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Brassard F, Murphy BP, Andersen AN. The impacts of fire vary among vertical strata: Responses of ant communities to long-term experimental burning. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2024:e3025. [PMID: 39166511 DOI: 10.1002/eap.3025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2023] [Revised: 02/02/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/23/2024]
Abstract
Fire is a powerful tool for conservation management at a landscape scale, but a rigorous evidence base is often lacking for understanding its impacts on biodiversity in different biomes. Fire-induced changes to habitat openness have been identified as an underlying driver of responses of faunal communities, including for ants. However, most studies of the impacts of fire on ant communities consider only epigeic (foraging on the soil surface) species, which may not reflect the responses of species inhabiting other vertical strata. Here, we examine how the responses of ant communities vary among vertical strata in a highly fire-prone biome. We use a long-term field experiment to quantify the effects of fire on the abundance, richness, and composition of ant assemblages of four vertical strata (subterranean, leaf litter, epigeic, and arboreal) in an Australian tropical savanna. We first document the extent to which each stratum harbors distinct assemblages. We then assess how the assemblage of each stratum responds to three fire-related predictors: fire frequency, fire activity, and vegetation cover. Each stratum harbored a distinct ant assemblage and showed different responses to fire. Leaf litter and epigeic ants were most sensitive to fire because it directly affects their microhabitats, but they showed contrasting negative and positive responses, respectively. Subterranean ants were the least sensitive because of the insulating effects of soil. Our results show that co-occurring species of the same taxonomic group differ in the strength and direction of their response to fire depending on the stratum they inhabit. As such, effective fire management for biodiversity conservation should consider species in all vertical strata.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Brett P Murphy
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northwest Territory, Australia
| | - Alan N Andersen
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northwest Territory, Australia
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2
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Magioli M, Lima LHA, Villela PMS, Sampaio R, Bonjorne L, Ribeiro RLA, Kantek DLZ, Miyazaki SS, Semedo TBF, Libardi GS, Saranholi BH, Eriksson CE, Morato RG, Berlinck CN. Forest type modulates mammalian responses to megafires. Sci Rep 2024; 14:13538. [PMID: 38866909 PMCID: PMC11169498 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-64460-3] [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: 01/15/2024] [Accepted: 06/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Although considered an evolutionary force responsible for shaping ecosystems and biodiversity, fires' natural cycle is being altered by human activities, increasing the odds of destructive megafire events. Here, we show that forest type modulates the responses of terrestrial mammals, from species to assemblage level, to a catastrophic megafire in the Brazilian Pantanal. We unraveled that mammalian richness was higher 1 year after fire passage compared to a pre-fire condition, which can be attributed to habitat modification caused by wildfires, attracting herbivores and open-area tolerant species. We observed changes in assemblage composition between burned/unburned sites, but no difference in mammalian richness or relative abundance. However, by partitioning the effects of burned area proportion per forest type (monospecific vs. polyspecific), we detected differential responses of mammals at several levels of organization, with pronounced declines in species richness and relative abundance in monospecific forests. Eighty-six percent of the species presented moderate to strong negative effects on their relative abundance, with an overall strong negative effect for the entire assemblage. Wildfires are predicted to be more frequent with climate and land use change, and if events analogous to Pantanal-2020 become recurrent, they might trigger regional beta diversity change, benefitting open-area tolerant species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Magioli
- Instituto Pró-Carnívoros, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação (LAEC), Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil.
| | - Luanne Helena Augusto Lima
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Ricardo Sampaio
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
- Laboratório de Ecologia e Conservação (LAEC), Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Filosofia, Ciências e Letras de Ribeirão Preto (FFCLRP), Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil
| | - Lilian Bonjorne
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Renan Lieto Alves Ribeiro
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Daniel Luis Zanella Kantek
- Estação Ecológica de Taiamã, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Selma Samiko Miyazaki
- Estação Ecológica de Taiamã, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Cáceres, Mato Grosso, Brazil
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Aquáticos, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Thiago B F Semedo
- InBIO Laboratório Associado, CIBIO, Centro de Investigação em Biodiversidade e Recursos Genéticos, Universidade do Porto, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- BIOPOLIS Program in Genomics, Biodiversity and Land Planning, CIBIO, Campus de Vairão, 4485-661, Vairão, Portugal
- Departamento de Biologia, Faculdade de Ciências, Universidade do Porto, 4099-002, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gustavo S Libardi
- Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Bruno H Saranholi
- Departamento de Genética e Evolução, Universidade Federal de São Carlos, São Carlos, Brazil
| | - Charlotte E Eriksson
- Department of Fisheries and Wildlife, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, 97331, USA
| | - Ronaldo Gonçalves Morato
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
- Departamento de Conservação e Uso Sustentável da Biodiversidade, Secretaria Nacional de Biodiversidade, Floresta e Direito dos Animais, Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança Clima, Brasília, Brazil
| | - Christian Niel Berlinck
- Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade, Atibaia, São Paulo, Brazil
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3
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Hohnen R, James AI, Jennings P, Murphy BP, Berris K, Legge SM, Dickman CR, Woinarski JCZ. Abundance and detection of feral cats decreases after severe fire on Kangaroo Island, Australia. AUSTRAL ECOL 2023. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.13294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Hohnen
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Northwest Territories Casurina Australia
- NRM South Tasmania South Hobart Australia
| | - Alex I. James
- Kangaroo Island Landscape Board South Australia Kingscote Australia
| | - Paul Jennings
- Kangaroo Island Landscape Board South Australia Kingscote Australia
| | - Brett P. Murphy
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Northwest Territories Casurina Australia
| | - Karleah Berris
- Kangaroo Island Landscape Board South Australia Kingscote Australia
| | - Sarah M. Legge
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Northwest Territories Casurina Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub University of Queensland Queensland St. Lucia Australia
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Fenner School of Society and Environment The Australian National University Australian Capital Territory Canberra Australia
| | - Chris R. Dickman
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Desert Ecology Research Group, School of Life and Environmental Sciences The University of Sydney New South Wales Camperdown Australia
| | - John C. Z. Woinarski
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Northwest Territories Casurina Australia
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4
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Effects of severe fires on the survival and body condition of Gracilinanus agilis in a Cerrado remnant. Mamm Biol 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/s42991-022-00340-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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Caumo S, Lázaro WL, Sobreira Oliveira E, Beringui K, Gioda A, Massone CG, Carreira R, de Freitas DS, Ignacio ARA, Hacon S. Human risk assessment of ash soil after 2020 wildfires in Pantanal biome (Brazil). AIR QUALITY, ATMOSPHERE & HEALTH 2022; 15:2239-2254. [PMID: 36187166 PMCID: PMC9516519 DOI: 10.1007/s11869-022-01248-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 09/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Wildfires have increased in the last years and, when caused by intentional illegal burnings, are frequently run out of control. Wildfire has been pointed out as an important source of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace elements (TEs) — such as, As, Ni, and Pb — to environmental compartments, and thus may pose a risk to human health and to the ecosystem. In 2020, the Brazilian biome, Pantanal, faced the largest losses by wildfires in the last 22 years. Ashes from the topsoil layer in Pantanal were collected after these wildfires at 20 sites divided into the sediment, forest, PF, PS, and degraded sites. Toxicity and associated risks for human health were also evaluated. The areas highly impacted by wildfires and by artisanal gold mining activities showed higher concentrations for TEs and PAHs than the protected areas. Pb varied from 8 ± 4 to 224 ± 81 mg kg−1, and total PAH concentration ranged between 880 ± 314 and 1350 ± 70 ng g−1, at sites impacted by anthropogenic activities. Moreover, health risk assessments for TE and PAH indicated a potentially great risk for children and adults, via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal pathway. The carcinogenic risks exceeded reference values, for both TE and PAH, suggesting harmful conditions, especially for vulnerable groups, such as children and the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia Caumo
- National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
- Brazilian Research Network on Global Climate Change – Rede Clima, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Wilkinson L. Lázaro
- Research Centre, Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MT Brazil
| | - Ernandes Sobreira Oliveira
- Research Centre, Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MT Brazil
| | - Karmel Beringui
- Department of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Adriana Gioda
- Department of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Carlos German Massone
- Department of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Renato Carreira
- Department of Chemistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio), Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
| | - Djair Sergio de Freitas
- Research Centre, Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MT Brazil
| | - Aurea R. A. Ignacio
- Research Centre, Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MT Brazil
| | - Sandra Hacon
- National School of Public Health, Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Rio de Janeiro, RJ Brazil
- Brazilian Research Network on Global Climate Change – Rede Clima, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Research Centre, Limnology, Biodiversity and Ethnobiology of the Pantanal, University of the State of Mato Grosso, Cáceres, MT Brazil
