Characteristics of mammal communities in Tasmanian forests: exploring the influence of forest type and disturbance history

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (1) ◽  
pp. 13 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erin M. Flynn ◽  
Susan M. Jones ◽  
Menna E. Jones ◽  
Gregory J. Jordan ◽  
Sarah A. Munks
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Disturbance History ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Undisturbed Forest ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Mammal Communities

Context With increasing pressure worldwide on forest habitat, it is crucial to understand faunal ecology to effectively manage and minimise impacts of anthropogenic habitat disturbance. Aims This study assessed whether differences in forest type and disturbance history were reflected in small to medium mammal communities found in Tasmania’s production forests. Methods Trapping was conducted in spring and summer, and autumn and winter during 2007–08 at four dry Eucalyptus forest sites (two regenerating after harvest and two in relatively undisturbed forest) in south-east Tasmania, and four wet Eucalyptus forest sites (two regenerating after harvest and two in relatively undisturbed forest) in north-east Tasmania. All sites were embedded within a matrix of mature or older aged regenerating forest. Key results Thirteen mammal species were recorded across all sites. There was no difference in species diversity or richness between forest type or disturbance regime, but species composition differed. Total number of individual animals and captures was influenced strongly by forest type and disturbance history, with most animals captured in the dry disturbed forest sites. Abundance of some species (e.g. bettongs and potoroos) was higher in disturbed sites than undisturbed sites. Brushtail possum numbers (adults and offspring), however, were lower in disturbed sites and populations displayed a male biased adult sex ratio and lower breeding frequency. Habitat structural complexity and vegetation diversity within core sites, and age structure of the forest in the surrounding landscape did not vary significantly, indicating that broad resource (food and refuge) availability was equivalent across sites. Conclusions In general, the small to medium mammals in this study did not appear to be significantly affected by forest harvesting in the medium term. Implications Although past harvesting altered the abundance of some habitat features (e.g. canopy cover, basal area of trees, and tree hollow availability), we suggest that the availability of such features in the surrounding landscape may mitigate the potential effects of disturbance on the species for which such habitat features are important.

scholarly journals Artisanal mining impacts small mammals while chainsaw milling is a more sustainable practice in Ghana

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eric Adjei Lawer ◽  
Anne-Christine Mupepele ◽  
Alexandra-Maria Klein
Keyword(s):  
Community Composition ◽  
Small Mammals ◽  
Small Mammal ◽  
Forest Floor ◽  
Ecological Impacts ◽  
Artisanal Mining ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Undisturbed Forest ◽  
Small Mammal Communities ◽  
Mammal Communities

AbstractLogging and mining are widespread in most West African countries and considering their socio-economic importance, little is known about their ecological impacts. In this study, we investigated the effects of chainsaw milling (logging) and artisanal mining on terrestrial small mammal communities in a tropical forest in Ghana. For this, we compared abundance, diversity measures and community composition of small mammals active at the forest floor in logged, mined and undisturbed forest sites. We found that abundance was higher in logged and undisturbed forest sites than in mined sites. Small mammal species richness, Shannon diversity and Pielou’s evenness did not differ significantly among the three forest disturbance categories. Community composition of small mammals varied between mined and undisturbed sites as well as between mined and logged sites, suggesting differential species responses to altered environments. This may be due to the presence of pits in mined forest sites, hence a reduction in exploitable ground habitat structures for shelter, nesting or food. Overall, our results suggest that artisanal mining has strong impacts on community composition of forest floor small mammals in tropical forests while the effect of logging by chainsaw milling activities is minimal, especially when practiced at low intensity. This effect was moderated by elevation and distance to streams that equally shaped small mammal communities. More research on the effects of specific forms of logging and mining activities on small mammals are urgently needed to better protect species in forests impacted by logging and mining.

