Habitat amount and quality, not patch size, determine persistence of a woodland-dependent mammal in an agricultural landscape

Riana Gardiner; Glen Bain; Rowena Hamer; Menna E Jones; Christopher N. Johnson

doi:10.1007/s10980-018-0722-0

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Habitat amount and quality, not patch size, determine persistence of a woodland-dependent mammal in an agricultural landscape

Journal article

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Habitat amount and quality, not patch size, determine persistence of a woodland-dependent mammal in an agricultural landscape

Riana Gardiner, Glen Bain, Rowena Hamer, Menna E Jones and Christopher N. Johnson

Landscape Ecology, Vol.33(11), pp.1837-1849

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-018-0722-0

Abstract

fragmentation

habitat amount hypothesis

occupancy

Eastern bettong

Context The classical theory of island biogeography explains loss of species in fragmented landscapes as an effect of remnant patch size and isolation. Recently this has been challenged by the habitat amount and habitat continuum hypotheses, according to which persistence in modified landscapes is related to total habitat amount rather than habitat configuration or the ability of species to use all habitats to varying degrees. Distinguishing between these theories is essential for effective conservation planning in modified landscapes. Objective Identify which factors of habitat type, amount and configuration predict the persistence of a keystone woodland specialist, the eastern bettong Bettongia gaimardi, in a fragmented landscape. Method In the Midlands region of Tasmania we carried out camera surveys at 62 sites in summer and winter. We included habitat and landscape features to model whether habitat amount or patch size and isolation influenced the presence of the eastern bettong, and to measure effects of habitat quality. Results Habitat amount within a 1 km buffer was a better predictor of occupancy than patch size and isolation. Occupancy was also affected by habitat quality, indicated by density of regenerating stems. Conclusion Our results support the habitat amount hypothesis as a better predictor of presence. For a species that is able to cross the matrix between remnant patches and utilise multiple patches, the island biogeography concept does not explain habitat use in fragmented landscapes. Our results emphasize the value of small remnant patches for conservation of the eastern bettong, provided those patches are in good condition.

Details

Title: Habitat amount and quality, not patch size, determine persistence of a woodland-dependent mammal in an agricultural landscape
Authors: Riana Gardiner (Corresponding Author) - University of Tasmania
Glen Bain - University of Tasmania
Rowena Hamer - University of Tasmania
Menna E Jones - University of Tasmania
Christopher N. Johnson - University of Tasmania
Publication details: Landscape Ecology, Vol.33(11), pp.1837-1849
Publisher: Springer Dordrecht
Date published: 2018
DOI: 10.1007/s10980-018-0722-0
ISSN: 1572-9761
Grants: Restoring resilience in wildlife populations, LP130100949, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Interpreting biological sequence information: untangling hybridisation, FT100100031, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: School of Science, Technology and Engineering
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991043198902621
Output Type: Journal article