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Tomas WM, Berlinck CN, Chiaravalloti RM, Faggioni GP, Strüssmann C, Libonati R, Abrahão CR, do Valle Alvarenga G, de Faria Bacellar AE, de Queiroz Batista FR, Bornato TS, Camilo AR, Castedo J, Fernando AME, de Freitas GO, Garcia CM, Gonçalves HS, de Freitas Guilherme MB, Layme VMG, Lustosa APG, De Oliveira AC, da Rosa Oliveira M, de Matos Martins Pereira A, Rodrigues JA, Semedo TBF, de Souza RAD, Tortato FR, Viana DFP, Vicente-Silva L, Morato R. Distance sampling surveys reveal 17 million vertebrates directly killed by the 2020's wildfires in the Pantanal, Brazil. Sci Rep 2021; 11:23547. [PMID: 34916541 PMCID: PMC8677733 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-02844-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Anthropogenic factors have significantly influenced the frequency, duration, and intensity of meteorological drought in many regions of the globe, and the increased frequency of wildfires is among the most visible consequences of human-induced climate change. Despite the fire role in determining biodiversity outcomes in different ecosystems, wildfires can cause negative impacts on wildlife. We conducted ground surveys along line transects to estimate the first-order impact of the 2020 wildfires on vertebrates in the Pantanal wetland, Brazil. We adopted the distance sampling technique to estimate the densities and the number of dead vertebrates in the 39,030 square kilometers affected by fire. Our estimates indicate that at least 16.952 million vertebrates were killed immediately by the fires in the Pantanal, demonstrating the impact of such an event in wet savanna ecosystems. The Pantanal case also reminds us that the cumulative impact of widespread burning would be catastrophic, as fire recurrence may lead to the impoverishment of ecosystems and the disruption of their functioning. To overcome this unsustainable scenario, it is necessary to establish proper biomass fuel management to avoid cumulative impacts caused by fire over biodiversity and ecosystem services.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Christian Niel Berlinck
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMbio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, 12.952-011, Atibaia, SP Brazil
| | | | | | - Christine Strüssmann
- grid.411206.00000 0001 2322 4953Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900 Brazil
| | - Renata Libonati
- grid.8536.80000 0001 2294 473XInstituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-916 Brazil
| | - Carlos Roberto Abrahão
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis E Anfíbios, Goiânia, GO 74605-090 Brazil
| | - Gabriela do Valle Alvarenga
- grid.411206.00000 0001 2322 4953Instituto de Biociências, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900 Brazil
| | - Ana Elisa de Faria Bacellar
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Centro Nacional de Avaliação da Biodiversidade e de Pesquisa e Conservação Do Cerrado, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação e Biodiversidade - ICMBio, Brasília, DF 70635-800 Brazil
| | - Flávia Regina de Queiroz Batista
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis E Anfíbios, Goiânia, GO 74605-090 Brazil
| | - Thainan Silva Bornato
- Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis - IBAMA, Corumbá, MS 79331-150 Brazil
| | - André Restel Camilo
- grid.419531.bSmithsonian Conservation Biology Institute, Front Royal, VA 22630 USA
| | - Judite Castedo
- grid.412352.30000 0001 2163 5978Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul - UFMS, Campus Pantanal, Corumbá, MS 79304-902 Brazil
| | - Adriana Maria Espinóza Fernando
- grid.412352.30000 0001 2163 5978Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul - UFMS, campus Campo Grande, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900 Brazil
| | | | | | - Henrique Santos Gonçalves
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMbio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, 12.952-011, Atibaia, SP Brazil
| | - Mariella Butti de Freitas Guilherme
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMbio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, 12.952-011, Atibaia, SP Brazil
| | - Viviane Maria Guedes Layme
- grid.411206.00000 0001 2322 4953Laboratório de Ecologia de Mamíferos, Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso - UFMT, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900 Brazil
| | - Ana Paula Gomes Lustosa
- Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMBio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Répteis E Anfíbios, Goiânia, GO 74605-090 Brazil
| | - Ailton Carneiro De Oliveira
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Centro de Pesquisa e Conservação de Aves Silvestres, Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação e Biodiversidade - ICMBio, Brasília, DF 70635.800 Brazil
| | - Maxwell da Rosa Oliveira
- grid.420953.90000 0001 0144 2976Embrapa Pantanal, Laboratório de Vida Selvagem, Corumbá, MS 79320-900 Brazil
| | - Alexandre de Matos Martins Pereira
- Instituto Brasileiro de Meio Ambiente e Recursos Naturais Renováveis - IBAMA, Centro Nacional de Prevenção e Combate Aos Incêndios Florestais, Campo Grande, MS 79020-230 Brazil
| | - Julia Abrantes Rodrigues
- grid.8536.80000 0001 2294 473XInstituto de Geociências, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro - UFRJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21941-916 Brazil
| | - Thiago Borges Fernandes Semedo
- grid.452671.30000 0001 2175 1274Instituto Nacional de Pesquisa do Pantanal - INPP, Museu Paraense Emílio Goeldi, Cuiabá, MT 78060-900 Brazil
| | | | - Fernando Rodrigo Tortato
- grid.452670.20000 0004 6431 5036Panthera, 8 West 40th Street, 18th Floor, New York, NY 10018 USA
| | | | - Luciana Vicente-Silva
- grid.412352.30000 0001 2163 5978Universidade Federal de Mato Grosso Do Sul - UFMS, campus Campo Grande, Campo Grande, MS 79070-900 Brazil
| | - Ronaldo Morato
- grid.456561.50000 0000 9218 0782Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação E Biodiversidade - ICMbio, Centro Nacional de Pesquisa e Conservação de Mamíferos Carnívoros, 12.952-011, Atibaia, SP Brazil
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Edwards A, Archer R, De Bruyn P, Evans J, Lewis B, Vigilante T, Whyte S, Russell-Smith J. Transforming fire management in northern Australia through successful implementation of savanna burning emissions reductions projects. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 290:112568. [PMID: 33887642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2021] [Revised: 04/05/2021] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Savannas are the most fire-prone of Earth's biomes and currently account for most global burned area and associated carbon emissions. In Australia, over recent decades substantial development of savanna burning emissions accounting methods has been undertaken to incentivise more conservative savanna fire management and reduce the extent and severity of late dry season wildfires. Since inception of Australia's formal regulated savanna burning market in 2012, today 25% of the 1.2M km2 fire-prone northern savanna region is managed under such arrangements. Although savanna burning projects generate significant emissions reductions and associated financial benefits especially for Indigenous landowners, various biodiversity conservation considerations, including fine-scale management requirements for conservation of fire-vulnerable taxa, remain contentious. For the entire savanna burning region, here we compare outcomes achieved at 'with-project' vs 'non-project' sites over the period 2000-19, with respect to explicit ecologically defined fire regime metrics, and assembled fire history and spatial mapping coverages. We find that there has been little significant fire regime change at non-project sites, whereas, at with-project sites under all land uses, from 2013 there has been significant reduction in late season wildfire, increase in prescribed early season mitigation burning and patchiness metrics, and seasonally variable changes in extent of unburnt (>2, >5 years) habitat. Despite these achievements, it is acknowledged that savanna burning projects do not provide a fire management panacea for a variety of key regional conservation, production, and cultural management issues. Rather, savanna burning projects can provide an effective operational funded framework to assist with delivering various landscape-scale management objectives. With these caveats in mind, significant potential exists for implementing incentivised fire management approaches in other fire-prone international savanna settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia
| | - Ricky Archer
- North Australian Land and Sea Management Alliance, PO Box 486 CDU NT 0815, Australia
| | - Phillip De Bruyn
- Western Australia Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, PO Box 65 Broome, WA, 6725, Australia
| | - Jay Evans
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia
| | - Ben Lewis
- Fire Stick & Associates, PO Box 18 Pine Creek NT 0847, Australia
| | - Tom Vigilante
- Wunambal Gaambera Aboriginal Corporation, PMB 16 Kalumburu, WA, 6740, Australia
| | - Sandy Whyte
- APN (Aaak Puul Ngantam) Cape York, Level 1 18-20 Donaldson street, Cairns Qld, 4870, Australia
| | - Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin NT, 0909, Australia; Bushfire & Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre, East Melbourne Vic, 3002, Australia; North Australian Land and Sea Management Alliance, PO Box 486 CDU NT 0815, Australia
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8
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Russell-Smith J, Yates C, Vernooij R, Eames T, van der Werf G, Ribeiro N, Edwards A, Beatty R, Lekoko O, Mafoko J, Monagle C, Johnston S. Opportunities and challenges for savanna burning emissions abatement in southern Africa. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 288:112414. [PMID: 33831642 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/27/2021] [Accepted: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Savanna fires occurring in sub-Saharan Africa account for over 60% of global fire extent, of which more than half occurs in the Southern Hemisphere contributing ~29% of global fire emissions. Building on experience in reducing savanna fire emissions in fire-prone north Australian savannas through implementation of an internationally accredited 'savanna burning' emissions abatement methodology, we explore opportunities and challenges associated with the application of a similar approach to incentivise emissions reduction in fire-prone southern African savannas. We first show that for a focal region covering seven contiguous countries, at least 80% of annual savanna large fire (>250 ha) extent and emissions occur under relatively severe late dry season (LDS) fire-weather conditions, predominantly in sparsely inhabited areas. We then assess the feasibility of adapting the Australian emissions abatement methodology through exploratory field studies at the Tsodilo Hills World Heritage site in north-west Botswana, and the Niassa Special Reserve in northern Mozambique. Our assessment demonstrates that application of a savanna burning emissions abatement method focused on the undertaking of strategically located early dry season (EDS) burning to reduce LDS wildfire extent and resultant emissions meets key technical criteria, including: LDS fine fuels tend to be markedly greater than EDS fuels given seasonal leaf litter inputs; LDS fires tend to be significantly more severe and combust more fuels; methane and nitrous oxide emission factors are essentially equivalent in EDS and LDS periods under cured fuel conditions. In discussion we consider associated key implementation challenges and caveats that need to be addressed for progressing development of savanna burning methods that incentivise sustainable fire management, reduce emissions, and support community livelihoods in wildfire-dominated southern African savannas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia.
