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Ecosystem Responses to Fire: Identifying Cross-taxa Contrasts and Complementarities to Inform Management Strategies

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Abstract

Changes in fire frequency, extent, and intensity mean that understanding the effects of fire on plants and animals is a primary concern for ecologists and land managers. Given the potentially conflicting fire responses of species both within and across taxonomic groups, prescribing fire regimes based on the response of one or only a few species may have negative consequences for other species. Here, we integrate data collected from a series of independent but complementary studies spanning a 75 + year chronosequence in a semi-arid shrubland ecosystem in south-western Australia to consider how fire management can best promote biodiversity both within and across taxonomic groups (plants, birds, small mammals, and reptiles). Younger fire ages (6–14 years) contained sparse shrubs, large areas of bare ground, and lacked a distinct litter layer and canopy. The oldest vegetation (60–85 years) had a distinct canopy, a well-developed litter layer and cryptogamic crust, higher variability in patch width, and more woody debris. Plant species richness and diversity decreased with time since fire, whereas bird species richness and diversity increased with time since fire, and mammal and reptile species richness and diversity showed no trend. The composition of all four taxonomic groups varied according to time since fire and the presence of 11 species was confined above or below certain fire-age thresholds. Our results support the need to maintain a mix of both younger and older fire ages across the landscape to maximise species diversity, and highlight the particular importance of older fire ages for many species. Future fire management for biodiversity conservation will benefit from identifying and reconciling cross-taxa contrasts and complementarities.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Bush Heritage Australia, Earthwatch Institute Australia, Edith Cowan University, the Gunduwa Regional Conservation Association, and the Holsworth Wildlife Research Endowment for funding this work. Bush Heritage staff, Earthwatch staff, and countless volunteers are thanked for their help with fieldwork. Bush Heritage Australia, the Australian Wildlife Conservancy, and Wanarra station are thanked for providing access to their properties, logistical support, resources, and/or advice. We thank Don Driscoll and two anonymous reviewers for their comments on earlier versions of this manuscript, and Carly Monks for her advice regarding Aboriginal occupation of the region. Animal survey methods were approved by the Edith Cowan University Animal Ethics Committee (5630, 8501, 11226).

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Correspondence to Tim S. Doherty.

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Tim S. Doherty conceived the idea and led data analysis and manuscript writing; Tim S. Doherty, Chris Knuckey, and Eddie J. B. van Etten analysed the data; all authors contributed to study design, data collection, and manuscript writing.

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Doherty, T.S., van Etten, E.J.B., Davis, R.A. et al. Ecosystem Responses to Fire: Identifying Cross-taxa Contrasts and Complementarities to Inform Management Strategies. Ecosystems 20, 872–884 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10021-016-0082-z

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