Reid wrote:
Do you think it significant that you saw no rabbits? And what was you
impression of the habitat in a rabbit-free state?
Rabbits are relatively rare above about 900-1,000m in the Victorian Alps
- whereas Hares are relatively abundant - both of these relative to
their lowland distributions.
The alpine and subalpine vegetation in rabbit free areas is subject to
other browsers and grazers - wombats, horses, cattle, hares ... but
these vary in the intensity of their grazing pressure depending on local
abundance or exclusions.
The alpine and subalpine vegetation differs from lowland veg in many
ways (lifeforms, growth rates/seasons, adaptations to differing
retention of snow periods, etc.), so I cant draw too many conclusions
from not seeing rabbits at Mount Buller.
Cheers
--
=================================
Lawrie Conole
Senior Ecologist
Ornithology & Terrestrial Ecology
Ecology Australia Pty. Ltd.
Flora and Fauna Consultants
88B Station Street
FAIRFIELD VIC 3078 Australia
E-mail:
Internet: http://www.ecologyaustralia.com.au/
Ph: (03) 9489 4191; Mob: (0419) 588 993
Fax: (03) 9481 7679
ABN 83 006 757 142
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