Contrasting mammal responses to vegetation type and fire

2008 ◽  
Vol 35 (5) ◽  
pp. 395 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
C. MacGregor ◽  
A. Welsh ◽  
C. Donnelly ◽  
M. Crane ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fire History ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes ◽  
Ringtail Possum

The response of terrestrial mammals and arboreal marsupials to past burning history as well as a year prior to, and then for 4 years after, a major wildfire in 2003 at Booderee National Park, Jervis Bay Territory was quantified. The present study encompassed extensive repeated surveys at a set of 109 replicated sites stratified by vegetation type and fire history. It was found that most species exhibited significant differences in presence and abundance between major vegetation types. Detections of long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) increased significantly in all vegetation types surveyed, in both burnt and unburnt areas. Temporal patterns in captures of three species of small mammals (bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), swamp rat (Rattus lutreolus) and brown antechinus (Antechinus stuartii)) showed a trend for lower numbers of captures on burnt sites compared with unburnt sites. Three species of arboreal marsupials, common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), greater glider (Petauroides volans) and common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), were moderately common and all showed marked differences in abundance between vegetation types. Whereas P. peregrinus and P. volans exhibited a temporal decline between 2003 and 2006, T. vulpecula exhibited a general increase from 2003 levels. However, arboreal marsupial responses did not appear to be directly fire related.

Records of the Mammal Survey Group of Victoria, 1966-80, on the Distribution of Terrestrial Mammals in Victoria

1982 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 177 ◽  
Author(s):  
JWF Hampton ◽  
AE Howard ◽  
JBJL Poynton
Keyword(s):  
Vulpes Vulpes ◽  
The Other ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Terrestrial Mammals ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Antechinus Stuartii ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes ◽  
Hydromys Chrysogaster ◽  
Eleven Species ◽  
Mammal Survey

Records collected by the Mammal Survey Group of Victoria between 1966 and 1980 have been used to map the distributions of 48 species of mammals in Victoria. Data were collected by trapping, spotlighting and chance encounters. On the basis of these records, 11 species were widespread: these are Tachyglossus aculeatus, Omithorynchus anatinus, Antechinus stuartii, Trichosurus vulpecula, Pseudocheirus peregrinus, Macropus giganteus and M. fuliginosus, Wallabia bicolor, Hydromys chrysogaster, Rattus fuscipes, Mus musculus and Vulpes vulpes. Eleven species were very restricted: these are Antechinus minimus, Perameles gunnii, Cercartetus lepidus, Gymnobelideus leadbeuteri, Macropus robustus, Pseudomys apodemoides, P. shortridgei, P. fumeus, P. novaehollandiae, Mastacomys fuscus and Notomys mitchelli. The other 26 species have distributions between these two extremes.

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.

Positive edge effects for arboreal marsupials: an assessment of potential mechanisms

2006 ◽  
Vol 33 (2) ◽  
pp. 121 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elaine K. Harding ◽  
Shirin Gomez
Keyword(s):  
Edge Effects ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Strongly Correlated ◽  
Positive Edge ◽  
Relative Index ◽  
Arboreal Marsupials ◽  
Pellet Counts ◽  
Wet Tropics ◽  
Foliage Density ◽  
Ringtail Possum

In this study we examined the potential for positive edge effects on folivorous arboreal marsupials inhabiting upland rainforest in the Wet Tropics region of far north Queensland, Australia. We predicted that the folivores should have increased densities at edges relative to interior forest 90 m from the edge owing to the following causal factors, either separately or in combination: (a) increased foliar biomass, measured as vertical foliage density; and/or (b) increased abundance of preferred food trees. To test these hypotheses, we conducted surveys of the lemuroid ringtail possum (Hemibelideus lemuroides), the green ringtail possum (Pseudochirops archeri), the Herbert River ringtail possum (Pseudochirulus herbertensis) and the coppery brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula johnstonii) at two remnant rainforest sites with ‘hard’ edges such as roads or pasture. Because arboreal species are often difficult to survey accurately within forests, we utilised pellet counts as an index of the population and compared this to the common survey technique of night spotlighting. Our results indicated that pellet counts, combined over all species, were positively and strongly correlated with spotlighting results. Using pellet counts as a relative index of arboreal folivore populations, we found that edge transects contained a higher abundance of all species combined than did interior transects. Further, total foliage density in the 10–30-m vertical transect was found to be significantly correlated with total pellet counts at edge transects. Total preferred tree species was not significantly different between edge and interior transects. From these results we propose that foliage density, as a surrogate for biomass, is a possible mechanism explaining the higher abundance of arboreal marsupials at the edges of these two highland rainforest sites in north Queensland.

