Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555:body:0:p72
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2022L00555
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 225712–228458

used.
Non-food tree species are an essential resource to Koalas. Koalas use these shelter trees to thermoregulate, especially during hot days (Briscoe et al. 2015; Crowther et al. 2014; Ellis et al. 2009; Ellis et al. 2010a; Pfeiffer et al. 2005) and to avoid predators (Melzer et al. 2003). Koalas appear to prefer larger and more shady trees and use a wide range of tree species for shelter, including rainforest trees (Queensland, Pfeiffer et al. 2005), white cypress pine Callitris glaucophylla (Pilliga, New South Wales, Kavanagh et al. 2007), Callitris columellaris (North Stradbroke Island, Queensland, Cristescu et al. 2011; Woodward et al. 2008), brigalow Acacia harpophylla and black tea-tree Melaleuca bracteata (Queensland Brigalow, Ellis et al. 2002).
Leaves of the river red gum E. camaldulensis which occurs across Australia and a favourite food of the Koala. Image: © S. Brown.
Koalas shift between locations for habitat resources in space and time and, therefore, areas can constitute Koala habitat even if a Koala is not present at a given time. Individual Koalas move daily between food and shelter trees (Pfeiffer et al. 2005; Tucker et al. 2007). Over a longer timescale, individuals' use of habitat is influenced by seasonal changes in food quality (Dargan et al. 2019; Woodward et al. 2008; Wu 2018), changes in habitat caused by drought (Seabrook et al. 2011), disturbance history (Kavanagh et al. 2007; Lunney et al. 2007; Matthews et al. 2016), the long-term results of a changing climate (Santika et al. 2014; Shabani et al. 2019) and competition with other species (e.g. Bell Miner Manorina melanophrys, Wardell-Johnson 2006).
Key factors that influence the quality of habitat for Koalas are the presence and density of preferred food tree species (Melzer et al. 2014; Moore and Foley 2000; Stalenberg et al. 2014; Whisson et al. 2016; Woodward et al. 2008); food trees' nutritional foliar chemistry (Ellis et al. 2009; Moore and Foley 2005; More et al. 2004; Wallis et al. 2010) (section 28), and shelter trees and vegetation structure (Ellis et al. 2002; Ellis et al. 2009; Ellis et al. 2013; Pfeiffer et al. 2005; Smith et al. 2013; Woodward et al. 2008). Koalas also use open ground (whether natural or part of the built environment) to travel between trees and patches, and the safety or hostility of this matrix also contributes to the overall quality of habitat (section 27.3). At a broad scale, these factors are determined by climate variables (Hughes et al. 1996); disturbance history from fire and timber harvesting (Kavanagh et al. 2007; Lunney et al. 2007; Matthews et al. 2016); and landforms of the natural and built environment (Barth et al. 2019; McAlpine et al. 2006a; Rus et al. 2021; Santika et al.