Models of the distribution and abundance of ground-dwelling mammals in the eucalypt forests of south-eastern New South Wales

摘要

We examined the relationship between ground-dwelling mammals and the environment within 500 000 ha of eucalypt forest in south-eastern New South Wales. Ground-dwelling mammals were surveyed at 368 sites in 13 areas in relation to four habitat variables/factors, seven environmental variables, and two derived variables (‘disturbance’ and ‘prey abundance’). Habitat variables are vegetative variables such as eucalypt community and forest structure that may be altered by man (e.g. logging) or natural disturbances (e.g. wildfire). Environmental variables are climatic or topographic variables such as rainfall or lithology that cannot be altered by man or natural disturbances.