Habitat fragmentation, landscape context, and mammalian assemblages in southeastern Australia

Abstract

We examined relationships between mammalian assemblages and landscape context and habitat fragmentation in southeastern Australia. Data were gathered from spotlighting and hair sample surveys at 166 sites in 3 different spatial (landscape) contexts: remnant patches of native eucalypt forest surrounded by an extensive plantation of exotic radiata pine (Pinus radiata - 86 sites), the radiata pine plantation (40 sites), and large areas of continuous native eucalypt forest that occurred at the margins of the plantation (40 sites). Continuous eucalypt forest supported more species than eucalypt patches, although some species were more common in the patch areas. All assemblages in the radiata pine..