CHARACTERISTICS OF HOLLOW-BEARING TREES OCCUPIED BY ARBOREAL MARSUPIALS IN THE MONTANE ASH FORESTS OF THE CENTRAL HIGHLANDS OF VICTORIA, SOUTH-EAST AUSTRALIA

A total of 1125 hollow-bearing trees was observed for the presence of arboreal marsupials in the montane ash forests of the Central Highlands of Victoria, south-east Australia. Different species of arboreal marsupials exhibited preferences for hollow-bearing trees with different characteristics. Gymnobelideus leadbeateri (Leadbeater's possum) selected short, fat trees with numerous holes and a large quantity of dense surrounding vegetation. Very large hollow-bearing trees were favoured as nest sites by Petauroides volans. Petaurus breviceps preferred trees with a large number of fissures, whereas trees favoured by Antechinus stuartii were tall and thin. Trees selected as nest sites by Trichosurus caninus were typically short and fat with few holes. Our results provide evidence of resource partitioning of hollow-bearing trees amongst arboreal marsupials. Clear-felling of montane ash forest on an 80-120-year rotation will have a highly detrimental effect on arboreal marsupials by substantially reducing the number and range of types of hollow-bearing trees required to support the complete diversity of species. The 80-120-year interval between logging operations will result in trees being harvested well before they develop characteristics which make them suitable nest sites for arboreal marsupials.