Will arboreal mammals use rope-bridges across a highway in eastern Australia?

2013 ◽  
Vol 35 (1) ◽  
pp. 30 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross L. Goldingay ◽  
David Rohweder ◽  
Brendan D. Taylor
Keyword(s):  
Camera Traps ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
The Pacific ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum ◽  
Squirrel Glider ◽  
Road Crossing ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Artificial structures designed to promote road-crossing by arboreal mammals are increasingly being installed in Australia but there is a limited understanding of their usefulness. We studied five 50–70-m-long rope-bridges (encompassing three designs) erected across the Pacific Highway, a major freeway in eastern Australia. Native arboreal mammals showed a willingness to explore these structures, being detected by camera traps on four rope-bridges. The vulnerable squirrel glider (Petaurus norfolcensis) crossed on one rope-bridge at least once every 4.5 weeks over a 32-week period. The feathertail glider (Acrobates pygmaeus), common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) and the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) were detected on one of two rope-bridges that extended under the freeway at creek crossings. The feathertail glider was detected on all three rope-bridge designs. Our results suggest that rope-bridges have the potential to restore habitat connectivity disrupted by roads for some arboreal mammals. Further research is needed to refine the design and placement of rope-bridges as well as to determine whether these structures promote gene flow.

Fire history and rotations in the New Brunswick Acadian Forest

1977 ◽  
Vol 7 (2) ◽  
pp. 285-294 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross W Wein ◽  
Janice M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
New Brunswick ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
High Elevation ◽  
Red Spruce ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Rotation Periods ◽  
Acadian Forest

From an analysis of fire records in New Brunswick for the period of 1920–1975, the fire history and rotation patterns are presented. Mean and median annual burns have been 12 000 ha (0.15% of the province) and 2500 ha (0.03% of the province), respectively, but the fire rotations have been widely different for different vegetation types. The most extensively burned vegetation type of red spruce – hemlock – pine has had a fire rotation period of 230 years. Hardwood and high-elevation conifer vegetation types have had fire rotation periods of over 1000 years.

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.

Age of road-killed common brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) and common ringtail possums (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) in an urban environment

2009 ◽  
Vol 31 (2) ◽  
pp. 137 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. A. Giffney ◽  
T. Russell ◽  
J. L. Kohen
Keyword(s):  
Population Ecology ◽  
Tooth Wear ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Trichosurus Vulpecula ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Declining Populations ◽  
Age Trends ◽  
The Common ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Road-associated mortality has been identified as having major ecological effects on small, fragmented and declining populations. Both the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) appear to be in decline in some regions across their natural ranges. Urban populations may be an exception; however, little is known of their population ecology. This study investigates age trends in a subset of road-killed brushtail and ringtail possums collected along eight northern Sydney roads between March 2004 and March 2006. From a total of 591 recorded road-killed possums, 86 were collected for use in this study (36 brushtails, 50 ringtails). Age was estimated using tooth wear patterns on cleaned skulls. Both species showed trends associated with age, and younger possums of both species were more likely to be killed on roads than older animals. Male-biased dispersal of subadult possums is considered a major contributing factor to the over-representation of young brushtail possums in this road-kill sample.

Fire history and recent fire rotation periods in the Nova Scotia Acadian Forest

1979 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 166-178 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross W. Wein ◽  
Janice M. Moore
Keyword(s):  
Nova Scotia ◽  
Fire History ◽  
Vegetation Type ◽  
Rotation Period ◽  
Turn Of The Century ◽  
Vegetation Types ◽  
Cape Breton Island ◽  
Burned Areas ◽  
Rotation Periods ◽  
Acadian Forest

