Developing geospatial tools to identify refuges from alien trout invasion in Australia to assist freshwater conservation

Marine and Freshwater Research, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 76(4)

Published: Feb. 24, 2025

Context Introduced fish have caused significant range reductions for many native fish, with threatened species now found in headwater refuges, protected by in-stream barriers such as waterfalls, weirs and culverts. Owing to the remoteness of distribution is poorly understood despite urgency determining their because threats posed spread introduced into these refuges. Aims We investigated application emerging remote-sensing technology (LiDAR) improve our ability locate potential invasion identify Methods used LiDAR-derived digital elevation models find likely barriers, conducted surveys determine trout passability tributary headwaters. Key results Trout were rarely observed upstream waterfalls a gradient >0.82, whereas galaxiids only absence trout. Of 17 surveyed, 9 supported population upstream, 8 fishless. Implications LiDAR-based analysis an effective tool preliminary site selection prioritisation freshwater conservation. Discovery three new populations this study demonstrates technique additional trout-free streams, important other trout-sensitive aquatic species.

Language: Английский

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Resilience of terrestrial and aquatic fauna to historical and future wildfire regimes in western North America

Ecology and Evolution, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 11(18), P. 12259 - 12284

Published: Aug. 30, 2021

Wildfires in many western North American forests are becoming more frequent, larger, and severe, with changed seasonal patterns. In response, coniferous forest ecosystems will transition toward dominance by fire-adapted hardwoods, shrubs, meadows, grasslands, which may benefit some faunal communities, but not others. We describe factors that limit promote resilience to shifting wildfire regimes for terrestrial aquatic ecosystems. highlight the potential value of interspersed nonforest patches wildlife. Similarly, we review watershed thresholds control wildfire, mediated thermal changes chemical, debris, sediment loadings. present a 2-dimensional life history framework temporal spatial traits species use resist effects or recover after disturbance at metapopulation scale. The role fire refuge is explored metapopulations species. systems, recovery assemblages postfire be faster smaller fires where unburned tributary basins instream structures provide from debris flows. envision more-frequent, lower-severity favor opportunistic less-frequent high-severity better competitors. Along dimension, hypothesize predictable generate burned close proximity move refuges later recolonize, whereas tend less-severely shelter place. Looking beyond trees fauna, consider mitigation options enhance buy time facing no-analog future.

Language: Английский

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Segment-level modeling of wildfire susceptibility in Iranian semi-arid oak forests: Unveiling the pivotal impact of human activities

Trees Forests and People, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 15, P. 100496 - 100496

Published: Jan. 17, 2024

Iranian semi-arid oak (Quercus brantii) forests are characterized by their sparse canopy cover and an increasing risk of wildfire. In Lorestan Province, west Iran (28,300 km²) wildfire incidents have surged, prompting this study to perform segment-level modeling Wildfire Susceptibility (WS) distribution. The forest the province was categorized into five density classes using object-oriented classification method applied a composite Landsat image, ranging from Forest Edge (with less than 10 trees per hectare) Dense (exceeding 150 hectare). An ensemble models provided Biomod2 utilized generate WS layer, revealing that Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) serves as crucial indicator WS. Dense, foliage-rich exhibited heightened vulnerability fire. Moreover, revealed human activities near road networks urban centers significantly shape patterns, accentuating anthropogenic nature wildfires in central zone Province. findings pinpoint over 1600 km² highly susceptible areas, predominantly coinciding with dense high-moderate classes, emphasizing need for prioritized conservation efforts. recommends community involvement protection promotion alternative income sources strategies safeguard diminishing Lorestan.

Language: Английский

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Fire Hazards: Socio-economic and Regional Issues

Springer eBooks, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Language: Английский

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Renewable energy and biological conservation in a changing world

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 263, P. 109354 - 109354

Published: Oct. 26, 2021

Language: Английский

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Heterogeneity in post-fire thermal responses across Pacific Northwest streams: A multi-site study

Journal of Hydrology X, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 23, P. 100173 - 100173

Published: Feb. 16, 2024

Over the past century, water temperatures in many streams across Pacific Northwest (PNW) have steadily risen, shrinking endangered salmonid habitats. The warming of PNW stream reaches can be further accelerated by wildfires burning forest stands that provide shade to streams. However, previous research on effect has focused individual or burn events, limiting our understanding diversity post-fire thermal responses To bridge this knowledge gap, we assessed impact daily summer 31 sites, where 10-100% their riparian area burned. ensure robustness results, employed multiple approaches characterize and quantify fire effects temperature changes. Averaged burned corresponded a 0.3 – 1°C increase over subsequent three years. Nonetheless, displayed extensive heterogeneity sites likelihood rate was higher for with greater proportion under high severity. Also, watershed features such as basin area, weather, bedrock permeability, pre-fire cover, winter snowpack depth were identified strong predictors sites. Our study offers multi-site perspective PNW, providing insights inform freshwater management efforts beyond basins.

