Implications of the 2019–2020 megafires for the biogeography and conservation of Australian vegetation

Abstract

Australia’s 2019–2020 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires burnt more than 8 million hectares of vegetation across the south-east of the continent, an event unprecedented in the last 200 years. Here we report the impacts of these fires on vascular plant species and communities. Using a map of the fires generated from remotely sensed hotspot data we show that, across 11 Australian bioregions, 17 major native vegetation groups were severely burnt, and up to 67–83% of globally significant rainforests and eucalypt forests and woodlands. Based on geocoded species occurrence data we estimate that >50% of known populations or ranges of 816 native vascular plant species were burnt during the fires, including more than 100 species with geographic ranges more than 500 km across. Habitat and fire response data show that most affected species are resilient to fire. However, the massive biogeographic, demographic and taxonomic breadth of impacts of the 2019–2020 fires may leave some ecosystems, particularly relictual Gondwanan rainforests, susceptible to regeneration failure and landscape-scale decline.

Smoke health costs and the calculus for wildfires fuel management: a modelling study

“…19 Between October, 2019, and February, 2020, the eastern seaboard of Australia was affected by an unprecedented fire season, with more than 7 million hectares of Eucalyptus forests burned causing harm to biodiversity and substantial carbon emissions. 24,25 The fires caused harm to human populations through the destruction of more than 3000 homes, 33 direct deaths, widespread social trauma, and chronic smoke pollution. 24 The state of New South Wales, Australia, was the most affected, and estimates show that the PM 2•5 that covered the state during this period probably translated into an additional 200 deaths, 1600 hospital admissions, and 700 asthma emergency department visits, with health costs of more than AU$1 billion.…”

Ecological consequences of Australian “Black Summer” (2019–20) fires: A synthesis of Australian Commonwealth Government report findings

“…Across 11 diverse bioregions, 17 major native vegetation groups were severely burnt, including up to 67%-83% of globally significant rainforests and eucalypt forests and woodlands (Godfree et al, 2021). It is estimated that more than 50% of known populations or ranges of 816 native vascular plant species were highly impacted by the fires (Godfree et al, 2021).…”

Effects of natural nest temperatures on sex reversal and sex ratios in an Australian alpine skink

“…Due to a limited time frame and logistical constraints (significant bush fires in the field locations and adjacent areas 25 ), we conducted fieldwork at Piccadilly Circus only during 2017/18 (first season). During the subsequent season of 2018/19, we completed fieldwork at all four sites.…”