Regional-scale heterogeneity in primate community structure at multiple undisturbed forest sites across south-eastern Peru

2011 ◽  
Vol 27 (2) ◽  
pp. 181-194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Suzanne Palminteri ◽  
George V. N. Powell ◽  
Carlos A. Peres
Keyword(s):  
Species Richness ◽  
Community Structure ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Geographic Location ◽  
Primate Species ◽  
Community Heterogeneity ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Management Regime ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Undisturbed Forest

Abstract:The forests of western Amazonia support high site-level biological diversity, yet regional community heterogeneity is poorly understood. Using data from line transect surveys at 37 forest sites in south-eastern Peru, we assessed whether local primate assemblages are heterogeneous at the scale of a major watershed. We examined patterns of richness, abundance and community structure as a function of forest type, hunting pressure, land-management regime and geographic location. The primate assemblage composition and structure varied spatially across this relatively small region of Amazonia (≈ 85 000 km2), resulting from large-scale species patchiness rather than species turnover. Primate species richness varied among sites by a factor of two, community similarity by a factor of four and aggregate biomass by a factor of 45. Several environmental variables exhibited influence on community heterogeneity, though none as much as geographic location. Unflooded forest sites had higher species richness than floodplain forests, although neither numerical primate abundance nor aggregate biomass varied with forest type. Non-hunted sites safeguarded higher abundance and biomass, particularly of large-bodied species, than hunted sites. Spatial differences among species assemblages of a relatively generalist taxon like primates in this largely undisturbed forest region imply that community heterogeneity may be even greater in more species-rich taxa, as well as in regions of greater forest habitat diversity.

The use of hollow-bearing trees retained in multi-aged regenerating production forest by the Tasmanian common brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula fuliginosus)

2011 ◽  
Vol 38 (8) ◽  
pp. 687 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lisa Cawthen ◽  
Sarah Munks
Keyword(s):  
Forest Harvesting ◽  
Brushtail Possum ◽  
Suitable Habitat ◽  
Effective Measure ◽  
Partial Harvest ◽  
Eucalyptus Forest ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Common Brushtail Possum ◽  
Surrounding Landscape ◽  
Production Areas

Context Hollow-bearing trees are frequently retained in timber-production areas as part of measures to mitigate against the impacts of forest harvesting on fauna, yet few studies have investigated the effectiveness of such measures. Such studies are essential for adaptive forest management. Aims The main aim of the present study was to evaluate the use of hollow-bearing trees retained in harvested and unharvested forest as den sites by the Tasmanian common brushtail possum. In particular, we examined the distribution and types of hollow-bearing trees used as den sites and whether or not their use in harvested sites was influenced by time since harvest. Methods Thirty brushtail possums were radio-tracked to their day-time den sites between March 2007–July 2007 and July 2008–October 2008, at five dry Eucalyptus forest sites (three regenerating after partial harvest with hollow-bearing trees retained inside the coupe and two in relatively undisturbed forest) in south-eastern Tasmania, Australia. Key results The brushtail possums tracked in the study denned primarily in hollow-bearing trees at both the harvested and unharvested sites. At sites regenerating 8 and 10 years after harvest, most den site locations were in trees retained outside the harvest area, in large patches. In contrast, at the site regenerating 17 years after harvest, isolated trees and small patches within the harvested area were used. Conclusions Hollow-bearing trees retained within harvest areas do provide habitat for hollow-dependent fauna such as the common brushtail possum and enable recolonisation of harvested areas in the medium term. However, in the short term these trees may not be used and hollow-bearing trees retained in the surrounding landscape are important for providing refuge as the harvested area regenerates. Implications The retention of hollow-bearing trees in harvested areas may be an effective measure at enabling recolonisation of harvested areas once suitable habitat regenerates, but it is also important to ensure that large patches of mature forest (containing hollows) are retained in the surrounding landscape to ensure the persistence of hollow-using fauna.

scholarly journals Monitoring invasive mammalian predator populations sharing habitat with the Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrot Amazona vittata

Oryx ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 40 (1) ◽  
pp. 95-102 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Engeman ◽  
Desley Whisson ◽  
Jessica Quinn ◽  
Felipe Cano ◽  
Pedro Quiñones ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Puerto Rican ◽  
Habitat Type ◽  
Critically Endangered ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
The World ◽  
Mammalian Predators ◽  
In The Wild ◽  
Amazona Vittata ◽  
Black Rats

