Article
Environmental Sciences
L. Collins, R. Trouve, P. J. Baker, B. Cirulus, C. R. Nitschke, R. H. Nolan, L. Smith, T. D. Penman
Summary: Extreme fire events have increased in south-eastern Australia due to human-induced climate change. Fuel reduction burning is commonly used to reduce wildfires, but its effectiveness under extreme climatic conditions is limited. This study examines the extent of fuel treatment in planned burns across different fire management zones and the impact of fuel reduction burning on wildfire severity. The results show that fuel reduction burn coverage is often lower than desired targets in zones focused on asset protection, but within the desired range in zones targeting ecological objectives. At the point scale, fuel reduction burning moderates wildfire severity for several years in shrubland and forests. Fuel availability plays a significant role in limiting fire occurrence and severity in the first 18 months after fuel reduction burning, while fire weather becomes the dominant driver of high severity fires after 3-5 years. At a local landscape scale, the extent of high canopy scorch decreases as the extent of recently treated fuels increases. However, there is a high level of uncertainty regarding the effect of recent fuel treatment. Overall, recent fuel reduction burning can aid in wildfire suppression near assets, but its impact at larger scales is highly variable.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Ecology
Luke Collins, Hamish Clarke, Michael F. Clarke, Sarah C. McColl Gausden, Rachael H. Nolan, Trent Penman, Ross Bradstock
Summary: The aim of this study was to identify the environmental drivers of interannual variation in wildfire extent and severity in south-eastern Australia. The results showed that climatic potential for large and severe forest fires has increased since the 1950s, likely due to anthropogenic climate change. The magnitude and severity of the 2019-2020 fires reflected extreme climatic conditions, indicating the increasing size and severity of wildfires.
GLOBAL ECOLOGY AND BIOGEOGRAPHY
(2022)
Article
Forestry
Karlene Bain, Merril Halley, Adrian Wayne
Summary: This study investigated the impact of a severe bushfire on the quokka population in Western Australia. The results showed that quokka abundance was significantly reduced after the fire, with subpopulations separated by long distances. After 5 years, the population had partially recovered, but habitat fragmentation remained a concern.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF WILDLAND FIRE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Zachary L. Steel, Alissa M. Fogg, Ryan Burnett, L. Jay Roberts, Hugh D. Safford
Summary: Wildfires are creating large high-severity patches far from undisturbed habitats, impacting bird communities. Community richness decreases with distance and patch size, while increasing with years since fire. Large high-severity patch interiors contain subsets, rather than complements, of edge communities, leading to shifts in avian diversity and community composition.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Article
Genetics & Heredity
Kalynda M-A Watson, Katarina M. Mikac, Sibylle G. Schwab
Summary: The use of genetic information for conservation biology has become more widespread, including for invasive species management. Despite the threat posed by red foxes to Australian fauna and agriculture, few studies have investigated the population genetics of foxes in Australia. A recent study in New South Wales found moderate genetic diversity with low to moderate levels of inbreeding and limited evidence of population genetic structure among foxes sampled.
Article
Forestry
Jamie E. Burton, Lauren T. Bennett, Sabine Kasel, Craig R. Nitschke, Mihai A. Tanase, Thomas A. Fairman, Linda Parker, Melissa Fedrigo, Cristina Aponte
Summary: Live tree basal area and mean annual precipitation were found to be influential predictors of dead standing trees (DST) and coarse woody debris (CWD) biomass, with fire history also playing a significant role in predicting changes in dead wood abundance over time. The study suggests that forest productivity, fire history, drought, and wood density are important determinants of dead wood dynamics, and could potentially be influenced by altered fire regimes and changing climate.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Luke D. Einoder, A. Fisher, B. M. Hill, K. Buckley, A. H. de Laive, J. C. Z. Woinarski, G. R. Gillespie
Summary: Biodiversity loss is often caused by multiple interacting pressures moderated by environmental gradients. Monitoring can help understand these complex responses, but is currently underutilized. Current fire regimes in savanna ecosystems are detrimental to conservation goals, leading to declines in mammal richness and abundance.
JOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Laura C. Gigliotti, Lia Keener, Lourens H. Swanepoel, Craig Sholto-Douglas, Axel Hunnicutt, Goncalo Curveira-Santos
Summary: Protected areas and wildlife reintroductions are effective conservation measures, but they can lead to unexpected species-specific responses. A study in South Africa found species-specific responses to reserve expansion, with generally positive but unsustained responses in occupancy and intensity of use. Managed herbivores and the apex predator exhibited sustained or delayed positive responses, while subordinate predators and unmanaged herbivores had short-lived or neutral responses. The interactive effects of top-down suppression, competitive pressure, and increased resources contributed to the variable responses. Monitoring the entire wildlife community is crucial for implementing successful conservation actions.
BIOLOGICAL CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Forestry
R. J. Keenan, P. Kanowski, P. J. Baker, C. Brack, T. Bartlett, K. Tolhurst
Summary: The unprecedented bushfires in southeastern Australia in the summer of 2019/20 drew attention to the role of forest management in influencing fire risks and impacts. Despite arguments that timber harvesting worsened the severity of the fires, the evidence does not support this claim. Analysis of the fires revealed that factors such as below-average rainfall, extreme fire weather conditions, and local topography were the primary contributors to the extent and severity of the fires, not past timber harvesting practices. Policy proposals to mitigate fire risks should be evidence-based and incorporate various perspectives, including Indigenous knowledge and experiences from local fire managers, to enhance forest resilience and community safety.
AUSTRALIAN FORESTRY
(2021)
Article
Ecology
David Lindenmayer, Chris Taylor, Wade Blanchard
Summary: Fire severity is a key component of fire regimes, and understanding the factors affecting it is critical given the increasing incidence of wildfires globally. The study in Victoria, southeastern Australia, found that factors such as fire weather, forest type, and time since previous major disturbance have significant impacts on fire severity, especially under extreme fire weather conditions.
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Brett J. Furnas, Benjamin R. Goldstein, Peter J. Figura
Summary: In Northern California, the richness of forest carnivore populations is highest in areas with intermediate fire severity diversity, while there is no association between time-since-fire diversity and carnivore richness. Moderate low severity burns are positively associated with carnivore populations.
DIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS
(2022)
Review
Forestry
Lauren S. Pile Knapp, David R. Coyle, Daniel C. Dey, Jacob S. Fraser, Todd Hutchinson, Michael A. Jenkins, Christel C. Kern, Benjamin O. Knapp, Dacoda Maddox, Cornelia Pinchot, G. Geoff Wang
Summary: Invasive plants have a significant impact on the forests in eastern North America, and the effectiveness of management strategies varies depending on the context. Long-term success requires comprehensive approaches to address the impacts of past land use and disturbance history.
FOREST ECOLOGY AND MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Lindsay M. Clontz, Anni Yang, Sarah M. Chinn, Kim M. Pepin, Kurt C. VerCauteren, George Wittemyer, Ryan S. Miller, James C. Beasley
Summary: This study compared the home range establishment and space-use metrics of translocated wild pigs with their social group and individually. The results showed that wild pigs translocated with their social group made smaller movements away from the release location and established a stable home range about 5 days faster. The study also found that habitat quality influenced the home range sizes, with wild pigs having larger ranges in low-quality habitat areas.
PEST MANAGEMENT SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Biodiversity Conservation
Alexandra Oliveira, Denis Medinas, Joao Craveiro, Catarina Milhinhas, Helena Sabino-Marques, Tiago Mendes, Giulia Spadoni, Andre Oliveira, Luis Guilherme Sousa, Joaquim T. Tapisso, Sara Santos, Margarida Lopes-Fernandes, Maria da Luz Mathias, Antonio Mira, Ricardo Pita
Summary: Monitoring wildlife status is crucial for conservation planning. Assessing species distribution and population trends on a large scale faces challenges, such as the choice of sampling method. In this study, the Cabrera vole was used as a case study. Occupancy modeling showed that sign surveys were more cost-effective than owl pellet analysis in detecting the species, suggesting sign surveys as a reliable method for large-scale population monitoring.
