1
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Cooke SJ, Piczak ML, Singh NJ, Åkesson S, Ford AT, Chowdhury S, Mitchell GW, Norris DR, Hardesty-Moore M, McCauley D, Hammerschlag N, Tucker MA, Horns JJ, Reisinger RR, Kubelka V, Lennox RJ. Animal migration in the Anthropocene: threats and mitigation options. Biol Rev Camb Philos Soc 2024; 99:1242-1260. [PMID: 38437713 DOI: 10.1111/brv.13066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Revised: 02/07/2024] [Accepted: 02/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/06/2024]
Abstract
Animal migration has fascinated scientists and the public alike for centuries, yet migratory animals are facing diverse threats that could lead to their demise. The Anthropocene is characterised by the reality that humans are the dominant force on Earth, having manifold negative effects on biodiversity and ecosystem function. Considerable research focus has been given to assessing anthropogenic impacts on the numerical abundance of species/populations, whereas relatively less attention has been devoted to animal migration. However, there are clear linkages, for example, where human-driven impacts on migration behaviour can lead to population/species declines or even extinction. Here, we explore anthropogenic threats to migratory animals (in all domains - aquatic, terrestrial, and aerial) using International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Threat Taxonomy classifications. We reveal the diverse threats (e.g. human development, disease, invasive species, climate change, exploitation, pollution) that impact migratory wildlife in varied ways spanning taxa, life stages and type of impact (e.g. from direct mortality to changes in behaviour, health, and physiology). Notably, these threats often interact in complex and unpredictable ways to the detriment of wildlife, further complicating management. Fortunately, we are beginning to identify strategies for conserving and managing migratory animals in the Anthropocene. We provide a set of strategies that, if embraced, have the potential to ensure that migratory animals, and the important ecological functions sustained by migration, persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven J Cooke
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Morgan L Piczak
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
| | - Navinder J Singh
- Department of Wildlife, Fish and Environmental Studies, Faculty of Forest Sciences, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Umeå, 90183, Sweden
| | - Susanne Åkesson
- Department of Biology, Centre for Animal Movement Research, Lund University, Ecology Building, Lund, 22362, Sweden
| | - Adam T Ford
- Department of Biology, University of British Columbia, 1177 Research Road, Kelowna, British Columbia, V1V 1V7, Canada
| | - Shawan Chowdhury
- Institute of Biodiversity, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, Dornburger Straße 159, Jena, 07743, Germany
- Department of Ecosystem Services, Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ, Permoserstr, 15, Leipzig, 04318, Germany
- German Centre for Integrative Biodiversity Research (iDiv) Halle-Jena-Leipzig, Puschstr, 4, Leipzig, 04103, Germany
| | - Greg W Mitchell
- Department of Biology and Institute of Environmental and Interdisciplinary Science, Carleton University, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1S 5B6, Canada
- Wildlife Research Division, Science and Technology Branch, Environment and Climate Change Canada, 1125 Colonel By Dr, Ottawa, Ontario, K1A 0H3, Canada
| | - D Ryan Norris
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd. E, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Molly Hardesty-Moore
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Douglas McCauley
- Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology and Marine Science Institute, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106, USA
| | - Neil Hammerschlag
- Atlantic Shark Expeditions, 29 Wideview Lane, Boutiliers Point, Nova Scotia, B3Z 0M9, Canada
| | - Marlee A Tucker
- Radboud Institute of Biological and Environmental Sciences, Radboud University, Houtlaan 4, Nijmegen, 6525, The Netherlands
| | - Joshua J Horns
- Department of Biology, University of Utah, 257 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Ryan R Reisinger
- School of Ocean and Earth Science, University of Southampton, National Oceanography Center Southampton, University Way, Southampton, SO14 3ZH, UK
| | - Vojtěch Kubelka
- Dept of Zoology and Centre for Polar Ecology, Faculty of Science, University of South Bohemia, České Budějovice, Czech Republic
| | - Robert J Lennox
- Ocean Tracking Network, Faculty of Science, Dalhousie University, 1355 Oxford St, Halifax, Nova Scotia, B3H 3Z1, Canada
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2
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Pausas JG, Álvarez-Ruiz L, Baz A, Belliure J, Benítez G, Ferrer-Gallego PP, Herrando-Pérez S, Jiménez JN, Laguna E, Mínguez E, Montagud S, Outerelo R, Roca V, Santos X, Velázquez de Castro AJ, Viñolas A, Cifuentes J, Gilgado JD. Postfire biodiversity database for eastern Iberia. Sci Data 2023; 10:872. [PMID: 38057322 PMCID: PMC10700513 DOI: 10.1038/s41597-023-02794-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/27/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023] Open
Abstract
In the summer of 2012, two fires affected Mediterranean ecosystems in the eastern Iberian Peninsula. The size of these fires was at the extreme of the historical variability (megafires). Animals are traditionally assumed to recolonize from source populations outside of the burned area (exogenous regeneration) while plants recover from endogenous regeneration (resprouting and seeding). However, there is increasing evidence of in situ fire survival in animals. To evaluate the effect of large-scale fires on biodiversity and the mechanism of recovery, in 2013, we set up 12 plots per fire, covering burned vegetation at different distances from the fire perimeter and unburned vegetation. In each plot, we followed the postfire recovery of arthropods, reptiles (including some of their parasites), and plants for 2 to 5 years. Here we present the resulting database (POSTDIV) of taxon abundance. POSTDIV totals 19,906 records for 457 arthropod taxa (113,681 individuals), 12 reptile taxa (503 individuals), 4 reptile parasites (234 individuals), and 518 plant taxa (cover-abundance). We provide examples in the R language to query the database.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juli G Pausas
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113, Valencia, Moncada, Spain.
| | - Lola Álvarez-Ruiz
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113, Valencia, Moncada, Spain
| | - Arturo Baz
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Josabel Belliure
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - Guille Benítez
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113, Valencia, Moncada, Spain
| | - P Pablo Ferrer-Gallego
- Direcció General del Medi Natural i Avaluació Ambiental, Generalitat Valenciana, 46018, Valencia, Spain
| | - Salvador Herrando-Pérez
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113, Valencia, Moncada, Spain
- BioCore S. Coop., Calle de Manzanares 4, 28005, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Nicolau Jiménez
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), 46113, Valencia, Moncada, Spain
| | - Emilio Laguna
- Direcció General del Medi Natural i Avaluació Ambiental, Generalitat Valenciana, 46018, Valencia, Spain
| | - Eduardo Mínguez
- Direcció General del Medi Natural i Avaluació Ambiental, Generalitat Valenciana, 46018, Valencia, Spain
| | - Sergio Montagud
- Museu [UV] Història Natural, Universitat de València, Avinguda Dr. Moliner, 50, 46100, Valencia, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Raimundo Outerelo
- Departamento de Biodiversidad, Ecología y Evolución, Facultad de CC. Biológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, 28040, Madrid, Spain
| | - Vicente Roca
- Departament de Zoologia, Facultat de Ciències Biològiques, Universitat de València, 46100, València, Burjassot, Spain
| | - Xavier Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO, Universidade do Porto, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
| | | | - Amador Viñolas
- Museu de Ciències Naturals de Barcelona. Laboratori de Natura. Coŀlecció d'Artròpodes. Passeig Picasso, s/n, E-08003, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Julio Cifuentes
- Departamento de Biología, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, 28049, Madrid, Cantoblanco, Spain
| | - José D Gilgado
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
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3
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Vanderley-Silva I, Valente RA. Landscape resistance index aiming at functional forest connectivity. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2023; 195:1224. [PMID: 37725180 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-023-11749-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/18/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023]
Abstract
Resistance models may quantify the ability of the landscape to impede species' movement and represent suitable habitats. Moreover, the performance of resistance models parameterized by land-use/land cover attributes evidence that the integrity of the environments subject to urban sprawl is poorly understood. In this sense, the study assumed we could identify the forest functional connectivity in a landscape considering the disparity in the landscape mosaic. In this context, we sought to develop a landscape resistance index through structural equation modeling (SEM), supported by the criteria of heat emission, biomass, and anthropogenic barriers, obtained by remote sensing, called observed variables. The landscape studied in the Green Belt Biosphere Reserve of São Paulo has significant remnants of the Atlantic Forest, a biodiversity hotspot. However, our results indicated criteria variability in the landscape modeled through the SEM, obtaining a significant adjustment of the landscape resistance index, with comparative fit index (CFI) of 1.00 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA) of 0.00. The index reflects the resistance levels of the land use/land cover, expressed by the class interval, ranging from 0% (1.73) to 100% (493.88), with the highest values associated with the anthropized uses and forest isolation. Thus, our index based on environmental attributes reflects the structure of functional forest connectivity and offers a framework to design forest corridors across landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Vanderley-Silva
- Program in Planning and Use of Renewable Resources (PPGPUR), Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR-Sorocaba), João Leme dos Santos Highway (SP-264), km 110, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil.
