Fire and logging reduce homes for threatened mammals

Image: Tim Bawden - Fire and logging are substantially reducing the number of hollow-bearing trees that threatened and critically endangered Australian mammals can use as homes, a new study from The Australian National University (ANU) warns. The findings come as the number of Australian mammals which live and nest in tree hollows is also declining. The study used information from 158 sites collected at regular intervals since 1997. It found a direct relationship between the number of hollow-bearing trees in an area and the number of possums and gliders living there. The study also found the number of critically endangered Leadbeater's possums has declined in areas where the surrounding landscape has been logged. The researchers who conducted the study suggest ongoing logging will have further negative impacts on Leadbeater's possum, Victoria's animal emblem. The study also found the presence of the vulnerable greater glider declined with increasing fire in the landscape.