Large-Scale Landscape Experiments Lessons from Tumut

About this book

Landscape change and habitat fragmentation are key factors impacting biodiversity worldwide. These processes have many facets, each of which is usually studied in isolation.

The Tumut Fragmentation Study has run for over 11 years and yielded extensive data on changes in both plant and animal populations in areas of native forest and pine plantation. The study is unique in the way that many different factors and processes, influencing a wide range of species groups, have been studied in the one large-scale natural experiment. Writing for academic researchers, professionals and graduate students, David Lindenmayer uses the study and other relevant research to provide an overview of the relationships between landscape change, habitat fragmentation and biodiversity conservation.

Key lessons are drawn on throughout the book, on the design and implementation of large-scale ecological studies, biodiversity conservation in fragmented landscapes, and the management of plantation landscapes for enhanced nature conservation.

Contents

1. The Tumut Fragmentation Study and landscape change;
2. The theory;
3. The field laboratory;
4. Setting up the study;
5. The core findings;
6. Patch use;
7. Theory against data;
8. Testing PVA models with real data;
9. Genes in the landscape;
10. Refining and extending the research program;
11. Recommendations for plantation managers;
12. Lessons on running large-scale research studies.

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Biography

David B. Lindenmayer is Professor of Conservation Science and Ecology in the Fenner School of Environment and Society at the Australian National University, Canberra.