Use of nest trees by the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus) (Phalangeridae: Marsupialia). II. Characteristics of occupied trees

The use of den trees by a population of the mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus Ogilby) in forests of mountain ash (Eucalyptus regnans) at Cambarville, in the Central Highlands of Victoria, southeastern Australia, is described. Relationships are explored between the use of trees with hollows by 16 radio-tracked T. caninus and a range of measures of the morphological characteristics of the 113 different den trees they occupied. The results of our analyses indicate that those trees likely to be used most frequently contained a relatively large number of cavities and were not surrounded by dense vegetation. Trees used mostly by male T. caninus were in the southern part of our 35-ha study area, while those occupied more frequently by females were located in the north. The northern subsection of the study site also supported those trees that were (1) used by several different animals, and (2) most likely to be co-occupied by two or more T. caninus on any given day.