6/21/2011. EcoFire Update. Research into its effectiveness for biodiversity. AWC in northern Australia

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Erika Johnson
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1 EcoFire Update Research into its effectiveness for biodiversity AWC in northern Australia 1

Extensive, frequent fires damage biodiversity: Simplifies the structure and species composition of woodlands Less flowering and fruiting Fewer seeds, poorer germination Less recruitment Higher tree

2 Extensive, frequent fires damage biodiversity: Simplifies the structure and species composition of woodlands Less flowering and fruiting Fewer seeds, poorer germination Less recruitment Higher tree mortality Fewer tree hollows More open canopy Different grasses More weeds More bare ground and erosion Species that depend on these resources are affected Extensive, intense fires remove pasture for cattle 2

3 Extensive, intense fires damage cultural sites Frequent extensive fires Pop health of Gouldian Finches Pop exposed to small infrequent fires Pop exposed to extensive, frequent fires 3

Fire extent Big fires = less mammals Abundance mean individuals +SE per site 25 20 15 10 5 0 6 unburnt unburnt Cleanskin Pocket North

4 Fire extent Big fires = less mammals Abundance mean individuals +SE per site unburnt unburnt Cleanskin Pocket North Mornington 6 burnt Legge et al (2008) Wildlife Research Mornington, Kimberley Kimberley fires DWARF single properties Need a cross boundary approach 4

5 HOW ECOFIRE WORKS Relies on a prescribed burn program coordinated across property boundaries Planning carried out with pastoralists and indigenous communities before each burning season 5

6 Implementation is mainly aerial incendiary, and involves pastoralists and TOs 6

7 Implementation includes on ground burning around key ecological and infrastructure assets, especially by communities 7

Fire tracks 2010 52,500 incendiaries 24,000 km flown A greater proportion of the annual fires occur in the early dry season (ie before the end of June) proportion

8 Fire tracks ,500 incendiaries 24,000 km flown A greater proportion of the annual fires occur in the early dry season (ie before the end of June) proportion EcoFire area burnt pre-ecofire EcoFire proportion of fires early in dry season year 8

9 Fire patterns Shift in seasonality and dispersion Prescribed burning in the early dry season (53 % thorough) Versus Uncontrolled fire in the late dry season (96 % thorough) 9

800 pre-ecofire EcoFire distance between unburnt patches (m) 700 600

10 800 pre-ecofire EcoFire distance between unburnt patches (m) year 2011 tracks to end of May 10

11 Northern Australia is still relatively intact Trees are still standing, water is unregulated 11

12 The paradox: Intact, but species declining Seed eating birds Fire sensitive plants Riparian/Rainforest Mammals Gouldian finch nationally endangered Over 25% of seed eating bird species in the tropics have declined Gouldian finch Present distribution O Malley (2006) Rec Plan Gouldian Finch Former distribution 12

1996 2008 This pattern is replicated at several other sites, and across all tenures (national parks, aboriginal

13 Mammals over half of the northern species have declined Example: Golden backed Tree rat Retracted to the northwest coast of the Kimberley Menkhorst &Knight (2010) Mammals of Australia Kakadu small mammal monitoring; This pattern is replicated at several other sites, and across all tenures (national parks, aboriginal land, pastoral land) Woinarski et al 2010 Wildlife Research Woinarski, Legge, Fitzsimmons et al 2011 Conservation Letters 13

herbivores (cattle, donkeys, pigs, etc) Predation by Feral cats Weeds 1.

14 Why are species declining?? Major threatening processes in N Aust: Changes in Fire Patterns Introduced herbivores (cattle, donkeys, pigs, etc) Predation by Feral cats Weeds 1. Large herbivores Ubiquitous across the north Impacts unknown In 2004/5: Strategic fencing then mustering cleared over 40,000 ha of cattle, horses, and donkeys in

15 Remove large herbivores Abundance and richness of small mammals increases Abundance Species Richness Legge et al (2011) Austral Ecology Small mammals From 2010, surveyed at 125 sites on 6 properties c. 17,500 trap nights High and low rainfall Cattle present/absent Deep fire history good / bad 15

Small mammals Frequent extensive fires reduce mammal

Mornington Ground dwellers Brown Quail 4 nos.

waterholes sampled Brown Quail (mean + SE at waterhole)

16 Small mammals Frequent extensive fires reduce mammal richness and abundance Monitoring sensitive species on Mornington Ground dwellers Brown Quail 4 nos. above bars = no. waterholes sampled Brown Quail (mean + SE at waterhole) Year GLM (negative binomial): F 1,502 = 5.26; p =

17 What is the impact from feral cats? Very hard to trap, bait and census Trapping feral cats 17

18 Satellite tracking feral cats 18

19 Nine cats subsequently collared Strategically placed early burns So far, no usage of these burns Preliminary results but could be indicative of increased pressure from feral cats in late season fires 19

Kija Fire and Finch Project. Planning for Gouldian Finch Conservation in the East Kimberley Region. WWF-Australia Kija Fire and Finch Project

Kija Fire and Finch Project. Planning for Gouldian Finch Conservation in the East Kimberley Region. WWF-Australia Kija Fire and Finch Project Kija Fire and Finch Project Planning for Gouldian Finch Conservation in the East Kimberley Region WWF-Australia Kija Fire and Finch Project 1 Written by Brydie Hill GIS Analysis by Felicity Watt Edited