Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat

Michelle Ward; Ayesha I.T. Tulloch; James Q. Radford; Brooke A. Williams; April E. Reside; Stewart L. Macdonald; Helen J. Mayfield; Martine Maron; Hugh P. Possingham; Samantha J. Vine; James L. O’Connor; Emily J. Massingham; Aaron C. Greenville; John C.Z. Woinarski; Stephen T. Garnett; Mark Lintermans; Ben C. Scheele; Josie Carwardine; Dale G. Nimmo; David B. Lindenmayer; Robert M. Kooyman; Jeremy S. Simmonds; Laura J. Sonter; James E.M. Watson

doi:10.1038/s41559-020-1251-1

Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat

Michelle Ward, Ayesha I.T. Tulloch, James Q. Radford, Brooke A. Williams, April E. Reside, Stewart L. Macdonald, Helen J. Mayfield, Martine Maron, Hugh P. Possingham, Samantha J. Vine, James L. O’Connor, Emily J. Massingham, Aaron C. Greenville, John C.Z. Woinarski, Stephen T. Garnett, Mark Lintermans, Ben C. Scheele, Josie Carwardine, Dale G. Nimmo, David B. LindenmayerRobert M. Kooyman, Jeremy S. Simmonds, Laura J. Sonter, James E.M. Watson

CDU College of Engineering, IT and Environment

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

Abstract

Australia’s 2019–2020 mega-fires were exacerbated by drought, anthropogenic climate change and existing land-use management. Here, using a combination of remotely sensed data and species distribution models, we found these fires burnt ~97,000 km² of vegetation across southern and eastern Australia, which is considered habitat for 832 species of native vertebrate fauna. Seventy taxa had a substantial proportion (>30%) of habitat impacted; 21 of these were already listed as threatened with extinction. To avoid further species declines, Australia must urgently reassess the extinction vulnerability of fire-impacted species and assist the recovery of populations in both burnt and unburnt areas. Population recovery requires multipronged strategies aimed at ameliorating current and fire-induced threats, including proactively protecting unburnt habitats.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	1321-1326
Number of pages	6
Journal	Nature Ecology and Evolution
Volume	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1251-1
Publication status	Published - 20 Jul 2020

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Ward, M., Tulloch, A. I. T., Radford, J. Q., Williams, B. A., Reside, A. E., Macdonald, S. L., Mayfield, H. J., Maron, M., Possingham, H. P., Vine, S. J., O’Connor, J. L., Massingham, E. J., Greenville, A. C., Woinarski, J. C. Z., Garnett, S. T., Lintermans, M., Scheele, B. C., Carwardine, J., Nimmo, D. G., ... Watson, J. E. M. (2020). Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat. Nature Ecology and Evolution, 4, 1321-1326. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1251-1

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title = "Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat",

abstract = "Australia{\textquoteright}s 2019–2020 mega-fires were exacerbated by drought, anthropogenic climate change and existing land-use management. Here, using a combination of remotely sensed data and species distribution models, we found these fires burnt ~97,000 km2 of vegetation across southern and eastern Australia, which is considered habitat for 832 species of native vertebrate fauna. Seventy taxa had a substantial proportion (>30%) of habitat impacted; 21 of these were already listed as threatened with extinction. To avoid further species declines, Australia must urgently reassess the extinction vulnerability of fire-impacted species and assist the recovery of populations in both burnt and unburnt areas. Population recovery requires multipronged strategies aimed at ameliorating current and fire-induced threats, including proactively protecting unburnt habitats.",

author = "Michelle Ward and Tulloch, {Ayesha I.T.} and Radford, {James Q.} and Williams, {Brooke A.} and Reside, {April E.} and Macdonald, {Stewart L.} and Mayfield, {Helen J.} and Martine Maron and Possingham, {Hugh P.} and Vine, {Samantha J.} and O{\textquoteright}Connor, {James L.} and Massingham, {Emily J.} and Greenville, {Aaron C.} and Woinarski, {John C.Z.} and Garnett, {Stephen T.} and Mark Lintermans and Scheele, {Ben C.} and Josie Carwardine and Nimmo, {Dale G.} and Lindenmayer, {David B.} and Kooyman, {Robert M.} and Simmonds, {Jeremy S.} and Sonter, {Laura J.} and Watson, {James E.M.}",

year = "2020",

month = jul,

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doi = "10.1038/s41559-020-1251-1",

language = "English",

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Ward, M, Tulloch, AIT, Radford, JQ, Williams, BA, Reside, AE, Macdonald, SL, Mayfield, HJ, Maron, M, Possingham, HP, Vine, SJ, O’Connor, JL, Massingham, EJ, Greenville, AC, Woinarski, JCZ , Garnett, ST, Lintermans, M, Scheele, BC, Carwardine, J, Nimmo, DG, Lindenmayer, DB, Kooyman, RM, Simmonds, JS, Sonter, LJ & Watson, JEM 2020, 'Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat', Nature Ecology and Evolution, vol. 4, pp. 1321-1326. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-1251-1

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AU - Ward, Michelle

AU - Tulloch, Ayesha I.T.

AU - Radford, James Q.

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AU - Reside, April E.

AU - Macdonald, Stewart L.

AU - Mayfield, Helen J.

AU - Maron, Martine

AU - Possingham, Hugh P.

AU - Vine, Samantha J.

AU - O’Connor, James L.

AU - Massingham, Emily J.

AU - Greenville, Aaron C.

AU - Woinarski, John C.Z.

AU - Garnett, Stephen T.

AU - Lintermans, Mark

AU - Scheele, Ben C.

AU - Carwardine, Josie

AU - Nimmo, Dale G.

AU - Lindenmayer, David B.

AU - Kooyman, Robert M.

AU - Simmonds, Jeremy S.

AU - Sonter, Laura J.

AU - Watson, James E.M.

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AB - Australia’s 2019–2020 mega-fires were exacerbated by drought, anthropogenic climate change and existing land-use management. Here, using a combination of remotely sensed data and species distribution models, we found these fires burnt ~97,000 km2 of vegetation across southern and eastern Australia, which is considered habitat for 832 species of native vertebrate fauna. Seventy taxa had a substantial proportion (>30%) of habitat impacted; 21 of these were already listed as threatened with extinction. To avoid further species declines, Australia must urgently reassess the extinction vulnerability of fire-impacted species and assist the recovery of populations in both burnt and unburnt areas. Population recovery requires multipronged strategies aimed at ameliorating current and fire-induced threats, including proactively protecting unburnt habitats.

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Impact of 2019–2020 mega-fires on Australian fauna habitat

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