Work

Biodiversity and functional ecology of the pyrophilic subtropical peatlands of Eastern Australia

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Shaped over millennia by fire and shifting biogeographical barriers, the subtropical peatlands of Australia’s eastern coast are among the most carbon-dense terrestrial ecosystems in the world. These are the only known peatlands that are ecologically dependent on fire, resulting from complex ecological interactions between geohydrology, vegetation, microbes and fauna. Following two centuries of fire suppression and ecosystem degradation, protecting peatland biodiversity and carbon storage requires improved knowledge for informed management.

Source: npj Biodiversity

DOI: 10.1038/s44185-026-00154-5

Authors: Grace Smith, Tomer Ventura, Catherine M. Yule

Institution: University of the Sunshine Coast

Language: English

Topic: Peatlands and Wetlands Ecology

Subfield: Ecology

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Life on land, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,050