Concluding comments

This thesis has greatly increased our knowledge not only of the effectiveness of ARN as an alternative to CBS for small mammals, but has also increased our knowledge of the species themselves. I was able to conclude that ARN is a preferable harvesting method to CBS for small ground mammals. By using a multi-disciplinary approach I was able to elucidate more subtle effects of harvesting, which would not have been apparent by abundance data alone. While long-tailed mice appeared to readily utilise the harvested areas in both CBS and ARN (Stephens et al. 2012, Chapter 2), the individuals captured there were in poorer health than those in unlogged forest (Chapter 3). Additionally, Chapter 3 marks the first physiological study of long-tailed mice, and will provide guidance for future studies.

This thesis investigated the ARN objective of landscape connectivity for small mammals, which to my knowledge, has not been attempted before. In testing this objective, I also discovered that swamp rats are reluctant to cross narrow, unpaved roads in unlogged forest (Stephens et al. 2013, Chapter 4), which is likely to pose a greater problem for dispersal and population connectivity over the long-term. This thesis also included the first population genetic study of swamp rats, therefore it was necessary for me to test several microsatellite markers to find a sufficient and

successful number, which will assist any future population genetic work on swamp rats.

One of the recurring themes throughout this thesis was the cover-dependence of swamp rats, which was not unknown before (Fox & Monamy 2007), but which has been greatly expanded from this thesis. I was able to confirm their cover-dependence (Stephens et al. 2012, Chapter 2; and perhaps the reason for this in Chapter 3) and their reluctance to cross ‘open’ areas (Stephens et al. 2013, Chapter 4), and uncover strong preferences for large structural features (Chapter 5). Knowledge of this behaviour is particularly important in disturbed habitats where ecotones exist (e.g. on the

harvested/forested boundaries), resulting in dispersal barriers. This thesis also

highlights the strength and benefit in embracing different fields to investigate species’ responses to disturbances, where impacts are not necessarily detected by the use of one approach alone.

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