Canberra, Monday 6 May 2002
Discovery of new possum species
The discovery of a new possum species was announced today at a press
conference at the ANU.
The discovery comes out of new research announced last Friday by the
ANU Centre for Resource and Environment Studies on the use of tree hollows.
The species is different from the Common Brush-tail Possum and the Mountain
Brush-tail Possum found in southern NSW and Victoria. The new possum found
in northern NSW and QLD is called the Short-eared Possum.
Breakthrough research in forestry ecology and management by Dr David
Lindenmayer has revealed tree and log hollows are a pivotal land management
issue for the preservation 305 native vertebrates.
For the first time an inventory has been established of animals and birds
that rely on hollows to exist; for food, shelter and breeding. 100 threatened
Australian species use tree hollows. Eucalypts take up to 120 to 150 years
to develop hollows, and larger species up to 220 years.
"It's an exciting development we weren't expecting from our work,"
said David Lindenmayer.
"These are the animals which are threatened by the clearing of fallen
logs and the removal of trees with hollows. There seems to be this idea
that forests need cleaning-up but there's value for the soil and valuable
habitat which is lost through the collection of firewood and the removal
branches and logs for industry use ? anyone who understands the value
of mulch will know this."
Photographs are available, please contact Dr Lindenmayer.
Further information:
Dr David Lindenmayer, ANU Centre for Resource and Environment Studies,
6125 0654 or 0427 770 593; Genevieve Turville, ANU Public Affairs, 02
6125 6125 or 0416 249 245
No 54/2002
© 2000 Marketing & Communications Division,
The Australian National University.
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Last Modified Tue, July 16, 2002
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