| | - Cameron Yates
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Roland Vernooij
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Tom Eames
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Guido van der Werf
- Department of Earth Sciences, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Natasha Ribeiro
- Faculty of Agronomy and Forest Engineering, Eduardo Mondlane University, P.O. Box 257, Maputo, Mozambique
| | - Andrew Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Robin Beatty
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia; 321 Fire, Praia Do Tofo, Inhambane, 1300, Mozambique
| | - Othusitse Lekoko
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, 0909, Northern Territory, Australia; International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia; Department of Environmental Science, University of Botswana, Private Bag UB, 0022, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Jomo Mafoko
- Department of Forestry and Range Resources, Private Bag BO 199, Gaborone, Botswana
| | - Catherine Monagle
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sam Johnston
- International Savanna Fire Management Initiative (ISFMI), Level 4, 346 Kent Street, Sydney, 2000, New South Wales, Australia
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9
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Andersen AN. Faunal responses to fire in Australian tropical savannas: Insights from field experiments and their lessons for conservation management. DIVERS DISTRIB 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/ddi.13198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alan N. Andersen
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Darwin NT Australia
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10
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Rainsford FW, Kelly LT, Leonard SW, Bennett AF. Post-fire development of faunal habitat depends on plant regeneration traits. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Frederick W. Rainsford
- Department of Ecology Environment and Evolution; La Trobe University; Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes; La Trobe University; Bundoora Victoria Australia
| | - Luke T. Kelly
- School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences; University of Melbourne; Parkville Victoria Australia
| | - Steve W.J. Leonard
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment; Hobart Tasmania Australia
| | - Andrew F. Bennett
- Department of Ecology Environment and Evolution; La Trobe University; Bundoora Victoria 3086 Australia
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes; La Trobe University; Bundoora Victoria Australia
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11
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Carvalho RL, Weir T, Vasconcelos HL, Andersen AN. Dung beetles of an Australian tropical savanna: Species composition, food preferences and responses to experimental fire regimes. AUSTRAL ECOL 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Raquel L. Carvalho
- Instituto de Biologia; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Uberlândia MG 38405-302 Brazil
| | - Tom Weir
- Australian National Insect Collection; CSIRO National Collections and Marine Infrastructure; Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - Heraldo L. Vasconcelos
- Instituto de Biologia; Universidade Federal de Uberlândia; Uberlândia MG 38405-302 Brazil
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12
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James Verdon S, Watson SJ, Clarke MF. Modeling variability in the fire response of an endangered bird to improve fire-management. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2019; 29:e01980. [PMID: 31330069 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 06/07/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Conservation managers regularly burn vegetation to regenerate habitat for fire-dependent species. When determining the time since fire at which to burn, managers model change in a species' occurrence over time, post-fire (fire-response curve) and identify the time since fire associated with decline in occurrence. However, where species exhibit variability in their fire response across space, using a single fire-response curve to determine the timing of burns may lead to burning habitat at an inappropriate time since fire. We tested if elevation, local topography, soil properties, vegetation type or evapotranspiration affect the fire response of the endangered Mallee Emu-wren Stipiturus mallee and its hummock-grass habitat Triodia scariosa in southeastern Australia (n = 217). Previous work on the Mallee Emu-wren found a unimodal fire response with decline in occurrence at ~30-50 yr since fire and a time window of occurrence of ~30 yr. We found that time since fire and elevation interact to affect the Mallee Emu-wren fire response. At high elevations (55-98 m), Mallee Emu-wrens declined in occurrence at ~50 yr since fire, with a time window of occurrence of 20-40 yr. However, at low elevations (28-55 m), Mallee Emu-wrens showed no decline in occurrence with increasing time since fire with a time window of occurrence of up to 107 yr. Extent cover of Tall T. scariosa showed similar patterns to the Mallee Emu-wren, indicating that vegetation structure is a likely driver of variability in the Mallee Emu-wren fire response. We speculate that the effect of low elevation is mediated by increased soil nutrient and water availability for key plants. We used our findings to map the appropriate time since fire at which to burn to regenerate habitat for the Mallee Emu-wren across the study region. We recommend no burning for regeneration across one-third of potential habitat, because the Mallee Emu-wren showed no decline in occurrence in these areas. We recommend managers model variability in species' fire responses across space to improve the timing of burns for regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon James Verdon
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Simon J Watson
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
| | - Michael F Clarke
- Research Centre for Future Landscapes, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
- Department of Ecology, Environment and Evolution, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Victoria, 3086, Australia
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13
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Loggins AA, Shrader AM, Monadjem A, McCleery RA. Shrub cover homogenizes small mammals' activity and perceived predation risk. Sci Rep 2019; 9:16857. [PMID: 31727923 PMCID: PMC6856081 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-53071-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Altered disturbance regimes, increasing atmospheric CO2, and other processes have increased woody cover and homogenized vegetation in savannas across the planet. African savannas with extensive versus minimal woody cover often have vastly different animal communities. However, we lack a clear mechanistic understanding of why animal communities are changing with vegetation structure. Our goal for this study was to understand how vegetation structure in an African savanna shaped the perceived predation risk of small mammals, hence affecting their activity. Using a reciprocal measure of standard giving-up-densities, amount of food eaten, we found sharp declines in rodents' perceived predation risk and increased rodent activity underneath shrub cover. This response was consistent across species; however, species showed subtle differences in their responses to grassy vegetation. Our findings suggest that areas of minimal or extensive shrub cover (shrub encroachment) may be homogenizing rodents' perceptions of predation risk and thus shaping their use of space.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A Loggins
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.,Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA
| | - Adrian M Shrader
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa
| | - Ara Monadjem
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa.,Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Private Bag 4, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
| | - Robert A McCleery
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Private Bag 20, Hatfield, 0028, Pretoria, South Africa. .,Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
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14
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Corey B, Andersen AN, Legge S, Woinarski JCZ, Radford IJ, Perry JJ. Better biodiversity accounting is needed to prevent bioperversity and maximize co‐benefits from savanna burning. Conserv Lett 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ben Corey
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Kununurra Western Australia Australia
| | - Alan N. Andersen
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin University Darwin Northern Territory Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- School of Conservation and Biodiversity ScienceUniversity of Queensland St. Lucia Queensland Australia
- Fenner School of Environment and SocietyThe Australian National University Canberra Australian Capital Territory Australia
| | - John C. Z. Woinarski
- Research Institute for the Environment and LivelihoodsCharles Darwin University Darwin Northern Territory Australia
| | - Ian J. Radford
- Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions Kununurra Western Australia Australia
| | - Justin J. Perry
- Department of Land and WaterCSIRO Townsville Queensland Australia
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15
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Loggins AA, Monadjem A, Kruger LM, Reichert BE, McCleery RA. Vegetation structure shapes small mammal communities in African savannas. J Mammal 2019. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyz100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Disturbance by large herbivores, fires, and humans shapes the structure of savannas, altering the amount of woody vegetation and grass. Due to change in the intensity and frequency of these disturbances, savannas are shifting toward grass-dominated or shrub-dominated systems, likely altering animal communities. Small mammals are critical components of savannas, and their distributions likely are affected by these ecosystem-wide changes in vegetative cover. We assessed the responses of small mammals to a gradient of woody cover in low-lying savannas of southeastern Africa. In Kruger National Park (South Africa) and in three nearby reserves (Eswatini), we livetrapped for over 2 years to build multispecies occupancy models that assessed the responses of the small mammal community to grass and woody cover. Overall, whole-community occupancy increased with grass biomass. More species responded positively to woody cover than to grass biomass, but woody cover was associated with reduced occurrence of one species (Mastomys natalensis). Our results suggest that an increase in grass biomass enhances whole-community occupancy of small mammals, but regional diversity is likely to be higher in areas that contain patches of high grass biomass as well as patches of woody cover.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne A Loggins
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ara Monadjem
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Eswatini, Kwaluseni, Eswatini
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
| | | | - Brian E Reichert
- US Geological Survey, Fort Collins Science Center, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Robert A McCleery
- School of Natural Resources and the Environment, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
- Mammal Research Institute, Department of Zoology & Entomology, University of Pretoria, Hatfield, Pretoria, South Africa
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16
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Dixon KM, Cary GJ, Renton M, Worboys GL, Gibbons P. More long-unburnt forest will benefit mammals in Australian sub-alpine forests and woodlands. AUSTRAL ECOL 2019. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Kelly M. Dixon
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; The Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2600 Australia
| | - Geoffrey J. Cary
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; The Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2600 Australia
| | - Michael Renton
- Schools of Biological Sciences, Agriculture and Environment; The University of Western Australia; Crawley Western Australia 6009 Australia
| | - Graeme L. Worboys
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; The Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2600 Australia
| | - Philip Gibbons
- Fenner School of Environment and Society; The Australian National University; Canberra Australian Capital Territory 2600 Australia
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17
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Broken-Brow J, Armstrong KN, Leung LKP. The importance of grassland patches and their associated rainforest ecotones to insectivorous bats in a fire-managed tropical landscape. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.1071/wr18012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
ContextEcotones are recognised globally as areas of high biodiversity, yet relatively little is known about how fauna use different types of ecotone. Tropical rainforest–grassland ecotones are shaped through particular fire regimes, creating both gradual and abrupt ecotones. Insectivorous bats contribute considerably to mammalian diversity, and their capacity for flight allows them to use ecotones in a three-dimensional way, making them an informative faunal group for evaluating ecotone use.
