Different types of fire edges
In a new paper arising from Kate's PhD, we review the literature on fire, fauna, and edge effects to summarise current knowledge and identify knowledge gaps. We then develop a conceptual model to predict faunal responses to fire edges and present an agenda for future research.
Faunal abundance at fire edges changes over time, but patterns depend on species' traits and resource availability. Responses are also influenced by edge architecture (e.g., size and shape), site and landscape context, and spatial scale. However, data are limited and the influence of fire edges on both local abundance and regional distributions of fauna is largely unknown.
Our conceptual model combines several drivers of faunal fire responses (biophysical properties, regime attributes, species' traits) and will therefore lead to improved predictions. To aid the incorporation of new data into our predictive framework, our model has been designed as a Bayesian Network, a statistical tool capable of analysing complex environmental relationships, dealing with data gaps, and generating testable hypotheses.
Please download the paper to find out more.
Parkins, K., York, A. & Di Stefano, J. (2018). Edge effects in fire-prone landscapes: Ecological importance and implications for fauna. Ecology and Evolution. 00:1-12.
Faunal abundance at fire edges changes over time, but patterns depend on species' traits and resource availability. Responses are also influenced by edge architecture (e.g., size and shape), site and landscape context, and spatial scale. However, data are limited and the influence of fire edges on both local abundance and regional distributions of fauna is largely unknown.
Our conceptual model combines several drivers of faunal fire responses (biophysical properties, regime attributes, species' traits) and will therefore lead to improved predictions. To aid the incorporation of new data into our predictive framework, our model has been designed as a Bayesian Network, a statistical tool capable of analysing complex environmental relationships, dealing with data gaps, and generating testable hypotheses.
Please download the paper to find out more.
Parkins, K., York, A. & Di Stefano, J. (2018). Edge effects in fire-prone landscapes: Ecological importance and implications for fauna. Ecology and Evolution. 00:1-12.
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