Animal Ecology

Current Distribution and Ecology of Mammals in the Melbourne Area

R. van der Ree and M. McCarthy

Historical records suggest that the range and abundance of many species of mammal have declined around Melbourne since European settlement. Research investigating the current distribution and ecology of mammals in the Melbourne area aims to quantify the conservation status of extant species, their habitat requirements and threats to their survival. Major components of this research include documenting the composition of small mammal communities in fragmented heathland, quantifying levels of cat predation in urban bushland remnants and investigating the dynamics of tree hollows in urban and suburban areas.

Effects of resource availability on Melbourne's possums

M. Harper, R. van der Ree, M. McCarthy

Anthropogenic change, particularly in urban landscapes, has resulted in the fragmentation of indigenous vegetation into often small isolated 'remnants'. The persistence of arboreal fauna in small urban remnants in part depends on the distribution and abundance of habitat resources within the remnant.

PhD student Mike Harper has surveyed eucalypt remnants located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne to ascertain the abundance of hollow-bearing trees, an important ecological resource. He has also been experimenting with the effects of varying resource availability on the abundance of arboreal fauna by installing nest boxes and feeders in suburban parks.

The results are being analysed but initial indications are that large numbers of hollow-bearing trees are unlikely to be recruited into urban remnants for a significant time-span. Therefore, there is an increased importance placed on maintaining the current inventory of hollow-bearing trees for the maintenance of biodiversity in urban areas.

Urban ecology of the Grey-headed Flying Fox

M. McDonnell, K. Parris, N. Williams, E. Seager, R. van der Ree and G. Phelan

ARCUE has been investigating the causes of the extension of the geographic range of the Grey-headed Flying-fox (GHFF,Pteropus poliocephalus) into Melbourne. Data are being collected on the diet of the species, the availability of food resources in Melbourne, and the influence of climate change (e.g., increased winter temperatures, increased humidity in summer) in inner Melbourne. Currently, a substantial effort is being put into monitoring flowering and fruiting of trees and shrubs in order to the abundance and seasonality of suitable food resources. We have also tested of a variety of GHFF repellants on trees in the Fern Gully at the Royal Botanic Gardens Melbourne (click here to see reports).

This research contributes to our understanding of the ecology of Grey-headed Flying-foxes and assists RBG and the Department of Natural Resources in the management of in Melbourne's Flying-Fox population.

Left: Spotted Gum (Eucalyptus maculata), a widely planted street tree in Melbourne, is a favoured source of food for the Grey-headed Flying Fox.

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