Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270:body:0:p69
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:F2024L00270
Segment Type: other
Provision Reference: 
Character Range: 191167–194363

functioning of the ecosystem, there remain some key knowledge gaps that constrain conservation management effectiveness. In some cases, where that research closely relates to other management objectives, the research actions are (also) described within those objectives. Note that the actions described here should not be seen to limit research options. Other currently established or proposed research actions will also contribute to the objectives of this Plan.

Action 5.1 – Priority: Urgent
Establish an ongoing research forum to enhance existing collaboration among researchers, and between researchers, managers and other interested parties, to make the most effective use of research actions and to identify and address any further key knowledge gaps.

Action 5.2 – Priority: Essential
Conduct an analysis of critical research gaps and undertake research to fill these gaps; in particular, providing more robust knowledge of key demographic and other ecological characteristics of Leadbeater's possum relevant to conservation management, specifically including population size, subpopulation structuring, predation (for example, cats and foxes), dispersal characteristics, diet, social systems, and home range size. This should include research aimed at increasing the likelihood of success of translocations, in order to establish the number, age, provenance (for example, wild-caught or captive-bred) and social relationships of animals that can be used to maximise success and enhance site fidelity post-release in order to reduce dispersal-related mortality.

Action 5.3 – Priority: Essential
Investigate key aspects of the post-fire ecology of Leadbeater's possum especially in relation to the 2009 bushfires, in part to inform responses to future bushfire events. This research should include at least: (1) assessment of current hollow availability and the importance of large dead and any live hollow-bearing trees in the burnt landscape; (2) investigation of hollow development within trees that were 1939 regrowth before being burnt, to determine their potential to provide denning sites into the future; (3) investigation of the persistence of colonies within fire refuges surrounded by burnt areas; (4) monitoring of rates and pattern of natural recolonisation of forest regrowing after fire; and (5) investigation of the role of firstly augmenting sites with additional hollows then translocating possums to these sites. This may become most critical to mitigate impacts of multiple, short-interval fires.

Action 5.4 – Priority: Essential
Continue to assess the practicality and effectiveness of habitat augmentation actions including the provision of nest boxes, artificially excavated hollows, and manipulation of midstorey to accelerate the development of key habitat features.

Action 5.5 – Priority: Essential
Design and undertake research to determine the (1) demography, movement patterns, denning behaviour and foraging activity of possums in areas regenerating after timber harvesting, and (2) interplay between midstorey Acacia senescence and hollow development.

Action 5.6 – Priority: Essential
Evaluate the collateral benefits and detriments of management actions