Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Absent
Present
Figure 2.13:
Relationship between the occurrence of the Diamond Firetail in a remnant and the amount of
native pasture surrounding that remnant.
High quality native grassland
Summary
Several factors contribute to making a good remnant. These vary from the
structure, composition and condition of a patch of remnant vegetation to patch
size, patch shape and landscape context. Given an understanding of these key
factors, it is then possible to identify management actions to enhance remnant
Box 2.10. An experimental study of the effects of landscape context
on the biodiversity of temperate woodland remnants
In 1997, we established a major experimental study to document what happens in
patches of remnant woodland where the surrounding landscape is changed from
paddocks with scattered trees to a landscape dominated by stands of Radiata Pine.
The work is taking place at Nanangroe, near Jugiong in southern New South Wales.
The project has involved counting animals in remnant patches before the surround-
ing plantation establishment commenced, with repeated surveys as the Radiata Pine
plantation matured (see Figure 2.14).
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Some major changes have occurred in the 13 years since the project started. The
bird assemblage has changed from one largely dominated by open country and
woodland species to a highly unusual mixture of forest and woodland birds. Many
woodland bird species are declining, whereas forest bird species are increasing.
Many of the new forest species found in the study were those which inhabited the
new stands of pine trees and then spilled over into adjacent woodland remnants.
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The key message from the Nanangroe experiment is that landscape context mat-
ters. That is, the nature of the landscape surrounding woodland remnants can have
a major influence on which species use them.