| | - Roberta Averna Valente
- Environmental Sciences Department, Federal University of São Carlos (UFSCAR-Sorocaba), João Leme dos Santos Highway (SP-264), km 110, Sorocaba, SP, Brazil
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4
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Michel A, Johnson JR, Szeligowski R, Ritchie EG, Sih A. Integrating sensory ecology and predator-prey theory to understand animal responses to fire. Ecol Lett 2023; 26:1050-1070. [PMID: 37349260 DOI: 10.1111/ele.14231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/10/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023]
Abstract
Fire regimes are changing dramatically worldwide due to climate change, habitat conversion, and the suppression of Indigenous landscape management. Although there has been extensive work on plant responses to fire, including their adaptations to withstand fire and long-term effects of fire on plant communities, less is known about animal responses to fire. Ecologists lack a conceptual framework for understanding behavioural responses to fire, which can hinder wildlife conservation and management. Here, we integrate cue-response sensory ecology and predator-prey theory to predict and explain variation in if, when and how animals react to approaching fire. Inspired by the literature on prey responses to predation risk, this framework considers both fire-naïve and fire-adapted animals and follows three key steps: vigilance, cue detection and response. We draw from theory on vigilance tradeoffs, signal detection, speed-accuracy tradeoffs, fear generalization, neophobia and adaptive dispersal. We discuss how evolutionary history with fire, but also other selective pressures, such as predation risk, should influence animal behavioural responses to fire. We conclude by providing guidance for empiricists and outlining potential conservation applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Michel
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Jacob R Johnson
- Animal Behavior Graduate Group, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Richard Szeligowski
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
| | - Euan G Ritchie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Centre for Integrative Ecology, Deakin University, Burwood, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew Sih
- Department of Environmental Science & Policy, University of California, Davis, California, USA
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5
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Carrasco J, Mahaluf R, Lisón F, Pais C, Miranda A, de la Barra F, Palacios D, Weintraub A. A firebreak placement model for optimizing biodiversity protection at landscape scale. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 342:118087. [PMID: 37196613 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118087] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/01/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
A solution approach is proposed to optimize the selection of landscape cells for inclusion in firebreaks. It involves linking spatially explicit information on a landscape's ecological values, historical ignition patterns and fire spread behavior. A firebreak placement optimization model is formulated that captures the tradeoff between the direct loss of biodiversity due to the elimination of vegetation in areas designated for placement of firebreaks and the protection provided by the firebreaks from losses due to future forest fires. The optimal solution generated by the model reduced expected losses from wildfires on a biodiversity combined index due to wildfires by 30% relative to a landscape without any treatment. It also reduced expected losses by 16% compared to a randomly chosen solution. These results suggest that biodiversity loss resulting from the removal of vegetation in areas where firebreaks are placed can be offset by the reduction in biodiversity loss due to the firebreaks' protective function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaime Carrasco
- University of Chile, Industrial Engineering Department, Santiago, Chile; Complex Engineering System Institute - ISCI, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Rodrigo Mahaluf
- University of Chile, Industrial Engineering Department, Santiago, Chile; Complex Engineering System Institute - ISCI, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Fulgencio Lisón
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation Lab, Departamento de Zoología, Fac. Ciencias Naturales y Oceanográficas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile; Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Conservación, Departamento de Ciencias Forestales y Medioambiente, Fac. Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile.
| | - Cristobal Pais
- Complex Engineering System Institute - ISCI, Santiago, Chile; University of California Berkeley, IEOR Department, Berkeley, USA.
| | - Alejandro Miranda
- Laboratorio de Ecología del Paisaje y Conservación, Departamento de Ciencias Forestales y Medioambiente, Fac. Ciencias Agropecuarias y Forestales, Universidad de La Frontera, Temuco, Chile; University of Chile, Center for Climate and Resilience Research (CR(2)), Santiago, Chile.
| | - Felipe de la Barra
- University of Chile, Industrial Engineering Department, Santiago, Chile.
| | - David Palacios
- University of Chile, Industrial Engineering Department, Santiago, Chile; Complex Engineering System Institute - ISCI, Santiago, Chile.
| | - Andrés Weintraub
- University of Chile, Industrial Engineering Department, Santiago, Chile; Complex Engineering System Institute - ISCI, Santiago, Chile.
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6
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Zylstra P. Quantifying the direct fire threat to a critically endangered arboreal marsupial using biophysical, mechanistic modelling. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip Zylstra
- School of Molecular and Life Sciences Curtin University Bentley Western Australia Australia
- Centre for Sustainable Ecosystem Solutions, University of Wollongong Wollongong New South Wales Australia
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7
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Gould PR, Gade MR, Wilk AJ, Peterman WE. Short‐term responses of riparian salamander populations to wildfire in the Southern Appalachians. J Wildl Manage 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/jwmg.22282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Philip R. Gould
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road Columbus OH 43201 USA
| | - Meaghan R. Gade
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road Columbus OH 43201 USA
| | - Andrew J. Wilk
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road Columbus OH 43201 USA
| | - William E. Peterman
- School of Environment and Natural Resources The Ohio State University 2021 Coffey Road Columbus OH 43201 USA
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8
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Campbell‐Jones MM, Bassett M, Bennett AF, Chia EK, Leonard S, Collins L. Fire severity has lasting effects on the distribution of arboreal mammals in a resprouting forest. AUSTRAL ECOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Michelle Bassett
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Victoria 3002 Australia
| | - Andrew F. Bennett
- Department of Environment and Genetics La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
| | - Evelyn K. Chia
- Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales Chippendale New South Wales 2008 Australia
| | - Steve Leonard
- Department of Environment and Genetics La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Luke Collins
- Department of Environment and Genetics La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Heidelberg Victoria 3084 Australia
- Pacific Forestry Centre, Canadian Forest Service Natural Resources Canada 506 West Burnside Road Victoria British Columbia V8Z 1M5 Canada
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9
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Dornbusch MJ, Limb RF, Bloom-Cornelius IV, Elmore RD, Weir JR, Fuhlendorf SD. Factors influencing the persistence of a fire-sensitive Artemisia species in a fire-dependent ecosystem. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2604. [PMID: 35365937 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Revised: 01/03/2022] [Accepted: 01/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Fire refugia and patchiness are important to the persistence of fire-sensitive species and may facilitate biodiversity conservation in fire-dependent landscapes. Playing the role of ecosystem engineers, large herbivores alter vegetation structure and can reduce wildfire risk. However, herbivore effects on the spatial variability of fire and the persistence of fire-sensitive species are not clear. To examine the hypothesis that large herbivores support the persistence of fire-sensitive species through the creation of fire refugia in fire-prone landscapes, we examined the response of a fire-sensitive plant, Wyoming big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis [Beetle & Young]) to fire and grazing in the fire-dependent mixed-grass prairie of the northern Great Plains. We carried out a controlled burn in 2010 within pre-established exclosures that allowed differential access to wild and domestic herbivores and no record of fire in the previous 75 years due to fire suppression efforts. The experiment was set up with a split-plot design to also examine potential changes in plots that were not burned. Canopy cover of big sagebrush was recorded before the burn in 2010 and again in 2011 with percent area burned recorded within 1-month post-fire in the burned plots. Percentage area burned was the greatest in ungulate exclosures (92% ± 2%) and the least in open areas (55% ± 21%), suggesting that large herbivores influenced fire behavior (e.g., reducing fire intensity and rate of spread) and are likely to increase fire patchiness through their alterations to the fuel bed. Regression analysis indicated that the proportion of sagebrush cover lost was significantly correlated with the proportion of area burned (R2 = 0.76, p = 0.05). No differences in the non-burn plots were observed among grazing treatments or among years. Altogether, this illustrates the potential importance of large herbivores in creating biotic-driven fire refugia for fire-sensitive species to survive within the flammable fuel matrix of fire-dependent grassland ecosystems such as the mixed-grass prairie. Our findings also attest to the resiliency of the northern Great Plains to fire and herbivory and underscore the value of managing grasslands for heterogeneity with spatial and temporal variations in these historic disturbances.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan J Dornbusch
- School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Ryan F Limb
- School of Natural Resource Sciences, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, USA
| | - Ilana V Bloom-Cornelius
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - R Dwayne Elmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - John R Weir
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
| | - Samuel D Fuhlendorf
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA
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10
