Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: identifying short ecotypes of Corymbia intermedia

Stephen J Trueman; Tracey V McMahon; Eryn L Grant; David Walton; Brittany B Elliott; Helen M Wallace

doi:10.1071/BT16235

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Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: identifying short ecotypes of Corymbia intermedia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: identifying short ecotypes of Corymbia intermedia

Stephen J Trueman, Tracey V McMahon, Eryn L Grant, David Walton, Brittany B Elliott and Helen M Wallace

Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.65(4), pp.384-388

2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1071/BT16235

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Abstract

corymbia

eucalyptus

koala

phascolarctos cinereus

street trees

tree height

urban fauna

The eucalypt trees eaten by koalas are generally tall, but urban landholders prefer to plant shorter trees that pose less danger of limbs falling from a great height or damaging powerlines. Our aim was to develop shorter eucalypt trees to provide food and shelter for koalas and other fauna in urban areas. We identified short ecotypes of Corymbia intermedia (R.T.Baker) K.D.Hill & L.A.S.Johnson growing naturally on exposed coastal headlands, and tested whether their seedlings were shorter than the seedlings of nearby tall ecotypes when planted in cultivation. Trees raised from the short ecotypes were 22-43% shorter than trees raised from the tall ecotypes, being around 5-7 m tall rather than 8-12 m tall after 8 years. This demonstrated that there was a genetic basis for the short stature of C. intermedia trees on coastal headlands. These shorter C. intermedia trees could be valuable food and habitat trees for urban koalas and other fauna.

Details

Title: Designing food and habitat trees for urban koalas: identifying short ecotypes of Corymbia intermedia
Authors: Stephen J Trueman (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Tracey V McMahon (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Eryn L Grant (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
David Walton (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Brittany B Elliott (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Helen M Wallace (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast - Faculty of Science, Health, Education and Engineering
Publication details: Australian Journal of Botany, Vol.65(4), pp.384-388
Publisher: C S I R O Publishing
Date published: 2017
DOI: 10.1071/BT16235
ISSN: 0067-1924
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science; School of Science and Engineering - Legacy; School of Social Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland; GeneCology Research Centre - Legacy; School of Science, Technology and Engineering; Centre for Bioinnovation
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99450415502621
Output Type: Journal article

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