Fire and its interactions with other drivers shape a distinctive, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystem
- Clarke, Michael, Kelly, Luke, Avitabile, Sarah, Benshemesh, Joe, Westbrooke, Martin
- Authors: Clarke, Michael , Kelly, Luke , Avitabile, Sarah , Benshemesh, Joe , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 9, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire shapes ecosystems globally, including semi-arid ecosystems. In Australia, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystems occur primarily across the southern part of the continent, forming an interface between the arid interior and temperate south. Mallee vegetation is characterized by short, multi-stemmed eucalypts that grow from a basal lignotuber. Fire shapes the structure and functioning of mallee ecosystems. Using the Murray Mallee region in south-eastern Australia as a case study, we examine the characteristics and role of fire, the consequences for biota, and the interaction of fire with other drivers. Wildfires in mallee ecosystems typically are large (1000s ha), burn with high severity, commonly cause top-kill of eucalypts, and create coarse-grained mosaics at a regional scale. Wildfires can occur in late spring and summer in both dry and wet years. Recovery of plant and animal communities is predictable and slow, with regeneration of eucalypts and many habitat components extending over decades. Time since the last fire strongly influences the distribution and abundance of many species and the structure of plant and animal communities. Animal species display a discrete set of generalized responses to time since fire. Systematic field studies and modeling are beginning to reveal how spatial variation in fire regimes (‘pyrodiversity’) at different scales shapes biodiversity. Pyrodiversity includes variation in the extent of post-fire habitats, the diversity of post-fire age-classes and their configuration. At regional scales, a desirable mix of fire histories for biodiversity conservation includes a combination of early, mid and late post-fire age-classes, weighted toward later seral stages that provide critical habitat for threatened species. Biodiversity is also influenced by interactions between fire and other drivers, including land clearing, rainfall, herbivory and predation. Extensive clearing for agriculture has altered the nature and impact of fire, and facilitated invasion by pest species that modify fuels, fire regimes and post-fire recovery. Given the natural and anthropogenic drivers of fire and the consequences of their interactions, we highlight opportunities for conserving mallee ecosystems. These include learning from and fostering Indigenous knowledge of fire, implementing actions that consider synergies between fire and other processes, and strategic monitoring of fire, biodiversity and other drivers to guide place-based, adaptive management under climate change. © Copyright © 2021 Clarke, Kelly, Avitabile, Benshemesh, Callister, Driscoll, Ewin, Giljohann, Haslem, Kenny, Leonard, Ritchie, Nimmo, Schedvin, Schneider, Watson, Westbrooke, White, Wouters and Bennett. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Martin Westbrooke” is provided in this record**
- Authors: Clarke, Michael , Kelly, Luke , Avitabile, Sarah , Benshemesh, Joe , Westbrooke, Martin
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 9, no. (2021), p.