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Santos X, Belliure J, Gonçalves JF, Pausas JG. Resilience of reptiles to megafires. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2022; 32:e2518. [PMID: 34918831 DOI: 10.1002/eap.2518] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Revised: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Extreme climate events, together with anthropogenic land-use changes, have led to the rise of megafires (i.e., fires at the top of the frequency size distribution) in many world regions. Megafires imply that the center of the burnt area is far from the unburnt; therefore, recolonization may be critical for species with low dispersal abilities such as reptiles. We aimed to evaluate the effect of megafires on a reptile community, exploring to what extent reptile responses are spatially shaped by the distance to the unburnt area. We examined the short-term spatiotemporal response of a Mediterranean reptile community after two megafires (>20,000 ha) that occurred in summer 2012 in eastern Spain. Reptiles were sampled over 4 years after the fire in burnt plots located at different distances from the fire perimeter (edge, middle, and center), and in adjacent unburnt plots. Reptile responses were modeled with fire history, as well as climate and remotely sensed environmental variables. In total, we recorded 522 reptiles from 12 species (11 species in the burnt plots and nine in the unburnt plots). Reptile abundance decreased in burnt compared with unburnt plots. The community composition and species richness did not vary either spatially (unburnt and burnt plots) or temporally (during the 4 years). The persistence of reptiles in the burnt area supported their resilience to megafires. The most common lizard species was Psammodromus algirus; both adults and juveniles were found in all unburnt and burnt plots. This species showed lower abundances in burnt areas compared with the unburnt and a slow short-term abundance recovery. The lizard Psammodromus edwarsianus was much less abundant and showed a tendency to increase its abundance in burnt plots compared with unburnt plots. Within the megafire area, P. algirus and P. edwarsianus abundances correlated with the thermal-moisture environment and vegetation recovery regardless of the distance from the fire edge. These results indicated the absence of a short-term reptile recolonization from the unburnt zone, demonstrating that reptiles are resilient (in situ persistence) to megafires when environmental conditions are favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xavier Santos
- CIBIO/InBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão. R. Padre Armando Quintas, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
| | - Josabel Belliure
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Vida, Global Change Ecology and Evolution Group (GLOCEE), Universidad de Alcalá, Madrid, Spain
| | - João F Gonçalves
- CIBIO/InBIO, Research Centre in Biodiversity and Genetic Resources, University of Porto. Instituto de Ciências Agrárias de Vairão. R. Padre Armando Quintas, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Vairão, Portugal
- proMetheus - Research Unit in Materials, Energy and Environment for Sustainability, Instituto Politécnico de Viana do Castelo (IPVC), Avenida do Atlântico, Viana do Castelo, Portugal
| | - Juli G Pausas
- Centro de Investigaciones sobre Desertificación (CIDE-CSIC), Moncada, Spain
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11
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Jolly CJ, Dickman CR, Doherty TS, van Eeden LM, Geary WL, Legge SM, Woinarski JCZ, Nimmo DG. Animal mortality during fire. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2022; 28:2053-2065. [PMID: 34989061 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.16044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Earth's rapidly warming climate is propelling us towards an increasingly fire-prone future. Currently, knowledge of the extent and characteristics of animal mortality rates during fire remains rudimentary, hindering our ability to predict how animal populations may be impacted in the future. To address this knowledge gap, we conducted a global systematic review of the direct effects of fire on animal mortality rates, based on studies that unequivocally determined the fate of animals during fire. From 31 studies spanning 1984-2020, we extracted data on the direct impacts of fire on the mortality of 31 species from 23 families. From these studies, there were 43 instances where direct effects were measured by reporting animal survival from pre- to post-fire. Most studies were conducted in North America (52%) and Oceania (42%), focused largely on mammals (53%) and reptiles (30%), and reported mostly on animal survival in planned (82%) and/or low severity (70%) fires. We found no studies from Asia, Europe or South America. Although there were insufficient data to conduct a formal meta-analysis, we tested the effect of fire type, fire severity, fire regime, animal body mass, ecological attributes and class on survival. Only fire severity affected animal mortality, with a higher proportion of animals being killed by high than low severity fires. Recent catastrophic fires across the globe have drawn attention to the plight of animals exposed to wildfire. Yet, our systematic review suggests that a relatively low proportion of animals (mean predicted mortality [95% CI] = 3% [1%-9%]) are killed during fire. However, our review also underscores how little we currently know about the direct effects of fire on animal mortality, and highlights the critical need to understand the effects of high severity fire on animal populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chris J Jolly
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental Science, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Chris R Dickman
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tim S Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Lily M van Eeden
- Department of Environment Land, Water and Planning, Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
| | - William L Geary
- Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch, Biodiversity Division, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sarah M Legge
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, University of Queensland, St Lucia, Queensland, Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and Society, The Australian National University, Australian Capital Territory, Canberra, Australia
| | - John C Z Woinarski
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dale G Nimmo
- Institute for Land, Water and Society, School of Environmental Science, Charles Sturt University, Albury, New South Wales, Australia
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12
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Lees DM, Watchorn DJ, Driscoll DA, Doherty TS. Microhabitat selection by small mammals in response to fire. AUST J ZOOL 2022. [DOI: 10.1071/zo21022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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13
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Southwell D, Legge S, Woinarski J, Lindenmayer D, Lavery T, Wintle B. Design considerations for rapid biodiversity reconnaissance surveys and long‐term monitoring to assess the impact of wildfire. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13427] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Darren Southwell
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Parkville VIC Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science University of Queensland St Lucia QLD Australia
| | - John Woinarski
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Parkville VIC Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub Charles Darwin University Darwin NT Australia
| | - David Lindenmayer
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Tyrone Lavery
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Brendan Wintle
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne Parkville VIC Australia
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14
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Jager HI, Long JW, Malison RL, Murphy BP, Rust A, Silva LGM, Sollmann R, Steel ZL, Bowen MD, Dunham JB, Ebersole JL, Flitcroft RL. Resilience of terrestrial and aquatic fauna to historical and future wildfire regimes in western North America. Ecol Evol 2021; 11:12259-12284. [PMID: 34594498 PMCID: PMC8462151 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.8026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 07/12/2021] [Accepted: 07/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Wildfires in many western North American forests are becoming more frequent, larger, and severe, with changed seasonal patterns. In response, coniferous forest ecosystems will transition toward dominance by fire-adapted hardwoods, shrubs, meadows, and grasslands, which may benefit some faunal communities, but not others. We describe factors that limit and promote faunal resilience to shifting wildfire regimes for terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. We highlight the potential value of interspersed nonforest patches to terrestrial wildlife. Similarly, we review watershed thresholds and factors that control the resilience of aquatic ecosystems to wildfire, mediated by thermal changes and chemical, debris, and sediment loadings. We present a 2-dimensional life history framework to describe temporal and spatial life history traits that species use to resist wildfire effects or to recover after wildfire disturbance at a metapopulation scale. The role of fire refuge is explored for metapopulations of species. In aquatic systems, recovery of assemblages postfire may be faster for smaller fires where unburned tributary basins or instream structures provide refuge from debris and sediment flows. We envision that more-frequent, lower-severity fires will favor opportunistic species and that less-frequent high-severity fires will favor better competitors. Along the spatial dimension, we hypothesize that fire regimes that are predictable and generate burned patches in close proximity to refuge will favor species that move to refuges and later recolonize, whereas fire regimes that tend to generate less-severely burned patches may favor species that shelter in place. Looking beyond the trees to forest fauna, we consider mitigation options to enhance resilience and buy time for species facing a no-analog future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriette I. Jager
- Environmental Sciences DivisionOak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)Oak RidgeTNUSA
| | - Jonathan W. Long
- U.S. Department of AgriculturePacific Southwest Research StationDavisCAUSA
| | - Rachel L. Malison
- Flathead Lake Biological StationThe University of MontanaPolsonMTUSA
| | - Brendan P. Murphy
- School of Environmental ScienceSimon Fraser UniversityBurnabyBCCanada
| | - Ashley Rust
- Civil and Environmental Engineering DepartmentColorado School of MinesGoldenCOUSA
| | - Luiz G. M. Silva
- Institute for Land, Water and SocietyCharles Sturt UniversityAlburyNSWAustralia
- Department of CivilEnvironmental and Geomatic EngineeringStocker LabInstitute of Environmental EngineeringETH ZurichZürichSwitzerland
| | - Rahel Sollmann
- Department of Wildlife, Fish, and Conservation BiologyUniversity of California DavisDavisCAUSA
| | - Zachary L. Steel
- Department of Environmental Science, Policy and ManagementUniversity of CaliforniaBerkeleyCAUSA
| | - Mark D. Bowen
- Thomas Gast & Associates Environmental ConsultantsArcataCAUSA
| | - Jason B. Dunham
- U.S. Geological Survey, Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science CenterCorvallisORUSA
| | - Joseph L. Ebersole
- Center for Public Health and Environmental AssessmentPacific Ecological Systems DivisionU.S. Environmental Protection AgencyCorvallisORUSA
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15
