Selection of sap feed trees by yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) in north-eastern Queensland, Australia – implications for site-specific habitat management

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 10
Author(s):  
S. R. Heise-Pavlov ◽  
T. Chizinski ◽  
N. E. Walker
Keyword(s):  
Resource Selection ◽  
Habitat Management ◽  
Species Conservation ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Site Specific ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Petaurus Australis ◽  
Selection Of

Knowledge of site-specific ecological factors affecting a species’ resource selection is essential to assist in habitat management for a species’ conservation, particularly for species with narrow resource width. This study aimed to assess whether microhabitat variables affect the selection of Eucalyptus resinifera sap feed trees by yellow-bellied gliders (Petaurus australis) in north-eastern Australia. Microhabitat variables were measured in a simplified way around glider-selected and -non-selected Eucalyptus resinifera trees. Canopy cover and percentage of burnt trunk below breast height were identified as influential on feed tree selection, with feed trees showing a higher percentage of burnt trunk and a lower surrounding canopy cover. While the direct effect of fire on a potential feed tree remains to be clarified, fire may affect the structural composition of vegetation leading to lower surrounding canopy cover around potential feed trees. Thus, any forest management, such as logging and grazing should be practiced with great caution since they affect structural features of the vegetation that may contribute to the selection of feed trees by this species and may also affect its alternative food resources.

Conservation of a rare arboreal mammal: habitat preferences of the Lumholtz's tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus lumholtzi

2011 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 5 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sigrid R. Heise-Pavlov ◽  
Sara L. Jackrel ◽  
Spenser Meeks
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Selection ◽  
Function Analysis ◽  
Habitat Preferences ◽  
Structural Features ◽  
Main Trunk ◽  
Faecal Pellets ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Dendrolagus Lumholtzi ◽  
Selection Of

Success of conservation efforts of large and cryptic mammals is often limited due to a lack of knowledge of their habitat preferences. This study investigates factors that affect the habitat selection of the rare Lumholtz’s tree-kangaroo, Dendrolagus lumholtzi, using signs of its activity. The presence and absence of scratch marks on tree trunks and faecal pellets within a 100-cm radius around them were surveyed on 23 ha within a 65-ha large fragment of rainforest on the Atherton Tablelands, north-eastern Australia in order to classify trees as ‘actively used’ or ‘inactive’. Structural features of the 315 surveyed tree trunks were also recorded. Using discriminant function analysis, ‘actively used’ trees were found to have no epiphytes on the main trunk, less obstruction by neighbouring trees, shrubs or lianas within a 0.5-m radius of the trunk (particularly in the eastern direction), and a smaller diameter at breast height than ‘inactive’ trees. Smaller tree trunks and less obstruction may facilitate a more rapid movement into the canopy as well as provide potential escape routes from predators. More specific knowledge on factors that affect habitat selection of the Lumholtz’ tree-kangaroo will help in a reclassification of the threatened status of this species and assist in more effective conservation efforts.

Lizard diversity on a rainforest - savanna altitude gradient in north-eastern Australia

2011 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 86 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Kutt ◽  
B. L. Bateman ◽  
E. P. Vanderduys
Keyword(s):  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Radiant Heat ◽  
Natural Experiments ◽  
Lizard Species ◽  
Altitudinal Distribution ◽  
Altitude Gradient ◽  
Lower Altitude ◽  
Diverse Range ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern

Mountain ecosystems act as natural experiments for investigating the relationship between environmental heterogeneity and species diversity. A review of the global altitudinal distribution of reptiles identified a diverse range of patterns driven by climate and taxonomy. No Australian examples were included in this analysis. We addressed this gap by surveying the reptile assemblage along an altitude gradient from upland rainforest (~1000 m) through to open savanna woodlands (~350 m) in north-eastern Australia. Reptiles were sampled on four separate occasions between May 2006 and November 2007. Thirty-six species, representing seven families, were recorded along the gradient. As we used only diurnal active searching, snakes and nocturnal geckoes were probably under-sampled; thus we considered only lizards in the analysis of altitude pattern. Lizard species richness peaked at the mid-altitudes (600–900 m, 11–12 spp.) and abundance highest at the lower (<500 m) and higher (>800 m) zones. This pattern is likely a factor of both the increase in radiant heat sources (reduced canopy cover) and increased species packing due to the diversity of niches available (presence of rock cover and increase in saxicolous species). In the lower-altitude sites the high abundance of few species seems linked to the dominance of disturbance-tolerant species. We conclude that lizard richness and abundance patterns on this transect are not necessarily exhibiting a mid-domain effect, but instead are a function of species-specific ecological and habitat requirements.

