A prospective longitudinal study of landscape matrix effects on fauna in woodland remnants: experimental design and baseline data

Citation
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
Citations number
61
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
ISSN journal
00063207 → ACNP
Volume
101
Issue
2
Year of publication
2001
Pages
157 - 169
Database
ISI
SICI code
0006-3207(200110)101:2<157:APLSOL>2.0.ZU;2-D
Abstract
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 .