Critically Endangered Puerto Rican parrots Amazona vittata are one of the rarest birds in the world. Several exotic mammal species capable of preying on Puerto Rican parrots cohabit the Caribbean National Forest with the only wild population of these parrots. We used tracking plates, monitoring blocks and trapping to index black rats, small Indian mongooses and feral cats in parrot habitat and in public-use areas in the same habitat type. We had high trap success for black rats at all sites (42% of all sites combined), among the highest reported in the world. Rat response to monitoring (nontoxic bait) blocks was universally high, regardless of ground or tree placement. Mongooses were present at all sites, with a greater proportion of plates tracked within the forest than at public-use sites. Cats were present at all forest sites and one of the public-use sites. Presence of the three species did not appear to be linked to human disturbance. Because only 30–40 Puerto Rican parrots survive in the wild, with as few as three pairs nesting in 2002, we concluded that the abundance and pervasiveness of exotic mammalian predators poses a greater threat to the parrots than has been generally acknowledged. This is evidenced by mammalian predation during recent parrot breeding seasons, including six fledglings taken by mongooses and one nest failure from rats during 2000–2003.

scholarly journals Forest-type specialization strongly predicts avian responses to tropical agriculture

2019 ◽  
Vol 286 (1913) ◽  
pp. 20191724
Author(s):  
Jacob B. Socolar ◽  
David S. Wilcove
Keyword(s):  
Forest Type ◽  
Soil Nutrient ◽  
Predictive Performance ◽  
Species Traits ◽  
Habitat Associations ◽  
Habitat Specialization ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Specialist Species ◽  
Habitat Specialist Species ◽  
Poor Soil

Species’ traits influence how populations respond to land-use change. However, even in well-characterized groups such as birds, widely studied traits explain only a modest proportion of the variance in response across species. Here, we show that associations with particular forest types strongly predict the sensitivity of forest-dwelling Amazonian birds to agriculture. Incorporating these fine-scale habitat associations into models of population response dramatically improves predictive performance and markedly outperforms the functional traits that commonly appear in similar analyses. Moreover, by identifying habitat features that support assemblages of unusually sensitive habitat-specialist species, our model furnishes straightforward conservation recommendations. In Amazonia, species that specialize on forests along a soil–nutrient gradient (i.e. both rich-soil specialists and poor-soil specialists) are exceptionally sensitive to agriculture, whereas species that specialize on floodplain forests are unusually insensitive. Thus, habitat specialization per se does not predict disturbance sensitivity, but particular habitat associations do. A focus on conserving specific habitats that harbour highly sensitive avifaunas (e.g. poor-soil forest) would protect a critically threatened component of regional biodiversity. We present a conceptual model to explain the divergent responses of habitat specialists in the different habitats, and we suggest that similar patterns and conservation opportunities probably exist for other taxa and regions.

scholarly journals Habitat features of the capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks in the West Carpathians

2019 ◽  
Vol 48 (No. 9) ◽  
pp. 415-424 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Saniga
Keyword(s):  
Stand Structure ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Space Structure ◽  
Habitat Characteristics ◽  
Tetrao Urogallus ◽  
Natural Forests ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Forest Stand Structure ◽  
West Carpathians ◽  
Succession Stage

Habitat characteristics of 43 capercaillie (Tetrao urogallus) leks were studied in the mountains of Central Slovakia (West Carpathians) in 1984–2002. Macro-habitat was described with respect to topography and succession stage. Micro-habitat was described with respect to forest type and forest stand structure. Twenty-seven out of forty-three display grounds were situated in the upper half of the lateral ridges. Sixteen leks were located on hills of the lateral ridges (slope < 10%). All the leks were situated in old succession stages of the forest (80–200 years old). Twenty-seven display grounds were located in natural forests, sixteen leks were situated in man-managed stands more than 80 years old. Leks were situated in a variety of forest types with overstorey tree-density between 400–1,050 stems per ha. Distribution of leks was limited above all by macro-habitat characteristics (elevated sites, old stands). Age-space structure seemed to be a significant micro-habitat feature (preference of multi-layered stands).  

