The value of ‘bat boxes’ for attracting hollow‐dependent fauna to farm forestry plantations in southeast Queensland

摘要: Summary Small artificial nest/roost boxes, originally designed for microbats, were deployed in three farm forest plantations and at one native site southeast Queensland order to assess their use by vertebrates contribution toward enhancing biodiversity plantation forests through the provision of habitat. Two sites located a relatively ‘intact’ landscape (SF 351 Strano) two more ‘fragmented’ or ‘variegated’ (Askham Thomas). Twenty-four boxes placed each over an area covering approximately 1.2–1.8 ha. Each was checked from five 351) nine (Askham) times between April 1996 November 2000. The attractive range small fauna that included Feathertail Gliders (Acrobates pygmaeus), Sugar (Petaurus breviceps), Squirrel norfolcensis) Yellow-footed Marsupial Mouse (Antechinus flavipes), all which constructed nests inside boxes. Gould’s Long-eared Bats (Nyctophilus gouldi) used primarily as roosts maternity sites. In general, fewer animals recorded within landscape, while highest numbers landscapes. availability alternative natural hollows factors appear be important determinants extent are occupied. present study indicates can enhanced simple habitat manipulation utilizing roosting nesting boxes. Key words Antechinus, biodiversity, forestry, glider, marsupial, microbat, nest box, roost.