UTas Pyroherbivory and the nexus between Aboriginal fire mosaics and kangaroos

There is concern that the cessation of Aboriginal patch burning is causing savanna kangaroo populations to decline across northern Australia. Surveys will determine if fire regime (frequency, extent, season) affects kangaroo distribution and abundance, and use experiments to discover how the season of burning influences forage quality and quantity, and the degree non-native large herbivores compete with kangaroos for forage. This research will enable contrasting of the effects of traditional Aboriginal and contemporary fire management on kangaroo abundance, lead to improvements in tropical savanna fire management and determine if patch burning can be used for ecological restoration in areas where this type of fire management has ceased.