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Downing WM, Meigs GW, Gregory MJ, Krawchuk MA. Where and why do conifer forests persist in refugia through multiple fire events? GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2021; 27:3642-3656. [PMID: 33896078 PMCID: PMC8362119 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.15655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 04/02/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Changing wildfire regimes are causing rapid shifts in forests worldwide. In particular, forested landscapes that burn repeatedly in relatively quick succession may be at risk of conversion when pre-fire vegetation cannot recover between fires. Fire refugia (areas that burn less frequently or severely than the surrounding landscape) support post-fire ecosystem recovery and the persistence of vulnerable species in fire-prone landscapes. Observed and projected fire-induced forest losses highlight the need to understand where and why forests persist in refugia through multiple fires. This research need is particularly acute in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion of southwest Oregon and northwest California, USA, where expected increases in fire activity and climate warming may result in the loss of up to one-third of the region's conifer forests, which are the most diverse in western North America. Here, we leverage recent advances in fire progression mapping and weather interpolation, in conjunction with a novel application of satellite smoke imagery, to model the key controls on fire refugia occurrence and persistence through one, two, and three fire events over a 32-year period. Hotter-than-average fire weather was associated with lower refugia probability and higher fire severity. Refugia that persisted through three fire events appeared to be partially entrained by landscape features that offered protection from fire, suggesting that topographic variability may be an important stabilizing factor as forests pass through successive fire filters. In addition, smoke density strongly influenced fire effects, with fire refugia more likely to occur when smoke was moderate or dense in the morning, a relationship attributable to reduced incoming solar radiation resulting from smoke shading. Results from this study could inform management strategies designed to protect fire-resistant portions of biologically and topographically diverse landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- William M. Downing
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyCollege of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USA
| | - Garrett W. Meigs
- Washington State Department of Natural ResourcesOlympiaWA98504USA
| | - Matthew J. Gregory
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyCollege of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USA
| | - Meg A. Krawchuk
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and SocietyCollege of ForestryOregon State UniversityCorvallisOR97331USA
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16
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Balantic C, Adams A, Gross S, Mazur R, Sawyer S, Tucker J, Vernon M, Mengelt C, Morales J, Thorne JH, Brown TM, Athearn N, Morelli TL. Toward climate change refugia conservation at an ecoregion scale. CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/csp2.497] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Cathleen Balantic
- Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
| | - Andrea Adams
- Earth Research Institute University of California Santa Barbara Santa Barbara California USA
| | - Shana Gross
- Ecology Program USDA Forest Service, Region 5 South Lake Tahoe California USA
| | - Rachel Mazur
- Division of Resources Management and Science Yosemite National Park El Portal California USA
| | - Sarah Sawyer
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Vallejo California USA
| | - Jody Tucker
- USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Region Vallejo California USA
| | - Marian Vernon
- Point Blue Conservation Science Petaluma California USA
| | - Claudia Mengelt
- U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Science Applications Sacramento California USA
| | - Jennifer Morales
- Climate Change Program California Department of Water Resources Fresno California USA
| | - James H. Thorne
- Department of Environmental Science and Policy University of California Davis California USA
| | - Timothy M. Brown
- Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology University of California Santa Cruz California USA
| | - Nicole Athearn
- Division of Resources Management and Science National Park Service El Portal California USA
| | - Toni Lyn Morelli
- U.S. Geological Survey, Northeast Climate Adaptation Science Center, Department of Environmental Conservation University of Massachusetts Amherst Amherst Massachusetts USA
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17
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Hale S, Mendoza L, Yeatman T, Cooke R, Doherty T, Nimmo D, White JG. Evidence that post‐fire recovery of small mammals occurs primarily via in situ survival. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Susannah Hale
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Lorissa Mendoza
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Tom Yeatman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Raylene Cooke
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Tim Doherty
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Dale Nimmo
- School of Environmental Science Institute for Land, Water and Society Charles Sturt University Albury NSW Australia
| | - John G. White
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
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18
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Geary WL, Buchan A, Allen T, Attard D, Bruce MJ, Collins L, Ecker TE, Fairman TA, Hollings T, Loeffler E, Muscatello A, Parkes D, Thomson J, White M, Kelly E. Responding to the biodiversity impacts of a megafire: A case study from south‐eastern Australia’s Black Summer. DIVERS DISTRIB 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- William L. Geary
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
- Centre for Integrative Ecology School of Life and Environmental Sciences Deakin University Geelong Vic. Australia
| | - Anne Buchan
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Teigan Allen
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - David Attard
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Matthew J. Bruce
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
| | - Luke Collins
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes La Trobe University Bundoora Vic. Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution La Trobe University Bundoora Vic. Australia
| | - Tiarne E. Ecker
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Thomas A. Fairman
- Forests, Fire and Regions Group Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Tracey Hollings
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
| | - Ella Loeffler
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Angela Muscatello
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - David Parkes
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
| | - Jim Thomson
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
| | - Matt White
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning Heidelberg Vic. Australia
| | - Ella Kelly
- Biodiversity Strategy and Knowledge Branch Biodiversity Division Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning East Melbourne Vic. Australia
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19
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Peacock J, Tonra CM, King J, Davies GM. Restoration of gallery forest patches improves recruitment of motacú palms (Attalea princeps) while diversifying and increasing wildlife populations. PLoS One 2021; 16:e0250183. [PMID: 33914765 PMCID: PMC8084217 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0250183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Globally, forest-savanna mosaic landscapes are of significant conservation importance but have been widely impacted by human land-use. We studied how restoration, through cessation of long-term cattle grazing impacts (i) forest regeneration; (ii) forest understory structure and composition; and (iii) populations and diversity of large mammals and nocturnal birds, within naturally patchy gallery forests in the Beni Savannas of Bolivia. Comparing grazed and restored sites, we assessed the abundance and composition of tree functional types at different life stages (seedlings, saplings and adults), with focus on the region’s key palm species Attalea princeps (motacú). Additionally, we surveyed habitat structure and composition in the shrub and ground-layer, and monitored occurrence and encounter rates of large mammals and nocturnal birds along dusk and evening transects. We found evidence of lower recruitment of motacú palms on the grazed site and lower potential for natural motacú regeneration. Principal Components Analysis revealed forests on grazed sites had simpler, more open shrub-layers and altered ground-layer structure and composition including increased bare ground. Mammal species richness was greater on the restored site, and there were more declining, globally threatened and site-unique species. Species richness was similar for nocturnal birds within forests on both the grazed and restored site, but nearly all species tended to be encountered more frequently on the restored site. Our results suggest cattle negatively impact forest regeneration and alter the structure and composition of the shrub and ground layer with potential consequences for the diversity and abundance of wildlife. Our study represents one of only a handful completed in the Beni region of Bolivia to date. The Beni is currently under pressure from widespread, largely unregulated cattle ranching. Our results thus provide vital evidence to support development of restoration and conservation policy, and its integration with rangeland management in this threatened and critically understudied region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Peacock
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Christopher M. Tonra
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Johnathan King
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
| | - G. Matt Davies
- School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, United States of America
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20
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Shaw RE, James AI, Tuft K, Legge S, Cary GJ, Peakall R, Banks SC. Unburnt habitat patches are critical for survival and in situ population recovery in a small mammal after fire. J Appl Ecol 2021. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Robyn E. Shaw
- Research School of Biology The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Alex I. James
- Australian Wildlife ConservancyMornington Sanctuary Derby WA Australia
| | | | - Sarah Legge
- Threatened Species Recovery Hub National Environmental Science Program Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science The University of Queensland St Lucia Qld Australia
- The Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Geoffrey J. Cary
- The Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Rod Peakall
- Research School of Biology The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
| | - Sam C. Banks
- The Fenner School of Environment & Society The Australian National University Canberra ACT Australia
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21
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Wilson BA, Garkaklis MJ. Patterns of decline of small mammal assemblages in vegetation communities of coastal south-east Australia: identification of habitat refuges. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am20032] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Since European settlement Australian native mammals have experienced significant extinctions and severe declines in the range and abundance of populations. Longitudinal studies are required to identify declines and activate timely management. Population studies of native small mammal communities were conducted across the eastern Otway Ranges during 1975–2007; however, their subsequent status was unknown. We aimed to: compare the current occurrence and abundance of species and communities (2013–18) to those in previous decades across major vegetation communities (heathy woodland, low forest, sand heathland, headland scrub, coastal dunes and estuarine wetland), and identify change characteristics and management priorities. Live trapping was employed to assess mammals at 30 sites across seven vegetation communities. In total, 67% of sites exhibited large to severe decreases in abundance and only 3% of sites had more than four species compared to 27% in earlier decades. Declines occurred following wildfire and drought, with drivers likely to be multifactorial. While regional declines were significant, higher mammal abundance (two- to six-fold) and native species richness were recorded at coastal dune sites, indicating that this community provides important mammal refuges. Identification of refuges across the landscape and their protection from inappropriate fire and predators should be management priorities.
