Aspects of the use of den trees by arboreal and scansorial marsupials inhabiting montane ash forests in Victoria

Abstract

There were significant differences in emergence time among most species of arboreal marsupials. Emergence time was strongly correlated with body weight, field metabolic rate and standard metabolic rate. The entrance to the nest was higher in gliding species than those which are non-volant. Small species exhibited a significant preference for den sites with a hole as the entrance. The entrance of a den occupied by large species was typically a hole in a hollow branch or spout. Selection of den sites was related to the body size of the occupant. Differences in the type and height of the entrance to the nest, together with the time of emergence from the den, indicate partitioning of the nest tree resource. -from Authors Show more