AimsTo critically evaluate how insectivorous bats use gradual and abrupt ecotones between rainforest and grassland habitats.
MethodsBat detectors were placed every 50m, along 200-m transects, through five gradual and five abrupt rainforest–grassland ecotones. The activity of all insectivorous bats, as well as open, edge–open and closed foraging guilds (defined by echolocation call type), was compared among grassland and rainforest habitats, gradual and abrupt ecotones and positions across the ecotones.
Key resultsMean total bat activity, mean open and edge–open foraging guild activity were significantly higher in grassland positions, followed by the edge, and were lowest in the rainforest. Closed foraging guild bats showed no preference for either habitats, but had significantly higher activity in gradual compared with abrupt ecotones. Mean activity of edge–open foraging guild bats was affected strongly by the interaction between ecotone type and position along the ecotone. Gradual ecotones had a more even proportion of all three bat foraging guilds along the ecotone compared with abrupt ecotones. Most of these findings were likely driven by the structural complexity of gradual ecotones that fulfilled microhabitat requirements for all three foraging guilds, but may also have been influenced by insect prey abundance.
ConclusionsThe present study demonstrated the importance of grassland patches in a tropical, rainforest landscape, and of gradual rainforest–grassland ecotones for insectivorous bats. Gradual ecotones promote complex habitat mosaics to allow closed foraging guild species to take advantage of food resources provided by grasslands, and provide all bats proximity to potential roosting and foraging sites.
ImplicationsThe data clearly suggest that a suitable fire regime should be used to maintain current grassland patches within a rainforest landscape, and to promote gradual ecotones for use by insectivorous bats.
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18
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Murphy BP, Prior LD, Cochrane MA, Williamson GJ, Bowman DMJS. Biomass consumption by surface fires across Earth's most fire prone continent. GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY 2019; 25:254-268. [PMID: 30270480 DOI: 10.1111/gcb.14460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Accepted: 08/28/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Landscape fire is a key but poorly understood component of the global carbon cycle. Predicting biomass consumption by fire at large spatial scales is essential to understanding carbon dynamics and hence how fire management can reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase ecosystem carbon storage. An Australia-wide field-based survey (at 113 locations) across large-scale macroecological gradients (climate, productivity and fire regimes) enabled estimation of how biomass combustion by surface fire directly affects continental-scale carbon budgets. In terms of biomass consumption, we found clear trade-offs between the frequency and severity of surface fires. In temperate southern Australia, characterised by less frequent and more severe fires, biomass consumed per fire was typically very high. In contrast, surface fires in the tropical savannas of northern Australia were very frequent but less severe, with much lower consumption of biomass per fire (about a quarter of that in the far south). When biomass consumption was expressed on an annual basis, biomass consumed was far greater in the tropical savannas (>20 times that of the far south). This trade-off is also apparent in the ratio of annual carbon consumption to net primary production (NPP). Across Australia's naturally vegetated land area, annual carbon consumption by surface fire is equivalent to about 11% of NPP, with a sharp contrast between temperate southern Australia (6%) and tropical northern Australia (46%). Our results emphasise that fire management to reduce greenhouse gas emissions should focus on fire prone tropical savanna landscapes, where the vast bulk of biomass consumption occurs globally. In these landscapes, grass biomass is a key driver of frequency, intensity and combustion completeness of surface fires, and management actions that increase grass biomass are likely to lead to increases in greenhouse gas emissions from savanna fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brett P Murphy
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Lynda D Prior
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Mark A Cochrane
- Appalachian Laboratory, University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science, Frostburg, Maryland
| | - Grant J Williamson
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - David M J S Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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19
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Aslan CE, Samberg L, Dickson BG, Gray ME. Management thresholds stemming from altered fire dynamics in present-day arid and semi-arid environments. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2018; 227:87-94. [PMID: 30172162 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2018.08.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Changes in fire frequency, size, and severity are driving ecological transformations in many systems. In arid and semi-arid regions that are adapted to fire, long-term fire exclusion by managers leads to declines in fire frequency, altered fire size distribution, and increased proportion of high severity fires. In arid and semi-arid systems where fire was historically rare, factors such as invasion by highly combustible non-native plants elevate fire frequency and size, elevating mortality of native species. Altered temperature and precipitation regimes may exacerbate these changes by increasing biomass and flammability. Current transformation in fire dynamics carry social as well as ecological consequences. Human cultures, livelihoods, values, and management behaviors are attuned to fire dynamics. Changes can make it costly or impossible to maintain traditional landscape use and economic activities. We review the ecological and social science literature to examine drivers of altered fire dynamics in arid and semi-arid systems worldwide and the conditions representing fire dynamics thresholds-points at which altered conditions may make it difficult or impossible to achieve management objectives, even via traditional adaptive management focusing on alternative management activities to achieve objectives. Such thresholds could force a wholesale shift in management objectives and practices and a new approach to adaptive management that redefines objectives when no viable adaptive action can be undertaken.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Aslan
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, PO Box 5694, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 USA; Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
| | - Leah Samberg
- Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA; Institute on the Environment, 1954 Buford Ave, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, MN 55108 USA.
| | - Brett G Dickson
- Landscape Conservation Initiative, PO Box 5694, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86005 USA; Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
| | - Miranda E Gray
- Conservation Science Partners, 11050 Pioneer Trail, Suite 202, Truckee, CA 96161 USA.