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22
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Brown J, Barton P, Cunningham SA. How bioregional history could shape the future of agriculture. ADV ECOL RES 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/bs.aecr.2020.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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23
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Moro D, Morris K, van Leeuwen S, Davie H. A framework of integrated research for managing introduced predators in the Pilbara bioregion, Western Australia. AUSTRALIAN MAMMALOGY 2021. [DOI: 10.1071/am20025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
The effective control of wild dogs, feral cats and foxes is of primary interest to land managers, both for biodiversity conservation and for the protection of livestock. Control programs primarily target single species within the context of biodiversity conservation or livestock practices, but their effectiveness in depressing predator densities is unclear because monitoring is limited or not conducted. Here, we review and discuss the outcomes of a workshop to identify research priorities for managing predation on native fauna by introduced predators in the Pilbara bioregion in Western Australia. We suggest that the control of introduced predators will be most effective if it is implemented at a landscape-scale comprising integrated predator management that considers interspecific (predator) interactions combined with standardised monitoring to measure the effectiveness and benefits of control. Four research themes were identified: (1) collation and collection of baseline data, (2) effective monitoring of introduced predators, (3) understanding functional (ecological) roles of introduced predators within the different ecosystem contexts, and (4) identifying novel complementary approaches to protect threatened species. These themes collectively include research areas that invest in foundational, ecological and alternative biological parameters in research to close knowledge gaps related to the functional roles of introduced predators in the landscape. Addressing these research themes will assist land managers to achieve outcomes that address the needs of both biodiversity conservation and pastoral production. This framework is timely given the ongoing investment in offset funding being mobilised in the region.
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24
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A first assessment of the land management effect on the ecological role of large trees as habitat refuges for desert small mammals. Basic Appl Ecol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.baae.2020.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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25
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Swan M, Christie F, Steel E, Sitters H, York A, Di Stefano J. Ground‐dwelling mammal diversity responds positively to productivity and habitat heterogeneity in a fire‐prone region. Ecosphere 2020. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.3248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Swan
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
| | - Fiona Christie
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
| | - Erin Steel
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
| | - Holly Sitters
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
| | - Alan York
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
| | - Julian Di Stefano
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences University of Melbourne 4 Water St Creswick Victoria3363Australia
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26
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Gaget E, Parr CL, Sirami C. Effects of fire frequency on savanna butterfly diversity and composition: A preliminary study. KOEDOE: AFRICAN PROTECTED AREA CONSERVATION AND SCIENCE 2020. [DOI: 10.4102/koedoe.v62i1.1617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/01/2022]
Abstract
Fire plays a major role in many biomes, is widely used as a management tool and is likely to be affected by climate change. For effective conservation management, it is essential to understand how fire regimes affect different taxa, yet responses of invertebrates are particularly poorly documented. We tested how different fire frequencies influence savanna butterfly diversity and composition by using a long-term savanna fire experiment initiated in 1954 in the Kruger National Park (South Africa). We compared butterfly abundance, species richness and community composition across three fire frequencies: high (burnt annually), medium (burnt triennially) and low (burnt twice in 60 years). Plots with high fire frequency hosted higher abundance than medium- or low-frequency plots. Fire frequencies did not affect species richness, but they led to distinct communities of butterflies. Our findings suggest that, in view of the three fire frequencies tested, a spatial diversity of fire frequencies may increase butterfly diversity at the landscape level in wet savannas. Managers may need to promote a greater diversity of fire frequencies by increasing fire frequency in some areas to provide habitat for species requiring high fire frequency, and by decreasing fire frequency in a large proportion of the landscape to provide fire refuges. This study provides new insights for butterfly conservation in savannas and highlights several knowledge gaps, which further studies should address for insect responses to be given adequate consideration in fire management strategies.Conservation implications: A spatial diversity of fire frequencies may increase butterfly diversity. Managers may need to promote a greater diversity of fire frequencies by increasing fire frequency in some areas to provide habitat for species requiring high fire frequency, and by decreasing fire frequency in other areas to provide fire refuges.
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27
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Altered tropical seascapes influence patterns of fish assemblage and ecological functions in the Western Indian Ocean. Sci Rep 2020; 10:12479. [PMID: 32719358 PMCID: PMC7385177 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-68904-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
The arrangement and composition of habitats within landscapes and fine-scale habitat characteristics influence community structure and ecological processes. These aspects can be altered by anthropogenic activities, thus influencing associated assemblages. Farming of macroalgae is a common practice in tropical settings and alters the natural composition of seascapes by introducing monoculture patches. The farmed macroalgae may also differ in palatability compared to naturally-occurring macroalgae, influencing herbivory. This study assessed how these farms may differ from natural macroalgal beds in terms of habitat heterogeneity, fish assemblages, and herbivory. We surveyed fish assemblages and deployed macroalgal assays within macroalgal beds, farms and at varying distances from these habitats near Mafia Island, Tanzania. Fish composition and herbivory differed between the habitats likely due to different macrophyte species richness, underlying hard substrate in natural macroalgal beds, and high abundance of browsers nearby the farms. Additionally, fish assemblage patterns and herbivory were not consistent across the seascapes and varied with distance from the focal habitats possibly due to the presence of other habitats. The results suggest alterations of seascapes by farming practices may have consequences on fish assemblages and the ecological functions performed, thus positioning of farms should be carefully considered in management and conservation plans.
