Written by JCAFA
In an ecosystem where competition for shelter is fierce, tree and log hollows are a fundamental requirement for the survival of several threatened and iconic Western Australian species.
Because many trees in Julimar State Forest (Wandoo, Powderbark Wandoo, Jarrah and Marri) can take 120 to 200 years to develop hollows large enough for some wildlife, they are effectively a non-renewable resource within our lifetime.
Hollows are formed slowly over time, through natural processes like fire, fungal decay, termite consumption, and/or physical injury to the tree.
In Julimar, the presence of these hollows directly affects several priority species, including:
- Chuditch/Western Quoll (Dasyurus geoffroii)
Chuditch rely heavily on large, hollowed fallen logs for denning and raising young. These logs provide a stable microclimate and protection from predators like foxes and cats. - Carnaby’s Black-cockatoo (Zanda latirostris)
These birds cannot breed without hollows. They require large hollows in mature eucalypts, and competition for these spots is intense, often involving battles with invasive species or other cockatoos. - Brush-tailed Phascogale (Phascogale tapoatafa)
These small marsupials utilise multiple tree hollows within their home range, often lining them with shredded bark, feathers, fur, and dry leaves to create nursery nests.
Hollows also support other species in Julimar: bats, owls, parrots, galahs, tree martins, pardalotes, dunnarts, antechinus, possums, bush rats, reptiles, and countless invertebrates (to name a few).
Hollowed logs on the forest floor provide protection from predators as well as insulation. During the intense heat of summer, the interior of a log remains cooler than the surrounding air.
Hollows face the following threats:
- Frequent or high-intensity bushfires or prescribed burns can incinerate fallen logs and cause trees to collapse.
- Illegal firewood removal often targets the very logs that provide the best hollows for ground-dwelling fauna.
- Land clearing of mature habitat trees cannot be offset by planting a seedling. The 120-year wait for a tree to mature enough to develop hollows could mean the extinction of a species.
By providing a home for these species, hollows facilitate protection and breeding, which maintains the overall health of the Julimar State Forest.
The most effective way to keep this microhabitat healthy and protect species from extinction is to protect their natural habitat by changing the status of Julimar State Forest to a National Park.
A pile of white ash – the remains of a large log after a fire.
