Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

Nature, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 635(8040), P. 898 - 905

Published: Nov. 13, 2024

With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is discover interactions among fire-regime components, drought land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian burnt than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in monitoring. Collated data include responses of 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity quantify affect biodiversity. We reveal that the largest effects on plants animals were areas with frequent or recent past fires within extensively areas. Areas at high severity, outside protected under extreme also had larger effects. included declines increases after fire, rainforests by mammals. Our results implicate species interactions, dispersal extent situ survival as mechanisms underlying fire responses. Building resilience into these ecosystems depends reducing recurrence, including rapid suppression frequently burnt. Defending wet ecosystems, expanding considering localized could contribute. While countermeasures can help mitigate impacts megafires, reversing anthropogenic climate change remains urgent broad-scale solution. Data collected from taxa provide biodiversity, revealing

Language: Английский

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Shifting fire regimes cause continent-wide transformation of threatened species habitat

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 121(18)

Published: April 22, 2024

Human actions are causing widespread increases in fire size, frequency, and severity diverse ecosystems globally. This alteration of regimes is considered a threat to numerous animal species, but empirical evidence how shifting within both threatened species’ ranges protected areas scarce, particularly at large spatial temporal scales. We used big data approach quantify multidecadal changes southern Australia from 1980 2021, spanning 415 reserves (21.5 million ha) 129 including birds, mammals, reptiles, invertebrates, frogs. Most the region have experienced declines unburnt vegetation (≥30 y without fire), recently burnt (≤5 since frequency. The mean percentage declined 61 36% (1980 2021), whereas increased 20 35%, frequency by 32%, with latter two trends primarily driven record-breaking 2019 2020 season. strongest occurred for high-elevation high elevation, productivity, strong rainfall decline, southeast continent. Our results provide widely held poorly tested assumption that species experiencing habitat underscores imperative developing management strategies conserve fire-threatened an increasingly fiery future.

Language: Английский

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The use of fire to preserve biodiversity under novel fire regimes

Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B Biological Sciences, Journal Year: 2025, Volume and Issue: 380(1924)

Published: April 1, 2025

Novel fire regimes are emerging worldwide and pose substantial challenges to biodiversity conservation. Addressing these mitigating their impacts on will require developing a wide range of management practices. In this paper, we leverage research across taxa, ecosystems continents highlight strategies for applying knowledge in First, define novel outline different practices contemporary landscapes from parts the world. Next, synthesize recent use biodiversity, provide decision-making framework conservation under regimes. We recommend that preserving should consider both social ecological factors, iterative learning informed by effective monitoring, testing new actions. An integrated approach about help navigate complexities preserve rapidly changing This article is part theme issue ‘Novel climate changes human influences: impacts, ecosystem responses feedbacks’.

Language: Английский

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Where there’s smoke, there’s cats: long-unburnt habitat is crucial to mitigating the impacts of cats on the Ngarlgumirdi, greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis)

Wildlife Research, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 51(5)

Published: Jan. 1, 2024

Context The decline of the greater bilby (Macrotis lagotis), or Ngarlgumirdi (Yawuru), like other critical-weight range Australian mammals, is believed to be primarily due synergetic impacts predation by feral cats and foxes, habitat disturbance caused large introduced herbivores, increases in frequency intensity wildfires. Although it has been demonstrated that low-intensity prescribed burning mosaics some habitats have potential benefit including Ngarlgumirdi, creating with sufficient vegetation cover, contributions specific fire-mosaic attributes persistence remain unclear.Aims To elucidate on occupancy Dampier Peninsula.Methods We used 2-ha sign-plot data collected four Indigenous Ranger groups, combination 20years satellite-derived fire-history information investigate multiscale fire (Felis catus) Peninsula West Kimberley region, a large, unfenced landscape most fire-prone section Ngarlgumirdi's current range.Key results found was more common areas had higher proportion not burnt for at least 3years, whereas were less prevalent these areas. Similarly, likely occur landscapes affected frequent fires, there.Conclusions Our findings highlighted importance decreasing increasing extent long-unburnt (>3years) preserving mitigating ecological damage inflicted cats. Findings consistent across spatial scales (1-, 3-, 5- 10-km radius from each monitoring site).Implications These management increase native species resilience absence direct cat control methods. Further, they support recent cross-tenure initiative led Traditional Owners implement aims reduce high-severity wildfires Peninsula.

Language: Английский

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Population genomics of a predatory mammal reveals patterns of decline and impacts of exposure to toxic toads

Molecular Ecology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 31(21), P. 5468 - 5486

Published: Sept. 3, 2022

Mammal declines across northern Australia are one of the major biodiversity loss events occurring globally. There has been no regional assessment implications these species for genomic diversity. To address this, we conducted a species-wide diversity in quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), an Endangered marsupial carnivore. We used next generation sequencing methods to genotype 10,191 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) 352 individuals from 3220-km length continent, investigating patterns population structure and diversity, identifying loci showing signals putative selection. found strong heterogeneity distribution characterized by (i) biogeographical barriers driving hierarchical through long-term isolation, (ii) severe reductions resulting declines, exacerbated spread introduced toxic cane toads (Rhinella marina). These results warn large ongoing associated adaptive capacity as mammals decline Australia. Encouragingly, populations established on toad-free islands translocations appear have maintained most initial after 16 years. By mapping within among populations, context can provide conservation managers with data critical informed decision-making. This includes identification that candidates genetic management, importance remnant island insurance/translocated characterization evolutionarily significant units.

