Greater Gliders voted ‘Marsupial of the Year’
Here at ARV we’ve loved seeing all the wonderful marsupials that are enjoying the media spotlight in Channel 10’s The Project Marsupial of the Year Competition.
Voted most popular by the Victoria public, and taking the crown for 2024, is the wonderful Greater Glider, which is known to inhabit the alpine region, although being nocturnal, they can be a bit hard to spot.
These large gliding possums play a crucial role creating healthy forest ecosystems, and without them, air quality, waterways and ecosystems may suffer.
With the population of Greater Gliders at risk from habitat loss, degradation and fragmentation and under threat from predators, it is wonderful this threatened species is getting the attention it deserves.
Other marsupials prominent in our region include the Leadbetter Possum, and the Mountain Pygmy-possum. ARV undertakes year-round conservation programs to support these wonderful species and their habitats.
It is well understood that Bogong Moths are the main food source for the endangered and beloved Mountain Pygmy-possum, and typically, this time of year, the resorts are swarmed with Bogong Moths. In recent years, this appears to have changed, with less moths coming to the resorts, which is posing a problem for the hungry Mountain Pygmy-possum.
To help better understand this phenomenon, Zoos Victoria have launched a moth tracker, where moth-spotters can upload a photo of a moth they might see, and scientists can compile the information to understand the moth’s migration routes.
Even if you’re unsure whether a moth is a Bogong Moth, ARV encourages you to submit a photo and the experts at Zoos Victoria can verify it. Here’s what to look for:
- Bogong Moths are small, with a body length of around 2.5 – 3.5 centimetres.
- They have a dark stripe that runs down each wing.
- They have a spot at the top of the stripe that is shaped like a circle.
- They also have a spot at the bottom of the stripe which is shaped like a kidney.
- Both spots are the same colour.
Frogs are another important species in the State’s alpine resorts. They inhabit waterways, gobble up insects and are a food source to other predators in the region.
Protecting, understanding and knowing more about the frogs that inhabit the alpine region is important, and the Melbourne Water Frog Census is great way to do this. This statewide initiative is aimed at recording frog noises, and all citizen scientists can get involved by downloading the Melbourne Water Frog Census App.
Why are frogs so important? They’re vital to the health of wetlands and waterways as their tadpoles are grazers of algae and aquatic vegetation, while adult frogs are both predators and prey. They play an essential role in maintaining the balance of wetland ecosystem.
How will the information be used?
Any frog recordings will be compiled and used to track and understand where the various species of frogs inhabit. It also provides valuable data about the health of waterways, frog population trends and can inform management and planning.
How can you get involved?
Visit the Count frogs for Frog Census | Melbourne Water website to find out more.
Page last updated: 15/10/24