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28
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Downing WM, Johnston JD, Krawchuk MA, Merschel AG, Rausch JH. Disjunct and decoupled? The persistence of a fire-sensitive conifer species in a historically frequent-fire landscape. J Nat Conserv 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jnc.2020.125828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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29
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Cross SL, Craig MD, Tomlinson S, Dixon KW, Bateman PW. Using monitors to monitor ecological restoration: Presence may not indicate persistence. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sophie L. Cross
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration; School of Molecular and Life Sciences; Curtin University; Kent Street Bentley Perth WA 6102 Australia
| | - Michael D. Craig
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Western Australia; Crawley WA Australia
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences; Murdoch University; Murdoch WA Australia
| | - Sean Tomlinson
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration; School of Molecular and Life Sciences; Curtin University; Kent Street Bentley Perth WA 6102 Australia
| | - Kingsley W. Dixon
- ARC Centre for Mine Site Restoration; School of Molecular and Life Sciences; Curtin University; Kent Street Bentley Perth WA 6102 Australia
| | - Philip W. Bateman
- Behavioural Ecology Laboratory; School of Molecular and Life Sciences; Curtin University; Bentley Perth WA Australia
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30
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Foster CN, Banks SC, Cary GJ, Johnson CN, Lindenmayer DB, Valentine LE. Animals as Agents in Fire Regimes. Trends Ecol Evol 2020; 35:346-356. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2020.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
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Vallejos MAV, Padial AA, Vitule JRS, Monteiro-Filho ELDA. Effects of crowding due to habitat loss on species assemblage patterns. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2020; 34:405-415. [PMID: 31773785 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.13443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Revised: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Terrestrial animals are negatively affected by habitat loss, which is assessed on a landscape scale, whereas secondary effects of habitat loss, such as crowding, are usually disregarded. Such impacts are inherently hard to address and poorly understood, and there is a growing concern that they could have dire consequences. We sampled birds throughout a deforestation process to assess crowding stress in an adjacent habitat remnant in the southern Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Crowding is expected of highly mobile taxa, especially given the microhabitat heterogeneity of Neotropical forests, and we hypothesized that the arrival of new individuals or species in refuges shifts assemblage patterns. We used point counts to obtain bird abundances in a before-after-control-impact design sampling of a deforestation event. Temporal changes in taxonomic and functional diversity were examined with metrics used to assess alpha and beta diversity, turnover of taxonomic and functional similarity, and taxonomic and functional composition. Over time increased abundance of some species altered the Simpson index and affected the abundance-distribution of traits in the habitat remnant. Taxonomic composition and functional composition changed in the remnant, and thus bird assemblages changed over time. Taxonomic and functional metrics indicated that fugitives affected resident assemblages in refuges, and effects endured >2 years after the deforestation processes had ceased. Dissimilarity of taxonomic composition between pre- and postdeforestation assemblages increased, whereas functional composition reverted to preimpact conditions. We found that ecological disruptions resulted from crowding and escalated into disruptions of species' assemblages and potentially compromising ecosystem functioning. It is important to consider crowding effects of highly mobile taxa during impact assessments, especially in large-scale infrastructure projects that may affect larger areas than is assumed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - André Andrian Padial
- Laboratório de Análise e Síntese em Biodiversidade, Departamento de Botânica. Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia e Conservação, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, CEP: 81530-000, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Jean Ricardo Simões Vitule
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação, Departamento de Engenharia Ambiental, Setor de Tecnologia, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, CEP, 81530-000, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
| | - Emygdio Leite de Araujo Monteiro-Filho
- Laboratório de Biologia e Ecologia de Vertebrados, Departamento de Zoologia, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Paraná, Av. Coronel Francisco Heráclito dos Santos, 100, CEP, 81530-000, Curitiba, Paraná, Brazil
- Instituto de Pesquisas Cananéia, Av. Nina, 523, CEP, 11990-000, Cananéia, São Paulo, Brazil
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Bleicher SS, Dickman CR. On the landscape of fear: shelters affect foraging by dunnarts (Marsupialia, Sminthopsis spp.) in a sandridge desert environment. J Mammal 2020. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Disturbances such as fire reduce the structural complexity of terrestrial habitats, increasing the risk of predation for small prey species. The postfire effect of predation has especially deleterious effects in Australian habitats owing to the presence of invasive mammalian predators, the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cat (Felis catus), that rapidly exploit burned habitats. Here, we investigated whether the provision of artificial shelter could alleviate the risk of predation perceived by two species of small marsupial, the dunnarts Sminthopsis hirtipes and S. youngsoni, in open postfire habitat in the sandridge system of the Simpson Desert, central Australia. We installed artificial shelters constructed from wire mesh that allowed passage of the dunnarts but not of their predators at one site, and measured and compared the perceived risk of predation by the dunnarts there with those on a control site using optimal patch-use theory (giving-up densities, GUDs). GUDs were lower near artificial shelters than away from them, and near dune crests where dunnarts typically forage, suggesting that the shelters acted as corridors for dunnarts to move up to the crests from burrows in the swales. Foraging was lower near the crest in the control plot. Two-day foraging bouts were observed in dunnart activity, with recruitment to GUD stations occurring a day earlier in the augmented shelter plot. Despite these results, the effects of the shelters were localized and not evident at the landscape scale, with GUDs reduced also in proximity to sparse natural cover in the form of regenerating spinifex grass hummocks. Mapping dunnart habitat use using the landscape of fear (LOF) framework confirmed that animals perceived safety near shelter and risk away from it. We concluded that the LOF framework can usefully assess real-time behavioral responses of animals to management interventions in situations where demographic responses take longer to occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonny S Bleicher
- Environmental Science and Policy, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
- Biology Department, Washington and Lee University, Lexington, VA, USA
| | - Christopher R Dickman
- Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences A08, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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Ibargüengoytía NR, Kubisch E, Cabezas-Cartes F, Fernández JB, Duran F, Piantoni C, Medina MS, Sinervo B. Effects of Acute and Chronic Environmental Disturbances on Lizards of Patagonia. NATURAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCES OF PATAGONIA 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-42752-8_13] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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Hradsky BA. Conserving Australia’s threatened native mammals in predator-invaded, fire-prone landscapes. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2020. [DOI: 10.1071/wr19027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Inappropriate fire regimes and predation by introduced species each pose a major threat to Australia’s native mammals. They also potentially interact, an issue that is likely to be contributing to the ongoing collapse of native mammal communities across Australia. In the present review, I first describe the mechanisms through which fire could create predation pinch points, exacerbating the impacts of predators, including red foxes, Vulpes vulpes, and feral cats, Felis catus, on their native mammalian prey. These mechanisms include a localised increase in predator activity (a numerically mediated pathway) and higher predator hunting success after fire (a functionally moderated pathway), which could both increase native mammal mortality and limit population recovery in fire-affected landscapes. Evidence for such interactions is growing, although largely based on unreplicated experiments. Improving native mammal resilience to fire in predator-invaded landscapes requires addressing two key questions: how can the impacts of introduced predators on native mammals in fire-affected areas be reduced; and, does a reduction in predation by introduced species result in higher native mammal survival and population recovery after fire? I then examine potential management options for reducing predator impacts post-fire. The most feasible are landscape-scale predator control and the manipulation of fire regimes to create patchy fire scars. However, robust field experiments with adequate statistical power are required to assess the effectiveness of these approaches and preclude null (e.g. compensatory mortality) or adverse (e.g. mesopredator or competitor release) outcomes. Ongoing predator management and prescribed burning programs provide an opportunity to learn through replicated natural experiments as well as experimental manipulations. Standardised reporting protocols and cross-jurisdiction monitoring programs would help achieve necessary spatial and environmental replication, while multi-trophic, spatially explicit simulation models could help synthesise findings from disparate study designs, predict management outcomes and generate new hypotheses. Such approaches will be key to improving management of the complex mechanisms that drive threatened native mammal populations in Australia’s predator-invaded, fire-prone landscapes.
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Simanonok MP, Burkle LA. Nesting success of wood-cavity-nesting bees declines with increasing time since wildfire. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:12436-12445. [PMID: 31788188 PMCID: PMC6875575 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5657] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Bees require distinct foraging and nesting resources to occur in close proximity. However, spatial and temporal patterns in the availability and quantity of these resources can be affected by disturbances like wildfire. The potential for spatial or temporal separation of foraging and nesting resources is of particular concern for solitary wood-cavity-nesting bees as they are central-place, short-distance foragers once they have established their nest. Often the importance of nesting resources for bees have been tested by sampling foraging bees as a proxy, and nesting bees have rarely been studied in a community context, particularly postdisturbance. We tested how wood-cavity-nesting bee species richness, nesting success, and nesting and floral resources varied across gradients of wildfire severity and time-since-burn. We sampled nesting bees via nesting boxes within four wildfires in southwest Montana, USA, using a space-for-time substitution chronosequence approach spanning 3-25 years postburn and including an unburned control. We found that bee nesting success and species richness declined with increasing time postburn, with a complete lack of successful bee nesting in unburned areas. Nesting and floral resources were highly variable across both burn severity and time-since-burn, yet generally did not have strong effects on nesting success. Our results together suggest that burned areas may provide important habitat for wood-cavity-nesting bees in this system. Given ongoing fire regime shifts as well as other threats facing wild bee communities, this work helps provide essential information necessary for the management and conservation of wood-cavity-nesting bees.