Language: Английский

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Quail on fire: changing fire regimes may benefit mountain quail in fire-adapted forests

Fire Ecology, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 19(1)

Published: April 3, 2023

Fire-adapted forests in western North America are experiencing rapid changes to fire regimes that outside the range of historic norms. Some habitat-specialist species have been negatively impacted by increases large, high-severity fire, yet, responses many especially at longer time scales, remain ambiguous. We studied response a widely distributed species, mountain quail (Oreortyx pictus), wildfire across Sierra Nevada California, because its habitat selection patterns provided an opportunity evaluate potentially contrasting among specialists. used passive acoustic monitoring > 22,000 km2 and Bayesian hierarchical occupancy modeling conduct first study effects habitat, severity, since (1–35 years) on little-understood management indicator quail. Mountain responded positively neutrally low-moderate-severity fire. Occupancy peaked 6–10 years after remained high even 11–35 area burned severity. Our work demonstrates is strongly related occupancy, which markedly different than previously also concern Nevada. Taken together, our results suggest may actually be "winners" face altered Given forecasted intensification severe wildfires fire-adapted forests, understanding ecology nuanced beyond those historically considered important time-sensitive effort. The relationship between reminder there will both winners losers as dynamics change era climate change.

Language: Английский

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Fire impacts on the biology of stream ecosystems: A synthesis of current knowledge to guide future research and integrated fire management

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 30(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Freshwater ecosystems host disproportionately high biodiversity and provide unique ecosystem services, yet they are being degraded at an alarming rate. Fires, which becoming increasingly frequent intense due to global change, can affect these in many ways, but this relationship is not fully understood. We conducted a systematic review characterize the literature on effects of fires stream found that (1) abiotic indicators were more commonly investigated than biotic ones, (2) most previous research was North America temperate evergreen forest biome, (3) following control‐impact (CI) or before‐after (BA) design, (4) predominantly assessing wildfires as opposed prescribed fires, (5) small headwater streams, (6) with focus structural functional biological indicators. After quantitatively analyzing research, we detected great variability responses, increases, decreases, no changes reported for (e.g., macroinvertebrate richness, fish density, algal biomass, leaf decomposition). shed light seemingly contradicting results by showing presence extreme hydrological post‐fire events, time lag between fire sampling, whether riparian burned influenced outcome research. Results suggest although events have dramatic impacts short term, endpoints recover within 5–10 years, detrimental minimal case fires. also often BACI studies CI BA studies, raising question field may be biased inherent limitations designs. Finally, make recommendations help advance guide future integrated management includes protection freshwater ecosystems.

Language: Английский

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A Conceptual Framework to Assess Post‐Wildfire Water Quality: State of the Science and Knowledge Gaps

Water Resources Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 60(7)

Published: July 1, 2024

Abstract Wildfire substantially alters aquatic ecosystems by inducing moderate to catastrophic physical and chemical changes. However, the relations of environmental watershed variables that drive those effects are complex. We present a Driver‐Factor‐Stressor‐Effect (DFSE) conceptual framework assess current state science related post‐wildfire water‐quality. reviewed 64 peer‐reviewed papers using DFSE identify drivers, factors, stressors, associated with each study. A total five drivers were identified ranked according their frequency occurrence in literature: atmospheric processes > fire characteristics ecologic land surface soil characteristics. Commonly reported stressors include increased nutrients, runoff, sediment transport. Furthermore, although several different factors have been used at least once explain water‐quality effects, relatively few outside precipitation frequently studied. gaps indicating need for long‐term monitoring, multi‐factor studies, consideration organic contaminants, groundwater, inclusion This assessment expands on other reviews meta‐analyses exploring causal linkages between influential overall watersheds. Information gathered from our itself can be inform future monitoring plans as guide modeling efforts focused better understanding specific or mitigate potential risks water quality.

Language: Английский

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Integrating flora, fauna, and indigenous practices into spatial optimization for prescribed burning

Journal of Environmental Management, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 379, P. 124833 - 124833

Published: March 9, 2025

Language: Английский

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