Extensive range contraction predicted under climate warming for a gliding mammal in north-eastern Australia

2019 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 99
Author(s):  
Fathimah Handayani ◽  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
Darren McHugh ◽  
Nicole Leslie
Keyword(s):  
Climate Warming ◽  
New South ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Core Habitat ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Future Warming ◽  
Petaurus Australis

We used MaxEnt to model the current distribution of the yellow-bellied glider (Petaurus australis) and to predict the likely shift in the species’ future distribution under climate-warming scenarios in the Wet Tropics (WT) Bioregion in north Queensland and in the South-eastern Queensland (SEQld) Bioregion, which encompasses south-eastern Queensland and north-eastern New South Wales. Bioclimatic layers were used to generate models from 57 independent records in the WT and 428 records in SEQld. The modelled distribution of core habitat under current climate showed a good fit to the data, encompassing 91% and 88% of the records in each area, respectively. Modelling of future warming scenarios suggests that large contractions in distribution could occur in both bioregions. In the WT, 98% of core habitat is predicted to be lost under low warming (1°C increase) and 100% under high warming (2−3°C increase) by 2070. In SEQld, 80% of core habitat is predicted to be lost under low warming and 90% under high warming by 2070. These results suggest that this species is highly vulnerable to climate warming and highlight the importance of focusing conservation efforts at the bioregional scale. There is also a need to identify potential thermal refuges and ensure habitat connectivity.

The effects of vegetation structure on the birds in a tropical savanna woodland in north-eastern Australia

2006 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 139 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. L. Tassicker ◽  
A. S. Kutt ◽  
E. Vanderduys ◽  
S. Mangru
Keyword(s):  
Bird Species ◽  
Canopy Cover ◽  
Aerial Photographs ◽  
Woody Vegetation ◽  
Bird Species Richness ◽  
Widespread Species ◽  
Savanna Woodland ◽  
Bird Richness ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
North Eastern

Management of the dynamics of woody vegetation in Australia’s tropical savannas is a vexing issue for both pastoralists and conservation biologists. In savanna regions around the world, increasing density of woody vegetation contributes to declines in pastoral productivity, but its effects on native fauna are largely unknown. In this paper we examine the avifauna in savanna woodlands of varying structure in the Desert Uplands bioregion, Queensland. Vegetation cover maps derived from aerial photographs were used to choose 60 sites, across 4 cattle stations. We sampled sites mapped at 30–45% and 45–60% foliage cover, and areas which previously had these levels of cover but had been mechanically modified, both by broad scale clearing and selective thinning. Between May and June 2004, we measured a range of habitat variables and sampled the birds at each site. Bird species composition varied significantly between treatments. Bird richness and frequency was greatest in intact vegetation. Thirteen species of birds were most frequently encountered in sites with 30–45% canopy cover, compared with 10 species in the 45–60% cover sites, 4 species in the thinned sites and 7 in the cleared sites. Our results suggest that increasing density of woody vegetation in savanna woodland may be to the advantage of some savanna bird species. Mechanical modification to reduce woody vegetation appears to also benefit some common, widespread species, but has a generally negative overall effect on bird species richness.

Resource selection by grazing herbivores on post-fire regrowth in a West African woodland savanna

2007 ◽  
Vol 34 (2) ◽  
pp. 77 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erik Klop ◽  
Janneke van Goethem ◽  
Hans H. de Iongh
Keyword(s):  
Resource Selection ◽  
West African ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Resource Selection Functions ◽  
Risk Of Predation ◽  
Savanna Fires ◽  
Grass Sward ◽  
Burnt Areas ◽  
Good Visibility ◽  
Selection Of

The preference of grazing herbivores to feed on grass regrowth following savanna fires rather than on unburnt grass swards is widely recognised. However, there is little information on which factors govern patterns of resource selection within burnt areas. In this study, we attempted to disentangle the effects of different habitat and grass sward characteristics on the utilisation of post-fire regrowth by nine species of ungulates in a fire-dominated woodland savanna in north Cameroon. We used resource-selection functions based on logistic regression. Overall, the resource-selection functions identified the time elapsed since burning as the most influential parameter in determining probability of use by ungulates, as most species strongly selected swards that were recently burned. This pattern might be related to nutrient levels in the grass sward. In addition, most species selected areas with high grass cover and avoided grass swards with high amounts of dead stem material. This is likely to increase bite mass and, hence, intake rates. The avoidance of high tree cover by some species may suggest selection for open areas with good visibility and, hence, reduced risk of predation. Body mass seemed to have no effect on differential selection of post-fire regrowth, irrespective of feeding style.

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