DOI: 10.5061/dryad.rv15dv4mh
title: Establishing foundations: Designing a long-term experiment to evaluate whether nestboxes assist population recovery of an endangered species after fire

description: The loss of hollow-bearing trees drives population declines of
 hollow-dependent species. Disturbances such as wildfire can exacerbate
 these declines. Artificial structures, like nestboxes, are a commonly used
 management tool that attempts to offset hollow loss. However, the
 effectiveness of nestboxes as a conservation strategy is rarely tested
 within an experimental framework. The endangered southern greater glider
 (Petauroides volans) is an obligate hollow-dependent arboreal marsupial
 that is highly sensitive to wildfire. Southern greater glider populations
 experienced high mortality and habitat loss following the 2019/2020
 megafires in south-eastern Australia. To test whether purpose-built
 nestboxes could assist the post-fire population recovery of the southern
 greater glider, we established a long-term, landscape-scale experiment. We
 installed a total of 234 nestboxes at sites in East Gippsland
 (north-eastern Victoria) and Tallaganda (southern New South Wales).
 Nestbox sites were matched to control sites. We undertook spotlighting
 surveys in both study areas and installed camera traps at a subset of
 nestboxes. We observed southern greater gliders using nestboxes in both
 regions, with substantially more observations in Tallaganda. However, we
 did not find a significant difference in southern greater glider abundance
 between nestbox and control sites. In Tallaganda, we found more southern
 greater gliders in areas of lower fire severity. The longer-term outcomes
 of our study will inform the use of nestboxes as a tool to assist in the
 recovery of southern greater gliders following disturbance.
description: # Establishing foundations: Designing a long-term experiment to evaluate
 whether nestboxes assist population recovery of an endangered species
 after fire Dataset DOI:
 [10.5061/dryad.rv15dv4mh](https://doi.org/10.5061/dryad.rv15dv4mh) ##
 Description of the data and file structure ### Files and variables ####
 File: numbers_greaterglider_eg.csv **Description:** Raw survey data from
 East Gippsland.  **Variables** * Round: Survey Round (Pre or Post). *
 SiteID: Unique to each transect. * Rep: Replicates (Numerical). *
 Fireclass: Fire mapping severity (Category). * Treat: What the treatment
 was planned to be (Treatment - T or Control -C). * Treat2: What the
 treatment was (Treatment - T or Control -C). * Date_surveyed: Date of
 spotlighting survey (dd/mm/yyyy). * Obs1: Sightings by only observer 1
 (Count). * Obs2: Sightings by only observer 2 (Count). * Both: Sightings
 by both observers (Count).  * Off: Greater glider sightings off the
 transect (Count).  * Highestgg: Maximum count of greater gliders by either
 observer, e.g., observer 1 + both = observer 1’s total count. * Totalgg:
 Count of observer 1 + observer 2 + both. * Presence: Were southern greater
 gliders present (Y/N). * Severity: Category low, medium, high, extreme, or
 mixed, where there was no clear majority. * Burnpercentage: Percentage. *
 Canopyburnt: Was any canopy burnt (Y/N). * Elevation: Average elevation of
 survey area (m). * Brushtailpossum: Number sighted during survey (Count). 
 #### File: numbers_greaterglider_tallaganda.csv **Description:** Raw
 survey data from Tallaganda. N/A  **Variables** * Round: Survey Round
 (Pre/Post). * Round_Corrected: Corrected based on the actual timing of
 nestbox deployment (Pre/Post).  * Timing: When nestboxes were deployed in
 relation to the spotlighting survey (after/before/na for control sites and
 where round and round_corrected equal the same). * SiteID: Unique to each
 transect. * Severity: Fire mapping severity (Low, medium, high, extreme).
 * Rep: Replicates (Numerical).  * Treat: What the treatment was planned to
 be (Treatment - T or Control -C). * Treat2: What the treatment was
 (Treatment - T or Control -C). * NB_deployment: Date of nestbox deployment
 (dd/mm/yyyy). na for the surveys after round 1 and control sites. *
 Date_surveyed: Date of spotlighting survey (dd/mm/yyyy). Daysafter_deploy:
 Number of days after nestbox deployment (dd/mm/yyyy). na for the surveys
 after round 1 and control sites.  * Nestboxes: Nestboxes present (Y/N). *
 Obs1: Sightings by only observer 1 (Count). * Obs2: Sightings by only
 observer 2 (Count). * Both: Sightings by both observers (Count).  *
 Highestgg: Maximum count of greater gliders by either observer, e.g.,
 observer 1 + both = observer 1’s total count. * Off: Greater glider
 sightings off the transect (Count).  * Totalgg: Count of observer 1 +
 observer 2 + both. * Meanelevation: Average elevation (m) of survey area.
