Grazing and fire in two subalpine peatlands

McDougall, Keith L.

doi:10.1071/bt06096

Cited by 23 publications

(20 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…Fire in some alpine environments may have long-lasting effects on some vegetation types, such as coniferous heaths in Tasmania (Kirkpatrick et al 2010), and hygrophilous shrubs that occur in Sphagnum wetlands (McDougall 2007). Fire in some alpine environments may have long-lasting effects on some vegetation types, such as coniferous heaths in Tasmania (Kirkpatrick et al 2010), and hygrophilous shrubs that occur in Sphagnum wetlands (McDougall 2007).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐fire regeneration in alpine heathland: Does fire severity matter?

et al. 2012

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Fire severity is thought to be an important determinant of landscape patterns of post-fire regeneration, yet there have been few studies of the effects of variation in fire severity at landscape scales on floristic diversity and composition, and none within alpine vegetation. Understanding how fire severity affects alpine vegetation is important because fire is relatively infrequent in alpine environments. Globally, alpine ecosystems are at risk from climate change, which, in addition to warming, is likely to increase the severity and frequency of fire in southeastern Australia. Here we examine the effects of variation in fire severity on plant diversity and vegetation composition, 5 years after the widespread fires of 2003. We used floristic data from two wide-spread vegetation types on the Bogong High Plains: open heathland and closed heathland. Three alternative models were tested relating variation in plant community attributes (e.g. diversity, ground cover of dominant species, amount of bare ground) to variation in fire severity. The models were (i) 'linear', attributes vary linearly with fire severity; (ii) 'intermediate disturbance', attributes are highest at intermediate fire severity and lowest at both low-and highseverity; and (iii) 'null', attributes are unaffected by fire severity. In both heathlands, there were few differences in floristic diversity, cover of dominant species and community composition, across the strong fire severity gradient. The null model was most supported in the vast majority of cases, with only limited support for either the linear and intermediate disturbance models. Our data indicate that in both heathlands, vegetation attributes in burnt vegetation were converging towards that of the unburnt state. We conclude that fire severity had little impact on post-fire regeneration, and that both closed and open alpine heathlands are resilient to variation in fire severity during landscape scale fires.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post‐fire regeneration in alpine heathland: Does fire severity matter?

et al. 2012

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“…Although the wetland vegetation of the Australian Alps and the impacts of human activity are well described (Wahren, Papst & Williams, 1994;Wahren, Williams & Papst, 2001;McDougall, 2007;Lawrence et al, 2009), few comprehensive descriptions of the alpine freshwater fauna exist (Campbell, McKaige & Lake, 1986). There is some limited research on native fish, crayfish and the diverse and abundant insects of Australian alpine aquatic systems, but little to no information exists concerning the conspicuous and often highly abundant endemic amphipod and isopod crustaceans (Campbell et al, 1986;Swain, Chladil & Summers, 1994;Bradbury & Williams, 1999;Wilson & Keable, 2001).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Trouble at the top? Restricted distribution and extreme population isolation in an alpine crustacean assemblage with unexpected lineage diversity

Hatley

Murphy

2016

Freshwater Biology

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Summary The fragile alpine freshwater ecosystems of Australia are threatened by historic land use and projected climate change, yet little is known about the fauna of these environments. The aim of this study was to analyse the phylogeography of two important components of this ecosystem, an amphipod (Neoniphargus) and an isopod (Coluboltelson), to determine the potential impacts of environmental change on these crustaceans. DNA sequences were generated for the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI) and nuclear 28S ribosomal RNA (28S) of 229 amphipods and 153 isopods from 19 sites across seven creeks in the Bogong High Plains, Victoria, Australia. Phylogenetic analyses were undertaken to define evolutionary significant units (ESUs), and population genetic structure was examined. Analyses of both markers found deep divergences in both taxa, leading to the definition of six amphipod and two isopod ESUs, within both Neoniphargus and Colubotelson. The majority of amphipod ESUs exhibited highly restricted distributions, with essentially no gene flow between sites, even within the same creeks, consistent with the Death Valley Model of population connectivity. By contrast, both isopod ESUs had overlapping distributions across the entire sample area and exhibited some highly limited population connectivity among sites in adjacent headwaters, consistent with the Headwater Model. This study suggests that there is a high level of undiscovered biodiversity within Australian alpine aquatic invertebrates. The highly limited population structure, and restricted distributions have important consequences for the conservation of the headwaters of Australia's largest river system. These findings indicate that habitat loss and/or fragmentation associated with environmental change will result in biodiversity reductions, with species unlikely to shift their ranges in response to future climate change, or recover rapidly from localised extinction events.

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“…Walker & Walker 1961; Tallis 1994), the drivers of pool formation and disappearance in Australia are poorly understood and the consequences of climate change for peat‐bog communities are far from certain. For instance, in a long‐term study of peat‐bog patterns on the Bogong High Plains, McDougall (2007) found that pools contracted despite above‐average precipitation. Such uncertainty and a changing climate highlight the need to carefully monitor these systems and avoid undertaking manipulative management (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Breeding habitat use and the future management of the critically endangered Southern Corroboree Frog

Hunter¹,

Osborne²,

Smith³

et al. 2009

Eco Management Restoration

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Summary The Southern Corroboree Frog (Pseudophryne corroboree) is one of Australia's most critically endangered frog species. The species occurs entirely within Kosciuszko National Park, which has a history of cattle grazing (up to the 1970s). A consequence of cattle grazing has been a significant reduction in the extent of montane and sub‐alpine peat‐bog systems that the species uses as breeding habitat. Furthermore, climate change and associated increased wildfire frequency is expected to further reduce the extent and quality of peat bogs throughout the Australian Alps. In this study, we investigated habitat selection for breeding pools and nest sites within peat‐bog systems in order to inform the conservation management of the species and guide other management practices being undertaken in peat bogs where this species occurs. Occupancy of breeding males at bog pools was found to be positively associated with increasing pool area, water depth and mid‐day temperature, and negatively associated with extent of bare substrate. The majority of breeding pools identified were ephemeral. Nest sites within vegetation where males call and where females deposit their eggs were located at mid‐elevations in a range of vegetation types, with the majority of nests being within moss and sedge dominated by Sphagnum cristatum and Empodisma minor. We also found that male nest sites were not randomly distributed within the edges of pools, but were more often located in areas of loose vegetation. These results highlight the potential sensitivity of the Southern Corroboree Frog to predicted changes in peat‐bog systems resulting from climate change such as earlier drying and a possible reduction in the size of bog pools. A monitoring programme focused on key features of the breeding habitat should be undertaken to provide a basis for developing and assessing management actions implemented in peat bogs occupied by this species.

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Grazing and fire in two subalpine peatlands

Cited by 23 publications

References 10 publications

Post‐fire regeneration in alpine heathland: Does fire severity matter?

Post‐fire regeneration in alpine heathland: Does fire severity matter?

Trouble at the top? Restricted distribution and extreme population isolation in an alpine crustacean assemblage with unexpected lineage diversity

Breeding habitat use and the future management of the critically endangered Southern Corroboree Frog

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