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Evolutionary, molecular and comparative zoology
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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 57(5)

Do bare-nosed wombat (Vombatus ursinus) mounds influence terrestrial macroinvertebrate assemblages in agricultural riparian zones?

Philip Borchard A C , Ian A. Wright B and Clare McArthur A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Biological Sciences A08, University of Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

B School of Natural Sciences, University of Western Sydney, Locked Bag 1797, Penrith South DC, NSW 1797, Australia.

C Corresponding author. Email: pbor6081@usyd.edu.au

Australian Journal of Zoology 57(5) 329-336 https://doi.org/10.1071/ZO09060
Submitted: 17 May 2009  Accepted: 12 October 2009   Published: 20 November 2009

Abstract

Riparian ecosystems contain a complex mosaic of habitat structure types that can support distinct macroinvertebrate communities. Bare-nosed wombats (Vombatus ursinus) are often an integral component of agricultural riparian systems in south-eastern Australia. In these systems, wombats construct large burrow systems and mounds in the stream banks. Wombat mound structures vary markedly from the surrounding landscape and they may influence macroinvertebrate assemblages. We examined this ecosystem-engineering role of wombats as well as the ecological variability within our agricultural riparian study sites on the possible influence on macroinvertebrate assemblages. There were no detectable effects of wombat mounds on the richness or abundance of macroinvertebrates on the soil surface. At the site level, however, macroinvertebrate assemblages were most influenced by litter depth, upper canopy cover, cattle hoof prints and slope. The ecological variables within the study sites strongly affected macroinvertebrate assemblages. These findings reflect an influence of anthropogenic impact on communities of ground-dwelling invertebrates that have been found in other studies. It is possible that a finer resolution of taxa may highlight a unique pattern of macroinvertebrate use of wombat mounds.

Additional keywords: burrows, invertebrates, mounds, riparian, soil disturbance, wombat.


Acknowledgements

Thanks to Peter Irwin who provided the soil-coring tool that was used to insert the pitfall traps and to Chris Dickman and John McIlroy who reviewed an early draft and provided useful comments. Randy Bangert also provided useful advice and encouragement. Thanks also to Dieter Hochuli who provided advice on macroinvertebrate sampling as well as statistical analysis. We are also grateful to the collaborating landholders who allowed us to work on their land.


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