POWERLINE EASEMENTS - DO THEY PROMOTE EDGE EFFECTS IN EUCALYPT FORESTFOR SMALL MAMMALS

The distribution and abundance of small terrestrial mammals were asses sed in forest adjacent to powerline easements at three different sites in New South Wales. At each site, four transects of 300 m length exte nded into the forest from the edge of the easement. The abundances of two native species (Antechinus stuartii, Rattus fuscipes) did not diff er significantly with distance from the easement but abundances differ ed markedly among sites. Mammals were captured in only one easement wh ere dense vegetation was present. Feral carnivores, which may mediate edge effects on small mammals, were surveyed by using hair-sampling tu bes. Cats and dogs were detected only 50-200 m inside the forest. Foxe s were not detected by hair-tubes but were observed on two easements. These results suggest that powerline easements may not create edge eff ects in eucalypt forest for some native mammal species, although furth er studies are needed to determine the generality of this conclusion. We recommend that easement management should be more benign to native mammals, given the ubiquity of this form of habitat fragmentation. Pro motion of dense vegetative cover and habitat linkages within easements could achieve this.