Management of Power Line Easement Vegetation for Small Mammal Conservation in Australia: A Case Study of the Broad-toothed Rat (Mastacomys fuscus)

Abstract

This chapter examines the potential power line easements for the conservation of small mammals, and in particular the near-threatened, broad-toothed rat (Mastacomys fuscus), in Australia. This chapter highlights that potential biodiversity values do exist for Australian power line easements, if some changes are made to the current management practices. Easement vegetation is found to support a diverse small mammal community, including M. fuscus if the vegetation is allowed to develop some structural complexity. M. fuscus was one of the first species to recolonize the easement habitat, provided that the areas had regenerated to a sufficient level. Results suggests, however, that the current management technique used, where the entire easement is managed at one time via mass slashing, on short rotation times, is most likely limiting M. fuscus to low abundances, and causing isolation of the current M. fuscus populations. To ensure that power line easements supply functional, usable habitat for small mammals and other species and to minimize their potential to fragment small mammal populations, it is recommended that current management techniques be reassessed. In an effort to develop more appropriate management regimes, it was recommended that rotation times be increased between management, that mass slashing of the easement at one time be reassessed, especially in naturally low growing areas and that rotational-type slashing be implemented. Other techniques such as spot spraying may be all that is needed within some areas to control emergent saplings.