Deakin University
Browse

File(s) under permanent embargo

Response of a shrubland mammal and reptile community to a history of landscape-scale wildfire

journal contribution
posted on 2015-02-02, 00:00 authored by Tim DohertyTim Doherty, R A Davis, E J B van Etten, N Collier, J Krawiec
Fire plays a strong role in structuring fauna communities and the habitat available to them in fire-prone
regions. Human-mediated increases in fire frequency and intensity threaten many animal species and understanding how
these species respond to fire history and its associated effect on vegetation is essential to effective biodiversity
management. We used a shrubland mammal and reptile community in semiarid south-western Australia as a model to
investigate interactions between fire history, habitat structure and fauna habitat use. Of the 15 species analysed, five were
most abundant in recently burnt habitat (8–13 years since last fire), four were most abundant in long unburnt areas (25–50
years) and six showed no response to fire history. Fauna responses to fire history were divergent both within and across
taxonomic groups. Fire management that homogenises large areas of habitat through either fire exclusion or frequent
burning may threaten species due to these diverse requirements, so careful management of fire may be needed to maximise
habitat suitability across the landscape. When establishing fire management plans, we recommend that land managers
exercise caution in adopting species-specific information from different locations and broad vegetation types. Information
on animal responses to fire is best gained through experimental and adaptive management approaches at the local level.

History

Journal

International journal of wildland fire

Volume

24

Issue

4

Pagination

534 - 543

Publisher

CSIRO Publishing

Location

Clayton, Vic.

ISSN

1049-8001

Language

eng

Publication classification

C Journal article; C1.1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2015, IAWF