Post-fire ephemerals and spinifex-fuelled fires: a decision model for bilby habitat management in the Tanami Desert, Australia

Richard Southgate; Susan Carthew

doi:10.1071/WF06046

RESEARCH ARTICLE

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Post-fire ephemerals and spinifex-fuelled fires: a decision model for bilby habitat management in the Tanami Desert, Australia

Richard Southgate ^A ^B ^C ^D and Susan Carthew ^B

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A Biodiversity Conservation Unit, Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts, PO Box 2130, Alice Springs, NT 0871, Australia.

^B School of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Adelaide, SA 5005, Australia.

^C Present address: PO Box 305, Kingscote, SA 5223, Australia.

^D Corresponding author. Email: southgate@kin.net.au

International Journal of Wildland Fire 16(6) 741-754 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF06046
Submitted: 18 April 2006 Accepted: 27 August 2007 Published: 17 December 2007

Abstract

Seed from post-fire ephemeral plants like Yakirra australiense can form an important component of the diet of the bilby, a threatened arid-dwelling bandicoot. An investigation was conducted to determine the factors affecting the production of Yakirra and fire reoccurrence in the Tanami Desert. A simple decision model was produced to assist managers decide where and when to burn and what to expect regarding Yakirra australiense growth following fire and rainfall. The information used in the model may be derived from existing spatial databases that document rainfall and fire history and could be used to map broad-scale temporal change in total vegetation cover and components of habitat suitability for the bilby. The season and magnitude of rainfall and time-since-fire were the most important variables in the production of Yakirra seed. Rainfall >300 mm within a 2-month period of intense-complete burns could result in >5% Yakirra cover, and >100 mm was required for >1% cover. Negligible Yakirra cover occurred in adjacent long-unburnt plots. Total ground cover and spinifex cover varied substantially in relation to mean annual rainfall, but not in relation to substrate type. Long-unburnt spinifex cover was mostly too sparse to carry a fire in the southern part of the Tanami and the growth of non-spinifex vegetation would be necessary to boost fuel loads sufficiently to carry a fire. Generally, more than 41% cover was required to carry a fire but this was also dependent on weather conditions. Managers should aim to burn in late spring or early summer to improve Yakirra production. Fire management to enhance habitat suitability for the bilby would be of most benefit in the northern part of the Tanami Desert where growth rate of vegetation is greater and there is little existing fire age heterogeneity.

Additional keywords: prescribed burning, Triodia, Yakirra.

Acknowledgements

We are grateful for the assistance of Rachel Paltridge, Don Langford, Chris Grant, and Justin Harrison plus many willing volunteers in the field. We are also indebted for the assistance on field trips provided by Aboriginal people including Pharlap Dixon, Engineer Jack, Shorty Jangala, Darby Jampitjinpa, Irene Driver Nungarrayi, Tommy Driver Jupurrula, Jerard Driver Jampitjinpa, Lynnette Driver, Mitjili Gibson Napangangka, Cindy Gibson Nakamarra, Neville Poulson and Sarah Napangangka. Finally, the study could not have been completed without support of the Department of Natural Resources, Environment and the Arts and funding from the Natural Heritage Trust. Part of the funding for the aerial survey was provided by the Easter Bilby fund supported by Coles Myer. Pip Masters provided valuable comments on the manuscript.

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Post-fire ephemerals and spinifex-fuelled fires: a decision model for bilby habitat management in the Tanami Desert, Australia

Abstract

Acknowledgements

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