Abstract for presentation at Biodiversity Extinction Crisis Conference - A Pacific Response

Although one third of land held in the reserve system in South Australia is potentially open to mineral exploration, we know little about the impacts of this form of high density lineal fragmentation. We investigated the impacts of mineral exploration tracks on small terrestrial mammals and reptiles in a mallee community at Pinkawillinie Conservation Park, South Australia. Within this park, over 240km of exploration tracks have been cleared, with most focussed on particular mineral deposits. Over a period of 12 months we trapped eight sites in areas fragmented by mineral exploration tracks and a further eight control sites where there has been no disturbance. Traps were placed in a grid design, straddling the exploration tracks at the explored sites. Nine field trips have been conducted to date, giving rise to a total of 14,524 trap nights and 3319 captures of 3007 individuals. A total of 29 species were trapped. The overall fauna is similar for disturbed and undisturbed sites. However responses differ between species; some increased in abundance in response to track presence, and others decreased in abundance. Results indicate that exploration tracks may indeed affect fauna communities, and that the effects are likely to be species- and site-specific.