hollows for habitat – an overview and observations · 1 hollows for habitat – an overview and...
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Hollows for habitat – an overview and observations
Name: Antony von Chrismar
Office of Environment & Heritage
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Introduction • Overview: Why are hollows important?
• HCC landscape types and hollows: Hollows in habitat landscapes of the HCC (remnants, corridors and matrix).
• Natural and artificial hollows: Hollow development lag time and the role of artificial hollows.
• Species requirements and nest box design: Use by hollow obligate species and Petaurid gliders.
• Conclusion :
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Overview: Why are hollows important?
• 174 native species to NSW are reliant on tree hollows, including 40 species that are listed as threatened under the TSC Act. (Gibbons and Lindenmayer 2002; OEH 2011).
• Most of these species use hollows for lifecycle phases critical for the species persistence (e.g. f or breeding, raising young, torpor/hibernation life phases).
• Hollows are therefore in demand in a range of sizes to accommodate for the range of fauna.
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HCC landscape types and hollows:• To compound the demand for hollows, much of the
pre-1755 vegetation in the Hunter Central Coast has been cleared and what remains is mostly regrowth (relatively young forest) = low density of hollow resources.
• Three main landscape types in the HCC: Remnants, corridors and matrix (urban, peri-urban and agricultural).
• Example of landscape types: Yellow -bellied Glider survey site map.
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5Landscape types, Yellow-bellied Glider research and hollow usage
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6Juvenile Yellow-bellied Glider (Photo: Doug Beckers )
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Natural and artificial hollows• Natural tree hollow formation influenced by:
- Tree age. Can take 120 years or more to develop hollows suitable for vertebrates.
- Tree species.
- Landscape position (observations: gullies, edges of escarpments. Possibly influenced by logging practices).
- Fire history and other disturbance regimes.
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Natural and artificial hollows (cont.)• Need for mixed age forest to allow for
recruitment and diversity of hollow size for range of fauna.
• Hollow development time-lag (>100 years) and the role of artificial hollows, particularly where hollows are uncommon.
• Artificial hollow applications:- Relocation of hollow bearing trees as stags and CWD (e.g.
Rochelle’s example at Wadalba; Werris Creek Coal mi ne).
- Nest box use for presence/absence surveys (DA’s), e cological restoration (e.g. Coal Point), compensation for hol low removal and research.
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Fauna species requirements and nest box use• Different species show preferences to design,
and there are temporal and environmental specifics that influence use. Some examples:
• Microchiroptera bats- Small size (driven by species size often <3cm to 23 cm
(Goldingay and Stevens 2009)).
- Temperature, humidity (aspect of nest box placement -seasonal), environmental (proximity to water – Myoti s).
- Other lesser known design specifics (Mt Owen and An na McConville’s work ( Mormopterus norfolkensis)).
- Life cycle phases (breeding, maternity, over-winter ing, dispersal).
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Multi-chambered bat boxInstalled in culvert.Photo: Veronica Silver
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Multi-chambered bat box Installed in culvert. Photo: Veronica Silver.
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Yellow-bellied Sheathtail Bat (Large hollow) (photo: Antony von Chrismar)
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Species requirements and nest box use (cont.)
• Gliders (Squirrel and Sugar Glider)- Small to medium hollow size (3 cm (Beyer and Goldin gay
2006)). Sometimes as little as 2.5cm. Again drive n by animal size and limiting competition with larger an imals.
- Occupancy in as little as 2 weeks after installatio n (pers. Obs.), though likely to be dependant on HBT densiti es.
- Seasonal use depending on food resources, breeding cycles and box temperatures
- Height – Doesn’t seem to make much difference in occupancy. Though issues with predation and tamper ing to be considered.
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Adult male Squirrel Glider investigating Eastern Py gmy Possum box
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Squirrel Glider approaching rear entry nest box
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Conclusion
• Overview: 174 native species to NSW are reliant on t ree hollows, including 40 listed TSC Act species. Hollo ws are generally a limited resource due to disturbance regimes.
• HCC landscape types and hollows: There is a role for hollows in all landscape types, including remnant, corridors and matrix.
• Natural and artificial hollows: Time-lag in hollow development and artificial hollows can play a role if managed and monitored.
• Species requirements and nest box use: Diverse range of hollow obligate species and need to select appropriate design and placement of artificial holl ows.
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