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

Abstract

The design of a longitudinal landscape-scale “natural experiment” of Australian woodland vertebrates is described. The experiment will allow the direct study of changes in fauna inhabiting woodland fragments as the surrounding grazed landscape is transformed into a radiata pine ( Pinus radiata) plantation. It will also provide data to enable the study of relationships between fauna and habitat and landscape variables, both over time and among sites. Data for terrestrial mammals, arboreal marsupials, and reptiles occurring in woodland remnants surrounded by newly planted radiata pine seedlings and pasture are presented. These data provide a reference set against which future changes in vertebrate fauna can be assessed and hence will be baseline data for the longitudinal study. Statistical analyses for several species showed that arboreal marsupials are more likely to be found in larger remnants that contain more trees with cavities and the four-fingered skink ( Carlia tetradactyla) is more likely to be found either where there are more exposed rocks or more dead trees. We predict that these responses will change as the surrounding landscape matrix is transformed, particularly for arboreal marsupials such as the common ringtail possum ( Pseudocheirus peregrinus), a species for which stands of radiata pine will provide suitable or partially suitable habitat.