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Restoration rocks: integrating abiotic and biotic habitat restoration to conserve threatened species and reduce fire fuel load
journal contribution
posted on 2016-07-01, 00:00 authored by A McDougall, R N C Milner, Don DriscollDon Driscoll, A L SmithWith rapid urban expansion, biodiversity conservation and human asset protection often require different regimes for managing wildfire risk. We conducted a controlled, replicated experiment to optimise habitat restoration for the threatened Australian pink-tailed worm-lizard, Aprasia parapulchella while reducing fire fuel load in a rapidly developing urban area. We used dense addition of natural rock (30 % cover) and native grass revegetation (Themedatriandra and Poasieberiana) to restore critical habitat elements. Combinations of fire and herbicide (Glyphosate) were used to reduce fuel load and invasive exotic species. Rock restoration combined with herbicide application met the widest range of restoration goals: it reduced fire fuel load, increased ant occurrence (the primary prey of A. parapulchella) in the short-term and increased the growth and survival of native grasses. Lizards colonised the restored habitat within a year of treatment. Our study documents an innovative way by which conflicts between biodiversity conservation and human asset protection can be overcome.
History
Journal
Biodiversity and conservationVolume
25Issue
8Pagination
1529 - 1542Publisher
SpringerLocation
Berlin, GermanyPublisher DOI
ISSN
0960-3115eISSN
1572-9710Language
engPublication classification
C Journal article; C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journalCopyright notice
2016, Springer Science + Business Media DordrechtUsage metrics
Categories
Keywords
ecological restorationfire managementhabitat lossinvasive speciesurban ecologywildland-urban interfaceScience & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineBiodiversity ConservationEcologyEnvironmental SciencesBiodiversity & ConservationEnvironmental Sciences & EcologyLANDSCAPEWOODLANDSREPTILESHISTORYFINDEcology
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