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Why conservation reserves should not always be concentrated in riparian areas: A study of ground-dwelling beetles in wet eucalypt forest
Citation
Baker, SC and Richardson, AMM and Barmuta, LA and Thomson, RJ, Why conservation reserves should not always be concentrated in riparian areas: A study of ground-dwelling beetles in wet eucalypt forest, Biological Conservation, 133, (2) pp. 156-168. ISSN 0006-3207 (2006) [Refereed Article]
DOI: doi:10.1016/j.biocon.2006.05.029
Abstract
Reserve corridors in production forestry landscapes are frequently concentrated in riparian areas. This study describes the numerical response of ground-dwelling beetles to increasing distance from streams, with the aim of evaluating the effectiveness of such a bias in reserve allocation. Patterns in abundance and diversity of epigaeic beetles were quantified at four first order streams in wet eucalypt forest in Tasmania, Australia. The depth and pattern of beetles' riparian response varied between streams. Commonly trapped beetles were less abundant near to three of the four streams, and the numerical response model differed in each case. Species richness of common beetles was also lower near one of the streams. Pooled abundance and richness of rare species did not vary in response to the riparian-upslope transition. No riparian or upslope specialist species were identified among the most commonly collected species. Compared to upslope habitat, the riparian-upslope transition encompassed greater variability in species composition without actually increasing overall richness. The study findings demonstrate the need for ecosystem-specific data to optimize reserve placement, since the results were not predicted from general vegetation patterns, ecological theory, or the widely held assumption that riparian areas support greater abundance and diversity of organisms than adjacent upslope areas. Reserves encompassing more upslope habitat are recommended to complement those located in riparian areas. © 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Refereed Article |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Environmental Sciences |
| Research Group: | Environmental management |
| Research Field: | Conservation and biodiversity |
| Objective Division: | Environmental Management |
| Objective Group: | Terrestrial systems and management |
| Objective Field: | Rehabilitation or conservation of terrestrial environments |
| UTAS Author: | Baker, SC (Associate Professor Sue Baker) |
| UTAS Author: | Richardson, AMM (Associate Professor Alastair Richardson) |
| UTAS Author: | Barmuta, LA (Associate Professor Leon Barmuta) |
| UTAS Author: | Thomson, RJ (Dr Russell Thomson) |
| ID Code: | 42374 |
| Year Published: | 2006 |
| Web of Science® Times Cited: | 11 |
| Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
| Deposited On: | 2006-08-01 |
| Last Modified: | 2007-10-12 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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