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115 widiin the study area. For example, riparian forest is widespread and was extensively sampled during field surveys, resulting in a comprehensive species list. Conversely, subalpine heathland complex is not extensive within the study area and received little sampling attention, and therefore the number of species recorded there is likely to be an underestimate. It should be recognised that the absence of a record of a species in a particular community does not necessarily mean that it does not occur there. The vegetation communities discussed in this chapter may be viewed as an environmental gradient ranging from high-altitude subalpine heathland complex to coastal saltmarsh. The boundaries between them are sometimes in-distinct and often reflect ecotonal zones. Many species (such as brown antechinus, common wombat, eastern yellow robin, white-browed scmbwren, southern water skink (CTF), and common froglet) span a broad range of this environmental gradient, and occupy vegetation communities from sub-alpine to the coastal areas. Conversely, others occur in a very narrow range and have a preference for certain vegetation communities. For example, here the New Holland mouse is restricted to coastal areas in sand heathland, the king quail has been recorded only in coastal heath, the orangebellied parrot in coastal salt-marsh, and the Baw Baw frog in sub-alpine vegetation. The communities are derived from an analysis of the floristic composition of vegetation. However, other factors, such as vegetation stmcture, can also aftect the distribution patterns of fauna. For example, Leadbeaters possum occurs in wet sclerophyll forest, but not all areas have the necessary stmcture, in terms of suitable tree hollows and understorey density, to support this species. Reptiles that rely upon solar radiation as their energy source will ch(X)se home sites on the basis of stmctural components of the overstorey vegetation (related to solar penetration) and the degree of ground cover (related to shelter-sites), rather than the vegetation community itself. Other environmental factors such as topography and prevailing climatic conditions may also influence habitat selection by a particular species. The occurtence of a species within a community is not a static response. Stmctural changes over time, due to processes such as natural plant succession, burning, or timber removal, may alter the suitabUity ofthe habitat for a given species. Sub-alpine vegetation This includes sub-alpine heathland complex and sub-alpine woodland. Sub-alpine vegetation is not widespread in the study area. Its limited distribution and simple stmcture, as well as the exfreme winter climate, contribute to the generally low diversity and abundance of wildlife. i In confrast to many other groups, it supports relatively abundant small ground mammals. The bush rat and brown antechinus reach high densities. The smoky mouse and eastern pygmy-possum are found in subalpine woodland that contains a diverse heathy understorey, and the broad-toodied rat has been recorded in areas with a dense understorey. Seven species of bat have been found here. Common wombats are conspicuous in both summer and winter, and their fracks are frequently seen in the snow. Many bird species utUising this vegetation category do so seasonally, arriving in spring to feed on the numerous emerging invertebrates, remaining to breed, and leaving again in autumn; flame robin and, Richards pipit are examples. White's thmsh, red wattlebird, and white-nosed honeyeater are common in sub-alpine woodland in summer. Species resident in sub-alpine woodland include crimson rosella, striated thornbill, white-eared honeyeater, whitebrowed scmbwren, grey shrike-thmsh, and grey currawong. Ausfralian kesfrels are recorded from the open shmblands and heathlands. With low temperatures and snow coverage during the winter months, few repfile and amphibian species can tolerate these highaltitude conditions; only 12 species have been recorded. One of diese, die Baw Baw frog, is totally confined to sub-alpine vegetation. Large numbers of grass skink (Form B) have been observed within sub-alpine woodland on peaks such as Mounts Tertible and Torbreck. White's skink inhabits this vegetation category more rarely. The alpine free frog, a montane-adapted subspecies of Litoria verreauxii, occurs in isolated populations around the Baw Baw
116 Plateau and Lake Mountain, at elevations above approximately 1200 m (Watson and Llttlejohn 1985). At Mount Baw Baw it is found in ponds in open sphagnum bogs, and it also occurs in fire dams, swamps, and streams in sub-alpine woodland (Norris et al. 1983). Its habitat preferences differ markedly from those of the other subspecies, Verreauxs tree frog, which is more commonly found in the mid-altitude and heathy forests. such as the brown thornbill and white-browed scmbwren. Uncommon species here include the sooty owl, Australian king parrot, and pink robin. Montane dry woodland provides habitat for species such as the painted buttonquail and spotted quaU-thmsh, which are more typically found in dry forests. Montane vegetation Montane dry woodland and montane forest complex comprise montane vegetation. Montane dry woodland is found at altitudes between 