Changes in the Relative Density of Swamp Wallabies (Wallabia bicolor) and Eastern Grey Kangaroos (Macropus giganteus) in Response to Timber Harvesting and Wildfire

Natural disturbances such as wildfire and storms act as major regulating forces in forest ecosystems (Attiwill, 1994; Lugo, 2000; Ryan, 2002), and in more recent times human disturbances such as urbanisation, land clearing and timber harvesting have also had a marked impact on forest extent and structure, and on the distribution and abundance of forest dwelling organisms (Abrams, 2003; Dale et al., 2000; Gaston et al., 2003; Thompson et al., 2003; Wilson and Friend, 1999). For many animals, disturbance events alter predation risk through changes to forest structure, and effect the distribution and abundance of food resources. Because both predation (Ferguson et al., 1988; Hughes et al., 1994) and food (Geffen et al., 1992; Tufto et al., 1996) can have a strong influence on movement patterns and habitat use, disturbance is predicted to alter the habitat choices of many species.