The effects of habitat fragmentation due to forestry plantation establishment on the demography and genetic variation of a marsupial carnivore, Antechinus agilis

摘要: We conducted a demographic and genetic study to investigate the effects of fragmentation due establishment an exotic softwood plantation on populations small marsupial carnivore, agile antechinus (Antechinus agilis), factors influencing persistence those in fragmented habitat. The first aspect was descriptive analysis patch occupancy population size, which we found rate 70% among 23 sites habitat compared 100% 48 with same characteristics unfragmented Mark-recapture analyses yielded most-likely size estimates between 3 85 16 occupied patches Hierarchical partitioning model selection were used identify geographic habitat-related that influence size. Patch primarily influenced by isolation quality (vegetation basal area). variance forest type (dominant Eucalyptus species) and, lesser extent, area topographic context (gully had larger populations). A comparison sex ratios samples from two contexts revealed significant deficiency males hypothesise this is male-biased dispersal environment increased dispersal-associated mortality. ratio data incorporated into simulation estimate proportion diversity would have been lost over known timescale since if totally isolated. observed difference (gene allelic richness at microsatellite mitochondrial markers) 12 extremely low inconsistent populations. Our results show although remnant comprise approximately 2% area, they can support non-isolated However, distribution system dependent connectivity.