Ranging Behavior of an Arboreal Marsupial in a Plantation Landscape. Issue 6 (30th May 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ashman, Kita R.; Page, Nina R.; Whisson, Desley A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of wildlife management. Volume 84:Issue 6(2020)
• Page Start: 1091
• Page End: 1099
• Publication Date: 2020-05-30
• Subjects: habitat fragmentation -- home range -- land use change -- Phascolarctos cinereus; Wildlife management -- Periodicals; Zoology -- Periodicals; 333.954
• DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.21885
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-541X

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Forests are becoming increasingly fragmented, primarily because of their conversion to production landscapes. Animals occupying modified landscapes may need to expand their ranges and move longer distances between remnant forest patches to find resources. The establishment of plantations in fragmented landscapes, however, may provide complementary habitat for wildlife and improve connectivity, reducing the amount of movement required. Our objective was to determine the influence of plantations on koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) habitat use and test 2 competing hypotheses on the relationship between plantations and range size. We deployed global positioning system and very high frequency collars on 40 koalas in 2 landscapes (plantation and non‐plantation) in Victoria, Australia. From 68, 216 tracking points collected over an 8‐month period, we calculated and compared seasonal home range size and habitat use between landscapes. There was no difference in range size, the size and number of core use areas, or the distance between core use areas between plantation and non‐plantation landscapes. Plantations extend existing koala habitat and facilitate koala movement through a landscape; however, remnant native vegetation is still more frequently used. Consequently, native vegetation (even fragmented, linear roadside vegetation) is of high conservation importance for the persistence of koalas in modified landscapes. © 2020 The Wildlife Society. Abstract : Koalas use blue gum plantations, but seasonal ranges remained similar to those of koalas in a non‐plantation landscape. Plantations extend existing koala habitat and facilitate koala movement through a landscape; however, remnant native vegetation is still preferred.