The implications of snow-based recreation for small mammals in the subnivean space in south-east Australia

Simple item page
dc.contributor.authorSanecki, Glennen_AU
dc.contributor.authorGreen, Kenen_AU
dc.contributor.authorWood, Helenen_AU
dc.contributor.authorLindenmayer, David Ben_AU
dc.date.accessioned2015-12-07T22:19:32Z
dc.date.issued2006
dc.date.updated2015-12-07T08:37:21Z
dc.description.abstractThe increasing popularity of snow-based recreation activities and the development of ski resorts and associated infrastructure have the potential to affect adversely small mammal fauna that over-winter in the subnivean space. We investigated the effects of human activities on the maintenance of the subnivean space, which is critical to the over-winter survival of small terrestrial mammals in Kosciuszko National Park, south-eastern Australia. The creation of ski pistes, surface ski lifts and over-snow routes involves compression of the snowpack and resulted in small or absent subnivean spaces (average 1.2 cm) and high snow cover densities (generally over 0.5 g cm-3 and 0.35 g cm-3 respectively). By contrast, the subnivean spaces associated with unmodified snow cover averaged 8-20 cm depending on vegetation type. The density of unmodified snowpack was less than 0.35 g cm-3 in June but increased throughout the season to levels comparable to those of compressed snow. When the snowpack was experimentally compressed at 22 sites, destroying the subnivean space, detections of two small mammal species (Rattus fuscipes and Antechinus swainsonii) significantly (p < 0.0001) declined by 75-80%. These species remain active below the snow throughout the winter and depend on the presence of an adequate subnivean space. The removal of vegetation by fire significantly (p < 0.0001) reduced the size of the subnivean space regardless of habitat type. Vegetation clearing occurs as part of ground preparation prior to establishing ski runs. Supergrooming, in which surface soil is also disturbed, is likely to have similar (if not more extreme) effects. Nival areas used for snow-based recreation should be managed to minimise negative effects on subnivean fauna, by maintaining natural features associated with subnivean space formation (dense shrubs, boulders and/or microtopography) and confining developments to areas where these features are not present.
dc.identifier.issn0006-3207
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/1885/19391
dc.language.isoen_AUen_AU
dc.publisherElsevier
dc.sourceBiological Conservation
dc.subjectKeywords: anthropogenic effect; human activity; small mammal; snow cover; tourism; Australasia; Australia; Kosciuszko National Park; New South Wales; Antechinus swainsonii; Mammalia; Rattus fuscipes Australian Alps; Management; Ski pistes; Ski resorts; Snow grooming
dc.titleThe implications of snow-based recreation for small mammals in the subnivean space in south-east Australia
dc.typeJournal article
local.bibliographicCitation.issue4
local.bibliographicCitation.lastpage518
local.bibliographicCitation.startpage511
local.contributor.affiliationSanecki, Glenn, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.affiliationGreen, Ken, NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
local.contributor.affiliationWood, Helen, Charles Sturt University
local.contributor.affiliationLindenmayer, David, College of Medicine, Biology and Environment, ANU
local.contributor.authoremailfses-cle-admin@anu.edu.auen_AU
local.contributor.authoruidSanecki, Glenn, u4004026
local.contributor.authoruidLindenmayer, David, u8808483
local.description.embargo2037-12-31
local.description.notesImported from ARIES
local.identifier.absfor050202 - Conservation and Biodiversity
local.identifier.ariespublicationU3923986xPUB8
local.identifier.citationvolume129
local.identifier.doi10.1016/j.biocon.2005.11.018
local.identifier.scopusID2-s2.0-33644924584
local.identifier.uidSubmittedByU3923986
local.type.statusPublished Versionen_AU

Downloads

Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
No Thumbnail Available
Name:
01_Sanecki_The_implications_of_snow-based_2006.pdf
Size:
253.49 KB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Download

Collections

ANU Research Publications

DSpace software copyright © 2002-2024 LYRASIS