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: Fire shapes ecosystems globally, including semi-arid ecosystems. In Australia, semi-arid ‘mallee’ ecosystems occur primarily across the southern part of the continent, forming an interface between the arid interior and temperate south. Mallee vegetation is characterized by short, multi-stemmed eucalypts that grow from a basal lignotuber. Fire shapes the structure and functioning of mallee ecosystems. Using the Murray Mallee region in south-eastern Australia as a case study, we examine the characteristics and role of fire, the consequences for biota, and the interaction of fire with other drivers. Wildfires in mallee ecosystems typically are large (1000s ha), burn with high severity, commonly cause top-kill of eucalypts, and create coarse-grained mosaics at a regional scale. Wildfires can occur in late spring and summer in both dry and wet years. Recovery of plant and animal communities is predictable and slow, with regeneration of eucalypts and many habitat components extending over decades. Time since the last fire strongly influences the distribution and abundance of many species and the structure of plant and animal communities. Animal species display a discrete set of generalized responses to time since fire. Systematic field studies and modeling are beginning to reveal how spatial variation in fire regimes (‘pyrodiversity’) at different scales shapes biodiversity. Pyrodiversity includes variation in the extent of post-fire habitats, the diversity of post-fire age-classes and their configuration. At regional scales, a desirable mix of fire histories for biodiversity conservation includes a combination of early, mid and late post-fire age-classes, weighted toward later seral stages that provide critical habitat for threatened species. Biodiversity is also influenced by interactions between fire and other drivers, including land clearing, rainfall, herbivory and predation. Extensive clearing for agriculture has altered the nature and impact of fire, and facilitated invasion by pest species that modify fuels, fire regimes and post-fire recovery. Given the natural and anthropogenic drivers of fire and the consequences of their interactions, we highlight opportunities for conserving mallee ecosystems. These include learning from and fostering Indigenous knowledge of fire, implementing actions that consider synergies between fire and other processes, and strategic monitoring of fire, biodiversity and other drivers to guide place-based, adaptive management under climate change. © Copyright © 2021 Clarke, Kelly, Avitabile, Benshemesh, Callister, Driscoll, Ewin, Giljohann, Haslem, Kenny, Leonard, Ritchie, Nimmo, Schedvin, Schneider, Watson, Westbrooke, White, Wouters and Bennett. **Please note that there are multiple authors for this article therefore only the name of the first 5 including Federation University Australia affiliate “Martin Westbrooke” is provided in this record**
- Bist, Bhuwan, Ghimire, Prashant, Nishan, K., Poudel, Buddi, Wright, Wendy
- Authors: Bist, Bhuwan , Ghimire, Prashant , Nishan, K. , Poudel, Buddi , Wright, Wendy
- Date: 2021
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Biodiversity and Conservation Vol. 30, no. 13 (2021), p. 3763-3790
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Nepal is a global biodiversity hotspot, supporting 213 mammal species with diverse habitats across various landscape types, from the lowland Terai to the high Himalayas. Studies of Nepal’s mammalian fauna are not evenly distributed and better understanding of past biases towards some species, research themes and locations can provide better strategic direction for future research investments. Therefore, we reviewed 575 scientific articles on mammals in Nepal, published between 2000 and 2019 and compiled these in March 2020, to examine trends, patterns and gaps, and pave future plans for mammalian research in Nepal. A positive increase in the number of publications (β = 0.27 ± 0.02SD, P < 0.00) was observed, with a more than threefold increase between 2010 and 2019 compared to 2000–2009 (t = − 6.26, df = 12.21, P < 0.000). Analysis of these documents revealed that mammalian researches favored large flagship, threatened species of carnivores inside Nepal’s protected area system. Geographically, mammalian research was not uniform in Nepal, as most studies were concentrated in Bagmati Province and in the Terai and Chure region. Baseline surveys and ecological studies were more common types of research, while studies on the impact of climate change and wildlife trade and poaching, are scant, which deserves a future look. While these studies shape current