Revegetation plantings have been established throughout the world to mitigate the effects of clearing, including loss of faunal habitat. Revegetation plantings can differ substantially in structural complexity and plant diversity, with potentially differing habitat qualities for fauna. We studied bird occurrence in revegetation of different complexity and floristics in southern Australia. We assessed bird species richness and composition in remnant forest and cleared agricultural land as reference points, and in two types of plantings differing in structure and floristics-(1) "woodlot plantings" composed of native trees only and (2) "ecological plantings" composed of many species of local trees, shrubs and understorey. By approximately 20 years of age, both types of plantings had a similar bird species richness to that in remnants. Bird species richness was greater in ecological plantings than woodlot plantings. Species composition also differed. Ecological plantings contained a shrub-associated bird assemblage, whereas woodlot plantings were dominated by generalist bird species. Remnants contained a unique bird assemblage, which were not found in either of the two types of plantings, suggesting that plantings are not a viable replacement of remnant vegetation over this time period. Bird species richness responded positively to structural complexity, but not to floristic richness. Bird species richness was greater in plantings that were older, in riparian locations, and where weed cover was lower. We conclude that plantings in general can provide habitat for many species of birds, and that structurally complex ecological plantings in particular will provide unique and valuable additional habitat for birds.
The principal ecosystem driver in arid Australia is unpredictable rainfall, but it is hypothesised that fire also plays an important role in determining the distribution of animals. We investigated the effect of fire on birds in mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland in the central Australian arid zone. The study was conducted at Uluru–Kata Tjuta National Park using 63 sites classified into one of three time-since-fire classes: burnt 2002; burnt 1976; and long-unburnt. Birds were sampled in the winter and spring of 2005 and 2006 and vegetation structure was measured at all sites. Vegetation structure varied with time-since-fire. The burnt 2002 treatment was an early seral stage of mulga woodland and effectively a grassland. The burnt 1976 and long-unburnt treatments were both woodland, but the long-unburnt treatment had greater canopy cover and height. The bird community in the burnt 2002 treatment was characterised by granivores, whereas that in the burnt 1976 and long-unburnt treatments was characterised by foliar insectivores. All species showed monotonic responses to time-since-fire (i.e. none were at significantly highest density in the burnt 1976 treatment). Fire in mulga woodland changed the vegetation structure and consequently also changed the composition of the bird communities.
Despite evident advances in knowledge and understanding concerning the application of prescribed burning for delivering benefits in wildfire control and a variety of sociocultural, economic and environmental outcomes, the practical application of prescribed burning in Australia is increasingly administratively and logistically complex, often controversial and climatically challenging. This series of papers does not address the merits or otherwise of prescribed burning – we accept the lessons from antiquity and recent history that the use of prescribed fire in contemporary Australia is essential for reducing, although not always being able to deliver on, wildfire risks and meeting a variety of societal and environmental needs. This special issue focuses on several fundamental adaptive management and monitoring questions: are we setting appropriate management targets? Can these targets and associated indicators be readily measured? Can we realistically deliver on those targets? And if so, what are the costs and/or trade-offs involved? The 10 solicited papers included here provide a sample illustration of the diversity of approaches currently being undertaken in different Australian regions to address complex adaptive management and monitoring challenges.
It is often assumed that a fine-scaled mosaic of different times-since-fire supports greater biodiversity than a coarsescaled
mosaic — the fire mosaic hypothesis. A potential mechanism of the fire mosaic hypothesis is the effect of area
on species diversity. We investigated the effect of patch area on bird communities in mulga (Acacia aneura) woodland
in central Australia. The study was conducted at Uluru Kata-Tjuta National Park using 55 fixed-area sites classified to
the time since last fire: burnt 2002; burnt 1976 and long unburnt. Birds were surveyed in the winter and spring of 2005
and 2006. Of 20 key species, two showed a positive density-area effect (i.e. higher density in larger patches). Patch
area did not affect total bird density or species richness. However, species turnover (ß-diversity) was greater in large
patches in the burnt 2002 treatment than it was in small patches. There was no effect of patch area on the composition
of the bird communities in any of the time-since-fire classes. We concluded that patch area did affect the distribution
of some birds in mulga woodland. However, patch area was not a mechanism of the fire mosaic hypothesis because
the effects of patch size tended to increase avian diversity in larger patches rather than small.
THE management system that this book describes
— Western Arnhem Land Fire Abatement (WALFA)
— is run by scientists and anthropologists, is
informed by a vigorous research agenda and is aimed
at empowering Indigenous management of the
northern savannas by re-establishing a dialogue of
traditional Indigenous fire management. The
program might be best described as a hybrid fire
experiment/management operation which seeks to
provide worthwhile employment for traditional
owners by generating income through emission
trading, carbon storage, ecosystem services and
biodiversity conservation. It is hoped that the process
will combat Indigenous disadvantage and at the same
time allow the re-establishment and enhancement of
people’s connections to country. In my opinion, the
key to the success of this innovative, transdisciplinary
program is the willingness of the researchers
(scientific, social and policy) to integrate the research
process with management. It is perhaps only possible
to make this happen without a crippling bureaucratic
burden in the remote regions of Australia, but
nonetheless hearty congratulations are due for their
successes. The publication is a great legacy for the
resilience and commitment required over many years
to reach this stage.
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