Occurrence of pygmy possums, Cercartetus lepidus and C. nanus, and their nest sites in logged and unlogged dry and wet eucalypt forest in Tasmania

Abstract

Summary Occurrence and nest site use by pygmy possums were investigated in dry and wet sclerophyll forest in Tasmania. There were four silvicultural treatments in the dry sclerophyll forest (a clearfelled coupe with 17-year-old regrowth, two partially logged coupes and old-growth forest) and four in the wet sclerophyll forest (4- and 20-year-old regrowth resulting from clearfelling, 80-year-old natural regrowth and old-growth forest). Cercartetus lepidus was captured in all ages of regrowth and in both partially logged and old-growth forest. C. nanus was captured only in 20- and 80-year-old regrowth in wet sclerophyll forest. Partially decayed logs were important nest sites for C. lepidus. Fissures in live trees associated with fire scars and hollows in stumps were also used as nests. All three nests of C. nanus were located in stumps. The amount of suitable nesting substrate did not appear to be a factor limiting populations in either the dry or wet sclerophyll forest.