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20
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Andersen AN. Responses of ant communities to disturbance: Five principles for understanding the disturbance dynamics of a globally dominant faunal group. J Anim Ecol 2018; 88:350-362. [PMID: 30280380 DOI: 10.1111/1365-2656.12907] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2018] [Accepted: 08/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Ecological disturbance is fundamental to the dynamics of biological communities, yet a conceptual framework for understanding the responses of faunal communities to disturbance remains elusive. Here, I propose five principles for understanding the disturbance dynamics of ants-a globally dominant faunal group that is widely used as bioindicators in land management, which appear to have wide applicability to other taxa. These principles are as follows: (1) The most important effects of habitat disturbance on ants are typically indirect, through its effects on habitat structure, microclimate, resource availability and competitive interactions; (2) habitat openness is a key driver of variation in ant communities; (3) ant species responses to disturbance are to a large degree determined by their responses to habitat openness; (4) the same disturbance will have different effects on ants in different habitats, because of different impacts on habitat openness; and (5) ant community responses to the same disturbance will vary according to ant functional composition and biogeographical history in relation to habitat openness. I illustrate these principles using results primarily from studies of ant responses to fire, a dominant agent of disturbance globally, to provide a common disturbance currency for comparative analysis. I argue that many of the principles also apply to other faunal groups and so can be considered as general ecological "laws." As is the case for ants, many impacts of habitat disturbance on other faunal groups are fundamentally related to habitat openness, the effects of disturbance on it and the functional composition of species in relation to it.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alan N Andersen
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, Australia
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21
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Davies HF, McCarthy MA, Rioli W, Puruntatameri J, Roberts W, Kerinaiua C, Kerinauia V, Womatakimi KB, Andersen AN, Murphy BP. An experimental test of whether pyrodiversity promotes mammal diversity in a northern Australian savanna. J Appl Ecol 2018. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.13170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hugh F. Davies
- Quantitative and Applied Ecology Group; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Vic. Australia
| | - Michael A. McCarthy
- Quantitative and Applied Ecology Group; The University of Melbourne; Parkville Vic. Australia
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Alan N. Andersen
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Casuarina NT Australia
| | - Brett P. Murphy
- NESP Threatened Species Recovery Hub; Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Casuarina NT Australia
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22
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Beale CM, Courtney Mustaphi CJ, Morrison TA, Archibald S, Anderson TM, Dobson AP, Donaldson JE, Hempson GP, Probert J, Parr CL, Mayfield M. Pyrodiversity interacts with rainfall to increase bird and mammal richness in African savannas. Ecol Lett 2018; 21:557-567. [PMID: 29441661 PMCID: PMC5888149 DOI: 10.1111/ele.12921] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2017] [Revised: 11/24/2017] [Accepted: 01/08/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Fire is a fundamental process in savannas and is widely used for management. Pyrodiversity, variation in local fire characteristics, has been proposed as a driver of biodiversity although empirical evidence is equivocal. Using a new measure of pyrodiversity (Hempson et al.), we undertook the first continent-wide assessment of how pyrodiversity affects biodiversity in protected areas across African savannas. The influence of pyrodiversity on bird and mammal species richness varied with rainfall: strongest support for a positive effect occurred in wet savannas (> 650 mm/year), where species richness increased by 27% for mammals and 40% for birds in the most pyrodiverse regions. Range-restricted birds were most increased by pyrodiversity, suggesting the diversity of fire regimes increases the availability of rare niches. Our findings are significant because they explain the conflicting results found in previous studies of savannas. We argue that managing savanna landscapes to increase pyrodiversity is especially important in wet savannas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Colin M. Beale
- Department of BiologyUniversity of YorkHeslingtonYorkYO10 5DDUK
| | | | - Thomas A. Morrison
- Institute of Biodiversity, Animal Health and Comparative MedicineUniversity of GlasgowGlasgowG12 8QQUK
| | - Sally Archibald
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandPrivate BagJohannesburgSouth Africa
- Natural Resources and the EnvironmentCSIRPO Box 395Pretoria0001South Africa
| | - T. Michael Anderson
- Department of BiologyWake Forest University049 Winston HallWinston‐SalemNorth Carolina27106USA
| | - Andrew P. Dobson
- Ecology and Evolutionary BiologyPrinceton UniversityEno HallPrincetonNJ08540USA
| | - Jason E. Donaldson
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandPrivate BagJohannesburgSouth Africa
| | - Gareth P. Hempson
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandPrivate BagJohannesburgSouth Africa
- South African Environmental Observation Network (SAEON)Ndlovu NodePrivate Bag x1021PhalaborwaKruger National Park1390South Africa
| | - James Probert
- Department of Earth, Ocean & Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolL69 3GPUK
| | - Catherine L. Parr
- Centre for African EcologySchool of Animal, Plant and Environmental SciencesUniversity of the WitwatersrandPrivate BagJohannesburgSouth Africa
- Department of Earth, Ocean & Ecological SciencesUniversity of LiverpoolLiverpoolL69 3GPUK
- Department of Zoology & EntomologyUniversity of PretoriaPrivate Bag X20Pretoria0028South Africa
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Crowther MS, Tulloch AI, Letnic M, Greenville AC, Dickman CR. Interactions between wildfire and drought drive population responses of mammals in coastal woodlands. J Mammal 2018. [DOI: 10.1093/jmammal/gyy003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Mathew S Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Ayesha I Tulloch
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
- Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science, The University of Queensland, Australia
| | - Mike Letnic
- Centre for Ecosystem Science, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
- School of Biological, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
| | - Aaron C Greenville
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Chris R Dickman
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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Setterfield SA, Andersen AN. Seed supply limits seedling recruitment of Eucalyptus miniata: interactions between seed predation by ants and fire in the Australian seasonal tropics. Oecologia 2018; 186:965-972. [PMID: 29357030 DOI: 10.1007/s00442-018-4061-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Seed predation can cause substantial seed losses and influence plant population dynamics, but the impact depends on the extent to which populations are limited by seed availability or favorable microsites for recruitment. Harvester ants are the dominant post-dispersal seed predators in Australia's tropical savannas, and their abundance and foraging efficiency, as well as the availability of seed and microsites, are affected by fire history. We undertook a predator-exclusion experiment to examine the interactive effects of fire history (no fire compared with annual burning over 5 years) and seed predation by ants on seedling establishment of the dominant savanna tree, Eucalyptus miniata, in northern Australia. Despite its large seed size, the rate of removal (~ 20-60%) was similar or higher than typically reported for eucalypts, although it was lower than that recorded for the smaller seeds of the co-occurring E. tetrodonta. Seed predation rates were twice as high in annually burnt compared to unburnt sites, but there was no significant difference in the proportion of seedlings that emerged from the initial seed available. Seedling emergence in both regimes was low, representing < 7% of seed available after harvesting. About one-third of emergent seedlings were still alive during the middle of the following dry season. Our results indicate that seedling recruitment in E. miniata is limited by both seed supply and microsite availability. However, seed predation by ants reduces the likelihood of seedling establishment from low to virtually zero, which suggests that it plays a potentially important role in the population dynamics of savanna eucalypts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Ann Setterfield
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Western Australia, Crawley, WA, 6009, Australia. .,Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.
| | - Alan Neil Andersen
- Charles Darwin University, Darwin, NT, 0909, Australia.,CSIRO Tropical Ecosystem Research Centre, PMB 44, Winnellie, Darwin, NT, 0822, Australia
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Freeman J, Kobziar L, Rose EW, Cropper W. A critique of the historical-fire-regime concept in conservation. CONSERVATION BIOLOGY : THE JOURNAL OF THE SOCIETY FOR CONSERVATION BIOLOGY 2017; 31:976-985. [PMID: 28370371 DOI: 10.1111/cobi.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2016] [Revised: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Prescribed fire is widely accepted as a conservation tool because fire is essential to the maintenance of native biodiversity in many terrestrial communities. Approaches to this land-management technique vary greatly among continents, and sharing knowledge internationally can inform application of prescribed fire worldwide. In North America, decisions about how and when to apply prescribed fire are typically based on the historical-fire-regime concept (HFRC), which holds that replicating the pattern of fires ignited by lightning or preindustrial humans best promotes native species in fire-prone regions. The HFRC rests on 3 assumptions: it is possible to infer historical fire regimes accurately; fire-suppressed communities are ecologically degraded; and reinstating historical fire regimes is the best course of action despite the global shift toward novel abiotic and biotic conditions. We examined the underpinnings of these assumptions by conducting a literature review on the use of historical fire regimes to inform the application of prescribed fire. We found that the practice of inferring historical fire regimes for entire regions or ecosystems often entails substantial uncertainty and can yield equivocal results; ecological outcomes of fire suppression are complex and may not equate to degradation, depending on the ecosystem and context; and habitat fragmentation, invasive species, and other modern factors can interact with fire to produce novel and in some cases negative ecological outcomes. It is therefore unlikely that all 3 assumptions will be fully upheld for any landscape in which prescribed fire is being applied. Although the HFRC is a valuable starting point, it should not be viewed as the sole basis for developing prescribed fire programs. Rather, fire prescriptions should also account for other specific, measurable ecological parameters on a case-by-case basis. To best achieve conservation goals, researchers should seek to understand contemporary fire-biota interactions across trophic levels, functional groups, spatial and temporal scales, and management contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Johanna Freeman
- Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Fish and Wildlife Research Institute, Lovett E. Williams Jr. Wildlife Research Laboratory, 1105 SW Williston Road, Gainesville, FL, 32601, U.S.A
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 214 Newins-Ziegler Hall, P.O. Box 110410, Gainesville, FL, 32611, U.S.A
| | - Leda Kobziar
- Department of Natural Resources and Society, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive MS 1139, Moscow, ID, 83844-1139, U.S.A
| | - Elizabeth White Rose
- School of Natural Resources and Environment, University of Florida, 110 Newins-Ziegler Hall, P.O. Box 110430, Gainesville, FL, 32611, U.S.A
| | - Wendell Cropper
- School of Forest Resources and Conservation, University of Florida, 214 Newins-Ziegler Hall, P.O. Box 110410, Gainesville, FL, 32611, U.S.A
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Carroll JM, Hovick TJ, Davis CA, Elmore RD, Fuhlendorf SD. Reproductive plasticity and landscape heterogeneity benefit a ground-nesting bird in a fire-prone ecosystem. ECOLOGICAL APPLICATIONS : A PUBLICATION OF THE ECOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF AMERICA 2017; 27:2234-2244. [PMID: 28736847 DOI: 10.1002/eap.1604] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2017] [Revised: 06/05/2017] [Accepted: 06/23/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Disturbance is critical for the conservation of rangeland ecosystems worldwide and many of these systems are fire dependent. Although it is well established that restoring fire as an ecological process can lead to increased biodiversity in grasslands and shrublands, the underlying mechanisms driving community patterns are poorly understood for fauna in fire-prone landscapes. Much of this uncertainty stems from the paucity of studies that examine the effects of fire at scales relevant to organism life histories. We assessed the response of a non-migratory ground-dwelling bird to disturbance (i.e., prescribed fire) and environmental stochasticity over the course of a 4-yr period, which spanned years of historic drought and record rainfall. Specifically, we investigated the nesting ecology of Northern Bobwhite (Colinus virginianus; hereafter Bobwhite) to illuminate possible avenues by which individuals respond to dynamic landscape patterns during a critical reproductive stage (i.e., nesting) in a mixed-grass shrubland in western Oklahoma, USA. We found that Bobwhites exhibited extreme plasticity in nest substrate use among time since fire categories (TSF) and subsequently maintained high nest survival (e.g., 57-70%). Bobwhites were opportunistic in nest substrate use among TSF categories (i.e., 72% of nest sites in shrubs in 0-12 months post fire compared to 71% in herbaceous vegetation in >36 months post fire), yet nesting decisions were first filtered by similar structural components (i.e., vertical and horizontal cover) within the vicinity of nest sites regardless of TSF category. Despite being a non-migratory and comparatively less mobile ground-nesting bird species, Bobwhites adjusted to dynamic vegetation mosaics on a fire-prone landscape under stochastic climatic conditions that culminated in stable and high nest survival. Broadly, our findings provide a unique depiction of organism response strategies to fire at scales relevant to a critical life-stage, a topic that has been previously understudied and poorly understood. We also demonstrate how doing so can better inform conservation practices aimed at restoring fire regimes on grassland and shrubland landscapes.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Matthew Carroll
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, USA
| | - Torre J Hovick
- School of Natural Resource Sciences-Range Program, North Dakota State University, Fargo, North Dakota, 58108, USA
| | - Craig A Davis
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, USA
| | - Robert Dwayne Elmore
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, USA
| | - Samuel D Fuhlendorf
- Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, Oklahoma, 74078, USA
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Russell-Smith J, Evans J, Edwards AC, Simms A. Assessing ecological performance thresholds in fire-prone Kakadu National Park, northern Australia. Ecosphere 2017. [DOI: 10.1002/ecs2.1856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Jay Evans
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Andrew C. Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfire Research; Research Institute for Environment and Livelihoods; Charles Darwin University; Darwin Northern Territory 0909 Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network; Terrestrial Ecosystem Research Network; Australia
| | - Anthony Simms
- Kakadu National Park, Parks Australia; Jabiru Northern Territory 0886 Australia
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Cremona T, Crowther MS, Webb JK. High mortality and small population size prevent population recovery of a reintroduced mesopredator. Anim Conserv 2017. [DOI: 10.1111/acv.12358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- T. Cremona
- School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Broadway NSW Australia
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods Charles Darwin University Darwin NT Australia
| | - M. S. Crowther
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences University of Sydney Sydney NSW Australia
| | - J. K. Webb
- School of Life Sciences University of Technology Sydney Broadway NSW Australia
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Scholtz R, Smit IPJ, Coetsee C, Kiker GA, Venter FJ. Legacy effects of top-down disturbances on woody plant species composition in semi-arid systems. AUSTRAL ECOL 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R. Scholtz
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- School of Life Sciences; University of Kwazulu-Natal; Durban South Africa
| | - I. P. J. Smit
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- Centre for African Ecology; School of Animal, Plant and Environmental Sciences; University of the Witwatersrand; Johannesburg South Africa
| | - C. Coetsee
- South African National Parks; Scientific Services, Skukuza; Private Bag X402 Skukuza Mpumalanga 1350 South Africa
- School of Natural Resource Management; Nelson Mandela Metropolitan University; Saasveld, NMMU; George South Africa
| | - G. A. Kiker
- Department of Agricultural & Biological Engineering; University of Florida; Gainesville Florida USA
- School of Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science; University of KwaZulu-Natal; Durban South Africa
| | - F. J. Venter
- South African National Parks; Conservation Management, Skukuza; Skukuza Mpumalanga South Africa
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Processes related to habitat selection, diversity and niche similarity in assemblages of non-volant small mammals at grassland–forest ecotones. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ncon.2016.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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Bowman DMJS, Legge S. Pyrodiversity-why managing fire in food webs is relevant to restoration ecology. Restor Ecol 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/rec.12401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David M. J. S. Bowman
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Private Bag 55 Hobart Tasmania 7001 Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- National Environmental Science Program Threatened Species Recovery Hub, Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation Science; University of Queensland; St Lucia Queensland 4072 Australia
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Morán-Ordóñez A, Whitehead AL, Luck GW, Cook GD, Maggini R, Fitzsimons JA, Wintle BA. Analysis of Trade-Offs Between Biodiversity, Carbon Farming and Agricultural Development in Northern Australia Reveals the Benefits of Strategic Planning. Conserv Lett 2016. [DOI: 10.1111/conl.12255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra Morán-Ordóñez
- Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group, School of Biosciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
- Centre Tecnològic Forestal de Catalunya; Ctra. Antiga St. Llorenç km 2 25280 Solsona Spain
| | - Amy L Whitehead
- Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group, School of Biosciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
| | - Gary W Luck
- Institute for Land, Water and Society; Charles Sturt University; Albury NSW 2640 Australia
| | - Garry D Cook
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Private Mail Bag 44 Winnellie NT 0822 Australia
| | - Ramona Maggini
- ARC Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions, NERP Environmental Decisions Hub, Centre for Biodiversity & Conservation Science; University of Queensland; Brisbane Qld 4072 Australia
| | - James A Fitzsimons
- The Nature Conservancy; Suite 2-01, 60 Leicester Street Carlton VIC 3053 Australia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; 221 Burwood Highway Burwood VIC 3125 Australia
| | - Brendan A Wintle
- Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group, School of Biosciences; The University of Melbourne; Parkville VIC 3010 Australia
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Fire in the Amazon: impact of experimental fuel addition on responses of ants and their interactions with myrmecochorous seeds. Oecologia 2016; 182:335-46. [DOI: 10.1007/s00442-016-3638-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2016] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Molecular phylogeny of Panaspis and Afroablepharus skinks (Squamata: Scincidae) in the savannas of sub-Saharan Africa. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2016; 100:409-423. [PMID: 27118179 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2016.04.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2015] [Revised: 03/13/2016] [Accepted: 04/20/2016] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
African snake-eyed skinks are relatively small lizards of the genera Panaspis and Afroablepharus. Species allocation of these genera frequently changed during the 20th century based on morphology, ecology, and biogeography. Members of these genera occur primarily in savanna habitats throughout sub-Saharan Africa and include species whose highly conserved morphology poses challenges for taxonomic studies. We sequenced two mitochondrial (16S and cyt b) and two nuclear genes (PDC and RAG1) from 76 Panaspis and Afroablepharus samples from across eastern, central, and southern Africa. Concatenated gene-tree and divergence-dating analyses were conducted to infer phylogenies and biogeographic patterns. Molecular data sets revealed several cryptic lineages, with most radiations occurring during the mid-Miocene to Pliocene. We infer that rifting processes (including the formation of the East African Rift System) and climatic oscillations contributed to the expansion and contraction of savannas, and caused cladogenesis in snake-eyed skinks. Species in Panaspis and Afroablepharus used in this study, including type species for both genera, formed a monophyletic group. As a result, the latter genus should be synonymized with the former, which has priority. Conservatively, we continue to include the West African species P. breviceps and P. togoensis within an expanded Panaspis, but note that they occur in relatively divergent clades, and their taxonomic status may change with improved taxon sampling. Divergence estimates and cryptic speciation patterns of snake-eyed skinks were consistent with previous studies of other savanna vertebrate lineages from the same areas examined in this study.
