Population ecology of vertebrates in undisturbed and rehabilitated habitats on the northern sandplain of Western Australia

Restore former mining sites

A replicated, site comparison study in 1987–1988 in five heath and scrubland sites in Western Australia, Australia (McNee et al. 1995) found that after restoring natural vegetation on former sand mines, mammal species richness and abundance for most species was lower than found in undisturbed. Three species were recorded in each restored site and four in each undisturbed site. Fewer honey possums Tarsipes rostratus were recorded in restored sites (0.6–0.7/trap night) than in undisturbed sites (2.5–5.2/trap night). The same was true for ash-grey mouse Pseudomys albocinereus (0.1 vs 1.6–5.6/trap night) and white-tailed dunnart Sminthopsis granulipes (0 vs 0.4–2.3/trap night). Numbers of house mice Mus musculus did not differ between restored and undisturbed sites (3.6–5.0 vs 4.0–8.7/trap night). Two sites were restored following sand mining. Three sites were unmined. Restoration (starting in 1977 and 1982) involved reprofiling and reseeding. At one site, original topsoil was returned. Mammals were surveyed using pitfall and box traps, twice each month, from July 1987 to September 1988, for seven consecutive nights (three nights in July and September 1988).

(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)