Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

Don A. Driscoll; Kristina J. Macdonald; Rebecca K. Gibson; Tim S. Doherty; Dale G. Nimmo; Rachael H. Nolan; Euan G. Ritchie; Grant J. Williamson; Geoffrey W. Heard; Elizabeth M. Tasker; Rohan Bilney; Nick Porch; Rachael A. Collett; Ross A. Crates; Alison C. Hewitt; Elise Pendall; Matthias M. Boer; Jody Gates; Rebecca L. Boulton; Christopher M. Mclean; Heidi Groffen; Alex C. Maisey; Chad T. Beranek; Shelby A. Ryan; Alex Callen; Andrew J. Hamer; Andrew Stauber; Garry J. Daly; John Gould; Kaya L. Klop-Toker; Michael J. Mahony; Oliver W. Kelly; Samantha L. Wallace; Sarah E. Stock; Christopher J. Weston; Liubov Volkova; Dennis Black; Heloise Gibb; Joshua J. Grubb; Melodie A. McGeoch; Nick P. Murphy; Joshua S. Lee; Chris R. Dickman; Victor J. Neldner; Michael R. Ngugi; Vivianna Miritis; Frank Köhler; Marc Perri; Andrew J. Denham; Berin D.E. Mackenzie; Chris A.M. Reid; Julia T. Rayment; Alfonsina Arriaga-Jiménez; Michael W. Hewins; Andrew Hicks; Brett A. Melbourne; Kendi F. Davies; Matthew E. Bitters; Grant D. Linley; Aaron C. Greenville; Jonathan K. Webb; Bridget Roberts; Mike Letnic; Owen F. Price; Zac C. Walker; Brad R. Murray; Elise M. Verhoeven; Alexandria M. Thomsen; David Keith; Jedda S. Lemmon; Mark K.J. Ooi; Vanessa L. Allen; Orsi T. Decker; Peter T. Green; Adnan Moussalli; Junn K. Foon; David B. Bryant; Ken L. Walker; Matthew J. Bruce; George Madani; Jeremy L. Tscharke; Benjamin Wagner; Craig R. Nitschke; Carl R. Gosper; Colin J. Yates; Rebecca Dillon; Sarah Barrett; Emma E. Spencer; Glenda M. Wardle; Thomas M. Newsome; Stephanie A. Pulsford; Anu Singh; Adam Roff; Karen J. Marsh; Kye Mcdonald; Lachlan G. Howell; Murraya R. Lane; Romane H. Cristescu; Ryan R. Witt; Emma J. Cook; Felicity Grant; Bradley S. Law; Julian Seddon; Karleah K. Berris; Ryan M. Shofner; Mike Barth; Torran Welz; Alison Foster; David Hancock; Matthew Beitzel; Laura X.L. Tan; Nathan A. Waddell; Pamela M. Fallow; Laura Schweickle; Tom D. Le Breton; Craig Dunne; Mikayla Green; Amy Marie Gilpin; James M. Cook; Sally A. Power; Katja Hogendoorn; Renee Brawata; Chris J. Jolly; Mark Tozer; Noushka Reiter; Ryan D. Phillips

doi:10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

Don A. Driscoll^*, Kristina J. Macdonald, Rebecca K. Gibson, Tim S. Doherty, Dale G. Nimmo, Rachael H. Nolan, Euan G. Ritchie, Grant J. Williamson, Geoffrey W. Heard, Elizabeth M. Tasker, Rohan Bilney, Nick Porch, Rachael A. Collett, Ross A. Crates, Alison C. Hewitt, Elise Pendall, Matthias M. Boer, Jody Gates, Rebecca L. Boulton, Christopher M. McleanHeidi Groffen, Alex C. Maisey, Chad T. Beranek, Shelby A. Ryan, Alex Callen, Andrew J. Hamer, Andrew Stauber, Garry J. Daly, John Gould, Kaya L. Klop-Toker, Michael J. Mahony, Oliver W. Kelly, Samantha L. Wallace, Sarah E. Stock, Christopher J. Weston, Liubov Volkova, Dennis Black, Heloise Gibb, Joshua J. Grubb, Melodie A. McGeoch, Nick P. Murphy, Joshua S. Lee, Chris R. Dickman, Victor J. Neldner, Michael R. Ngugi, Vivianna Miritis, Frank Köhler, Marc Perri, Andrew J. Denham, Berin D.E. Mackenzie, Chris A.M. Reid, Julia T. Rayment, Alfonsina Arriaga-Jiménez, Michael W. Hewins, Andrew Hicks, Brett A. Melbourne, Kendi F. Davies, Matthew E. Bitters, Grant D. Linley, Aaron C. Greenville, Jonathan K. Webb, Bridget Roberts, Mike Letnic, Owen F. Price, Zac C. Walker, Brad R. Murray, Elise M. Verhoeven, Alexandria M. Thomsen, David Keith, Jedda S. Lemmon, Mark K.J. Ooi, Vanessa L. Allen, Orsi T. Decker, Peter T. Green, Adnan Moussalli, Junn K. Foon, David B. Bryant, Ken L. Walker, Matthew J. Bruce, George Madani, Jeremy L. Tscharke, Benjamin Wagner, Craig R. Nitschke, Carl R. Gosper, Colin J. Yates, Rebecca Dillon, Sarah Barrett, Emma E. Spencer, Glenda M. Wardle, Thomas M. Newsome, Stephanie A. Pulsford, Anu Singh, Adam Roff, Karen J. Marsh, Kye Mcdonald, Lachlan G. Howell, Murraya R. Lane, Romane H. Cristescu, Ryan R. Witt, Emma J. Cook, Felicity Grant, Bradley S. Law, Julian Seddon, Karleah K. Berris, Ryan M. Shofner, Mike Barth, Torran Welz, Alison Foster, David Hancock, Matthew Beitzel, Laura X.L. Tan, Nathan A. Waddell, Pamela M. Fallow, Laura Schweickle, Tom D. Le Breton, Craig Dunne, Mikayla Green, Amy Marie Gilpin, James M. Cook, Sally A. Power, Katja Hogendoorn, Renee Brawata, Chris J. Jolly, Mark Tozer, Noushka Reiter, Ryan D. Phillips

