Context
Animal
and
plant
populations
in
arid
regions
fluctuate
size
extent
response
to
rainfall,
fire
predation.
Understanding
the
influence
of
these
drivers
on
status
trends
is
crucial
implementing
effective
conservation
actions.
Aims
In
this
study,
we
quantified
long-term
a
threatened
lizard,
great
desert
skink
(Liopholis
kintorei;
Tjakura),
central
western
deserts
Australia.
Methods
We
collated
23
years
(2002–2023)
active
Tjakuṟa
burrow
count
data
from
31
sites
clustered
following
four
regions:
Yulara,
Newhaven
Wildlife
Sanctuary,
Uluṟu–Kata
Tjuṯa
National
Park
Kiwirrkurra
Indigenous
Protected
Area.
fitted
negative
binomial
regression
model
Bayesian
framework
estimate
counts
over
time
effect
mean
annual
normalised
difference
vegetation
index
(NDVI),
since
counts.
Key
results
Our
showed
contrasting
across
regions.
At
Kiwirrkurra,
Sanctuary
increased
consistently
at
rates
35%
(0.298;
95%
CI
0.099–0.471),
18%
(0.168;
0.029,
0.314)
5%
per
year
(0.045;
0.017,
0.073)
respectively.
contrast,
2002
2012
before
steadily
decreasing.
Across
all
sites,
was
most
important
predictor
counts,
with
significant
positive
(0.108;
0.014–0.204)
strong
previous
(−0.111;
−0.243
−0.026).
Conclusions
have
highlighted
importance
delivering
ongoing
planned
management
programs
that
avoid
burning
directly
around
Tjakura
systems,
while
providing
patch
mosaic
surrounding
landscape.
Implications
recommend
monitoring
burrows
be
standardised
site
covariates,
especially
measures
predation
pressure,
monitored
further
understand
population
trends.
Science,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
381(6658), С. 622 - 631
Опубликована: Авг. 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.
Abstract
Background
Predators
and
fire
shape
ecosystems
across
the
globe
these
two
forces
can
interact
to
impact
prey
populations.
This
issue
is
particularly
pertinent
in
Australia
where
there
considerable
scientific
public
interest
post-fire
impacts
of
invasive
predators—the
feral
cat
red
fox.
It
remains
unclear,
though,
whether
increased
fox
activity
response
a
general
phenomenon,
or
responses
are
highly
context-specific
not
generalisable.
Results
We
reviewed
analysed
existing
literature
found
that
range
positive
(e.g.,
burnt
areas),
negative
(decreased
activity),
neutral
have
been
recorded
different
studies
locations.
Mixed
effects
modelling
revealed
were
more
likely
when
areas
recently
(shorter
time
since
fire).
The
mean
likelihood
by
cats
decreased
from
41%
at
0
months
10%
100
post-fire,
whereas
probability
for
foxes
53
10%.
suggests
may
be
critical
period
immediately
most
vulnerable
elevated
predators,
within
which
management
interventions
impactful.
Conclusions
Many
our
findings
identified
as
potential
cases
either
mechanistic
apparent
context
dependency
(variation
patterns
due
observational
ecological
factors).
provides
pathway
design
future
will
enhance
understanding
predator
fire,
both
globally.
Conservation
policy
benefit
additional
research
spanning
greater
events,
along
with
comprehensive
nuanced
interpretation
evidence.
Recent
studies
have
argued
that
changes
in
fire
regimes
the
21st
century
are
posing
a
major
threat
to
global
biodiversity.
In
this
scenario,
incorporating
species’
physiological,
ecological,
and
evolutionary
traits
with
their
local
exposure
might
facilitate
accurate
identification
of
species
most
at
risk
from
fire.
Here,
we
developed
framework
for
identifying
animal
vulnerable
extinction
fire-induced
stress
Brazilian
savanna.
The
proposed
addresses
vulnerability
two
components:
(1)
exposure,
which
refers
frequency,
extent,
magnitude
system
or
experiences
fire,
(2)
sensitivity,
reflects
how
much
affected
by
Sensitivity
is
based
on
biological,
behavioral
can
influence
animals’
mortality
“during”
“after”
We
generated
Fire
Vulnerability
Index
(FVI)
be
used
group
into
four
categories,
ranging
extremely
(highly
sensible
highly
exposed
areas),
least
(low-sensitivity
less
areas).
highlight
urgent
need
broaden
assessment
methods
introduce
new
approach
considering
biological
contribute
significantly
sensitivity
alongside
regional/local
exposure.
Pacific Conservation Biology,
Год журнала:
2025,
Номер
31(2)
Опубликована: Апрель 3, 2025
Context
Two
Peoples
Bay
Nature
Reserve
in
Western
Australia
has
a
long
history
of
ecological
studies
and
adaptive
fire
management.