JOURNAL FOR NATURE CONSERVATION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Ee Ling Ng, Joel Honeysett, Yvonne Scorgie
Summary: This study presents spatial inventories of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from food production in New South Wales, Australia, at the local government area level. Livestock emissions dominate most regional areas, and policy and community action at the local level can help mitigate these emissions.
SUSTAINABLE PRODUCTION AND CONSUMPTION
(2023)
Review
Ecology
David M. Forsyth, Sebastien Comte, Naomi E. Davis, Andrew J. Bengsen, Steeve D. Cote, David G. Hewitt, Nicolas Morellet, Atle Mysterud
Summary: Deer are critical components of many ecosystems, and accurately estimating deer abundance and density is crucial for understanding their roles. This study systematically reviewed journal articles published from 2004 to 2018 to evaluate trends in study objectives, methodologies, and abundance and density estimates, as well as their variations with biophysical and anthropogenic attributes. The findings highlight the need for reporting methodological details, robustly assessing bias, reporting precision, using methods that increase detection probability, and staying up to date on new methods to improve the usefulness of deer abundance and density estimates.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
David S. L. Ramsey, David M. Forsyth, Mike Perry, Pete Thomas, Meredith McKay, Elaine F. Wright
Summary: Estimation of the abundance and density of mountain ungulates in rugged and remote terrain is challenging. This study used helicopter surveys to count Himalayan tahr in New Zealand's Southern Alps, and applied repeat counts and open population models to estimate their abundance and density. The findings demonstrate a repeatable method for sampling mountain ungulates.
JOURNAL OF WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Ecology
Rachel Bergeron, Gabriel Pigeon, David M. Forsyth, Wendy J. King, Marco Festa-Bianchet
Summary: Large herbivores have varying survival rates depending on their age and sex, with juveniles and senescent adults having lower and more variable survival rates compared to prime-aged adults. This study used long-term capture-mark-recapture data to examine the survival component of eastern grey kangaroo population dynamics. The results showed that kangaroo survival patterns are similar to those seen in ungulates, with sex-age structure playing a significant role in population dynamics.
Review
Ecology
Jose L. Huaman, Karla J. Helbig, Teresa G. Carvalho, Mark Doyle, Jordan Hampton, David M. Forsyth, Anthony R. Pople, Carlo Pacioni
Summary: Wild deer in Europe and North America can carry a range of pathogens, and recent studies in Australia have shown that they can also harbor viral and parasitic infections. The use of advanced detection methods has increased our understanding of the pathogens carried by deer, including the discovery of novel viruses. These findings highlight the potential biosecurity risks posed by wild deer to livestock and other wildlife species.
Article
Ecology
Naomi E. Davis, David M. Forsyth, Andrew J. Bengsen
Summary: This study aimed to estimate the extent of competition between a high-density fallow deer population and livestock for food during a severe drought in the Liverpool Plains, New South Wales, Australia. The study found that fallow deer exerted significant competitive pressure on livestock, reducing their carrying capacity.
Article
Ecology
Lee A. Rollins, Daniel Lees, Andrew P. Woolnough, Andrea J. West, Michael Perry, David M. Forsyth
Summary: Using genetic data, this study found that sambar deer in Australia and New Zealand are genetically more similar to those in the west of their native range. Although genetic diversity is lower in the introduced populations, they still harbor unique genetic variants that could be used to strengthen genetic diversity in the native range.
Article
Ecology
Erin Hill, Nicholas Murphy, Scarlett Li-Williams, Christopher Davies, David Forsyth, Sebastien Comte, Lee Ann Rollins, Fiona Hogan, Faye Wedrowicz, Troy Crittle, Elaine Thomas, Luke Woodford, Carlo Pacioni
Summary: Introduced sambar and rusa deer populations in south-eastern Australia are subject to local control efforts. It is important to understand dispersal capability, population structure, and hybridisation rates for effective management. Genetic analysis reveals distinct management units and limited dispersal.
