Habitat fragmentation disrupts the demography of a widespread native mammal

摘要: Fragmentation theory predicts that population persistence should be positively correlated with the size of habitat fragments. The patterns occurrence many species are consistent this prediction, but demographic processes determine how respond to fragmentation poorly understood. In addition, quality may interact fragment as an influence on performance. We investigated these predictions for native bush rat Rattus fuscipes by testing following hypotheses: 1) performance (i.e. viability determined various parameters) is size; and 2) quality. Populations R. were censused in two large (>49 ha) eight small ( populations profoundly impacted fragmentation, declining size. Studies based interpreted caution they mask critical occurring at level. For a thorough understanding effects population-level studies required.