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

Beyer, Georgia L.; Goldingay, Ross L.

doi:10.1071/wr04109

Cited by 101 publications

(92 citation statements)

References 66 publications

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“…The glider box dimensions were similar to commercially available nest boxes for small marsupial gliders that are commonly used to supplement natural hollows in management programs and to compensate for the loss of natural hollows in biodiversity offset programs in southeastern Australia [12,16,21]. Glider boxes were painted with three coats of exterior acrylic paint (Wattyl Solagard Low Sheen); we used a dark green colour, consistent with common practice in southeastern Australia [39,40].…”

Section: Glider Cavitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…data), we know that sugar gliders periodically den in five of the natural tree hollows that were selected for this study. For the remaining five natural hollows, we selected those with an entrance wide enough for gliders (entrance width > 3.0 cm; [12]); however, as there were a limited number of tree hollows that were safely accessible with a ladder, we did not place an upper limit on the entrance size. For all ten natural hollows, we recorded the diameter of the trunk at the location of the hollow (five historical glider den hollows: mean diameter = 62.3 cm, Due to the limited number of natural tree hollows that we could safely access with a ladder, the 10 natural hollows selected had entrances facing different orientations (cardinal direction: north = 1; east = 3; south = 4; west = 2).…”

Section: Glider Cavitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This is particularly relevant across southeastern Australia, which has a diverse endemic hollow-using fauna [66], has experienced extensive and ongoing habitat loss [67], where nest boxes are commonly installed to provide supplementary habitats in impacted landscapes [9,12], and in many regions is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with large variation in weather conditions from day to day and across seasons [40].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chainsaw-Carved Cavities Better Mimic the Thermal Properties of Natural Tree Hollows than Nest Boxes and Log Hollows

Griffiths

Lentini

Semmens

et al. 2018

Forests

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Abstract:The creation of supplementary habitats that effectively mimic the physical and thermal characteristics of natural tree hollows should be a key priority for landscape restoration and biodiversity offset programs. Here, we compare the thermal profiles of natural tree hollows with three types of artificial hollows designed for small marsupial gliders and tree-roosting insectivorous bats: (1) 'chainsaw hollows' carved directly into the trunks and branches of live trees, (2) 'log hollows', and (3) plywood nest boxes. Chainsaw hollows had thermal profiles that were similar to natural tree hollows: they were consistently warmer than ambient conditions at night, while remaining cooler than ambient during the day. In contrast, glider and bat boxes had the opposite pattern of heating and cooling, being slightly cooler than ambient at night and substantially hotter during the day. Glider log hollows had greater variation in internal temperatures compared to natural hollows and chainsaw hollows, but fluctuated less than glider boxes. Our results provide the first empirical evidence that artificial hollows carved directly into live trees can produce thermally stable supplementary habitats that could potentially buffer hollow-dependent fauna from weather extremes; whereas, poorly insulated plywood nest boxes produce lower-quality thermal environments. Together these findings provide positive impetus for stakeholders involved in conservation management and biodiversity offset programs to consider trialing chainsaw hollows in situations where target fauna require well-insulated supplementary habitats.

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Section: Glider Cavitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Glider Cavitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Chainsaw-Carved Cavities Better Mimic the Thermal Properties of Natural Tree Hollows than Nest Boxes and Log Hollows

Griffiths

Lentini

Semmens

et al. 2018

Forests

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“…data). The quality of habitat appears to be high due to the presence of a large number of tree species that provide food resources (Dobson et al in press) and a high number of hollow-bearing trees (Beyer 2003). We have conducted only preliminary surveys in the other remnants, which suggest that habitat quality is much lower than at Minnippi.…”

Section: Viability Of the Local Metapopulationmentioning

confidence: 98%

How do we conserve the squirrel glider in Brisbane's urban matrix?

Goldingay¹,

Sharpe²

2004

Conservation of Australia's Forest Fauna

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Forested habitat has been extensively cleared in south-east Queensland. We used the ALEX computer program to conduct a preliminary population viability analysis (PVA) for squirrel gliders Petaurus norfolcensis living in a set of habitat fragments, embedded in an urban matrix in Brisbane. Our basic aim was to guide management to ensure the long-term persistence of the squirrel glider in this region. Corridors linking the fragments in our study area are poorly vegetated and many are cut by arterial roads. Five remnants that we believe define the likely limit of glider dispersal (the glider metapopulation), had an unacceptably high probability of glider extinction after 100 years. When catastrophes such as wildlfire of modest frequency (1 in 20 years) were included, the probability of extinction increased. It appears that large nearby remnants must be functionally linked to the metapopulation to ensure long-term persistence. This may require some novel approaches to habitat restoration to achieve. The habitat quality of all connecting corridors must be enhanced to reduce mortality during dispersal. Edge effects such as tree die-back are also likely to reduce the available cover of habitat over time and will need to be managed. Our review of the life history of the squirrel glider has highlighted how poor our understanding is of most components that form important inputs to a PVA. The significance of this was evident by increasing annual mortality above the approximate values used. This led to a marked increase in the probability of metapopulation extinction, suggesting predictions should be viewed with caution. Further detailed field studies are needed to refine the use of PVA for the squirrel glider.

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“…Because cavities are a keystone resource and their availability is often reduced by human activities, nest boxes have been employed as a management tool to aid cavity-dependent wildlife [1,[23][24][25][26].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Tree Cavity-Using Wildlife and the Potential of Artificial Nest Boxes for Wildlife Management in New Guinea

Warakai¹,

Okena²,

Igag³

et al. 2013

Tropical Conservation Science

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Little is known of the frequency of use and reliance upon tree cavities by wildlife, nor the natural availability of cavities in New Guinea forests. We surveyed the literature for records of cavity use by birds and mammals in New Guinea. We examined every standing tree on one hectare of primary forest and one hectare of secondary forest for cavities, then carefully assessed every tree for cavities after they were felled. We put up 190 artificial nest boxes of five designs in three sites and monitored occupancy. At least 50 species (23.6%) of New Guinea terrestrial mammals and 118 species (17.7%) of non-marine or aquatic bird species are recorded in the literature as using tree cavities. Ground observation identified 36 suspected cavities in a hectare of lowland primary forest and 10 in nearby secondary forest. Upon inspection of all trees after felling, these figures changed to 26 and 0 respectively. Ground censuses are not accurate. Cavities were more commonly found in large trees. In less than a year, nest box occupancy reached exceeded 33%, with Phalanger spp. and Sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps, being most common. Some bird use was detected by the presence of feathers; snakes and geckos were also found in boxes. Occupancy increased with time and would probably be higher after a second year. The larger boxes had greater occupancy, as did boxes placed higher in the trees. Bees occupied and probably excluded other users from 10% of boxes. As Papuan forests are disturbed by logging, hunting practices and gardening, conservationists might need to manage practices to ensure cavity availability. Artificial nest boxes might have utility for wildlife conservation and research.

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

Cited by 101 publications

References 66 publications

Chainsaw-Carved Cavities Better Mimic the Thermal Properties of Natural Tree Hollows than Nest Boxes and Log Hollows

Chainsaw-Carved Cavities Better Mimic the Thermal Properties of Natural Tree Hollows than Nest Boxes and Log Hollows

How do we conserve the squirrel glider in Brisbane's urban matrix?

Tree Cavity-Using Wildlife and the Potential of Artificial Nest Boxes for Wildlife Management in New Guinea

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