This
provides
an
excellent
opportunity
to
assess
the
effects
management,
including
exclusion,
on
ecosystems
threatened
species
important
nature
reserve.
Aims
To
review
complexity
managing
for
conservation
communities.
Methods
In
this
paper,
we
reviewed
data
from
personal
consultations,
historical
records
analyses
regimes,
long-term
Djimaalup/noisy
scrub-bird
monitoring,
camera-trap
surveys,
botanical
quadrat
analysis,
dating
before
after
large
2015.
Key
results
Fire
sensitive
at
are
identified.
Senescing
flora
recruited
following
2015
fire-stimulated
were
recorded
first
time.
The
exclusion
was
key
factor
scrub-bird,
but
implications
other
species.
Conclusions
While
introduced
excluded
granite
headlands
>60
years
conserve
fauna
habitat,
may
not
have
been
optimal
strategy
dependent
fauna,
Implications
effective
management
tool
60
initially
driven
by
must
consider
range
present
as
well
changing
climate.
Long-term
monitoring
invaluable
allow
informed
decisions
Trends in Ecology & Evolution,
Год журнала:
2022,
Номер
38(4), С. 337 - 345
Опубликована: Дек. 3, 2022
While
direct
influences
of
the
environment
on
population
growth
and
resilience
are
well
studied,
indirect
routes
linking
environmental
changes
to
consequences
less
explored.
We
suggest
that
social
behavior
is
key
for
understanding
how
anthropogenic
affect
animal
populations.
Social
structures
groups
evolved
emergent
phenotypes
often
have
demographic
group
members.
Importantly,
drivers
may
directly
influence
structure
or
indirectly
them
through
modifications
interactions,
composition,
size.
developed
a
framework
study
these
consequences.
Estimating
strength
pathways
will
give
us
tools
understand,
potentially
manage,
effect
human-induced
rapid
changes.
Biological Conservation,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
283, С. 110021 - 110021
Опубликована: Май 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.
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.
Ecology Letters,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
26(7), С. 1050 - 1070
Опубликована: Май 17, 2023
Fire
regimes
are
changing
dramatically
worldwide
due
to
climate
change,
habitat
conversion,
and
the
suppression
of
Indigenous
landscape
management.
Although
there
has
been
extensive
work
on
plant
responses
fire,
including
their
adaptations
withstand
fire
long-term
effects
communities,
less
is
known
about
animal
fire.
Ecologists
lack
a
conceptual
framework
for
understanding
behavioural
which
can
hinder
wildlife
conservation
Here,
we
integrate
cue-response
sensory
ecology
predator-prey
theory
predict
explain
variation
in
if,
when
how
animals
react
approaching
Inspired
by
literature
prey
predation
risk,
this
considers
both
fire-naïve
fire-adapted
follows
three
key
steps:
vigilance,
cue
detection
response.
We
draw
from
vigilance
tradeoffs,
signal
detection,
speed-accuracy
fear
generalization,
neophobia
adaptive
dispersal.
discuss
evolutionary
history
with
but
also
other
selective
pressures,
such
as
should
influence
conclude
providing
guidance
empiricists
outlining
potential
applications.
Ornithological Applications,
Год журнала:
2023,
Номер
125(3)
Опубликована: Май 29, 2023
Abstract
Birds
must
contend
with
an
array
of
anthropogenic
threats
during
their
migratory
journeys.
Many
migrants
are
killed
due
to
encounters
artificial
light,
introduced
species,
pollutants,
and
other
hazards,
while
survivors
these
can
suffer
longer-lasting
negative
effects.
The
nonlethal
effects
on
migrating
birds
less
well
understood
than
direct
mortality,
yet
both
potentially
contribute
population
declines.
For
example,
building
collisions
frequently
kill
birds,
but
the
numbers
that
survive
impaired
ability
fly,
refuel,
or
navigate
destination
time
is
not
understood.
Though
immediately
fatal,
such
injuries
lead
delayed
mortality
and,
ultimately,
reduced
lifetime
reproductive
success.
Furthermore,
likely
encounter
multiple
journeys,
which
interact
synergistically
further
reduce
fitness.
instance,
light
pollution
attracts
disorients
migrants,
increasing
likelihood
window
strikes,
surviving
may
be
more
vulnerable
predation
from
predators.
While
considerable
attention
has
focused
lethal
threats,
here,
we
review
eight
types
migration,
interactions,
pathways
through
they
exert
fitness
costs.
In
doing
so,
identify
knowledge
gaps
suggest
areas
for
future
research.
absence
information,
propose
greatest
reduction
in
cumulative
impacts
hazards
will
achieved
by
addressing
threat
types,
like
at
night,
compound
impact
additional
threats.
Direct
sources
recognized
as
a
key
driver
declines,
full
understanding
human
activity
include
interacting
extend
beyond
immediate
en
route
influence
overall
migration
success