Patterns of box mistletoe Amyema miquelii infection and pink gum Eucalyptus fasciculosa condition in the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia

Mistletoe occurrence, host condition and habitat variables were assessed in reserves throughout the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia, to: (1) document the presence and abundance of box mistletoe Amyema miquelii in Eucalyptus woodlands; (2) compare the condition of pink gums Eucalyptus fasciculosa with and without box mistletoe; and (3) investigate correlations between box mistletoe presence, landscape features and individual pink gum tree features. Box mistletoe frequency was highest on pink gums, with 28% of trees across the study area hosting at least one box mistletoe, and 5% hosting at least five. Logistic regression models indicated that woodland type was more influential than other landscape features such as fragmentation and edge effects in determining mistletoe presence. Individual pink gums with less foliage cover surrounding their canopy were more likely to host box mistletoe. The condition of pink gums was poor for infected (58% canopy dieback) and uninfected trees (43%) across all size classes, and there was no relationship between mistletoe abundance or presence and canopy dieback. Further investigations are required to determine why pink gums are more susceptible to box mistletoe proliferations than other woodland types.