Loss of terrestrial biodiversity in Australia: Magnitude, causation, and response
Science,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
381(6658), P. 622 - 631
Published: Aug. 10, 2023
Australia’s
biota
is
species
rich,
with
high
rates
of
endemism.
This
natural
legacy
has
rapidly
diminished
since
European
colonization.
The
impacts
invasive
species,
habitat
loss,
altered
fire
regimes,
and
changed
water
flows
are
now
compounded
by
climate
change,
particularly
through
extreme
drought,
heat,
wildfire,
flooding.
Extinction
rates,
already
far
exceeding
the
global
average
for
mammals,
predicted
to
escalate
across
all
taxa,
ecosystems
collapsing.
These
losses
symptomatic
shortcomings
in
resourcing,
law,
policy,
management.
Informed
examples
advances
conservation
practice
from
control,
Indigenous
land
management,
citizen
science,
we
describe
interventions
needed
enhance
future
resilience.
Many
characteristics
Australian
biodiversity
loss
globally
relevant,
recovery
requiring
society
reframe
its
relationship
environment.
Language: Английский
Impacts of fire and prospects for recovery in a tropical peat forest ecosystem
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
121(17)
Published: April 15, 2024
Uncontrolled
fires
place
considerable
burdens
on
forest
ecosystems,
compromising
our
ability
to
meet
conservation
and
restoration
goals.
A
poor
understanding
of
the
impacts
fire
ecosystems
their
biodiversity
exacerbates
this
challenge,
particularly
in
tropical
regions
where
few
studies
have
applied
consistent
analytical
techniques
examine
a
broad
range
ecological
over
multiyear
time
frames.
We
compiled
16
y
data
ecosystem
properties
(17
variables)
(21
from
peatland
Indonesia
assess
infer
potential
for
recovery.
Burned
experienced
altered
structural
microclimatic
conditions,
resulting
proliferation
nonforest
vegetation
erosion
biodiversity.
Compared
unburned
forest,
habitat
structure,
tree
density,
canopy
cover
deteriorated
by
58
98%,
while
declines
species
diversity
abundance
were
most
pronounced
trees,
damselflies,
butterflies,
specialist
species.
Tracking
property
datasets
revealed
be
sensitive
recurrent
high-intensity
within
wider
landscape.
These
megafires
immediately
compromised
water
quality
reproductive
phenology,
crashing
commercially
valuable
fish
populations
3
mo
driving
gradual
decline
threatened
vertebrates
9
mo.
remained
structurally
long
after
burn
event,
but
showed
some
signs
recovery
12-y
period.
Our
findings
demonstrate
that,
if
left
uncontrolled,
may
pervasive
threat
functioning
forests,
underscoring
importance
prevention
long-term
efforts,
as
exemplified
Indonesia.
Language: Английский
Animal population decline and recovery after severe fire: Relating ecological and life history traits with expert estimates of population impacts from the Australian 2019-20 megafires
Biological Conservation,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
283, P. 110021 - 110021
Published: May 16, 2023
Catastrophic
megafires
can
increase
extinction
risks;
identifying
species
priorities
for
management
and
policy
support
is
critical
preparing
responding
to
future
fires.
However,
empirical
data
on
population
loss
recovery
post-fire,
especially
megafire,
are
limited
taxonomically
biased.
These
gaps
could
be
bridged
if
species'
morphological,
behavioural,
ecological
life
history
traits
indicated
their
fire
responses.
Using
expert
elicitation
that
estimated
changes
following
the
2019–20
Australian
142
terrestrial
aquatic
animal
(from
every
vertebrate
class,
one
invertebrate
group),
we
examined
whether
estimates
of
fire-related
mortality,
mortality
in
year
trajectories
over
10
years/three
generations
were
related
traits.
Expert
lower
potentially
flee
or
shelter
from
fire,
associated
with
fire-prone
habitats.
Post-fire
linked
diet,
diet
specialisation,
home
range
size,
susceptibility
introduced
herbivores
damage
compete
resources.
Longer-term
diet/habitat
species;
slower
histories
shorter
subadult
dispersal
distances
also
had
estimates.
Across
groups,
experts
was
poorest
pre-fire
decline
more
threatened
conservation
status.
Sustained
likely
needed
recover
habitat
specialisations,
histories,
pre-existing
declines
statuses.
This
study
shows
help
inform
before
after
megafires,
but
further
response
essential.
Language: Английский
Fire and geodiversity
International Journal of Wildland Fire,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
33(4)
Published: April 5, 2024
Geodiversity
elements
contribute
significantly
to
local
and
global
hydrological,
biogeochemical
ecosystem
services
as
such,
fire
is
a
potentially
disruptive
force
with
long-term
implications.
from
limiting
karstic
speleothems
formation,
compounding
impacts
of
peat-fire-erosion
cycles.
additionally
possess
important
cultural,
aesthetic,
environmental
values,
including
the
support
services.