Potential indicators of the impacts of forest management on wildlife habitat in northeastern Ontario: A multivariate application of wildlife habitat suitability matrices

2004 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-106 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jay R Malcolm ◽  
Brian D Campbell ◽  
Ben G Kuttner ◽  
Alissa Sugar
Keyword(s):  
Forest Management ◽  
Habitat Suitability ◽  
Sustainable Forest Management ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Wildlife Habitat ◽  
Forest Monitoring ◽  
Forest Age ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
Hardwood Species ◽  
Clearcut Logging

Protocols to select ecological indicators of sustainable forest management will benefit from a proactive approach that identifies species likely to be most seriously impacted by management. Here, we use an objective approach that couples forest resource inventory information from logged and unlogged landscapes in northeastern Ontario with information from the provincial vertebrate habitat suitability matrix to assess habitat suitability (the amount of used and preferred habitats) in the landscapes and to identify potential indicators of the impacts of forest management activities. Because they may be most representative of potential future logged landscapes in the region, we contrasted the oldest post-clearcut landscapes in the region (1950s and 1960s era, n = 27) with unlogged landscapes (n = 16). Each landscape was a 2-km radius circle (12.6 km2). In light of reported invasions of hardwood species into logged conifer sites, we considered two regeneration scenarios for very young post-harvest stands: full and partial regeneration control. Logged landscapes differed markedly from unlogged landscapes with respect to forest age and forest type. These differences resulted in strong distinctions between logged and unlogged forests for bird and mammal communities, but relatively weak separation for herpetofauna. Redundancy analysis indicated that the percent variation in habitat suitability attributable to logging was 27% for birds, 17–18% for mammals, and 8–12% for herpetofauna. More than 40% of bird and mammal species showed highly significant differences in habitat suitability between the two landscape types (P<0.01), with more species having higher suitability in unlogged than logged forests. This higher habitat suitability in unlogged forests was associated with a greater amount of older forests and a higher richness of forest types in unlogged compared to logged forests. The effect of the two regeneration scenarios was discernible for all communities, but had a relatively weak effect, with the possible exception of higher snowshoe hare (Lepus americana) densities under partial compared to full regeneration control. Various lines of evidence are presented suggesting that these differences between logged and unlogged landscapes may be maintained into the future unless actions are taken to ameliorate these effects of clearcut logging. The technique presented here may prove useful in forest monitoring and adaptive management planning because it is objective, can simultaneously consider a large number of forest taxa, focuses on real rather than projected landscapes, and outlines, in a succinct way, the main habitat-related gradients in habitat suitability matrices. Key words: wildlife habitat supply, clearcut logging, boreal forest, indicator species, forest age, forest regeneration, multivariate analysis

scholarly journals Canonical Correlation Analysis across Vegetation and Soil Properties of the Disturbed and Undisturbed Coastal Forest Ecosystems

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Elly Josephat Ligate ◽  
Can Chen
Keyword(s):  
Soil Properties ◽  
Canonical Correlation ◽  
Diversity Indices ◽  
Livestock Grazing ◽  
Forest Reserve ◽  
Forest Sites ◽  
Tree Inventory ◽  
Undisturbed Forest ◽  
Stand Parameters ◽  
Crop Agriculture

This study presents comparative initial information about canonical correlation across forest stand parameters, diversity indices and soil properties in undisturbed forest sites (IFS), agriculture disturbed sites (ADS) and livestock disturbed sites (DGS). Data were collected from Uzigua Forest Reserve in Tanzania. Forty- seven sample plots of 25 m × 25 m were randomly established on IFS, ADS and DGS from which tree inventory data and 141 soil samples were drawn. Data were subjected into Canoco windows 4.5 software for multivariate analyses and comparisons across IFS, ADS and DGS. The correlation of tree stand parameters (TSP) and soil physical properties (SPP) were F=1.207, p=0.242 in IFS, F=2.400, p=0.012 in ADS and F=0.529, p=0.938 in DGS. For soluble bases and TSP were F=2.448, p=0.018 in IFS, F=0.687, p=0.790 in ADS and F=0.743, p=0.808 in DGS. Carbon, nitrogen and potassium (CNP) and TSP were F=0.816, p=0.572 in IFS, F=0.687, p=0.790 in ADS and F=0.070, p=0.020 in DGS. The SPP and Shannon indices had F=1.103, p<0.388 in IFS, F=0.520, p=0.714 in ADS and F=0.932, p=0.444 in DGS. The SPP and Independent Value Index (IVI) were F=0.042, p=0.996 in IFS, F=0.819, p=0.620 in ADS and F=0.633, p=0.724 in DGS. Soluble bases and equitability were F=0.119, p=0.968 in IFS, F=0.001, p=0.001 in ADS and F=0.011, p=0.001 in DGS. The CNP and IVI had F=4.246, p=0.014 in IFS, F=2.729, p=0.018 in ADS and F=2.007, p=0.060 in DGS. The mean higher canonical correlation in the non-disturbed sites indicates that crop-agriculture and livestock grazing affect the interplays between forest vegetation and soil properties. Therefore, human activity disturbs the structure and soil properties.