Language: Английский

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Population genomics and conservation management of the threatened black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii) in northern Australia

Heredity, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 130(5), P. 278 - 288

Published: March 10, 2023

Genomic diversity is a fundamental component of Earth's total biodiversity, and requires explicit consideration in efforts to conserve biodiversity. To genomic diversity, it necessary measure its spatial distribution, quantify the contribution that any intraspecific evolutionary lineages make overall diversity. Here, we describe range-wide population structure threatened Australian rodent, black-footed tree-rat (Mesembriomys gouldii), aiming provide insight into timing extent declines across large region with dearth long-term monitoring data. By estimating recent trajectories effective sizes at four localities, confirm widespread decline species' range, but find peri-urban area Darwin has been more stable. Based on current sampling, Melville Island made greatest allelic richness species, prioritisation analysis suggested conservation Cobourg Peninsula populations would be most cost-effective scenario retain than 90% all alleles. Our results broadly sub-specific taxonomy, crucial data distribution help prioritise limited resources. Along additional sampling from far eastern western edges suggest range research priorities could improve fine scales, including retention expansion structurally complex habitat patches.

Language: Английский

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Conservation prioritisation of genomic diversity to inform management of a declining mammal species

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291, P. 110467 - 110467

Published: Feb. 6, 2024

In our present age of extinction, conservation managers must use limited resources efficiently to conserve species and the genetic diversity within them. To intraspecific variation, we understand geographic distribution variation plan management actions that will cost-effectively maximise its retention. Here, a genome-wide single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) dataset consisting 12,962 loci 384 individuals inform Endangered northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus), carnivorous marsupial distributed patchily across Australia. Many populations have declined or are currently declining, driven by range-expanding cane toad (Rhinella marina). We (1) confirm population genomic structure, (2) investigate contribution each overall diversity, (3) conduct prioritisation analyses at several spatial hierarchical scales using popular planning algorithms, (4) patterns inbreeding. find single population, even populations, not prevent loss substantial amounts adaptive capacity. Rather, least eight from is necessary retain 90 % SNP alleles. also show more geographically isolated such as those on islands, very small contributions relatively high levels inbreeding compared mainland populations. Our study highlights importance conserving multiple genetically distinct effectively in undergoing widespread declines, demonstrates criteria prioritise management.

Language: Английский

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Artificial refuges provide post-fire habitat for small vertebrates

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291, P. 110501 - 110501

Published: Feb. 23, 2024

The interacting threats of invasive predators and fire are key conservation issues for many species globally, yet few options available to mitigate these threats. We tested how small vertebrates in post-fire environments responded the provision artificial refuges designed provide protection from two globally significant predators—the feral cat European red fox. undertook control-impact camera trapping experiments three Australian ecoregions (Temperate, Arid, Mediterranean), after both prescribed burns wildfires. fitted GLMMs test following predictions: (1) mammals birds that nest forage structurally dense vegetation will exhibit higher activity inside refuges; (2) reptiles not be due sheltering thermoregulatory preferences; (3) as recovers predation risk decreases through time, vertebrate outside increase while decline. found were used by a range post-fire, with 56 species/groups recorded refuges. As predicted, several ground-dwelling was Contrary our second third predictions, reptile generally typically increased time This approach may have potential management tool; however, further research should include testing effect on population persistence under different environmental conditions, (e.g., severity, patterns drought) before widespread implementation is considered.

Language: Английский

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Snake life history traits and their association with urban habitat use in a tropical city

Urban Ecosystems, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 26(2), P. 433 - 445

Published: Jan. 17, 2023

Abstract Urbanisation changes landscapes, often simplifying and homogenising natural ecosystems while introducing novel environments. Although this transformation adversely impacts native wildlife, generalist species that exhibit broad dietary habitat requirements can persist take advantage of urban To understand which life history traits most influence the occurrence a diverse snake assemblage in an environment, we leveraged dataset 5102 detection records for 12 tropical city Darwin, Australia. By building ecological niche models, calculating hypervolume, compiling data, analysed diversity environments occupied by each determined landscape components were associated with data. In keeping our hypothesis would be more successful, found broader preferences, as well penchant arboreality, larger hypervolumes frequent human–snake interactions. Additionally, colubrid snakes had significantly than elapid species. These findings contribute to understanding how aid wildlife persistence in, adaptation to, ecosystems, have implications design conservation management.

Language: Английский

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Widespread resilience of animal species, functional diversity, and predator–prey networks to an unprecedented gigafire

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: unknown

Published: Nov. 12, 2024

Abstract Climate change is altering fire regimes globally, leading to an increased incidence of large and severe wildfires, including gigafires (>100,000 ha), that homogenise landscapes. Despite this, our understanding how large, wildfires affect biodiversity at the landscape scale remains limited. We investigated impact a gigafire occurred during unprecedented 2019–20 Australian ‘Black Summer’ on terrestrial fauna. selected 24 study landscapes, each 0.785 km 2 in size, represented gradient extent high severity fire, unburnt vegetation, diversity classes (‘pyrodiversity’). used wildlife cameras survey across quantified species activity, community functional diversity, predator–prey network metrics. Bayesian mixed‐effects models assess influence fire‐induced properties these measures. Most native showed resilience displaying few relationships with or pyrodiversity. Community measures networks were also largely unaffected by properties, although landscapes greater proportion had higher abundance richness introduced animal species. Synthesis applications : prevailing narratives widespread ecological destruction following findings suggest resilience, potentially facilitated evolutionary adaptations animals fire. Interventions aimed helping such recover may not be necessary could instead focus subset are vulnerable While mixed‐severity fires often advocated promote through pyrodiversity, results management efforts might region. Given favours species, invasive severely burnt areas.

Language: Английский

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