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Collins L, Bennett AF, Leonard SWJ, Penman TD. Wildfire refugia in forests: Severe fire weather and drought mute the influence of topography and fuel age. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:3829-3843. [PMID: 31215102 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Wildfire refugia (unburnt patches within large wildfires) are important for the persistence of fire-sensitive species across forested landscapes globally. A key challenge is to identify the factors that determine the distribution of fire refugia across space and time. In particular, determining the relative influence of climatic and landscape factors is important in order to understand likely changes in the distribution of wildfire refugia under future climates. Here, we examine the relative effect of weather (i.e. fire weather, drought severity) and landscape features (i.e. topography, fuel age, vegetation type) on the occurrence of fire refugia across 26 large wildfires in south-eastern Australia. Fire weather and drought severity were the primary drivers of the occurrence of fire refugia, moderating the effect of landscape attributes. Unburnt patches rarely occurred under 'severe' fire weather, irrespective of drought severity, topography, fuels or vegetation community. The influence of drought severity and landscape factors played out most strongly under 'moderate' fire weather. In mesic forests, fire refugia were linked to variables that affect fuel moisture, whereby the occurrence of unburnt patches decreased with increasing drought conditions and were associated with more mesic topographic locations (i.e. gullies, pole-facing aspects) and vegetation communities (i.e. closed-forest). In dry forest, the occurrence of refugia was responsive to fuel age, being associated with recently burnt areas (<5 years since fire). Overall, these results show that increased severity of fire weather and increased drought conditions, both predicted under future climate scenarios, are likely to lead to a reduction of wildfire refugia across forests of southern Australia. Protection of topographic areas able to provide long-term fire refugia will be an important step towards maintaining the ecological integrity of forests under future climate change.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke Collins
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Andrew F Bennett
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Arthur Rylah Institute for Environmental Research, Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning, Heidelberg, Victoria, Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
| | - Steve W J Leonard
- Department of Ecology, Environment & Evolution, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, Natural Values Conservation Branch, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Trent D Penman
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences, University of Melbourne, Creswick, Victoria, Australia
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Steenvoorden J, Meddens AJH, Martinez AJ, Foster LJ, Kissling WD. The potential importance of unburned islands as refugia for the persistence of wildlife species in fire-prone ecosystems. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:8800-8812. [PMID: 31410281 PMCID: PMC6686341 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Revised: 06/01/2019] [Accepted: 06/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of wildlife species in fire-prone ecosystems is under increasing pressure from global change, including alterations in fire regimes caused by climate change. However, unburned islands might act to mitigate negative effects of fire on wildlife populations by providing habitat in which species can survive and recolonize burned areas. Nevertheless, the characteristics of unburned islands and their role as potential refugia for the postfire population dynamics of wildlife species remain poorly understood.We used a newly developed unburned island database of the northwestern United States from 1984 to 2014 to assess the postfire response of the greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a large gallinaceous bird inhabiting the sagebrush ecosystems of North America, in which wildfires are common. Specifically, we tested whether prefire and postfire male attendance trends at mating locations (leks) differed between burned and unburned areas, and to what extent postfire habitat composition at multiple scales could explain such trends.Using time-series of male counts at leks together with spatially explicit fire history information, we modeled whether male attendance was negatively affected by fire events. Results revealed that burned leks often exhibit sustained decline in male attendance, whereas leks within unburned islands or >1.5 km away from fire perimeters tend to show stable or increasing trends.Analyses of postfire habitat composition further revealed that sagebrush vegetation height within 0.8 km around leks, as well elevation within 0.8 km, 6.4 km, and 18 km around leks, had a positive effect on male attendance trends. Moreover, the proportion of the landscape with cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) cover >8% had negative effects on male attendance trends within 0.8 km, 6.4 km, and 18 km of leks, respectively. Synthesis and applications. Our results indicate that maintaining areas of unburned vegetation within and outside fire perimeters may be crucial for sustaining sage-grouse populations following wildfire. The role of unburned islands as fire refugia requires more attention in wildlife management and conservation planning because their creation, protection, and maintenance may positively affect wildlife population dynamics in fire-prone ecosystems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jasper Steenvoorden
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
| | | | | | | | - W. Daniel Kissling
- Institute for Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (IBED)University of AmsterdamAmsterdamThe Netherlands
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38
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Composite Effects of Cutlines and Wildfire Result in Fire Refuges for Plants and Butterflies in Boreal Treed Peatlands. Ecosystems 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/s10021-019-00417-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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McHugh D, Goldingay RL, Link J, Letnic M. Habitat and introduced predators influence the occupancy of small threatened macropods in subtropical Australia. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:6300-6317. [PMID: 31236222 PMCID: PMC6580277 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/12/2019] [Revised: 03/19/2019] [Accepted: 04/06/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Australia has had the highest rate of mammal extinctions in the past two centuries when compared to other continents. Frequently cited threats include habitat loss and fragmentation, changed fire regimes and the impact of introduced predators, namely the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) and the feral cat (Felis catus). Recent studies suggest that Australia's top predator, the dingo (Canis dingo), may have a suppressive effect on fox populations but not on cat populations. The landscape of fear hypothesis proposes that habitat used by prey species comprises high to low risk patches for foraging as determined by the presence and ubiquity of predators within the ecosystem. This results in a landscape of risky versus safe areas for prey species. We investigated the influence of habitat and its interaction with predatory mammals on the occupancy of medium-sized mammals with a focus on threatened macropodid marsupials (the long-nosed potoroo [Potorous tridactylous] and red-legged pademelon [Thylogale stigmatica]). We assumed that differential use of habitats would reflect trade-offs between food and safety. We predicted that medium-sized mammals would prefer habitats for foraging that reduce the risk of predation but that predators would have a positive relationship with medium-sized mammals. We variously used data from 298 camera trap sites across nine conservation reserves in subtropical Australia. Both dingoes and feral cats were broadly distributed, whilst the red fox was rare. Long-nosed potoroos had a strong positive association with dense ground cover, consistent with using habitat complexity to escape predation. Red-legged pademelons showed a preference for open ground cover, consistent with a reliance on rapid bounding to escape predation. Dingoes preferred areas of open ground cover whereas feral cats showed no specific habitat preference. Dingoes were positively associated with long-nosed potoroos whilst feral cats were positively associated with red-legged pademelons. Our study highlights the importance of habitat structure to these threatened mammals and also the need for more detailed study of their interactions with their predators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Darren McHugh
- School of Environment, Science and EngineeringSouthern Cross UniversityLismoreNew South WalesAustralia
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceIlukaNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Ross L. Goldingay
- School of Environment, Science and EngineeringSouthern Cross UniversityLismoreNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Jeremy Link
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife ServiceIlukaNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, School of Biological, Earth and Environmental SciencesUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
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Adedoja O, Dormann CF, Kehinde T, Samways MJ. Refuges from fire maintain pollinator-plant interaction networks. Ecol Evol 2019; 9:5777-5786. [PMID: 31160998 PMCID: PMC6540659 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.5161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2018] [Accepted: 03/19/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Fire is a major disturbance factor in many terrestrial ecosystems, leading to landscape transformation in fire-prone areas. Species in mutualistic interactions are often highly sensitive to disturbances like fire events, but the degree and complexity of their responses are unclear. We use bipartite insect-flower interaction networks across a recently burned landscape to explore how plant-pollinator interaction networks respond to a recent major fire event at the landscape level, and where fire refuges were present. We also investigate the effectiveness of these refuges at different elevations (valley to hilltop) for the conservation of displaced flower-visiting insects during fire events. Then, we explore how the degree of specialization of flower-visiting insects changes across habitats with different levels of fire impact. We did this in natural areas in the Greater Cape Floristic Region (GCFR) biodiversity hotspot, which is species rich in plants and pollinators. Bees and beetles were the most frequent pollinators in interactions, followed by wasps and flies. Highest interaction activity was in the fire refuges and least in burned areas. Interactions also tracked flower abundance, which was highest in fire refuges in the valley and lowest in burned areas. Interactions consisted mostly of specialized flower visitors, especially in refuge areas. The interaction network and species specialization were lowest in burned areas. However, species common to at least two fire classes showed no significant difference in species specialization. We conclude that flower-rich fire refuges sustain plant-pollinator interactions, especially those involving specialized species, in fire-disturbed landscape. This may be an important shelter for specialized pollinator species at the time that the burned landscape goes through regrowth and succession as part of ecosystem recovery process after a major fire event.
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Affiliation(s)
- Opeyemi Adedoja
- Department of Conservation Ecology and EntomologyStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
- Biometry and Environmental System AnalysisUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | - Carsten F. Dormann
- Biometry and Environmental System AnalysisUniversity of FreiburgFreiburgGermany
| | | | - Michael J. Samways
- Department of Conservation Ecology and EntomologyStellenbosch UniversityStellenboschSouth Africa
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Increase of genetic diversity indicates ecological opportunities in recurrent-fire landscapes for wall lizards. Sci Rep 2019; 9:5383. [PMID: 30926838 PMCID: PMC6441018 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-41729-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Socioeconomic and climatic factors are modifying fire regimes with an increase of fire frequency and extension. Unfortunately, the effects of recurrent fires on biological processes that ultimately affect the genetic diversity of animal populations are mostly unknown. We examined genetic patterns of diversity in the wall lizard Podarcis guadarramae in northern Portugal, one of the European regions with the highest percentage of burnt land. This species is a small saxicolous lizard as it inhabits natural outcrops and artificial stone walls, likely in recurrent-fire landscapes. We genotyped nine microsatellites from ten populations selected according to a gradient in fire recurrence, and compared genetic diversity indexes and demographic patterns among them. At the population level, we hypothesize that a high level of mortality and population bottlenecks are expected to reduce genetic heterozygosity in sampled localities affected by recurrent fires. Alternatively, genetic signatures are expected to be absent whether fire did not cause high mortality. Regardless of levels of mortality, we expect a gain in genetic diversity whether recurrent fires facilitate lizard dispersal and migration due to the increased quality of the habitat for wall lizards. At the regional level, we examine whether a recurrent fire regime may disrupt the spatial structure of populations. Our results showed an increase in genetic diversity in recurrently burnt populations, and a decline in longer-unburnt populations. We did not detect bottleneck effects in repeatedly-burnt populations. High genetic diversity in recurrent fire populations suggests a high dispersion rate between adjacent metapopulations and perhaps immigration from outside the fire boundary. At the regional level, lizard populations show low differentiation and weak genetic structure, suggesting no effects of fire. This study confirms field-based censuses showing that recurrent-fire regimes give ecological opportunities to wall lizards that benefit from habitat openness.
