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M.J. Brown and J. Read
The rainforests are not generally subject to attack by insect pests. Some
concern has been expressed about the effects of honey bees on native
insect pollinators and feeders on leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) but
studies to date have not shown any direct competitive effect (Ettershank
& Ettershank, 1990). The introduced European wasp (Vespula germanica)
has naturalised in much of the southwest and west of Tasmania, including
the World Heritage Area. No detailed studies of its ecology have been
made but it is a voracious feeder and preys on many native insect pollinators as well as feeding on nectar.
Vertebrate pests have severely affected the regeneration of pencil pine
(Cullen and Kirkpatrick, 1990a,b). These authors attribute seedling loss
to sheep and cattle grazing, the introduction of rabbits, and the high
numbers of wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) present. High numbers of
wallabies and possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are maintained also in
areas of forest adjacent to pasture , and contribute to a depletion of
rainforest regeneration, both within the forest and in oldfields (e.g., Read
& Hill, 1983).
Global Climate Change
The current regional models of global climate change are not sufficiently
accurate to predict likely outcomes on Tasmania's cool temperate rainforest. However it is likely that the most vulnerable species will be those
that have the combination of a restricted distribution and poor seed
dispersal characteristics. Busby (1988) has examined one climate-change
scenario and found that most of the range of Nothofagus cunninghamii in
Victoria and Tasmania would become marginal. However it is likely that
even under conservative scenarios, individual effects from altered fire
regimes and disease may be substantial (Busby & Brown, 1994). For
example, elevated temperatures are conducive to increased activity levels
of the pathogenic Phytophthora cinnamomi as outlined above, and the
changes in predicted rainfall patterns and associated precipitation/
evaporation ratios are likely to increase the frequency of fire prone
weather conditions in rainforest areas.
Evaluation of Reservation Status
In the early 1980s a moratorium was placed on logging in rainforest until
an evaluation of conservation needs was made . The moratorium was put
in place because of the ecological fragility of rainforest systems, and
because there had been no systematic surverys of the nature of the
variability of the forests either for conservation or for production purposes. Subsequent statewide surveys resulted in the formal botanical
classification and description of the forests (Jarman et aI., 1984, 1991).
Inventories have included vascular plants , pteridophytes, bryophytes, and
M.J. Brown and J. Read
The rainforests are not generally subject to attack by insect pests. Some
concern has been expressed about the effects of honey bees on native
insect pollinators and feeders on leatherwood (Eucryphia lucida) but
studies to date have not shown any direct competitive effect (Ettershank
& Ettershank, 1990). The introduced European wasp (Vespula germanica)
has naturalised in much of the southwest and west of Tasmania, including
the World Heritage Area. No detailed studies of its ecology have been
made but it is a voracious feeder and preys on many native insect pollinators as well as feeding on nectar.
Vertebrate pests have severely affected the regeneration of pencil pine
(Cullen and Kirkpatrick, 1990a,b). These authors attribute seedling loss
to sheep and cattle grazing, the introduction of rabbits, and the high
numbers of wallabies (Macropus rufogriseus) present. High numbers of
wallabies and possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) are maintained also in
areas of forest adjacent to pasture , and contribute to a depletion of
rainforest regeneration, both within the forest and in oldfields (e.g., Read
& Hill, 1983).
Global Climate Change
The current regional models of global climate change are not sufficiently
accurate to predict likely outcomes on Tasmania's cool temperate rainforest. However it is likely that the most vulnerable species will be those
that have the combination of a restricted distribution and poor seed
dispersal characteristics. Busby (1988) has examined one climate-change
scenario and found that most of the range of Nothofagus cunninghamii in
Victoria and Tasmania would become marginal. However it is likely that
even under conservative scenarios, individual effects from altered fire
regimes and disease may be substantial (Busby & Brown, 1994). For
example, elevated temperatures are conducive to increased activity levels
of the pathogenic Phytophthora cinnamomi as outlined above, and the
changes in predicted rainfall patterns and associated precipitation/
evaporation ratios are likely to increase the frequency of fire prone
weather conditions in rainforest areas.
Evaluation of Reservation Status
In the early 1980s a moratorium was placed on logging in rainforest until
an evaluation of conservation needs was made . The moratorium was put
in place because of the ecological fragility of rainforest systems, and
because there had been no systematic surverys of the nature of the
variability of the forests either for conservation or for production purposes. Subsequent statewide surveys resulted in the formal botanical
classification and description of the forests (Jarman et aI., 1984, 1991).
Inventories have included vascular plants , pteridophytes, bryophytes, and