Use of burn scars by threatened marsupials in an environment free of introduced predators

Abstract

Large wildfires are increasing in severity and frequency globally, and common in the spinifex grasslands (Triodia sp.) of central arid Australia. Fire may exacerbate the impacts of introduced predators, including red foxes (Vulpes vulpes) and feral cats (Felis catus) on their native prey. The interaction between medium-sized marsupials, and fire is difficult to study because many species have severely declined and are threatened or extinct on mainland Australia. Introduced predator-free enclosures provide an opportunity to study responses of threatened fauna to fire without predation effects in a relatively intact ecosystem. The 1100 ha fenced enclosure on the Matuwa Kurrara Kurrara National Park is actively managed with prescribed fire to reduce the risk of wildfire damaging threatened fauna populations and infrastructure. We used ten pairs of wildlife cameras, at 10 separate burn scars, with one camera from each pair inside the burn scar and the second camera in adjacent intact bushland, to monitor the activity of three threatened marsupials, boodies (Bettongia lesueur), golden bandicoots (Isoodon auratus barrowensis), mala (Lagorchestes hirsutus ‘Central Australian’) and brushtail possums (Trichosurus vulpecula hypoleucus) in the enclosure. Cameras were set within 24 hours of burning and remained in place for 56 days. The activity of golden bandicoots was 120 % higher in burnt patches compared to unburnt patches, whereas the level of activity by the other three species did not change significantly. Introduced predators can be attracted to recently burned landscapes in Australia. If both introduced predators and native fauna increase their activity in burnt sites, then native fauna may benefit from implementing management actions for introduced predators immediately post-fire, assuming the action does not negatively impact native fauna directly.