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Russell-Smith J, Yates CP, Edwards AC, Whitehead PJ, Murphy BP, Lawes MJ. Deriving Multiple Benefits from Carbon Market-Based Savanna Fire Management: An Australian Example. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0143426. [PMID: 26630453 PMCID: PMC4668068 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2015] [Accepted: 11/04/2015] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Carbon markets afford potentially useful opportunities for supporting socially and environmentally sustainable land management programs but, to date, have been little applied in globally significant fire-prone savanna settings. While fire is intrinsic to regulating the composition, structure and dynamics of savanna systems, in north Australian savannas frequent and extensive late dry season wildfires incur significant environmental, production and social impacts. Here we assess the potential of market-based savanna burning greenhouse gas emissions abatement and allied carbon biosequestration projects to deliver compatible environmental and broader socio-economic benefits in a highly biodiverse north Australian setting. Drawing on extensive regional ecological knowledge of fire regime effects on fire-vulnerable taxa and communities, we compare three fire regime metrics (seasonal fire frequency, proportion of long-unburnt vegetation, fire patch-size distribution) over a 15-year period for three national parks with an indigenously (Aboriginal) owned and managed market-based emissions abatement enterprise. Our assessment indicates improved fire management outcomes under the emissions abatement program, and mostly little change or declining outcomes on the parks. We attribute improved outcomes and putative biodiversity benefits under the abatement program to enhanced strategic management made possible by the market-based mitigation arrangement. For these same sites we estimate quanta of carbon credits that could be delivered under realistic enhanced fire management practice, using currently available and developing accredited Australian savanna burning accounting methods. We conclude that, in appropriate situations, market-based savanna burning activities can provide transformative climate change mitigation, ecosystem health, and community benefits in northern Australia, and, despite significant challenges, potentially in other fire-prone savanna settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy Russell-Smith
- Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Cameron P. Yates
- Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Andrew C. Edwards
- Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- Long Term Ecological Research Network, Australian National University, Canberra, Australia
| | - Peter J. Whitehead
- Darwin Centre for Bushfires Research, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
- North Australian Indigenous Land & Sea Management Alliance, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Brett P. Murphy
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
| | - Michael J. Lawes
- Research Institute for the Environment and Livelihoods, Charles Darwin University, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia
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Affiliation(s)
- Giselda Durigan
- Assis State Forest; Forestry Institute of São Paulo State; PO Box 104 19802-970 Assis SP Brazil
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Schmerbeck J, Fiener P. Wildfires, Ecosystem Services, and Biodiversity in Tropical Dry Forest in India. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2015; 56:355-372. [PMID: 25900601 DOI: 10.1007/s00267-015-0502-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2014] [Accepted: 04/10/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
This review is intended to contribute to the understanding of the interlinkage between wildfire in India's tropical dry forest (TDF) and selected ecosystem services (ES), namely forest provisioning and water regulating services, as well as biodiversity. TDF covers approximately 146,000 km(2) (4.4%) of India, whereas according to the MODIS fire product about 2200 km(2) (1.4%) burns per year. As studies on wildfire effects upon ESs and biodiversity in Indian TDFs are rare we partly transferred findings from other (dry) forest areas to the environmental situation in India. In India (intentionally lit) wildfires have a very important connection to local livelihoods and the availability of non-wood forest products. Very important adverse long-term effects are the deterioration of forest ecosystems and soil degradation. The potential for TDF to regulate hydrological cycles is expected to be greater in the absence of fire than with it. A general judgment on the effect of fire on biodiversity is difficult as it depends on the community and species involved but a loss of biodiversity under regular burnings is apparent. Consequently, forest managers need sound knowledge regarding the interplay of wildfires and ecosystem behavior in general and more specific knowledge regarding the effects on taxa being considered for conservation efforts. Generally, much more research is needed to understand the trade-offs between the short-term benefits gained from forest provisioning services and long-term adverse effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joachim Schmerbeck
- Department for Natural Resources, TERI University, 10 Institutional Area, Vasant Kunj, New Delhi, 110070, India,
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Hohnen R, Tuft KD, Legge S, Radford IJ, Carver S, Johnson CN. Post-fire habitat use of the golden-backed tree-rat (Mesembriomys macrurus) in the northwest Kimberley, Western Australia. AUSTRAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rosemary Hohnen
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Private Bag 55 Hobart Tasmania 7000 Australia
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary; Derby Western Australia Australia
| | - Katherine D. Tuft
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary; Derby Western Australia Australia
| | - Sarah Legge
- Australian Wildlife Conservancy; Mornington Wildlife Sanctuary; Derby Western Australia Australia
| | - Ian J. Radford
- Department of Parks and Wildlife; Kununurra Western Australia Australia
| | - Scott Carver
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Private Bag 55 Hobart Tasmania 7000 Australia
| | - Christopher N. Johnson
- School of Biological Sciences; University of Tasmania; Private Bag 55 Hobart Tasmania 7000 Australia
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Price OF. Potential role of ignition management in reducing unplanned burning in Arnhem Land, Australia. AUSTRAL ECOL 2015. [DOI: 10.1111/aec.12264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Owen F. Price
- Centre for Environmental Risk Management of Bushfires; University of Wollongong; Wollongong New South Wales 2522 Australia
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Buckingham S, Murphy N, Gibb H. The effects of fire severity on macroinvertebrate detritivores and leaf litter decomposition. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0124556. [PMID: 25880062 PMCID: PMC4399839 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0124556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
High severity wildfire events are a feature of forests globally and are likely to be more prevalent with climate change. As a disturbance process, fire has the potential to change important ecological functions, such as decomposition, through its impact on biodiversity. Despite the recognised importance of decomposition in terms of fuel loads and energy flow, little is known about the post-fire effects of fire severity on decomposition by litter-dwelling macroinvertebrate detritivores. We tested the hypotheses that: 1) increasing fire severity is associated with decreased rates of leaf litter decomposition by macroinvertebrate detritivores; and 2) the abundance and biomass of macroinvertebrate detritivores decreases with increasing fire severity, while body size increases. We used a litterbag experiment at long-unburnt, ground-burnt and crown-burnt sites (n = 7 for all treatments) to test the effect of fire severity on: a) macroinvertebrate-driven break-down of litter fuel loads; and b) the size and abundance of macroinvertebrate detritivores three years after fire. Microhabitat conditions differed among fire severity classes. Macroinvertebrate exclusion reduced litter decomposition by 34.7%. Macroinvertebrate detritivores were larger and less abundant following higher severity fires, possibly as a result of fire-induced changes in habitat structure. Opposing effects of fire severity on macroinvertebrate abundance and body size resulted in both similar detritivore biomass and, most interestingly, no differences in leaf litter decomposition under different fire severities. This suggests that the diversity of macroinvertebrates enhances functional resilience of litter decomposition to fire and that litter-breakdown is not inhibited within three years following a high severity fire in this forest type and where recolonisation sources are readily available. We found no support for the hypothesis that high severity fires reduce litter decomposition and therefore increase the likelihood of future fires.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Buckingham
- Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Nick Murphy
- Department of Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Heloise Gibb
- Department of Zoology, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
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Perry JJ, Vanderduys EP, Kutt AS. More famine than feast: pattern and variation in a potentially degenerating mammal fauna on Cape York Peninsula. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/wr15050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context Global mammal populations continue to be threatened by environmental change, and recent decadal monitoring in northern Australia suggests a collapse in mammal abundance in key locations. Cape York Peninsula has globally significant natural values but there is very little published about the status and distribution of mammals in this region. Aims Following an extensive field survey we investigated two key questions: (i) what is the composition, spatial variation and change from previous regional surveys in the mid to late 1900s in the native terrestrial and arboreal mammal fauna recorded; and (ii) which landscape and site factors best predict mammal richness and abundance. Methods We sampled 202 one-hectare sites across seven locations from 2009 to 2012 in woodlands, closed forestand dune scrub and tussock grasslands. We collected landscape and site-based environmental data for each location, representing fire, weather and vegetation factors. We used generalised linear mixed models to examine the relationship between mammals and these factors. Key results Mammals were generally scarce across the sites and were more abundant and species rich in wet coastal grasslands or closed forests then tropical savanna woodlands. Fire frequency data and the surrounding vegetation complexity were consistent landscape-scale predictors of mammals; ground cover and woody complexity were significant at the site scale. Conclusions Notwithstanding interpretational constraints related to the limited evidence base of historic sampling, the mammal fauna recorded in this study for Cape York Peninsula was similar in composition to the mammal fauna described from 1948–1980 and surveys in 1985, with some species seemingly declining (e.g. Melomys burtoni, Dasyurus hallucatus, Sminthopsis virginiae) and others stable (e.g. Rattus sordidus) or more common (e.g. Rattus tunneyi); however, across all sites abundance was low, and many sites had few or no mammals. Implications In the absence of consistent long-term systematic monitoring it is difficult to determine if this survey and historical surveys represent pre-European patterns for mammals. The absence or low abundance of mammals in most sites suggest that cotemporary patterns may not represent an intact mammal fauna. Due to the equivocal nature of these findings a critical next step is to establish robust monitoring and experimental work to reveal the response of mammals to management interventions.