mammalogy in Nepal, studies of small, uncharismatic species, and in areas outside protected areas and other provinces except Bagmati, Lumbini and Province One are severely lacking. The research identified habitat loss, degradation and human-wildlife conflict as the major threats to the survival of mammalian species in Nepal. Therefore, redesigning and strict implementation of policies based on habitat management and human-wildlife co-existence, including other threat mitigation measures, are warranted. To address knowledge gaps, the prioritization of future research and funding should be focused on relatively unexplored research themes and under-researched provinces. This approach will help to re-align the research focus with the current need, and assist to fully understand and effectively conserve the wealth of mammalian diversity that Nepal holds. © 2021, The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V. Correction to: Patterns and trends in two decades of research on Nepal’s mammalian fauna (2000–2019): examining the past for future implications (Biodiversity and Conservation, (2021), 30, 13, (3763-3790), 10.1007/s10531-021-02289-2) Biodiversity and Conservation, Volume 30, Issue 13, Pages 3791 - 3792, November 2021
Marine ecosystem assessment for the Southern Ocean : Birds and marine mammals in a changing climate
- Bestley, Sophie, Ropert-Coudert, Yan, Bengtson Nash, Susan, Brooks, Cassandra, Cotté, Cedric, Dewar, Meagan, Friedlaender, Ari, Jackson, Jennifer, Labrousse, Sara, Lowther, Andrew, McMahon, Clive, Phillips, Richard, Pistorius, Pierre, Puskic, Peter, Reis, Ana, Reisinger, Ryan, Santos, Mercedes, Tarszisz, Esther, Tixier, Paul, Trathan, Philip, Wege, Mia, Wienecke, Barbara
- Authors: Bestley, Sophie , Ropert-Coudert, Yan , Bengtson Nash, Susan , Brooks, Cassandra , Cotté, Cedric , Dewar, Meagan , Friedlaender, Ari , Jackson, Jennifer , Labrousse, Sara , Lowther, Andrew , McMahon, Clive , Phillips, Richard , Pistorius, Pierre , Puskic, Peter , Reis, Ana , Reisinger, Ryan , Santos, Mercedes , Tarszisz, Esther , Tixier, Paul , Trathan, Philip , Wege, Mia , Wienecke, Barbara
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 8, no. (2020), p. 1-39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The massive number of seabirds (penguins and procellariiformes) and marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) – referred to here as top predators – is one of the most iconic components of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They play an important role as highly mobile consumers, structuring and connecting pelagic marine food webs and are widely studied relative to other taxa. Many birds and mammals establish dense breeding colonies or use haul-out sites, making them relatively easy to study. Cetaceans, however, spend their lives at sea and thus aspects of their life cycle are more complicated to monitor and study. Nevertheless, they all feed at sea and their reproductive success depends on the food availability in the marine environment, hence they are considered useful indicators of the state of the marine resources. In general, top predators have large body sizes that allow for instrumentation with miniature data-recording or transmitting devices to monitor their activities at sea. Development of scientific techniques to study reproduction and foraging of top predators has led to substantial scientific literature on their population trends, key biological parameters, migratory patterns, foraging and feeding ecology, and linkages with atmospheric or oceanographic dynamics, for a number of species and regions. We briefly summarize the vast literature on Southern Ocean top predators, focusing on the most recent syntheses. We also provide an overview on the key current and emerging pressures faced by these animals as a result of both natural and human causes. We recognize the overarching impact that environmental changes driven by climate change have on the ecology of these species. We also evaluate direct and indirect interactions between marine predators and other factors such as disease, pollution, land disturbance and the increasing pressure from global fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Where possible we consider the data availability for assessing the status and trends for each of these components, their capacity for resilience or recovery, effectiveness of management responses, risk likelihood of key impacts and future outlook. © Copyright © 2020 Bestley, Ropert-Coudert, Bengtson Nash, Brooks, Cotté, Dewar, Friedlaender, Jackson, Labrousse, Lowther, McMahon, Phillips, Pistorius, Puskic, Reis, Reisinger, Santos, Tarszisz, Tixier, Trathan, Wege and Wienecke.
