranges ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Specific Stimulus ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Music Festival ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Core Areas

The effects of short-term disturbances that result in changes to movement patterns and/or behaviour of wildlife are poorly understood. In this study the movements of seven koalas were monitored before, during and after a five-day music festival. During the monitoring program koalas occupied home-range areas of 0.6–13 ha with one or more core areas of activity. Aversive behaviour in the form of evacuation of known ranging areas was demonstrated by three koalas that had core areas within 525 m of the approximate centre of the festival area, the associated responses comprising movements that were perpendicular to and away from staging areas where music was played. Responses contained within known ranging areas were observed in three other koalas whose core areas were located up to 600 m away. The type of response appeared related to the proximity of koala home ranges to music-staging areas, while the maximum distance associated with an aversive response was 725 m. Six of the radio-tracked koalas returned to their home-range areas following the conclusion of festival activities. While the specific stimulus eliciting aversive behaviour was not identified, responses in all instances were initiated during the musical phase of the festival event. The potential for short-term disturbances such as music festivals to significantly influence the ranging patterns of koalas warrants recognition of possible longer-term ecological consequences for planning and management purposes.

Combining a map-based public survey with an estimation of site occupancy to determine the recent and changing distribution of the koala in New South Wales

2009 ◽  
Vol 36 (3) ◽  
pp. 262 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Lunney ◽  
Mathew S. Crowther ◽  
Ian Shannon ◽  
Jessica V. Bryant
Keyword(s):  
Private Property ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Site Occupancy ◽  
Mail Survey ◽  
General Distribution ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Public Survey ◽  
Recent Developments

The present study demonstrates one solution to a problem faced by managers of species of conservation concern – how to develop broad-scale maps of populations, within known general distribution limits, for the purpose of targeted management action. We aimed to map the current populations of the koala, Phascolarctos cinereus, in New South Wales, Australia. This cryptic animal is widespread, although patchily distributed. It principally occurs on private property, and it can be hard to detect. We combined a map-based mail survey of rural and outer-urban New South Wales with recent developments in estimating site occupancy and species-detection parameters to determine the current (2006) distribution of the koala throughout New South Wales. We were able to define the distribution of koalas in New South Wales at a level commensurate with previous community and field surveys. Comparison with a 1986 survey provided an indication of changes in relative koala density across the state. The 2006 distribution map allows for local and state plans, including the 2008 New South Wales Koala Recovery Plan, to be more effectively implemented. The application of this combined technique can now be extended to a suite of other iconic species or species that are easily recognised by the public.

The impact of fire and dogs on Koalas at Port Stephens, New South Wales, using population viability analysis

2007 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 189 ◽  
Author(s):  
Danial Lunney ◽  
Shaan Gresser ◽  
Lisa E. O'neill ◽  
Alison Matthews ◽  
Jonathan Rhodes
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
Local Population ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Population Viability Analysis ◽  
Population Viability ◽  
Phascolarctos Cinereus ◽  
Viability Analysis ◽  
South Wales ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Port Stephens

The Port Stephens Koala Phascolarctos cinereus population has been regarded as one of the strongholds for Koalas in New South Wales. This study applied population viability analysis to investigate the impact of fire and predation by dogs on the viability of the local population. The rapid decline of the modelled Koala population under basic assumptions throws the assumed security of such large populations into question. In all the modelled management scenarios, reducing mortality had more influence than any other factor. Reducing the severity and frequency of large catastrophic fires improved the probability of survival for the population, though the modelled population size still declined sharply. Any management action to improve Koala survival must be accompanied by a reduction in mortality from dog attacks. Fires and dogs will have an ever greater impact on Koala populations as coastal forests become more fragmented and isolated by urban development, and their combined control will be needed to complement land-use planning measures to address habitat loss and fragmentation.

The tree species preferences of koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) inhabiting forest and woodland communities on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales

2000 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephen Phillips ◽  
John Callaghan ◽  
Valerie Thompson
Keyword(s):  
Tree Species ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Eucalyptus Species ◽  
Quaternary Deposits ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Species Preferences ◽  
Woodland Communities ◽  
Port Stephens

An assessment of the tree species preferences of koalas inhabiting forest and woodland communities growing on Quaternary deposits in the Port Stephens area, New South Wales, was undertaken between November 1994 and March 1996. Using a plot-based methodology, 3847 trees were sampled, comprising 15 Eucalyptus species and 17 species of non-eucalypt. Evidence of tree use by koalas, specifically the presence of koala faecal pellets, was recorded from beneath 10 Eucalyptus species and 9 species of non-eucalypt. Tree species preferences were determined by analyses of log- likelihood ratios derived from data based on the presence/absence of koala faecal pellets, rather than on gross counts. This approach confirmed significant variation in the levels of utilisation amongst and between different tree species, and that two in particular – swamp mahogany (E. robusta) and drooping red gum (E. parramattensis) – were most preferred. Increases in the levels of use of other tree species were also positively associated with the presence of E. robusta and/or E. parramattensis. Levels of utilisation of E. robusta and E. parramattensis did not alter significantly in response to changes in their respective densities, suggesting that the relative abundance of both was important in terms of understanding the carrying capacity of vegetation communities utilised by koalas. The results have established the success with which an enumerative approach to the interpretation of faecal pellet data can be utilised to clarify the tree species preferences of koalas. Application of the approach for habitat assessment and mapping purposes is also discussed.

Life under a sandstone overhang: the ecology of the eastern cave bat Vespadelus troughtoni in northern New South Wales.

2005 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
B Law ◽  
M Chidel ◽  
A Mong
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Rural Landscape ◽  
Native Vegetation ◽  
Radio Tracking ◽  
Tree Hollows ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Close Proximity ◽  
Air Space ◽  
Forested Areas

We studied the eastern cave bat (Vespadelus troughtoni) in northern New South Wales to provide ecological information on roosts and foraging. Radio-tracking of five bats was supplemented with opportunistic visits to roosts over five years. One male was radio-tracked and its roost was within a corrugated iron roof cavity of a dairy. Maternity roosts were located in the overhangs of large sandstone caves usually containing a dome at the rear. Searches of nearby cliff-lines found that small caves, crevices and overhangs were not used as day-roosts. Nor did any radio-tagged bat roost in tree hollows. Colony size of one tight roosting cluster was estimated as 240 individuals. Radio-tagged bats frequently switched roosts, while opportunistic visits over a five-year period often found caves unoccupied. Most movements between roosts were within 1.5 km, although one female moved about 3.75 km between roosts. One radiotagged female shifted roost to beneath the corrugated iron of a farm-shed that supported at least 50 bats, predominantly females with young. Observations of foraging radio-tagged and lighttagged bats were frequent along a stream lined with trees, but surrounded by cleared paddocks. Foraging was observed in the air space above the creek, interspersed with occasional rapid flights across paddocks (> 500 m). We suggest that a key requirement for V. troughtoni in the rural landscape is the presence of native vegetation in close proximity to roosts, although extensive forested areas may not be required. Education of local communities about the sensitivity of these bats at cave roosts would be an important contribution to their conservation.

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