The Influence of Disturbance (Fire, Mining) on Ant and Small Mammal Species Diversity in Australian Heathland1

Senior Tutor in Zoology, University of New South Wales, Kensington, N.S.W., 2033, Australia. Abstract: Multiple linear regression equations describe responses for both taxa to temporal, floristic and structural vegetation change. Mammal succession is a replacement of dominant species, ant succession is a replacement of groups of species. Many plant species show adaptations to frequent burning and a high proportion of resprouters ensures a rapid recovery, reflected in the mammal community. Mammal recolonization is slower when mining destroys the soil profile and plant regeneration occurs from seed. High-diversity sites support more fire-adapted mammal species. Species diversity is linearly related to habitat diversity. Management for maximum species diversity requires vegetation of all seral stages to accommodate many different taxa.