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This paper is a comprehensive review of the effects of fire on soils, nutrient cycling, micro-organisms, vascular flora, soil and litter and other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians birds, mammals and exotic plant species in jarrah and karri forest of Western Australia. Pre-European fire regimes are also briefly reviewed, and the evidence suggests a mosaic burning pattern of frequent fires under relatively mild conditions. The evidence suggests that soil properties and nutrient cycling are neither dramatically nor permanently affected by low intensity fire. The overall response of the flora and fauna is: (1) reduction in density and sometimes number of species immediately after fire; (2) recovery in density and number of species after fire, usually from propagules within burnt areas; (3) transient changes in relative density of species after fire. Rate of recovery of fauna depends largely on that of the vascular flora. Each species has a well-defined response to fire. There is very little information on the long term effects of repeated fires on the flora and fauna. We conclude the review with a set of proposals to guide the management of fire in forest and adjacent woodland areas set aside for conservation purposes. © Institute of Foresters of Australia. Abstract reproduced by permission.
Cataloging Information
- aborigines
- amphibians
- Australia
- bibliographies
- birds
- community ecology
- conservation
- ecosystem dynamics
- Eucalyptus diversicolor
- Eucalyptus marginata
- European settlement
- fire adaptations (plants)
- fire exclusion
- fire frequency
- fire intensity
- fire management
- fire regimes
- forest management
- introduced species
- invertebrates
- jarrah
- karri
- litter
- low intensity burns
- mammals
- microorganisms
- mosaic
- N - nitrogen
- nutrient cycling
- population density
- post fire recovery
- presettlement fires
- recreation
- reptiles
- sclerophyll forests
- soils
- species diversity (plants)
- succession
- vulnerable species or communities
- western Australia
- wilderness areas
- wilderness fire management
- wildfires
- wildlife
- wildlife refuges
This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of Tall Timbers.