Arboreal marsupial incidence in eucalypt patches in south-eastern Australia: a test of Hanski's incidence function metapopulation model for patch occupancy

Abstract

The results of field tests are described of a simple model for the occupancy of habitat patches developed by Hanski. Patch occupancy was predicted for several species of arboreal marsupials in a system of fragmented patches of Eucalyptus forest in the Tumut region of southern New South Wales (NSW) in south-eastern Australia. The species of arboreal marsupials for which the model was tested were: common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula), mountain brushtail possum (Trichosurus caninus), common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinus), and greater glider (Petauroides volans). Predictions of the model were compared against actual data on patch occupancy gathered from extensive field sur..