- Authors: Bestley, Sophie , Ropert-Coudert, Yan , Bengtson Nash, Susan , Brooks, Cassandra , Cotté, Cedric , Dewar, Meagan , Friedlaender, Ari , Jackson, Jennifer , Labrousse, Sara , Lowther, Andrew , McMahon, Clive , Phillips, Richard , Pistorius, Pierre , Puskic, Peter , Reis, Ana , Reisinger, Ryan , Santos, Mercedes , Tarszisz, Esther , Tixier, Paul , Trathan, Philip , Wege, Mia , Wienecke, Barbara
- Date: 2020
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution Vol. 8, no. (2020), p. 1-39
- Full Text:
- Reviewed:
- Description: The massive number of seabirds (penguins and procellariiformes) and marine mammals (cetaceans and pinnipeds) – referred to here as top predators – is one of the most iconic components of the Antarctic and Southern Ocean. They play an important role as highly mobile consumers, structuring and connecting pelagic marine food webs and are widely studied relative to other taxa. Many birds and mammals establish dense breeding colonies or use haul-out sites, making them relatively easy to study. Cetaceans, however, spend their lives at sea and thus aspects of their life cycle are more complicated to monitor and study. Nevertheless, they all feed at sea and their reproductive success depends on the food availability in the marine environment, hence they are considered useful indicators of the state of the marine resources. In general, top predators have large body sizes that allow for instrumentation with miniature data-recording or transmitting devices to monitor their activities at sea. Development of scientific techniques to study reproduction and foraging of top predators has led to substantial scientific literature on their population trends, key biological parameters, migratory patterns, foraging and feeding ecology, and linkages with atmospheric or oceanographic dynamics, for a number of species and regions. We briefly summarize the vast literature on Southern Ocean top predators, focusing on the most recent syntheses. We also provide an overview on the key current and emerging pressures faced by these animals as a result of both natural and human causes. We recognize the overarching impact that environmental changes driven by climate change have on the ecology of these species. We also evaluate direct and indirect interactions between marine predators and other factors such as disease, pollution, land disturbance and the increasing pressure from global fisheries in the Southern Ocean. Where possible we consider the data availability for assessing the status and trends for each of these components, their capacity for resilience or recovery, effectiveness of management responses, risk likelihood of key impacts and future outlook. © Copyright © 2020 Bestley, Ropert-Coudert, Bengtson Nash, Brooks, Cotté, Dewar, Friedlaender, Jackson, Labrousse, Lowther, McMahon, Phillips, Pistorius, Puskic, Reis, Reisinger, Santos, Tarszisz, Tixier, Trathan, Wege and Wienecke.
Multivariate drivers of diversity in temperate Australian native grasslands
- Price, Jodi, Good, Megan, Schultz, Nick, Guja, Lydia, Morgan, John
- Authors: Price, Jodi , Good, Megan , Schultz, Nick , Guja, Lydia , Morgan, John
- Date: 2019
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Australian Journal of Botany Vol. 67, no. 5 (2019), p. 367-380
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Disturbance has been considered essential for maintaining biodiversity in temperate grassy ecosystems in Australia. This has been particularly well demonstrated for inter-tussock plant species in C-4 Themeda-dominated grasslands in mesic environments. Disturbance is also thought crucial to maintain the structure of preferred habitat for some animals. Relationships between disturbance and diversity may be contingent on ecosystem productivity, but little is known about the generality of the disturbance-promoting-diversity paradigm across the range of temperate grasslands. To date, the disturbance-promoting-diversity paradigm has taken a univariate approach to the drivers of biodiversity; rainfall is seen as a key driver of productivity, which then drives diversity, mediated by disturbance. We argue that this framework is too simplistic as biodiversity drivers are multivariate. We suggest that the accumulation of phytomass (live and dead plant material) is an important determinant of diversity in grassy ecosystems and that phytomass accumulation is governed by multiple drivers (of which disturbance is just one). For fauna, it is structure - not biomass - that determines habitat suitability, and this can be moderated by both abiotic and biotic drivers. The assumption that there is a consistent effect of disturbance on diversity through the range of temperate grassland settings in southern Australia ignores the likelihood that biodiversity also responds to other factors such as spatial heterogeneity in the environment, resource availability and climatic variation. We developed a conceptual model of the multivariate drivers of grassland diversity that explores mechanisms underpinning patterns of species richness. Despite four decades of research, it is clear that our understanding of the multivariate drivers of diversity across the range of temperate grasslands in Australia is still incomplete. Further research into the conditions under which disturbance is required to maintain biodiversity in grasslands is integral to conservation planning in these endangered systems.
