Influence of successional stage of Eucalyptus regnans (mountain ash) on habitat use by reptiles in the Central Highlands, Victoria

1993 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 405-417 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. W. BROWN ◽  
J. L. NELSON
2015 ◽  
Vol 37 (1) ◽  
pp. 39 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laurence E. Berry ◽  
Don A. Driscoll ◽  
Samuel C. Banks ◽  
David B. Lindenmayer

We examined the abundance of arboreal marsupials in topographic fire refuges after a major fire in a stand-replacing crown-fire forest ecosystem. We surveyed the abundance of arboreal marsupials across 48 sites in rainforest gullies burnt to differing extents by the 2009 fires in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the Victorian Central Highlands, Australia. The greater glider (Petauroides volans) was less abundant within the extent of the 2009 fire. The mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus cunninghami) was more abundant within the extent of the 2009 fire, particularly within unburnt peninsulas protruding into burnt areas from unburnt edges. Our results indicate that fire refuges may facilitate the persistence of some species within extensively burnt landscapes. Additional work should seek to clarify this finding and identify the demographic mechanisms underlying this response.


2002 ◽  
Vol 29 (2) ◽  
pp. 151 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. van der Ree ◽  
R. H. Loyn

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.


1996 ◽  
Vol 23 (5) ◽  
pp. 531 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Lindenmayer ◽  
A Welsh ◽  
CF Donnelly ◽  
RB Cunningham

The use of den trees by a population of the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosorus caninus) in forests of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) at Cambarville, in the central Highlands of Victoria, is described. Relationships are explored between the use of trees with hollows by 16 radio-tracked T. caninus and a range of measures of the morphological characteristics of the 113 different den trees they occupied. The results of the analyses indicate that the most used trees contained a relatively large number of cavities and were not surrounded by dense vegetation. Male possums were found most frequently in the southern part of the 35-ha study area, and females were found most often in the northern part.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 611 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. H. Welsh ◽  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
C. F. Donnelly ◽  
A. Ruckstuhl

Statistical models of the patterns of den-tree choice by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) at Cambarville in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the central highlands of Victoria, south-eastern Australia are presented. These models enable us to predict, for a particular possum, the choice of den tree on the basis of patterns of recent den-tree usage and are required for individual-based simulation studies. The models show that the pattern of den-tree use is more complicated than might have been expected, in the sense that it is animal-specific, and that old animals exhibit more complicated patterns of den-tree choice than young ones.


1998 ◽  
Vol 25 (6) ◽  
pp. 627 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. B. Lindenmayer ◽  
A. Welsh ◽  
C. F. Donnelly

A general synthesis is presented of the key results of a series of studies of den tree use by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) at Cambarville in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the central highlands of Victoria, south-eastern Australia. The project produced a range of unexpected results including (1) the number of den trees used, (2) the extent of den sharing, especially among adult males, (3) the overlap in denning ranges of animals, and (4) the predictability of transitions between den trees. Possible reasons for these findings are outlined. We also discuss the limitations of our study, how it could be improved if it were to be repeated, and some of the important implications of the findings for the management of forests where T. caninus occurs.


1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (6) ◽  
pp. 625 ◽  
Author(s):  
DB Lindenmayer ◽  
RA Meggs

The results of a radio-tracking study of the uses of den trees by Leadbeater's possum (Gymnobelideus leadbeateri McCoy) at Cambarville in the mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria, south-eastern Australia, are described. Animals were radio-tracked for three periods of 5-20 days in July 1990, November 1990 and July 1991. A total of 14 individuals was tracked and they occupied 11 different trees with hollows on the 10-ha study site. Preliminary findings showed that some animals moved between hollows in different trees, and most animals used two or more trees. The distances between utilised trees usually exceeded 50 m. Possible reasons for the den-swapping behaviour include attempts to either or both relieve burdens of ecto-parasites and to reduce the risk of predation. There were several examples, in each of the three radio-tracking periods, of two or more radio-collared adult breeding female animals simultaneously co-occupying the same nest tree. This result was different from some of the general findings of an earlier study of G. leadbeateri at Cambarville.


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