Arboreal Marsupials on New England wool properties

Abstract

Arboreal marsupials are possums, gliders and their relatives, which live mainly in tree canopies. They fulfil an important role in farmland timber - the natural control of dieback - causing insects and parasitic mistletoes. Timber is important in providing shade and shelter for livestock and pasture productivity. Both dieback and mistletoes can debilitate and kill farm trees. Arboreal marsupial species vary in their diet, so a range of species offers a more comprehensive natural pest control service. Australia-wide, there are about 25 species of arboreal marsupial, most of them in eastern Australia. About ten species occur in New England. The Land, Water & Wool (LWW) Northern Tablelands Project (2002-06) (NSW) recorded four species of arboreal marsupial on southern New England wool properties over two summers (Table 1).