Use of burn scars by threatened marsupials in an environment free of introduced predators
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Large wildfires are common in the spinifex grasslands (Triodia sp.) of central arid Australia. Fire may exacerbate the impacts of introduced predators, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) on their native Australian prey. The interaction between medium-sized marsupials, fire, and introduced predators is difficult to study because many species have severely declined and are threatened or extinct on mainland Australia. Introduced predator-free enclosures provide an opportunity to study threatened fauna in a relatively intact ecosystem. The fenced enclosure on the Matuwa Kurrara Kurrara National Park is actively managed with prescribed fire to prevent wildfire from damaging threatened fauna populations and infrastructure. We used ten pairs of wildlife cameras to monitor the activity of four threatened marsupials, boodies (Bettongia lesueur), golden bandicoots (Isoodon auratus), mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula) on burnt and unburnt patches in the enclosure. Cameras were set within 24 hours of burning and remained in place for 60 days. The activity of golden bandicoots was 120% higher in burnt patches, whereas the level of activity by the other three species did not change significantly. Unfortunately, introduced predators appear to be attracted to fire in Australia. The synchronous increase in activity of both golden bandicoots and introduced predators on burnt sites may have contributed to the decline of golden bandicoots on mainland Australia.
Source: Global Ecology and Conservation
Author: Cheryl A. Lohr
Language: English
Subfield: Ecology
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Life on land
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $2,980
OpenAlex ID: W4409249474