Article
Ecology
Scarlett Li-Williams, Katarina C. Stuart, Sebastien Comte, David M. Forsyth, Michelle Dawson, William B. Sherwin, Lee A. Rollins
Summary: The aim of this study was to investigate the population structure of rusa deer in the Illawarra region of New South Wales and determine the effects of landscape features on gene flow. The results showed that genetic diversity was highest near the original introduction site, and a railway line restricted gene flow. Surprisingly, the Illawarra escarpment did not limit gene flow, and there was no evidence of sex-biased dispersal.
Article
Ecology
Sebastien Comte, Elaine Thomas, Andrew J. J. Bengsen, Ami Bennett, Naomi E. E. Davis, Daniel Brown, David M. M. Forsyth
Summary: Introduced sambar deer in south-eastern Australia are being controlled using volunteer and contract ground-based shooters, but little is known about their effectiveness and costs. This study evaluated the effectiveness and costs of both shooter types in controlling sambar deer in and around alpine peatlands in Alpine National Park, Victoria. The catch per unit effort of contract shooters was four times greater than that of volunteer shooters, but the cost per deer killed was slightly higher for contract shooters.
Article
Ecology
Jordan O. Hampton, Andrew J. Bengsen, Sebastien Comte, Jason S. Flesch, Simon D. Toop, Christopher Davies, David M. Forsyth
Summary: This study aims to characterize hound hunting of sambar deer in Victoria, Australia. The results showed that most hunting teams were successful in harvesting deer, with highly variable pursuit times and distances. Deer were more likely to be killed on steeper slopes and closer to roads. Summary ends.
Article
Ecology
Jordan O. Hampton, Andrew J. Bengsen, Jason S. Flesch, Simon D. Toop, Christopher Davies, David M. Forsyth, Niels Kanstrup, Sigbjorn Stokke, Jon M. Arnemo
Summary: This study aimed to evaluate the shooting efficiency and animal welfare outcomes of lead-based and lead-free (copper-based) bullets for shooting sambar deer in Victoria, southeastern Australia. The results showed that both bullet types produced similar animal welfare outcomes, suggesting that a transition to lead-free ammunition would have minimal impact on efficiency or animal welfare outcomes.
Article
Ecology
Andrew J. Bengsen, David M. Forsyth, Anthony Pople, Michael Brennan, Matt Amos, Mal Leeson, Tarnya E. Cox, Bec Gray, Ollie Orgill, Jordan O. Hampton, Troy Crittle, Kym Haebich
Summary: This study evaluated the effectiveness and cost of helicopter-based shooting for deer control in eastern Australia. The results showed that helicopter-based shooting can rapidly reduce deer populations, but the magnitude of reduction depends on the shooting effort and deer density.
Article
Ecology
Jordan O. Hampton, Darryl MacKenzie, David M. Forsyth
Summary: This study evaluates the animal welfare outcomes of vehicle-based night shooting of peri-urban rusa deer in eastern Australia. The results show that the outcomes are comparable to other professional ground-based shooting programs for ungulates, but poorer than those reported for professional ground-based shooting of peri-urban kangaroos.
Article
Ecology
Sebastien Comte, Elaine Thomas, Andrew J. Bengsen, Ami Bennett, Naomi E. Davis, Sean Freney, Stephen M. Jackson, Matt White, David M. Forsyth, Daniel Brown
Summary: This study reveals the activity patterns and behavior of sambar deer in high-elevation peatlands, as well as the impact of ground-based shooting on their activity. Sambar deer prefer to activity in areas with dense vegetation close to roads, and their activity decreases with increasing snow depth in winter. Ground-based shooting can reduce the activity of sambar deer in high-elevation peatlands and their surrounding areas.
Article
Ecology
Paul D. Moloney, Andrew M. Gormley, Simon D. Toop, Jason S. Flesch, David M. Forsyth, David S. L. Ramsey, Jordan O. Hampton
Summary: This study analyzed trends in hunter participation, activity, and efficiency, as well as wildlife harvest in Victoria, Australia. The results revealed exponential growth in deer harvest, while the harvest of native birds remained relatively stable. Seasonal effects greatly influenced the harvest of game birds.
