Modelling the impact of timber harvesting on a rare carnivorous land snail (Tasmaphena lamproides) in northwest Tasmania, Australia

Abstract

A stage-structured, stochastic metapopulation model was developed for a rare carnivorous snail, Tasmaphena lamproides, occurring in production forest in northwest Tasmania, Australia. The model was used to investigate the impact of a range of plantation options and harvesting strategies. These included: (i) a proposed 'District plan' with a combination of plantation conversion and native-forest harvesting; (ii) a 'plantation' scenario where all suitable areas within the forest are converted to plantation; and (iii) a 'native forest' scenario where all areas are harvested to a schedule and regenerated to native forest. The model facilitates exploration of management options and their conseque..