Faculty of Science | University of Melbourne
Fire Ecology and Biodiversity
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Welcome to 

Fire Ecology and

Biodiversity


School of Ecosystem and Forest Sciences | Faculty of Science

University of Melbourne

About us

Out with Smokey Bear and in with Nature's Phoenix

30/7/2015

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In Australia, fire is viewed as both an ecological disaster and a source of natural disturbance, but in many other regions public attitudes are overwhelmingly fire-phobic.

Public opinion in the United States has been shaped by Smokey Bear, a fictitious character created in 1944 to raise awareness of correct campfire etiquette.  Smokey’s mantra is “remember, ONLY YOU can prevent forest fires”, which has fostered a lively culture of fire suppression.  Command-and-control attitudes towards fire have become pervasive, to the detriment of ecological communities.
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We’ve contributed to a new book which provides the first global synthesis of the ecological benefits of high- and mixed-severity fire.  The book includes case studies from around the world, and we describe the Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) forests of southeast Australia, where large fires are infrequent and intense.  Unlike many eucalypt species, Mountain Ash is considered fire-sensitive because it’s killed by severe fire.  However, its regeneration is dependent on high-intensity fire, which desiccates seed capsules and releases up to 14 million seeds per hectare.

The book advocates a paradigm shift that replaces Smokey Bear with nature’s phoenix.  According to Greek mythology, the phoenix is a long-lived bird which is repeatedly consumed by flames and reborn.   

Buy the book on Amazon, and find out more via an interview with editors Dominick DellaSala and Chad Hanson.

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Congratulations to Kate Parkins on her PhD confirmation

26/7/2015

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Kate's project aims to (a) understand the importance of fire edges in influencing ecological patterns and processes in flammable landscapes, and (b) quantify the temporal and spatial influence of fire edges on fauna.

Please contact Kate for more information on her research, and find her abstract below. 

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Part of Kate's research will involve using GPS collars to track Mountain Brushtail Possums before, during and after a planned fire.
Edge effects in fire-prone landscapes - Ecological importance and implications for fauna

Fire is an important process in many ecosystems and can have a profound influence on animal communities by altering the distribution and abundance of resources over time. It is well established that fire regimes alter landscape pattern, which is predicted to influence behavioural processes such as habitat selection, home range formation, dispersal and distribution of many species. Many studies have examined the ecological importance of burnt and unburnt parts of a landscape, however very few have explicitly considered the interface or transition zone (edge) between these patches. Habitat edges are ecologically important because they have the potential to influence a wide range of patterns and processes (such as animal movement) in a landscape. Fire is a disturbance process that creates multiple edges in a landscape, through unplanned fire events (wildfire), planned fire activities (prescribed burning) or through fire-management processes (fuel breaks). Although edges have been widely studied in modified landscapes, the ecological importance of edges in natural systems remains poorly understood. In particular, how fire-related edges influence fauna distribution, abundance and movement in flammable landscapes remains largely unknown. The overarching aims of this project are to (a) understand the importance of fire edges in influencing ecological patterns and processes in flammable landscapes and (b) quantify the temporal and spatial influence of fire edges on fauna.
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Phillip Island's wallabies need you - go volunteer!

16/7/2015

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Volunteer with our research team at Phillip Island Nature Parks

Manuela is looking for energetic volunteers to support her PhD research, which aims to identify how wallabies use space, and move within and between different habitat types.

Volunteers will assist with the following activities:
  • Moving and setting up wildlife traps
  • Capturing and handling wallabies
  • Cleaning and maintaining field equipment 
  • Building GPS tracking devices
  • Building fences
  • Vegetation sampling
  • Data entry

These volunteer positions provide a great opportunity to gain experience in wildlife ecology and conservation within a unique landscape and an international research team.

Please submit an expression of interest (max. 500 words) to Manuela by 31 July.  

Click here for more information.
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Interested in joining our research group?

5/7/2015

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We're looking for energetic students to undertake a range of fire ecology projects at the Masters or Honours level.

Information on specific project opportunities is available here.  We're also happy to work with you in developing your own project ideas, provided they fall within the scope of our research priorities.

Our approach to field-based research is team-oriented, and we ensure students are well-supported.  We're based at the University of Melbourne's Creswick campus, and regular visits to Creswick will be necessary during project development and write-up.  A drivers licence is essential for field-based projects.

If you're looking to join our group, please email us your relevant skills and qualifications, and explain what area of research interests you.

Please contact us if you have any questions.
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    Fire Ecology and Biodiversity at UniMelb

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    Links

    Bushfire Behaviour and Management at UniMelb
    Quantitative & Applied Ecology Group at UniMelb
    Integrated Forest Ecosystem Research at UniMelb
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Where to find us

University of Melbourne
4 Water Street
Creswick
Victoria 3363

Phone +61 (0)3 5321 4300 or email us

Photos contributed by Holly Sitters, Bronwyn Hradsky, students of the Fire Ecology and Biodiversity Group, and remote cameras.
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