Survival of vertebrate fauna in remnant vegetation patches and colonisation of revegetation areas in the La Trobe Valley, Victoria

Expansion of open-cut coal mines in the La Trobe Valley, Victoria, will lead to the loss of native vegetation and vertebrate habitat. Corporations operating these mines have entered into agreements to manage offset areas for conservation values. Surveys of vertebrate fauna in seven offset areas and revegetation sites were carried out between February 2005 and May 2008. One hundred and twenty-eight species were recorded, comprising 21 mammals, 11 reptiles, eight amphibians and 88 birds. Several threatened species were recorded including Swamp Skink Egernia coventryi, Powerful Owl Ninox strenua, Australasian Shoveler Anas rhynchotis, Blue-billed Duck Oxyura australis, Eastern Great Egret Ardea modesta, Royal Spoonbill Platalea regia, and White-bellied Sea-Eagle Haliaeetus leucogaster. Several species had colonised revegetation areas and others were detected in degraded sites and isolated remnant patches. The ability of these species to survive in fragmented and disturbed habitats is discussed. The results of these surveys have implications for land managers planning conservation works or habitat enhancement programs especially in degraded sites.