Fire, plant species richness and plants of significance to Australian desert Aboriginal people
Neil Burrows A D , Paul Rampant B , Graham Loewenthal C and Allan Wills A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Manjimup, Brain Street, WA 6258, Australia.
B Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Dodson Road, Bunbury, WA 6231, Australia.
C Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6983, Australia.
D Corresponding author. Email: bigurda1@bigpond.net.au
International Journal of Wildland Fire 29(10) 939-942 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF20057
Submitted: 20 April 2020 Accepted: 20 May 2020 Published: 9 June 2020
Abstract
A survey was undertaken in the Great Sandy Desert, Western Australia, to document changes in total plant species richness and the richness of plants of significance to Aboriginal people, with time since fire. Species richness was highest in the early post-fire seral stages, then declined with time as ‘fire ephemerals’ completed their life cycle. Culturally significant plants, which comprised ~42% of all plants recorded, were found in all seral stages but were most abundant in the early stages post fire. A fine-scale mosaic of seral stages created by frequent patch burning provides a higher variety of plant resources per unit area, increasing harvesting efficiency of culturally important plants.
Additional keywords: fire mosaic, Great Sandy Desert, Martu.
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