Experimental manipulation of habitat structure: a retrogression of the small mammal succession

作者: Barry J. Fox , Jennifer E. Taylor , Peter T. Thompson

DOI: 10.1046/J.1365-2656.2003.00765.X

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摘要: Summary 1 The habitat accommodation model for animal succession proposed that species enter a when changes in the vegetation reach threshold of suitable to species. As moves on, becomes less suited and it is competitively excluded by better habitat. 2 The main mammalian following fire wet heath eastern Australia are rodents, with Pseudomys gracilicaudatus (eastern chestnut mouse) being followed Rattus lutreolus (swamp rat) which dominant increasing time since fire. The abundance both has been shown correlate density, but markedly different ways, asymmetric interspecific competition demonstrated using controlled, replicated removal experiments field. 3 We used this system examine if density causal, manipulating clipping remove 60–70% vegetative cover from 10 m × 10 m area surrounding each six trapping stations on grid. There were four experimental plots clipped, two abutting grids, one clipped unclipped, further control grids remained undisturbed. 4 We monitored effects three censuses January 1993 (summer) before early February, five censuses, February (late summer) assess immediate, short-term effects, August (winter) December (early summer). 5 The was significantly reduced vegetation, while relatively unchanged clipping. 6 Two abundant stages dry succession, occurred at very low these habitats clipping, P. novaehollandiae (New Holland Mus domesticus (house mouse), showed marked increases soon after clipping. 7 An index based standardized difference between plots, responses manipulation. significant negative values, had values close zero until winter census, positive indices clipping. order manipulation revealed as: domesticusPseudomys novaehollandiae P. gracilicaudatus Rattus lutreolus. 8 The impact experiment rodents produced retrogression small-mammal succession. This causal role provided insight into mechanisms operate during fire, supported

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