 * Fireseverity: Category low, medium, high, extreme, or mixed where there
 was no clear majority. * Burnseverity: Percentage. * Canopyburn: Was any
 canopy burnt (Y/N). * Brushtailpossum: Number sighted during survey
 (Count).  #### File: Spotlighting_Script_East_Gippsland.R
 **Description:** Outlines the steps taken to model the greater glider
 survey data from spotlighting surveys in East Gippsland. #### File:
 Spotlighting_Script_Tallaganda.R **Description:** Outlines the steps taken
 to model the greater glider survey data from spotlighting surveys in
 Tallaganda. #### File: Camera_Script_Tallaganda_1.R
 **Description:** Script includes how the days of each species detected on
 camera were calculated. Can be applied to either/all camera datasets. ####
 File: Camera_Script_Tallaganda_2.R **Description:** R script for
 manipulating image and site data from the Tallaganda camera trapping. Can
 be applied to either/all camera datasets. #### File:
 tallaganda_mammals_imagedataset.csv **Description:** Processed camera data
 for all images with mammals detected in Tallaganda. *Captured
 automatically by the camera and downloaded into the spreadsheet.  #####
 Variables * image_name: Unique code for each individual image.  * area:
 The study area, e.g., Tallaganda.  * site: Site name, e.g., the individual
 transect.   * Station: Camera name. Includes the transect/site name, where
 the camera was placed (front/back), and SD number.  * code: Camera number
 and transect name.  * *trigger: Trigger number of the image e.g., 1/2.  *
 Date: Date of image (dd/mm/yyyy). * time: Time of image (hh:mm:ss). *
 *datetime: Date and time of image (dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm)  * *moon_phase: Phase
 of the moon when the image was taken. * *sensitivity: Camera shutter
 sensitivity. (Category: low/medium/high, has been converted to numerical
 but is within the high range).  * *temp: Temperature image was taken
 (Degrees Celsius)  * species: Species identified in the image.  * age: Age
 of the southern greater glider identified if able to identify from the
 image. Blank cells = no age was determined for that image.  * behaviour:
 Where the animal is detected in the image.  * nestbox_behaviour: Whether
 the animal is interacting with the nestbox.  * colour: Southern greater
 glider morph. Blank cell = not a southern greater glider and therefore not
 written, or missing if it was difficult to determine from the image.   *
 number: Number of animals in the image (Count). * comments: Additional
 observations. Blank cell = nothing to add.  #### File:
 tallaganda_sites.csv **Description:** Data collected for each camera
 site.  ##### Variables * camera: Number between 1 and 30.  *
 Station: Camera name. Includes the transect/site name, where the camera
 was placed (front/back), and SD number.  * lat: Latitude (Co-ordinates of
 camera location).  * lon: Longitude (Co-ordinates of camera location).  *
 Setup_date: Date camera was set up and began collecting data
 (dd/mm/yyyy).  * Retrieval_date: Date camera was retrieved and data
 collection ended (dd/mm/yyyy).  * Problem1_from: Date of the last image.
 null = no problem.  * Problem1_to: End date of camera trapping period.
 null = no problem.  * Camera_Operational: Days the camera recorded for.  *
 Problems: TRUE or FALSE.  * Reason: Description of why there was a problem
 with the camera trapping period. Blank cells = no problem recorded.  ####
 File: eastgippsland_images_r1.csv **Description:** Processed camera data
 for all images with mammals detected in East Gippsland (First round).
 *Captured automatically by the camera and downloaded into the
 spreadsheet.  ##### Variables * image_name: Unique code for each
 individual image.  * area: The study area, e.g. East Gippsland. * Station:
 Camera name. Includes the transect/site name, where the camera was placed
 (front/back), and SD number.  * *trigger: Trigger number of the image.  *
 Date: Date of image (dd/mm/yyyy). * time: Time of image (hh:mm:ss). *
 *datetime: Date and time of image (dd/mm/yyyy hh:mm).  *
 *moon_phase: Phase of the moon when the image was taken. * *sensitivity:
 Camera shutter sensitivity. (Category: low/medium/high, has been converted
 to numerical but is within the high range).  * *temp: Temperature image
 was taken (Degrees Celsius).  * species: Species identified in the image. 
