TY - JOUR

T1 - Response of a shrubland mammal and reptile community to a history of landscape-scale wildfire

AU - Doherty, Tim S.

AU - Davis, Robert A.

AU - Van Etten, Eddie J.B.

AU - Collier, Neil

AU - Krawiec, Josef

PY - 2015/2

Y1 - 2015/2

N2 - 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 AUS 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.

AB - 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 AUS 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.

KW - AUS

KW - fire management

KW - lizard

KW - prescribed fire

KW - rodent

KW - wildfire.

KW - Biology

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84929097802&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1071/WF14115

DO - 10.1071/WF14115

M3 - Journal articles

AN - SCOPUS:84929097802

VL - 24

SP - 534

EP - 543

JO - International Journal of Wildland Fire

JF - International Journal of Wildland Fire

SN - 1049-8001

IS - 4

ER -