Science & Technology, Australia (Commonwealth Union) – Biodiversity is essential for a multitude of reasons, and its preservation is critical for the well-being of our planet and all its inhabitants. Biodiversity plays a key role in Ecosystem Stability, Food Security, Medicine and Pharmaceuticals, Genetic Resources, Pollination and Agriculture and more.
A recent study suggests that despite an overall resilience observed after the 2019-2020 Black Summer bushfire season in New South Wales (NSW), there were significant declines in biodiversity due to the impact of extreme fires.
The Black Summer Bushfires, which encompassed an unprecedented area of over 5 million hectares in eastern Australia, resulted in severe economic, environmental, and human consequences. Research carried out by the University of New South Wales reveals (UNSW) that in areas most severely affected by these fires, both plant and animal life have faced challenges in recovering.
Appearing in the journal Global Change Biology, the study examined variations in species diversity in the aftermath of the 2019-2020 bushfire season in New South Wales. The findings indicate that biodiversity could recuperate within 18 months after fires of low to high severity (those that affected the understorey and partially consumed the canopy) and even showed improvement a year and a half after the Black Summer Bushfires. However, regions that experienced fires of extreme severity (in which the canopy was entirely consumed) exhibited decreased levels of biodiversity when compared to unburnt areas and other less severely affected regions.
Associate Professor Will Cornwell, a senior co-author of the study hailing from the School of Biological, Earth & Environmental Sciences, emphasizes that these findings underscore the ability of Australian flora and fauna to adapt to fires but also reveal the limits of these adaptations.
“Fire can have both positive and negative effects on biodiversity, and the context is crucial,” explained Associate Professor Cornwell . “For example, many Australian species can persist, even with very high severity fires, but some species may struggle when extreme fire severity occurs over large scales.”
Simon Gorta, the primary author of the study and a doctoral candidate at the UNSW Centre for Ecosystem Science, emphasizes that this research will provide valuable insights for scientists and conservation managers. It will aid in understanding which animal and plant species could face consequences from future fires and assist in identifying the areas that require vigilant monitoring and effective management.
Gorta indicated that the findings vividly portray the extent and severity that fires can attain under conditions characterized by prolonged drought and above-average temperatures, conditions that align with climate change projections. While grappling with the repercussions of these events on human lives and property, he indicated that there is also direct our concern toward how the wildlife and ecosystems react and how they can enhance their management.
In conducting this study, the research team harnessed an extensive dataset comprising tens of thousands of wildlife observations. These observations spanned various categories of invertebrates, plants, and vertebrates and were meticulously documented by citizen scientists participating in the Environment Recovery Project and the iNaturalist platform. The primary objective of this research was to delve into the recovery of biodiversity following the fires and to underscore the pivotal role of fire types in shaping the trajectories of recovery. The study further reflected the significant contributions made by citizen scientists.
“This initiative was critical, as long-term biodiversity monitoring data covering multiple groups of organisms, such as plants, insects, birds, and more, especially at the scale of these mega-fires, does not exist outside of citizen science data,” added Mr Gorta. “These data allow us to draw conclusions about the overall effects of these events and determine conservation and management approaches for post-fire recovery.”