- Holdgate, Guy, Sluiter, Ian, Taglieri, Jessica
- Authors: Holdgate, Guy , Sluiter, Ian , Taglieri, Jessica
- Date: 2017
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology Vol. 472, no. (2017), p. 236-255
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Australia's Gippsland Basin contains a semi-continuous Eocene-Oligocene (41.5–28.4 Ma) near-coastal coal record that formed adjacent to Pacific Ocean. Traralgon and Morwell Formation brown coals include 4 main seams (T2, T1, T0, M2). Coal seam palynology records show late Middle Eocene (T2) coals formed under megathermic conditions characterized by high-gymnosperm contents, Late Eocene (T1) coals formed under mesothermic conditions characterized by reduced-gymnosperm contents and earliest indications of palaeoclimate cooling. Earliest Oligocene T0 coal record (33.9–31.5 Ma) contains high-gymnosperm palynology profile, very similar to the T2 coals. The earliest indication of cooler climes only begins after this coal formed as indicated by low-gymnosperm high-Nothofagus (southern beech) pollen proportions. We suggest in Gippsland the earliest evidence for major glacial cooling (by inference the Oi1 event) be placed immediately above the T0 coal seam where Early to Late Oligocene Morwell Formation sands, clays and coals contain low counts of gymnosperms (< 10%) but high average proportions of Nothofagus (50%). This is the main definitive indicator that palaeoclimates had cooled between the Eocene and Oligocene. This agrees with the current ocean drilling position of the earliest (Oi1) glacial event shortly above the Eocene-Oligocene boundary. A number of contemporaneous Middle to Late Eocene brown coals occurred in near-coastal settings across 1200 km of southern Australia. Palaeogeographically, all these coal basins faced the Australo-Antarctic Gulf and have a much lower gymnosperm proportion (< 10%), low Nothofagus proportion (< 10%), but very high (non-Nothofagus) angiosperms proportion. This suggests a different climatic regime separated a cooler and wetter Gippsland Basin flora that responded to the cooler Proto-Ross Sea Gyre rotating around a wide Pacific Ocean, and a warm-wet climate associated with a warm proto-Leeuwin current of the Australo-Antarctic Gulf. © 2017 Elsevier B.V.
- Szabo, Judit, Choi, Chi-Yeung, Clemens, Robert, Hansen, Birgita
- Authors: Szabo, Judit , Choi, Chi-Yeung , Clemens, Robert , Hansen, Birgita
- Date: 2016
- Type: Text , Journal article , Review
- Relation: Emu Vol. 116, no. 2 (2016), p. 215-221
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Globally, populations of migratory shorebirds are threatened and declining rapidly. This is especially true for those using the East Asian-Australasian Flyway (EAAF), where loss of intertidal mudflats in crucial staging areas, especially around the Yellow Sea, is considered to be the primary driver of declines. The conservation of migratory shorebirds faces considerable challenges, including competing demands on wetland habitats, compounded by differing economic priorities, jurisdictions and attitudes towards wildlife among the countries along shorebird migratory routes. A key aspect of addressing these challenges is to protect more habitat and improve management of shorebird habitat, both in protected and unprotected areas. This ultimately requires stronger commitments from national governments, for instance by enforcing and strengthening multilateral and bilateral agreements. However, economic drivers for development Erode the effectiveness of these policy tools. Here, we highlight the socio-political approaches needed to ensure implementation of conservation actions. The success of these actions will hinge on stronger engagement of citizens and governments in habitat protection and shorebird monitoring. One part of this strategy is to increase awareness in communities and governments of shorebird issues through international collaboration, knowledge sharing, capacity-building and support for local action (of both citizens and government officials). International actions mediated among flyway partners, for example bilateral agreements on the preservation of intertidal mudflats and co-funding to support this, are critical to halting shorebird population declines. © BirdLife Australia 2016.
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