Db. Lindenmayer et al., A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data, BIOL CONSER, 101(2), 2001, pp. 157-169
The design of a longitudinal landscape-scale "natural experiment" of Austra
lian woodland vertebrates is described. The experiment will allow the direc
t study of changes in fauna inhabiting woodland fragments as the surroundin
g grazed landscape is transformed into a radiata pine (Pinus radiata) plant
ation. It will also provide data to enable the study of relationships betwe
en fauna and habitat and landscape variables, both over time and among site
s. Data for terrestrial mammals, arboreal marsupials, and reptiles occurrin
g in woodland remnants surrounded by newly planted radiata pine seedlings a
nd pasture are presented. These data provide a reference set against which
future changes in vertebrate fauna can be assessed and hence will be baseli
ne data for the longitudinal study. Statistical analyses for several specie
s showed that arboreal marsupials are more likely to be found in larger rem
nants that contain more trees with cavities and the four-fingered skink (Ca
rlia tetradactyla) is more likely to be found either where there are more e
xposed rocks or more dead trees. We predict that these responses will chang
e as the surrounding landscape matrix is transformed, particularly for arbo
real marsupials such as the common ringtail possum (Pseudocheirus peregrinu
s), a species for which stands of radiata pine will provide suitable or par
tially suitable habitat. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved
.