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Radford IJ, Fairman R. Fauna and vegetation responses to fire and invasion by toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina) in an obligate seeder-dominated tropical savanna in the Kimberley, northern Australia. WILDLIFE RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1071/wr14259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Context Changed fire regimes are an important threatening process to savanna biodiversity. Fire-sensitive vegetation such as pindan and its fauna may be particularly susceptible to fire impacts. Invasion by alien species is an additional threatening process. The toxic anuran Rhinella marina is a well publicised invader of savannas. Little is known of impacts in many habitats. Aims To test the hypotheses (1) that fire responses among pindan fauna are greater than general savanna responses, and (2) that cane toad-invasion impacts will be reduced relative to riparian habitats. Methods Reptiles, frogs, invertebrates and mammals were surveyed seven times from 2008 to 2012, four times before and three times following R. marina invasion. Time since last fire was recorded during each survey. Vegetation change was measured. Key results Pindan vegetation structural recovery took 4–5 years, whereas fauna recovery took only 1 year. Ground active agamids, combined Scincidae, fossorial skinks and ground-layer invertebrates responded positively to recent fire. Skinks of Ctenotus spp. declined in size after fire. Short-term fauna responses reflect rapid re-establishment of herbaceous cover. Fauna responses were detected following R. marina invasion, including increases in frogs of Uperoleia spp. and skinks of Carlia spp., and decreases in Lerista griffini and ground-layer invertebrates. Insufficient data were available to test for responses among large predators; however, >50% lower Varanus spp. trap success occurred post-invasion. No invasion response was detected among small mammals. Conclusions Pindan fauna fire responses were similar to those of savannas. Fauna responses to Rhinella marina invasion were relatively minor compared with those previously reported in riparian habitats and this may be related to the lower abundance of the invader here than in previous studies in riparian or more fertile habitats. Implications The dominant obligate seeding tree in pindan woodland, A. tumida, requires >4 years with no high-intensity fires for re-establishment of the dominant tree. Fire management should aim to minimise extensive fires to reduce impacts on fire-sensitive fauna. Persistence of large predators after cane-toad invasion suggests possible refuge value of low-productivity pindan savannas.
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Andersen AN, Ribbons RR, Pettit M, Parr CL. Burning for biodiversity: highly resilient ant communities respond only to strongly contrasting fire regimes in Australia's seasonal tropics. J Appl Ecol 2014. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alan N. Andersen
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship; PMB 44 Winnellie NT 0822 Australia
| | | | - Magen Pettit
- CSIRO Land and Water Flagship; PMB 44 Winnellie NT 0822 Australia
| | - Catherine L. Parr
- Department of Earth, Ocean, and Ecological Sciences; University of Liverpool; Liverpool L69 3GP UK
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Tropical grassy biomes: misunderstood, neglected, and under threat. Trends Ecol Evol 2014; 29:205-13. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tree.2014.02.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 321] [Impact Index Per Article: 32.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2013] [Revised: 02/06/2014] [Accepted: 02/07/2014] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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Cowley RA, Hearnden MH, Joyce KE, Tovar-Valencia M, Cowley TM, Pettit CL, Dyer RM. How hot? How often? Getting the fire frequency and timing right for optimal management of woody cover and pasture composition in northern Australian grazed tropical savannas. Kidman Springs Fire Experiment 1993–2013. RANGELAND JOURNAL 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/rj14030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
A long-term (1993–2013) experiment in grazed semiarid tropical savannas in northern Australia tested the impact of varying the frequency (every 2, 4 and 6 years) and season (June – EDS versus October – LDS) of fire compared with unburnt controls on woody cover and pasture composition, in grassland and open woodland. Over an 18-year period, woody cover increased by 4% (absolute) in the woodland even with the most severe (i.e. frequent, late dry season) fire treatments. With less severe or no fire, woody cover increased by 12–17%. In the grassland, woody cover remained static when subjected to LDS fires every 2 or 4 years, but increased by 3–6% under other fire treatments, and by 8% when unburnt. Major shifts in understorey species composition occurred at both sites regardless of fire regime. The effect of fire on herbage mass and composition was compounded by higher grazing after fires. The herbage mass of perennial grasses declined and that of annual grasses and forbs increased following early or frequent fires. Brachyachne convergens, Gomphrena canescens and Flemingia pauciflora increased in response to fire while Aristida latifolia and Heteropogon contortus decreased. Four-yearly LDS fire provided the most effective management of woody cover and pasture composition. Although EDS fire is recommended for biodiversity management and reducing greenhouse gas emissions in wet tropical savannas, on grazed pastoral land, it can promote woodland thickening and pasture degradation. Optimal fire management, therefore, depends on vegetation type, land use and the prevailing seasonal timing and frequency of fire.
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Skroblin A, Legge S, Webb T, Hunt LP. EcoFire: regional-scale prescribed burning increases the annual carrying capacity of livestock on pastoral properties by reducing pasture loss from wildfire. RANGELAND JOURNAL 2014. [DOI: 10.1071/rj13095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Prescribed burning is an important management tool in the extensive pastoral lands in northern Australia. It can be used to influence grazing patterns, increase the nutritive value of pastures, reduce the density of woody shrubs and reduce the risk of damaging wildfires. The consequences of regional-scale prescribed burning on pasture availability and annual carrying capacities of pastoral properties in northern Australia were examined using EcoFire, a fire management program in the Kimberley Region of north-west Australia, as an example. Theoretical long-term carrying capacities of land systems, and fire scar imagery from years before (2004–06) and during EcoFire (2007–11) were used to model the impact of the program on the seasonality and extent of fire-induced losses in annual carrying capacity, and the likelihood of properties experiencing catastrophic losses in a given year. Over the 5 years that EcoFire has been running, it has resulted in a progressive reduction in the loss of annual carrying capacity caused by the burning of pasture, and shifted the season that annual carrying capacity is lost to fire from predominantly the late to the early dry season. Most notably, the established program has reduced the probability of experiencing catastrophic loss (defined here as >50% of annual carrying capacity removed due to fire) from 18 incidences to three incidences within a 3-year period. These outcomes have the potential to deliver economic benefits to pastoralists via increased annual carrying capacity and by improvements in pasture condition, provided stocking rates and pasture utilisation are managed carefully.
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Robinson NM, Leonard SW, Ritchie EG, Bassett M, Chia EK, Buckingham S, Gibb H, Bennett AF, Clarke MF. REVIEW: Refuges for fauna in fire-prone landscapes: their ecological function and importance. J Appl Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Steve W.J. Leonard
- Department of Zoology; La Trobe University; Melbourne Vic 3086 Australia
| | - Euan G. Ritchie
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; Burwood Vic 3125 Australia
| | - Michelle Bassett
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; Burwood Vic 3125 Australia
| | - Evelyn K. Chia
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; Burwood Vic 3125 Australia
| | | | - Heloise Gibb
- Department of Zoology; La Trobe University; Melbourne Vic 3086 Australia
| | - Andrew F. Bennett
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences; Deakin University; Burwood Vic 3125 Australia
| | - Michael F. Clarke
- Department of Zoology; La Trobe University; Melbourne Vic 3086 Australia
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Radford IJ, Andersen AN, Graham G, Trauernicht C. The Fire Refuge Value of Patches of a Fire-Sensitive Tree in Fire-prone Savannas:Callitris intratropicain Northern Australia. Biotropica 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/btp.12050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Ian. J. Radford
- Department of Environment and Conservation; Parks and Conservation Executive Office; Lot 248 Ivanhoe Rd, PO Box 942; Kununurra; WA; 6743; Australia
| | - Alan N. Andersen
- CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences; Tropical Ecosystems Research Centre; PMB 44; Winnellie; NT; 0822; Australia
| | - Gordon Graham
- Department of Environment and Conservation; Parks and Conservation Executive Office; Australia II Drive; Crawley; WA; 6009; Australia
| | - Clay Trauernicht
- School of Plant Science; University of Tasmania; Tasmania; Australia
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Smith AL, Michael Bull C, Driscoll DA. Successional specialization in a reptile community cautions against widespread planned burning and complete fire suppression. J Appl Ecol 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/1365-2664.12119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 52] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Annabel L. Smith
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the National Environmental Research Program Environmental Decisions Hub Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Fenner Building 141 Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
| | - C. Michael Bull
- School of Biological Sciences Flinders University GPO Box 2100 Adelaide SA 5001 Australia
| | - Don A. Driscoll
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Environmental Decisions and the National Environmental Research Program Environmental Decisions Hub Fenner School of Environment and Society The Australian National University Fenner Building 141 Canberra ACT 0200 Australia
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Heatwole H, Trémont S, Broese E. Point-diversity, a critical tool for assessing dynamics of guilds of scavenging ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae): an example from a eucalypt woodland. SYST BIODIVERS 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/14772000.2013.788578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Harold Heatwole
- a Department of Biology , North Carolina State University , Raleigh , NC , 27695-7617 , USA
- d Department of Zoology , University of New England , Armidale , N.S.W. , 2351 , Australia
| | - Steve Trémont
- b Biosciences, Technical and Further Education , Armidale , New South Wales , 2350 , Australia
| | - Elizabeth Broese
- c Office of Environment and Heritage , Armidale , NSW 2350 , Australia
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