Hence,
assessments
potential
damage
should
consider
implications
for
land
users,
society,
culture,
alongside
geomorphic
on
geodiversity
elements.
With
view
providing
concise
set
descriptors
response
fire,
we
qualify
in
places,
quantify,
how
may
degrade
geosystem
function.
Where
possible,
highlight
influence
intensity
frequency
gradients,
cumulative
deterioration
values.
Geoconservation
integral
protected
areas
effected
functions
values
presenting
issues
management,
consequences
extending
through
delisting,
degazetting,
resizing
areas.
Future
research
reserve
systems
concentrate
understanding
synergistic
effects
geophysical
landscape.
Language: Английский
Monitoring and Quantifying Soil Erosion and Sedimentation Rates in Centimeter Accuracy Using UAV-Photogrammetry, GNSS, and t-LiDAR in a Post-Fire Setting
Remote Sensing,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
16(5), P. 802 - 802
Published: Feb. 25, 2024
Remote
sensing
techniques,
namely
Unmanned
Aerial
Vehicle
(UAV)
photogrammetry
and
t-LiDAR
(terrestrial
Light
Detection
Ranging),
two
well-established
were
applied
for
seven
years
in
a
mountainous
Mediterranean
catchment
Greece
(Ilioupoli
test
site,
Athens),
following
wildfire
event
2015.
The
goal
was
to
monitor
quantify
soil
erosion
sedimentation
rates
with
cm
accuracy.
As
the
frequency
of
wildfires
has
increased,
this
study
aims
present
methodological
approach
monitoring
quantifying
post-fire
conditions,
through
high
spatial
resolution
field
measurements
acquired
using
UAV
survey
(or
TLS—Terrestrial
Laser
Scanning),
combination
georadar
profiles
(Ground
Penetration
Radar—GPR)
GNSS.
This
site
revealed
that
40
m3
sediment
deposited
first
intense
autumn
rainfall
events,
value
decreased
by
50%
over
next
six
months
(20
m3).
UAV–SfM
technique
only
2
deposition
during
2018–2019
analysis,
highlighting
decrease
three
after
event.
In
(2017–2021),
further,
confirming
theoretical
pattern,
whereas
year
fire
very
then
sharply
lessened
as
vegetation
regenerated.
methodology
proposed
research
can
serve
valuable
guide
achieving
high-precision
yield
based
on
detailed
analysis
3D
modeling
point
cloud
comparison,
specifically
leveraging
dense
data
collection
facilitated
TLS
technology.
resulting
clouds
effectively
replicate
fine
details
topsoil
microtopography
within
upland
dam
basin,
highlighted
profile
analysis.
Overall,
clearly
demonstrates
area
method
LiDAR
cm-scale
offer
realistic
assessment
retention
dam’s
life
expectancy
management
planning.
These
observations
are
especially
crucial
assessing
impacts
wildfire-affected
areas,
implementation
mitigation
strategies,
construction
maintenance
dams.
Language: Английский
Fire transforms effects of terrestrial subsidies on aquatic ecosystem structure and function
Global Change Biology,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
30(1)
Published: Dec. 12, 2023
Abstract
Fire
can
lead
to
transitions
between
forest
and
grassland
ecosystems
trigger
positive
feedbacks
climate
warming
by
releasing
CO
2
into
the
atmosphere.
Climate
change
is
projected
increase
prevalence
severity
of
wildfires.
However,
fire
effects
on
fate
impact
terrestrial
organic
matter
(i.e.,
subsidies)
in
aquatic
are
unclear.
Here,
we
performed
a
gradient
design
experiment
freshwater
pond
mesocosms
adding
15
different
amounts
burned
or
unburned
plant
detritus
tracking
chronology
at
10,
31,
59,
89
days.
We
show
subsidies
had
time‐
mass‐dependent,
non‐linear
impacts
ecosystem
function
that
influenced
dissolved
carbon
(DOC),
metabolism
(net
primary
production
respiration),
greenhouse
gas
concentrations
(carbon
dioxide
[CO
],
methane
[CH
4
]),
trophic
transfer.
These
were
shifted
treatment.
Burning
increased
elemental
concentration
(increasing
%N,
%P,
%K),
with
cascading
function.
Mesocosms
receiving
lower
[DOC]
]
higher
oxygen
(DO)
through
Day
59.
magnified
stimulating
photosynthesis
respiration
intermediate
detritus‐loading
89.
The
effect
loading
DO
was
similar
for
treatments
(Day
10);
however,
burned‐detritus
highest
led
sustained
hypoxia
(through
31),
long‐term
destabilization
In
addition,
affected
transfer
increasing
autochthonous
nitrogen
source
utilization
reducing
incorporation
N‐labeled
plankton
biomass,
thereby
flux
levels.