900—1200 m, with snow gum occurring in association with a range of other eucalypts such as broad-leafed peppermint and candlebark. It supports a more diverse arboreal mammal fauna than sub-alpine woodland, due possibly to the more temperate conditions and the wider range of nesting and foraging sites the additional eucalypts provide. The seven species recorded here include the yellowbellied glider, which incises the smoothbarked candlebarks with distinctive feeding notches. Montane forest complex usually occurs above 900 m and is dominated by alpine ash and/or shining gum. While it supports a similar arboreal mammal fauna to the montane dry woodland, the abundance is higher in die taller forests. Leadbeaters possum occurs in the forest complex where this meets its specific habitat requirements of nesting sites and dense understorey. Among the suite of eight bat species occurring at these high altitudes, the King River eptesicus is the most abundant. High densities of bush rats are found in both the drier woodland understorey and the wetter one of the forest complex. The rare and restricted smoky mouse occurs in montane dry woodland with a diverse heathy understorey. The montane vegetation has a relatively low diversity and density of birds. In the montane forest complex, the avifauna tends to be dominated by a few common forest species such as the crimson rosella, striated thornbill, and white-browed treecreeper. These forests tend to have a simple understorey and thus have a low density of understorey species Australian king parrot Reptiles and amphibians are poorly represented in montane vegetation, with only ten species known. The southern water skink (CTF), Spencers skink, grass skink (Form B), tiger snake, and highland copperhead are typical of this vegetation category. Bodi the mountain dragon and garden skink occur in the montane dry woodland, but not in the montane forest complex, suggesting a preference for a grassy open understorey. Moist forests The category includes c(X>l temperate rainforest, wet sclerophyll forest, damp sclerophyll forest, and riparian forest complex. Moist forests are widely distributed in the study area and occur in a wide range of altitudes, from lowland riparian forest to the mountain-ash-dominated forests at high elevations. Cool temperate rainforest, while limited in extent, occurs mainly in narrow strips along watercourses and in gully heads and only limited survey work has been undertaken. Mammal diversity is high in moist forests, especially damp sclerophyll forest, and several rare species such as the tiger quoll, white-footed dunnart, and broad-toodied rat
Page 1 and 2: 90 diversity of this zone reflects
Page 3 and 4: 92 Riparian forest is prone to weed
Page 5 and 6: 94 protection and suppression, and
Page 7 and 8: 96 hydrology of alpine bogs is deli
Page 9 and 10: 98 Dry sub-alpine shrubland The maj
Page 11 and 12: 100 Major threats to the forest com
Page 13 and 14: 102 small, disturbed examples of bo
Page 15 and 16: 104 of Western Port, on the norther
Page 17 and 18: 106 8. FAUNA Melbourne Area, Distri
Page 19 and 20: 108 numbers must decrease. During t
Page 21 and 22: no While many species have declined
Page 23 and 24: 112 leopard seal, which usually inh
Page 25: 114 In addition to these changes, t
Page 29 and 30: 118 to 75 m high, allow this skink
Page 31 and 32: 120 here, may be found in large num
Page 33 and 34: 122 - - 'S.vCS--, r,:C:^-^»v Austr
Page 35 and 36: 124 (Wilkinson 1961). Since then it
Page 37 and 38: 126 been recorded at the Cranboume
Page 39 and 40: 128 availability may affect short-t
Page 41 and 42: 130 beach and in the dunes. It appe
Page 43 and 44: FIQURE 4: ORAriGE-BELLIED PARROT 14
Page 45 and 46: 134 these areas may be used regular
Page 47 and 48: M7 149 Source: Atlas of Victorian W
Page 49 and 50: 138 adjacent to water. Dredging of
Page 51 and 52: • 34 s, 140 - - ^ FIGURE 10: SWAM
Page 53 and 54: 142 FIQURE 12: BRUSH-TAILED PHASCOG
Page 55 and 56: 144 Eastern horseshoe-bat This spec
Page 57 and 58: 146 gum, mountain grey gum, and mes
Page 59 and 60: 148 such as platypus, water-rat, fr
Page 61 and 62: 150 extensively cleared areas. Some
Page 63 and 64: 152 to be concentrated in those are
Page 65 and 66: 154 Changed stream flow and barrier
Page 67 and 68: 156 The 1939 bushfires resulted in
Page 69 and 70: 158 water-birds, such as the white-
Page 71 and 72: 160 of multi-cellular organisms on
Page 73 and 74: 162 Copepods The following species
Page 75 and 76: 164 Bennett, A.F. (1990). Habitat c
Page 77 and 78:
166 Kitchener, D.J. and Capufi, N.
Page 79 and 80:
168 Schulz, M. (in press.). The Gre
Page 81 and 82:
170 9. MARINE AND COASTAL ENVIRONME
Page 83 and 84:
172 around French and Phillip Islan
Page 85 and 86:
174 beach seining collected 33 spec
Page 87 and 88:
176 forest and woodland grew furthe
Page 89 and 90:
178 Knowledge of the marine and coa
Page 91 and 92:
180 of acceleration, with erosion l
Page 93 and 94:
182 Marsden, M.A.H., and MaUet, CW.
Page 95 and 96:
184 Table 19 KEY TO GEOMORPFHC CATE
Page 97 and 98:
186 Adequate representation was ass
Page 99 and 100:
References Aldrick, J.M., Hook, R.A
Page 101 and 102:
191 11. PUBLIC LAND USE This chapte
Page 103:
193 Table 23 PARK RECOMMENDATIONS A
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