Antler rubbing of Yellow-wood by Sambar in East Gippsland, Victoria.

Surveys of 49 Warm Temperate Rainforest gullies in East Gippsland identified discrete populations of Yellowwood Acronychia oblongifolia in 34 gullies. Antler rubbing of Yellow-wood by Sambar Cervus unicolor was obvious and widespread in all 34 gullies. Eight gullies were randomly selected to assess the extent of antler rubbing to 100 Yellow-wood plants in each gully (50 plants close to two randomly generated locations). Across all eight gullies an average of 64.6% (± 17.7 sd; range 36-92%) of Yellow-wood individuals were antler rubbed, with 51.0% (± 17.8 sd; range 18-80%) subjected to severe rubbing (>50% ringbarking), with mortality recorded at 30.3% (± 14.0 sd; range 6-52%). Yellow-wood with stems in the range 30-150 mm diameter at breast height (DBH) were subjected to the highest rates of antler rubbing (73-81%), with smaller stems (10-16 mm DBH) suffering the highest rates of mortality. Sambar represent a major threat to the long-term persistence of Yellowwood and rainforest communities in East Gippsland. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]