The Ecology and Habitat Requirements of Saproxylic Beetles Native to Tasmanian Wet Eucalypt Forests: Potential Impacts of Commercial Forestry Practices

TL;DRAbstract

Large diameter Eucalyptus obliqua decaying logs are characteristic features of wet eucalypt forests in Tasmania. In production coupes, however, rotation lengths of around 80 years will eventually lead to their elimination. This thesis investigates the role of these features as habitat for saproxylic beetles, and thus whether their retention is warranted to maintain biodiversity. Large diameter (>100cm) logs derived from commercially over-mature trees were compared with small diameter (30-60cm) logs derived from trees of an age approaching commercial maturity, in two forest types: mature, unlogged forest; and 20-30 year logged forest that had regenerated after clearfelling.Two field studies were conducted, in which a highly species rich fauna of 360 saproxylic beetle species (representing 54 families) are first recorded.The first, destructive sampling study investigated whether small diameter logs follow similar decomposition processes to large diameter logs, and so support similar r

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