Natural Resources Research Articles
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-8-2026
Journal Title
Pacific Conservation Biology
ISSN
ISSN 1038-2097, EISSN 2204-4604
Keywords
biodiversity conservation, fire ecology, fire management, habitat preferences, inappropriate fire regimes, range-restricted, threatened species, wildlife.
Disciplines
Biodiversity | Entomology | Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment | Natural Resources and Conservation
Abstract
Adverse fire regimes threaten biodiversity, potentially leading to population declines and increased extinction risk. Understanding how varying fire regimes affect threatened species is essential for effective ecosystem management, including in Western Australia where diverse ecosystems are exposed to wildfires, Indigenous burning, and prescribed fire. We compiled and synthesised data on the threat of adverse fire regimes to threatened animal taxa in Western Australia. Using a threat classification scheme, we ranked adverse fire regimes as having either no, low, medium, high, or unknown impact on each taxon. A total of 212 taxa were reviewed, 153 (72%) of which are considered fire-threatened: 29 high, 67 medium, 43 low, and 14 unknown impact. This includes 100% of threatened amphibians (3 taxa), 91% of threatened mammals (29), 71% of threatened invertebrates (85), 67% of threatened fish (6), 63% of threatened reptiles (10) and 61% of threatened birds (20). Only some bird (6), mammal (5), and invertebrate (18) taxa received a ranking of ‘high’. Across all fire-threatened taxa, we synthesised 330 fire response cases from 169 studies. Most taxa (75%) are considered fire-threatened due to small ranges and limited dispersal (primarily invertebrates and island taxa), with much smaller numbers reliant on long-unburnt vegetation ( > 10–40 years; 7%) or habitat features that take decades to form (e.g. tree hollows; 7%). Many taxa should be considered putatively fire-threatened until further information on their fire responses and the nature of fire regimes within their ranges is collected. We identify key research priorities to inform fire management and threatened species conservation.
Recommended Citation
Doherty TS, Allen MG, Bain K, Beatty SJ, Burbidge AH, Catullo RA, Comer S, Corey B, Cowen SJ, Davis RA, Dziminski MA, Friend JA, Greatwich B, Harvey MS, Killian H, Klunzinger MW, Lettoof DC, Mitchell NJ, Moir M, Moore HA, Morgan DL, Radford IJ, Rix MG, Vigilante T, Wayne AF, Whisson C, Willers N, Williams MR. (2026) Animal taxa threatened by adverse fire regimes in Western Australia: a synthesis and outlook. Pacific Conservation Biology 32, PC25051. https://doi.org/10.1071/PC25051
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Biodiversity Commons, Entomology Commons, Environmental Indicators and Impact Assessment Commons, Natural Resources and Conservation Commons
