Inducing whole‐assemblage change by experimental manipulation of habitat structure

摘要: Summary 1 Habitat structure long has been identified as a primary factor influencing local assemblage composition. Most evidence in the form of correlations species occurrence and composition over range habitats, with experimental verification relationships being relatively uncommon because difficulties enacting precise manipulations habitat structure. 2 Fallen timber (also known coarse or large woody debris) is one few habitat-structural elements forests woodlands that can be manipulated high precision. We report on wood-loads 30 1-ha plots floodplain northern Victoria, Australia, 4 years (one pre- three post-manipulation). 3 We show very (80 Mg ha−1) intermediate derived from tree crowns (40 Mg ha−1) increase richness (all ground-foraging species) numbers birds relative to control plots. 4 Three bird consistently increased most following manipulations: white-plumed honeyeater Lichenostomus penicillatus (Gould 1837) (fam. Meliphagidae), brown treecreeper Climacteris picumnus (Temm. & Laug. 1824) Climacteridae) yellow rosella Platycercus elegans flaveolus Psittacidae). The not considered ground fallen dependent species, while both are regarded ground-layer structure. 5 Fallen management needs landscape temporal context for improving conservation avian biodiversity.