Our
results
indicate
chemically
transforms
alters
role
processing
storing
carbon.
Wildfire
may
therefore
induce
shifts
functions
cross
boundary
habitats.
Language: Английский
Biology, distribution and conservation of a dwarf-group crayfish, Euastacus spinichelatus Morgan, 1997 (Decapoda: Astacidea: Parastacidae), a freshwater crayfish from the Great Dividing Range, New South Wales, Australia
Journal of Crustacean Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
44(1)
Published: March 1, 2024
Abstract
We
present
the
outcomes
of
two
conservation
initiatives,
namely
‘The
Australian
Crayfish’
and
‘Saving
Spinys’
projects,
which
have
substantially
contributed
to
enhancing
our
understanding
E.
spinichelatus
concerning
its
distribution,
habitat,
biology,
status.
extend
range
encompass
headwater
reaches
Namoi
River
within
Murray-Darling
Basin.
The
use
molecular
taxonomy
analyses
identified
divergent
lineages
that
acted
remove
southeastern
tributaries
Hastings
most
western
tributary
Manning
from
spinichelatus.
species
has
suffered
significant
population
declines
in
recent
years,
with
it
appearing
be
highly
susceptible
anthropogenic
changes,
drought
and/or
high-severity
bushfires.
Results
advocate
for
classification
as
an
endangered
species,
recognizing
distinctive
ecological
niche
status
a
climate
refugee,
aiming
protect
this
rare
climate-related
challenges.
also
taxonomic
key
differentiating
other
members
Parastacidae
region.
Language: Английский
Niche‐based approach to explore the impacts of environmental disturbances on biodiversity
Conservation Biology,
Journal Year:
2024,
Volume and Issue:
38(6)
Published: April 25, 2024
Abstract
Globally,
species
are
increasingly
at
risk
from
compounding
threatening
processes,
an
prominent
driver
of
which
is
environmental
disturbances.
To
facilitate
effective
conservation
efforts
following
such
events,
methods
that
evaluate
potential
impacts
across
multiple
and
provide
landscape‐scale
information
needed
to
guide
targeted
responses.
Often,
the
geographic
overlap
between
a
disturbance
species’
distribution
calculated
then
used
as
proxy
for
impact.
However,
do
not
account
important
influence
heterogeneity
throughout
ranges.
address
this
shortcoming,
we
quantified
effects
disturbances
on
niche
space.
Using
Australian
2019
2020
Black
Summer
fires
case
study,
applied
niche‐centric
approach
examine
these
387
vertebrate
species.
We
examined
utility
established
novel
metrics
assess
large‐scale
events
by
comparing
determined
our
various
measures
those
derived
geographic‐based
quality
space
affected
quantifying
position
in
where
occurred
(center
or
margin),
uniqueness
was
burned,
degree
remaining,
unburned
portion
differed
original
prefire
niche.
There
limited
congruence
proportion
affected,
showed
approaches
isolation
may
have
underestimated
impact
56%
modeled
For
each
species,
when
combined,
provided
greater
indication
postdisturbance
recovery
than
alone.
Accordingly,
integration
niche‐based
analyses
into
assessments
will
lead
more
nuanced
understanding
informed
actions.
Language: Английский
The power of eDNA sampling to investigate the impact of Australian mega-fires on platypus occupancy
Biological Conservation,
Journal Year:
2023,
Volume and Issue:
286, P. 110219 - 110219
Published: Oct. 1, 2023
Fire
plays
an
important
role
in
many
ecosystems,
but
megafires
are
increasing
the
area
burnt
forested
regions
globally.
The
2019–2020
south-eastern
Australia
were
unprecedented
with
respect
to
and
spatial
extent
of
high-severity
fire.
Yet,
there
is
limited
knowledge
regarding
impact
these
on
biodiversity,
especially
aquatic
fauna.
Here
we
investigate
distribution
a
semi-aquatic
monotreme
thought
be
decline:
platypus,
Ornithorhynchus
anatinus.
We
leveraged
extensive
pre-fire
environmental
DNA
(eDNA)
sampling
coupled
this
additional
at
two
timepoints
post-fire,
conduct
Before-After-Control-Impact
(BACI)
study.
used
site
occupancy-detection
modelling
estimate
platypus
occupancy
across
fire
affected
non-fire
sites
over
time
as
well
interaction
between
occupancy,
high
rainfall,
severity.
detected
negative
effect
presence
both
post-fire
periods.
Platypus
was
also
predicted
lower
that
experienced
rainfall
situated
within
watersheds
had
large
proportion
high-severity.
With
globally,
predictions
more
extreme
events
future,
fauna
requires
greater
consideration
assessments
biodiversity
management
generally.
use
eDNA
detection
methods
BACI
framework
provides
promising
means
fill
gaps
does
require
pre-emptive
sampling.
Language: Английский