Simplification of arboreal marsupial assemblages in response to increasing urbanization.

ABSTRACT: Arboreal marsupials play an essential role in ecosystem function including regulating insect and plant populations, facilitating pollen and seed dispersal and acting as a prey source for higher-order carnivores in Australian environments. Primarily, research has focused on their biology, ecology and response to disturbance in forested and urban environments. We used presence-only species distribution modelling to understand the relationship between occurrences of arboreal marsupials and eco-geographical variables, and to infer habitat suitability across an urban gradient. We used post-proportional analysis to determine whether increasing urbanization affected potential habitat for arboreal marsupials. The key eco-geographical variables that influenced disturbance intolerant species and tho

SUBMITTER: Isaac B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3946675 | biostudies-literature | 2014

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature