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Corridor strategies
Tue, 17/05/2005 - 07:20
In this inaugural message, I want to open discussion about whether/when/how habitat corridors/links are effective.
I am aware of 4 habitat corridor strategies in Victoria:
- City of Boroondara Habitat Corridors Strategy
- City of Maroondah Habitat Corridors Strategy
- City of Banyule Habitat Corridors Plan
- Glenelg Hopkins Habitat Network Strategy.
I was involved as part of a team preparing the Boroondara and Maroondah strategies, but ultimately the question arises how wide should the corridor be?
For me the first question to answer is for what species is the corridor intended, but even if we have the answer to that question there doesn't seem to be the info about to even start to answer the width question.
Wed, 03/05/2006 - 16:35
#2
Corridor width
To me the important point is that any width is better than none. There is a lot of relevant research being done for different species, all of which can be taken into account as it becomes available. For Friends of Glass Creek Parklands, being included as part of a Bodiversity Corridor validates our conviction that the bird and mammal population in our string of parks has grown as habitat has been restored. it gives us extra clout when applying for grants too. Come along and help us plant this Creekline Grassy Woodland on September 2nd (see events calendar).
Fri, 22/09/2006 - 21:43
#3
Thoughts from Wendy Moore on corridors
Another corridor policy to consider is NEROC Vol. 1 Ch. 11 - Regional Habitat Link Strategy.
Another variable which arises for me (e.g. in relation to Merri Ck) is that the Habitat corridor is not only for movement (genetic mixing) of plants and animals but it is also the primary habitat of some e.g. Growling Grass Frog in Merri Creek. Therfore width needs to not only take in appropriate habitat type and width for the animals (plants) to move along but in this case needs to include full habitat e'g' off-stream forriaging width /habitat - at least at major population nodes.
The other thing I've been considering is catering for creatures with a very complex and variable life history incorporating difficult requirements e.g. Golden Sun Moth (special food plant requirements, long cryptic development, basically flightless female, eggs laid into ground so unlikely to do any parachute/wind dispersal like some caterpillars do). Or Another I've been researching/considering is the Imperial Blue butterfly (Jalmenus evagoras) - larval foodplant various acacias, caterpillar and pupa survive only a few days + (refs. vary) without attendant ants (of only possibly 3 species) -other ants attack and kill them. Plus adults feed/?must feed? to breed and feed on nectar from shrubs - only ref I've located was for garden species but I assume Bursaria, Hymenanthera or whatever round here. We have located pops. at Beveridge rail reserve (corridor) and at Wallen (??cemetary I think).
- Wendy Moore
Howdy Tony,
Don't know if you have seen the book by Andrew F. Bennett (of Deakin Uni) called Linkages in the Landscape; the role of corridors and connectivity in Wildlife Conservation. Put out by the IUCN. It is great for the principles and gives various examples of continuous 'Band-like' corridors and 'variegated landscapes'which act as stepping stones.
Another example is a book by McIntyre, S., McIvor, J.G., and Heard, K.M. (Editors). Managing and Conserving Grassy Woodland. There is a fair degree of information of how to configure a landscape to achieve conservation outcomes that allow movement of wildlife through the landscape. Although it is mostly focussed on Grassy woodlands the priciples would seem to apply to a wide range of vegetation groupings(and indeed some of the examples are not strictly grassy woodlands.
It was great to be able to spend some time eating our way through the forest this past weekend. Was great catching up with you and Dimi and the others!!!
Talk to you soon,
Randall