Wildlife

Some animal species that live in eucalypt woodlands. Top: Squirrel glider Petaurus norfolcensis, Bottom: Jacky winter Microeca fascinans
T.Ball and Wildnet

Potential to conserve wildlife

Eucalypt woodlands in Queensland support many different types of native plants and animals—including at least 124 threatened or priority species—so restoring eucalypt woodlands has great potential for conserving wildlife.

View larger image A graphic showing the summary of limits to wildlife conservation for eucalypt woodlands. Enlarge image
A summary of limits to wildlife conservation for eucalypt woodlands

Native species that occur in eucalypt woodlands include the:

  • squirrel glider
  • brown treecreeper
  • grey-crowned babbler
  • squatter pigeon
  • jacky winter
  • red goshawk
  • northern hairy nosed wombat.

Plant species include Bailey's cypress, the shrub Capparis humistrata, the grass Homopholis belsonii, and the herbs Rhaponticum australe and Trioncinia patens.

Many small to medium sized mammals, as well as some birds such as the Paradise Parrot, have seriously declined in numbers or been lost from Queensland's woodland landscapes.

Limits to wildlife conservation

View larger image An illustration of habitat components in eucalypt woodlands Enlarge image
Eucalypt woodland habitats

Most actions that will accumulate carbon in cleared eucalypt woodland country (such as not clearing regenerating trees, stopping hot fires, and reducing grazing pressure) will also benefit wildlife by reducing threats.

Different types of shelter for wildlife, a good (and varied) supply of food, the removal (or control) of weeds and feral animals and the size and shape of habitat patches and their distance from each other, will help conserve wildlife in eucalypt woodlands.

Habitat for wildlife

Shelter and food

FeatureBenefits for wildlifeUsed by
Trees and shrubs Nesting, shelter and feeding sites

A diversity of tree and shrub species that flower and fruit at different times can provide a continuous food supply (nectar, pollen, fruit and insects) for animals

Dense understorey shrubs can discourage aggressive noisy miners and yellow-throated miners, which may exclude small birds

Some animal species need trees and shrubs of a certain size or age (e.g. saplings or dead, standing trees)

Birds, invertebrates, mammals, reptiles, frogs, parasitic plants (e.g. mistletoe)
Tree hollows Shelter, nesting, a place to find food Parrots, treecreepers, bats, gliders
Fallen timber Shelter, basking and feeding areas Birds, reptiles, frogs, mammals, invertebrates
Large grass tussocks Food and shelter Animals and grazing-sensitive plant species
Leaf litter Shelter and feeding areas Birds, invertebrates, reptiles, frogs, mammals
Rocks Shelter, basking and feedings areas Invertebrates, reptiles, frogs, mammals, plants
Mistletoe Nectar, berries and nesting sites

Can provide nectar and berries at times when these foods are scarce in the landscape

Birds, invertebrates, mammals
Invertebrates Food, pollination, seed dispersal Birds, reptiles, frogs, mammals, plants
Fungi Food, beneficial relationship with plants Mammals, invertebrates

Landscape features

FeatureBenefits for wildlife
Large patch size Support larger populations of plants and animals

Support animals that need large territories and/or occur in low population densities

May also support more species of wildlife

Small edge-to-area ratio Patches that are rounded in shape suffer fewer 'edge effects' than patches of a similar size that are long and thin

Edge effects include increased weed invasion, predation, wind, sun and temperature, and all of these can have important impacts on wildlife

Close to other patches Allows animals and plants to disperse between patches

Reduces the risk of predation for animals when they move between patches

Improves the exchange of pollen between patches

How much of the landscape is cleared Birds and mammals are negatively affected if more than 70% of the landscape is cleared of suitable habitat

There is also an interaction between grazing and how much of the landscape is cleared, as cattle tend to congregate in the remaining patches of woody vegetation

If most of a landscape, or vegetation type, has been cleared, this also means that any remnants are very important for wildlife conservation, even if they are small or in poor condition. These remnants may provide valuable source populations for restoring other parts of the landscape.

Habitat features used by some species that live in eucalypt woodlands

 Tree hollows, cracks and crevicesFallen timberTrees & shrubsLarge grass tussocksLitterOpen groundMistletoeRocksInsects
Mammals         
Squirrel glider x   x       x
Rufous bettong   x   x x     x
Delicate mouse   x     x   x x
Gould's wattled bat x         x
Birds         
Variegated fairy-wren   x x x      x
Grey-crowned babbler   x x   x     x
Brown treecreeper x x x       x
Rufous whistler x   x    x x   x
Bush stone-curlew   x   x x     x
Mistletoebird    x     x   x
Reptiles         
Skink   x   x x     x
Marbled velvet gecko x   x      x x
Nobi dragon   x x x x    x x
Plants  x   x x x   x
View larger image An illustration of threats to wildlife Enlarge image
An illustration of threats to wildlife

Threats to wildlife

ThreatImpacts on wildlifeWildlife affected
Weeds and feral animals Competition, predation

Some management actions to control weeds and feral animals can also have negative impacts on native species

Many different types of plants and animals
Exotic grasses Replace native plant species

Changes in habitat structure

Increased intensity and frequency of fire

Plants, birds, reptiles, mammals
Noisy miners and yellow-throated miners These are aggressive native bird species that reduce the abundance and species richness of small woodland birds Small birds
Grazing pressure  Modifies the structure of eucalypt woodlands by removing shrubs, inhibiting the establishment of tree seedlings, trampling and browsing saplings, uneven grazing of the grass layer, and producing a short uniform stretch of grass when grazing is heavy.

Grazing appears to benefit some common, widespread plant and animal species, but leads to declines in other species

Many different types of plants and animals
Clearing and thinning Clearing removes many plant and animal species and also removes the food and shelter of animals that depend on the plant species and structure found in mature woodlands.

Tree thinning appears to benefit some common, widespread bird species, but leads to declines in other species

Many different types of plants and animals
Fire Hot fires may destroy fire-sensitive vegetation; food resources for animals; simplify vegetation structure; and burn relatively large areas, which can disadvantage animals that rely on patchy habitats, or a combination of burnt and unburnt habitats.

Even low severity management fires can remove habitat such as large hollow-bearing trees, which provide essential resources for many animals.

Changes in fire regimes (e.g. the season, frequency and intensity of burns) since European settlement may have contributed to the decline of many native species

Many different types of plants and animals