Class 11

Artificial Habitats

Artificial habitat may be necessary:
- in areas with severe degradation/alteration especially to soil structure/composition
- where there are specific habitat requirements for species

Fauna requirements include:
- food
- shelter
- mate

Food is difficult to artificially supplement as fauna will become dependant.
Planting specific plants may provide a longer-term solution. In some cases it may be necessary to plant (or leave) non-local species to provide food in the short term while indigenous species grow.
e.g. Peppercorn are a favorite of emperor gum moths, grevileas, bottle brushes and hakeas may provide food to many insect and birds while eucalypts and banksia are maturing.

Shelter and protection is a little easier to provide. There are many forms of nesting boxes (more detail in Habitat management).
Different species have different requirement for nesting boxes. It is important to get the dimensions for your target species to maximise effectiveness.
Many introduced species will use a "general" nest box.
All boxes need to be checked for intruders.
Shelter on the ground e.g. for bandicoots, need to be designed to keep predators out. The size of any opening is of critical importance.
As mentioned before shelter is important when considering any work, especially before clearing weed species.
Floating weed masses and islands in water bodies can provide havens for birds etc. Make sure it isn't possible for predators to get onto them.
Feral proof fencing is an expensive option. Remember to eradicate ferals from inside.
May need to provide access points for native fauna to enter and exit, especially for small areas.

Mates are not easily provided however there are some situations where we can make it easier/safer for mating to occur. E.g. Mountain pygmy possum "tunnels of love".


Severely degraded areas may need to be planted with non-local species as conditions have been altered so much.
Salt tolerant varieties of red-gum have been developed to grow in salinity areas.
Limited number of species may grow on old tip sites.
The original flora may not be suitable to changed drainage, or altered soil conditions. Try to use indigenous species from different communities that suite the new conditions.

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