Biology Reference
In-Depth Information
Paddock trees
Scattered paddock trees are legacies of the previous,
often more dense, cover of native woodland. Most of the
tree cover in many agricultural areas comprises
paddock trees and these trees typically pre-date
European settlement. Our studies have demonstrated
that paddock trees have many critical values for
woodland biodiversity
7-11
and we list some of them in Box 4.2. In fact, paddock
trees can be so valuable in agricultural landscapes that they have been termed
'keystone structures'. This means that paddock trees have an array of roles which
makes them disproportionately valuable relative to the area they occupy.
9, 11
Paddock trees often have characteristics that are rare or uncommon in younger
trees on a farm. For example, paddock trees can have: (1) large cavities or hollows
in the trunk or large lateral branches; (2) a large and/or deep canopy; (3) prolific
numbers of flowers; (4) many clumps of mistletoe; and (5) large quantities of
flaking bark. Large branches and a deep canopy are, in turn, important sources of
fallen timber and leaf litter which provide habitat for a range of animals.
12, 13
The
environment immediately around paddock trees also can be very important for
native plants.
After they have died, paddock trees can remain important nesting and denning
sites for wildlife, including for high profile species like the Superb Parrot
14
and the
Paddock trees are keystone
structures in agricultural
landscapes and play many
valuable ecological roles
for farm wildlife
Figure 4.2:
A scattered paddock tree landscape near Holbrook in southern New South Wales. (Photo by
David Lindenmayer)