 * age_image: Age of the animal identified if able to identify from the
 image.  * behaviour: Where the animal is detected in the image.  *
 nestbox_behaviour: Whether the animal is interacting with the nestbox.  *
 number: Number of animals in the image (Count).  * colour: Southern
 greater glider morph.  #### File: eastgippsland_sites_r1.csv
 **Description:** Data collected for each camera site.  ##### Variables *
 Station: Camera name. Includes the transect/site name, where the camera
 was placed (front/back), and SD number.  * Camera: Number between 1 and
 28.  * Problem: TRUE or FALSE.  * Setup_date: Date camera was set up and
 began collecting data (dd/mm/yyyy).  * Problem1_from: Date of the last
 image. * Problem1_to: End date of camera trapping period. *
 Retrieval_date: Date camera was retrieved and data collection ended
 (dd/mm/yyyy).  * Trap_Nights: Number of nights cameras recorded for. *
 site_severity: Fire severity along the transect (low/moderate/high).  *
 site_percentageburnt: Percentage of the transect burnt (%).  *
 camera_distance: Front of the transect (50m) or back (250m).  *
 site_canopyburn: Canopy burnt along the transect, yes or no.  * site_evc:
 Ecological vegetation class along the transect.  * camera_evc: Ecological
 vegetation class at the camera location.  * camera_elevation: Elevation
 (m) at the camera location. * camera_severity: Fire severity at the camera
 location.  #### File: eastgippsland_sites_r2.csv **Description:** Data
 collected for each camera site in the second round of data collection.
 ##### Variables * Station_SD: Repeat of 'Station'. *
 Station: Camera name. Includes the transect/site name, where the camera
 was placed (front/back), and SD number.  * Site: Site name, e.g., the
 individual transect.   * camera: Number between 1 and 28.  *
 EVC: Ecological vegetation class along the transect.  *
 camera_elevation: Elevation (m) at the camera location. *
 camera_severity: Fire severity at the camera location (Category).   *
 camera_landmgmt: Tenure of site.  * Setup_date: Date camera was set up and
 began collecting data (dd/mm/yyyy).  * Problem2_from: Date of the last
 image. * Problem2_to: End date of camera trapping period.  *
 Retrieval_date: Date camera was retrieved and data collection ended.  *
 Camera_Operational: Days the camera recorded for. * Problem2: TRUE or
 FALSE.  * last_animal_photo: Date of image with an animal present. *
 last_photo: Date of last image. * end: Retrieval of the camera/or change
 of SD card. * field_observations: Observations from the tree climber. *
 issues: Issues noted with the camera. E.g., SD Card error. Blank cells =
 no issues.  #### File: eastgippsland_images_r2.csv
 **Description:** Processed camera data for all images with mammals
 detected in East Gippsland (Second round). *Captured automatically by the
 camera and downloaded into the spreadsheet.  Note: Blank cells in
 'sequence' and 'temp_' are due to errors, and those
 are missing values.  Blank cells in 'age' and 'colour'
 are due to not being needed for that species or being unidentifiable. 
 Blank cells in 'behaviour' are missing values or unidentifiable
 in the image.  ##### Variables * RootFolder: Round2 * File: Same as
 'image name'. * Station: Camera name. Includes the transect/site
 name, where the camera was placed (front/back), and SD number.  * *Date:
 Date of image (dd/mm/yyyy).  * *Time: Time of image (hh:mm:ss).  *
 DeleteFlag: TRUE or FALSE. * *sequence: Trigger number. * age: Age of the
 animal identified if able to identify from the image. (Null or a blank
 cell is for species other than the southern greater glider or if
 unidentifiable).  * *temp_: Temperature when image taken (Degrees
 Celsius).   * colour: Southern greater glider morph. (na or a blank cell
 is for other species or if unidentifiable)  * behaviour: Where the animal
 is detected in the image.  * ant: Antechinus (0 = Not present, 1 or more =
 number of that animal present in image) (Count).  * gg: Southern greater
 glider (0 = Not present, 1 or more = number of that animal present in
 image) (Count).  * ft: Feathertail glider (0 = Not present, 1 or more =
 number of that animal present in image) (Count).  * sg: Inland sugar
 glider (0 = Not present, 1 or more = number of that animal present in
 image) (Count).  * common: Common Brushtail Possum (0 = Not present, 1 or
 more = number of that animal present in image) * mountain: Mountain
 Brushtail Possum (0 = Not present, 1 or more = number of that animal
 present in image) (Count).  * behaviour0: Whether the animal is
 interacting with the nestbox (Category:  * ybg: Yellow-bellied Glider (0 =
 Not present, 1 or more = number of that animal present in image) *
 unidentified: Unidentified animal. (0 = Not present, 1 or more = number of
 that animal present in image) * bat: Bat (0 = Not present, 1 or more =
 number of that animal present in image) * comment: Any notes, issues, etc.
 Blank cell = no comments.  #### File: Camera_Script_EG_R2.R
 **Description:** R script for manipulating image and site data from the
 second round of East Gippsland camera trapping. Can be applied to
 either/all camera datasets. ## Code/software See the R scripts for code
 and packages used.