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Simms A, Scott M, Watson S, Leonard S. Attenuated post-fire fauna succession: the effects of surrounding landscape context on post-fire colonisation of fauna. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/wr18131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context
After fire, immigration from outside burnt areas is important for the recovery of faunal communities. However, for recovery to occur, the matrix around the fire must support source populations of immigrants. Therefore, the landscape context of fires may be a critical determinant of the species pool available for (re)colonisation, hence post-fire community composition. Increasingly, fires occur in fragmented systems, and there is limited knowledge of how the surrounding landscape interacts with post-fire community recovery.
Aim
The present study aimed to examine how landscape context influences faunal communities after large wildfires.
Methods
Three reserves burnt by wildfire were examined ~18 months before the study in the Mallee region of south-eastern Australia. In all cases the burnt area consisted of natural mallee woodland. Two fires occurred within a matrix of extensive natural vegetation, while the third fire burnt >80% of a reserve situated within a highly fragmented, largely agricultural landscape. Birds, reptiles and mammals were surveyed at 90 sites inside and outside the fire boundaries, and relationships of species occurrence to reserve location, burnt versus unburnt status and distance from fire edge were all examined.
Key results
Post-fire faunal communities reflected the species in the surrounding unburnt landscape. Notably, open habitat specialists, invasive species and species that can persist in small habitat patches were prominent within the fragmented system. Post-fire fauna communities were also influenced by variation of the natural vegetation surrounding the fire. The occurrence of species with low dispersal ability (i.e. reptiles) was influenced by local (patch scale) vegetation structure.
2Conclusions
The landscape context of fires is a major driver of the composition of post-fire faunal communities. Our results highlight the potential loss of species sensitive to fragmentation from fire-prone natural vegetation within modified landscapes, and that a reduced pool of potential immigrants leads to ‘attenuated succession’, compromising recovery of the pre-fire community.
Implications
Post-fire colonists reflect the surrounding landscapes species pool, such that reserves surrounded by fragmented or otherwise low quality habitat are at risk of attenuated succession after fire. Landscape context should be incorporated into conservation planning in fire-prone ecosystems, including consideration of surrounding habitat quality and connectivity and protecting long unburnt vegetation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juli G. Pausas
- CIDE-CSIC; Ctra. Naquera Km. 4.5 ES-46113 Montcada, Valencia Spain
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Camargo ACL, Barrio ROL, de Camargo NF, Mendonça AF, Ribeiro JF, Rodrigues CMF, Vieira EM. Fire affects the occurrence of small mammals at distinct spatial scales in a neotropical savanna. EUR J WILDLIFE RES 2018. [DOI: 10.1007/s10344-018-1224-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Meddens AJH, Kolden CA, Lutz JA, Smith AMS, Cansler CA, Abatzoglou JT, Meigs GW, Downing WM, Krawchuk MA. Fire Refugia: What Are They, and Why Do They Matter for Global Change? Bioscience 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biy103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Crystal A Kolden
- College of Natural Resources at the University of Idaho, in Moscow
| | - James A Lutz
- Utah State University's Wildland Resources Department, in Logan, Utah
| | | | - C Alina Cansler
- The Fire, Fuel, and Smoke Science Program, part of the USDA Forest Service, in Missoula, Montana
| | | | - Garrett W Meigs
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, in Corvallis
| | - William M Downing
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, in Corvallis
| | - Meg A Krawchuk
- Department of Forest Ecosystems and Society in the College of Forestry at Oregon State University, in Corvallis
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Fire benefits flower beetles in a Mediterranean ecosystem. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0198951. [PMID: 29949613 PMCID: PMC6021045 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0198951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Despite the abundance of plants that benefit from fire in Mediterranean ecosystems, little is known about the possible presence of fire-favoured insects (other than bark beetles). For two years we sampled invertebrates after two large wildfires in eastern Spain and demonstrate that two flower beetle species, Protaetia morio and P. oblonga (Cetoniidae), show a pyrophilous behaviour. These beetles were much more numerous after the fires than in unburnt plots around the fire perimeter; in addition, these species tended to increase in number with the distance from the fire perimeter and with fire recurrence, especially P. morio. These results were maintained for the two postfire years sampled. The results for the beetles do not support the hypothesis of postfire colonization, but that local populations survived the fire as eggs or larvae protected in the soil (endogenous persistence). We propose that the increase in population size (compared with unburnt zones) could be driven by the reduction of their predator populations, as vertebrates that feed on these beetles were disfavoured by fire. That is, the results suggest that these flower beetle species benefit from fire because fire disrupts antagonistic interactions with their predators (predation release hypothesis). Given the omnipresence of small mammals, soil insects, and fires, the processes described here are likely to be general but unexplored.
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Parkins K, York A, Di Stefano J. Edge effects in fire-prone landscapes: Ecological importance and implications for fauna. Ecol Evol 2018; 8:5937-5948. [PMID: 29938104 PMCID: PMC6010856 DOI: 10.1002/ece3.4076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2017] [Revised: 02/26/2018] [Accepted: 03/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Edges are ecologically important environmental features and have been well researched in agricultural and urban landscapes. However, little work has been conducted in flammable ecosystems where spatially and temporally dynamic fire edges are expected to influence important processes such as recolonization of burnt areas and landscape connectivity. We review the literature on fire, fauna, and edge effects to summarize current knowledge of faunal responses to fire edges and identify knowledge gaps. We then develop a conceptual model to predict faunal responses to fire edges and present an agenda for future research. Faunal abundance at fire edges changes over time, but patterns depend on species traits and resource availability. Responses are also influenced by edge architecture (e.g., size and shape), site and landscape context, and spatial scale. However, data are limited and the influence of fire edges on both local abundance and regional distributions of fauna is largely unknown. In our conceptual model, biophysical properties interact with the fire regime (e.g., patchiness, frequency) to influence edge architecture. Edge architecture and species traits influence edge permeability, which is linked to important processes such as movement, resource selection, and species interactions. Predicting the effect of fire edges on fauna is challenging, but important for biodiversity conservation in flammable landscapes. Our conceptual model combines several drivers of faunal fire responses (biophysical properties, regime attributes, species traits) and will therefore lead to improved predictions. Future research is needed to understand fire as an agent of edge creation; the spatio-temporal flux of fire edges across landscapes; and the effect of fire edges on faunal movement, resource selection, and biotic interactions. To aid the incorporation of new data into our predictive framework, our model has been designed as a Bayesian Network, a statistical tool capable of analyzing complex environmental relationships, dealing with data gaps, and generating testable hypotheses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kate Parkins
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
| | - Alan York
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
| | - Julian Di Stefano
- School of Ecosystem and Forest SciencesUniversity of MelbourneCreswickVic.Australia
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Composition and Structure of Forest Fire Refugia: What Are the Ecosystem Legacies across Burned Landscapes? FORESTS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/f9050243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Moore D, Kearney MR, Paltridge R, McAlpin S, Stow A. Feeling the pressure at home: Predator activity at the burrow entrance of an endangered arid-zone skink. AUSTRAL ECOL 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12547] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Danae Moore
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; North Ryde 2109 New South Wales Australia
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Newhaven Wildlife Sanctuary; Alice Springs Northern Territory Australia
| | - Michael Ray Kearney
- School of BioSciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Rachel Paltridge
- Desert Wildlife Services; Alice Springs Northern Territory Australia
| | - Steve McAlpin
- School of Environmental and Rural Sciences; University of New England; Armidale New South Wales Australia
| | - Adam Stow
- Department of Biological Sciences; Macquarie University; North Ryde 2109 New South Wales Australia
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