Table 1 Summary of general findings for different groups in the variable retention harvesting experiment in the Central Highlands of Victoria, south-eastern Australia
Group | Response | Citation |
|---|---|---|
Small mammals | (Lindenmayer et al. 2010) | |
The response of the most common species of small mammals (the bush rat and the agile antechinus) was most marked on clearcut sites following the application of the post-harvest regeneration burn to remove logging slash and create a bed of ashes to promote the growth of a new stand. There were no differences in animal abundance between retained islands and unlogged controls. There are no island size effects on small mammals. | ||
Birds | (Lindenmayer et al. 2015b) | |
The response of birds to retained islands was intermediate between unlogged controls and clearcut areas, with the most pronounced negative effects being in clearcut areas, particularly after the application of a regeneration fire. More complex species-specific responses occur for individual bird taxa, but most generally showing a similar pattern to that quantified for overall bird species richness. There were no island size effects on bird species richness or individual species of birds. | ||
Vascular plants | ||
Resprouting species are significantly negatively effected by clearcutting but persist within islands of retained forest in logging coupes subject to variable retention harvesting | Blair et al. unpublished data |