Powerline easements: ecological impacts and effects on small mammal movement

"Habitat loss and fragmentation are recognised as the two primary threats to biological diversity worldwide. Powerline easements are linear habitat features that occur in all land tenures, including national parks. Where they occur in areas of natural vegetation, the vegetation is periodically mowed to maintain short grassy conditions. This creates a stark discontinuity with the natural vegetation in the area. With the creation of powerline easements comes the simultaneous generation of large tracts of ‘edge habitat’ at the boundary between the easement and natural vegetation. In these regions, ecological processes and abiotic conditions can vary considerably from those in the bushland interior, with potentially negative effects on biodiversity. It is important, therefore, to understand the magnitude of the effects of powerline easements", Thesis (Ph.D.)-- University of Wollongong, 2007