The effects of variable retention forestry on coarse woody debris dynamics and concomitant impacts on American marten habitat after 27 years

2020 ◽  
Vol 50 (9) ◽  
pp. 925-935 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ingrid Farnell ◽  
Ché Elkin ◽  
Erica Lilles ◽  
Anne-Marie Roberts ◽  
Michelle Venter
Keyword(s):  
Coarse Woody Debris ◽  
Woody Debris ◽  
Multiple Use ◽  
Mammal Species ◽  
American Marten ◽  
Habitat Features ◽  
Decay Class ◽  
Retention Forestry ◽  
The Impact

Coarse woody debris (CWD) in the form of logs, downed wood, stumps and large tree limbs is an important structural habitat feature for many small mammal species, including the American marten (Martes americana). At a long-term experimental trial in northern temperate hemlock-cedar forests of British Columbia, Canada, we analysed the impact of varying amounts of overstory basal area retention: 0% (clearcut), 40%, 70%, and 100% (unharvested) on CWD volume, decay class, and inputs from windthrow over 27 years. We used CWD attributes (diameter, length, decay class, and height above the ground) known to be favourable for martens to create an index for assessing the impact of harvesting intensity on CWD habitat features. Stands with 70% retention had CWD attributes that resulted in CWD habitat features similar to unharvested stands. Clearcuts contained pieces that were smaller, more decayed, and closer to the ground, which contributed to a habitat that was less valuable, compared with stands that had higher retention. Over the 27-year period, windthrown trees were the majority of CWD inputs, and volume change was positively related to percent retention. Our results highlight that forest management influences CWD size and input dynamics over multiple decades, and the need for consideration of these impacts when undertaking long-term multiple-use forestry planning.

scholarly journals Diversity of Understory Communities in Boreal Forests: Influences of Forest Type, Latitude, and Spatial Scale

Forests ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 10 (11) ◽  
pp. 1003
Author(s):  
Yu-Song Jin ◽  
Yu-Kun Hu ◽  
Jing Wang ◽  
Dan-Dan Liu ◽  
Ying-Hua Lin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Beta Diversity ◽  
Boreal Forests ◽  
Forest Type ◽  
Critical Role ◽  
Understory Vegetation ◽  
Coniferous Forests ◽  
Lower Latitude ◽  
Forest Types ◽  
Vegetation Diversity ◽  
Alpha And Beta Diversity

Understory vegetation hosts high biodiversity and plays a critical role in the ecosystem processes of boreal forests. However, the drivers of understory plant diversity in this high-latitude ecosystem remain uncertain. To investigate the influences of forest type and latitude on understory beta diversity at different scales, we quantified the species composition of Vaccinium uliginosum Linnaeus communities under broadleaf and coniferous forests at two latitudes at the quadrat (2 × 2 m) and plot (10 × 10 m) scales in the Greater Xing’an Mountains, NE China. At the quadrat scale, species alpha diversity of V. uliginosum communities was higher in broadleaf forests than that in coniferous forests at both latitudes. The differences in species beta diversity (the Sørensen’s dissimilarity) in two forest types depended on the latitude: beta diversity in broadleaf forests was higher than that in coniferous forests at the higher latitude, while beta diversity in coniferous forests was higher at the lower latitude. At the plot scale, alpha and beta diversity of V. uliginosum communities decreased from broadleaf forests to coniferous forests at the higher latitude, and they did not show significant differences between forest types at the lower latitude. These results indicate the interactive effects of forest type and latitude on beta diversity of understory vegetation. Moreover, the influences of forest type and latitude on species alpha and beta diversity were different across the two spatial scales, suggesting that the assembly mechanisms underlying species diversity may be different at different scales. Understanding the maintenance of understory vegetation diversity will benefit the conservation and management of boreal forests.

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