We found a match
Your institution may have rights to this item. Sign in to continue.
- Title
Frameworks for identifying priority plants and ecosystems most impacted by major fires.
- Authors
Auld, Tony D.; Keith, David A.; Gallagher, Rachael V.; Tozer, Mark; Ooi, Mark K. J.; Le Breton, Tom; Allen, Stuart; Yates, Colin; van Leeuwen, Stephen; Williams, Richard J.; Mackenzie, Berin D. E.
- Abstract
Globally, many species and ecosystems are experiencing landscape-scale wildfires ('megafires') and these events are predicted to increase in frequency and severity as the climate warms. Consequently, the capability to rapidly assess the likely impacts of such large fires and identify potential risks they pose to the persistence of species and ecosystems is vital for effective conservation management. In this review, we propose novel frameworks to identify which plant species and ecosystems are most in need of management actions as a result of megafires. We do this by assessing the impacts of a fire event on plants and ecosystems in the context of the whole fire regime (current fire event combined with recent fire history) and its interactions with other threatening processes, rather than simply considering the amount of habitat burnt. The frameworks are based on a combination of key species' traits related to mechanisms of decline, components of the fire regime that are most likely to have adverse impacts on species or ecosystem recovery, and biotic and environmental factors that may amplify fire impacts or pose barriers to post-fire recovery. We applied these frameworks to guide management priorities and responses following the extensive 2019/2020 fires in southern Australia, and we illustrate their application here via a series of worked examples that highlight the various mechanisms of post-fire decline the frameworks address. The frameworks should be applicable to a broader range of fire-prone biomes worldwide. Our approach will (1) promote the development of foundational national datasets for assessing megafire impacts on biodiversity, (2) identify targeted priority actions for conservation, (3) inform planning for future fires (both prescribed burning and wildfire suppression), and (4) build awareness and understanding of the potential breadth of factors that threaten plants and ecosystems under changing fire regimes. The occurrence of large-scale fires is increasing globally. Adverse impacts of these fires on plants and ecosystems can be significant without rapid management responses. We developed novel predictive frameworks to identify the species and vegetation types in most urgent need of post-fire intervention to promote successful recovery after such megafires. The frameworks described here are applicable to major fire events in a diverse range of biomes across the world.
- Publication
Australian Journal of Botany, 2022, Vol 70, Issue 7, p455
- ISSN
0067-1924
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1071/BT22009