Descriptive records of wildfires since the earliest writings and quantitative provincial fire records since 1915 have been used to produce a synthesis of fire history for the Province of Nova Scotia, Canada. Large annual burns were common up to the mid-1930's. Annual burns totalling over 15 000 ha occurred in each of the years 1918, 1920, 1921, 1930, 1934, 1944, and 1947, and annual burns totalling over 30 000 ha occurred in each of the years 1920 and 1921. Lightning has accounted for 1% of the number of fires (three per year). Thirty percent of the fires have occurred in the month of May; however, fires have been recorded for all months. Fire rotation periods for the province as a whole were 1000 or 2500 years, using the mean annual burn or median annual burn, respectively, for all burns in the years 1915 to 1975. In contrast, calculations of burned areas on maps produced at the turn of the century gave presuppression fire rotation periods of just over 200 years. Vegetation types have had widely varying fire rotation periods. The vegetation of Cape Breton Island has been subjected to almost no fires over 20 ha, whereas the vegetation type with the shortest fire rotation period (in the interior of western Nova Scotia) has been subjected to fire rotation periods as low as 65 years at the turn of the century, to about 2000 years for the years 1958 to 1975. A summary of fire rotation periods for the Boreal, Great Lakes – St. Lawrence, and Acadian Forest Regions found in the literature is presented for comparison with the Nova Scotia data, and more detailed comparisons are made between the fire rotation periods of the similar vegetation types in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.

High possum mortality on urban roads: implications for the population viability of the common brushtail and the common ringtail possum

2009 ◽  
Vol 57 (6) ◽  
pp. 391 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tracey C. Russell ◽  
Catherine A. Herbert ◽  
James L. Kohen
Keyword(s):  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Vehicle Collisions ◽  
Young Males ◽  
Road Kill ◽  
Large Numbers ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Live Trap ◽  
The Common ◽  
Males And Females ◽  
Ringtail Possum

Animal–vehicle collisions impact wildlife populations and in the northern suburbs of Sydney, both the common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula) and the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus) are killed in large numbers. Over a two-year period almost 600 road-killed possums were observed from 217 road surveys covering over 7800 km, equating to 5.45 possums per week over the 36-km study area. Surveys were conducted along roads where the environment ranged from low-rise suburban to continuous sclerophyll forest. Significantly more ringtail possums were observed as road-kill, outnumbering brushtail possums by almost three to one. No sex bias was found amongst road-killed ringtail possums; however, seasonal trends and weight fluctuations were significant, with both males and females being at their lowest weights during the autumn breeding season. For brushtail possums a bias towards young males was observed. Sex and weight of road-killed brushtail possums were comparable to live-trap data from a previous study in the same location. In areas of such high possum mortality, wildlife managers may need to take action to mitigate possum road-kill.

Oils ain’t oils: can truffle-infused food additives improve detection of rare and cryptic mycophagous mammals?

2016 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 12 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andrew W. Claridge ◽  
David J. Paull ◽  
Ross B. Cunningham
Keyword(s):  
Detection Rate ◽  
Peanut Butter ◽  
Food Additives ◽  
Food Additive ◽  
Camera Traps ◽  
Pseudocheirus Peregrinus ◽  
Rattus Fuscipes ◽  
Swamp Wallaby ◽  
Potorous Tridactylus ◽  
Ringtail Possum

We tested whether an artificial food additive, truffle oil, improved detection of mycophagous mammals when added to a standard bait type of peanut butter and rolled oats used with camera traps. Sixteen mammalian taxa were subsequently recorded, the most common being antechinus, bush rat (Rattus fuscipes), swamp wallaby (Wallabia bicolor) and long-nosed bandicoot (Perameles nasuta) as well as the long-nosed potoroo (Potorous tridactylus) and southern brown bandicoot (Isoodon obesulus). The only species for which detection rate was improved by the addition of truffle oil to standard bait was the ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), a species that has never been recorded eating fungi. In contrast, the total number of detections of all species at any given site was significantly higher, on average, using standard bait without truffle oil, as was the average number of detections of the partially mycophagous bush rat. Time to first detection of bush rats and swamp wallabies was significantly shorter using the standard bait type, compared with one with truffle oil added. Overall, the use of the truffle oil additive did not improve the chance or rate of detecting mycophagous mammals. To maximise the number of detections of mammals at camera traps the use of a standard bait type of peanut butter and rolled oats is recommended.

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