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

22 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

With large wildfires becoming more frequent^1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is to discover how interactions among fire-regime components, drought and land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented^3,4 2019–2020 Australian megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares⁵, prompting major investment in biodiversity monitoring. Collated data include responses of more than 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity to quantify how megafires affect biodiversity. We reveal that the largest effects on plants and animals were in areas with frequent or recent past fires and within extensively burnt areas. Areas burnt at high severity, outside protected areas or under extreme drought also had larger effects. The effects included declines and increases after fire, with the largest responses in rainforests and by mammals. Our results implicate species interactions, dispersal and extent of in situ survival as mechanisms underlying fire responses. Building wildfire resilience into these ecosystems depends on reducing fire recurrence, including with rapid wildfire suppression in areas frequently burnt. Defending wet ecosystems, expanding protected areas and considering localized drought could also contribute. While these countermeasures can help mitigate the impacts of more frequent megafires, reversing anthropogenic climate change remains the urgent broad-scale solution.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	898-905
Journal	Nature
Volume	635
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2024

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10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

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Driscoll, D. A., Macdonald, K. J., Gibson, R. K., Doherty, T. S., Nimmo, D. G., Nolan, R. H., Ritchie, E. G., Williamson, G. J., Heard, G. W., Tasker, E. M., Bilney, R., Porch, N., Collett, R. A., Crates, R. A., Hewitt, A. C., Pendall, E., Boer, M. M., Gates, J., Boulton, R. L., ... Phillips, R. D. (Accepted/In press). Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires. Nature, 635, 898-905. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

@article{d5b39221e7f04417aae00db9734fc43d,

title = "Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires",

abstract = "With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is to discover how interactions among fire-regime components, drought and land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in biodiversity monitoring. Collated data include responses of more than 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity to quantify how megafires affect biodiversity. We reveal that the largest effects on plants and animals were in areas with frequent or recent past fires and within extensively burnt areas. Areas burnt at high severity, outside protected areas or under extreme drought also had larger effects. The effects included declines and increases after fire, with the largest responses in rainforests and by mammals. Our results implicate species interactions, dispersal and extent of in situ survival as mechanisms underlying fire responses. Building wildfire resilience into these ecosystems depends on reducing fire recurrence, including with rapid wildfire suppression in areas frequently burnt. Defending wet ecosystems, expanding protected areas and considering localized drought could also contribute. While these countermeasures can help mitigate the impacts of more frequent megafires, reversing anthropogenic climate change remains the urgent broad-scale solution.",

author = "Driscoll, {Don A.} and Macdonald, {Kristina J.} and Gibson, {Rebecca K.} and Doherty, {Tim S.} and Nimmo, {Dale G.} and Nolan, {Rachael H.} and Ritchie, {Euan G.} and Williamson, {Grant J.} and Heard, {Geoffrey W.} and Tasker, {Elizabeth M.} and Rohan Bilney and Nick Porch and Collett, {Rachael A.} and Crates, {Ross A.} and Hewitt, {Alison C.} and Elise Pendall and Boer, {Matthias M.} and Jody Gates and Boulton, {Rebecca L.} and Mclean, {Christopher M.} and Heidi Groffen and Maisey, {Alex C.} and Beranek, {Chad T.} and Ryan, {Shelby A.} and Alex Callen and Hamer, {Andrew J.} and Andrew Stauber and Daly, {Garry J.} and John Gould and Klop-Toker, {Kaya L.} and Mahony, {Michael J.} and Kelly, {Oliver W.} and Wallace, {Samantha L.} and Stock, {Sarah E.} and Weston, {Christopher J.} and Liubov Volkova and Dennis Black and Heloise Gibb and Grubb, {Joshua J.} and McGeoch, {Melodie A.} and Murphy, {Nick P.} and Lee, {Joshua S.} and Dickman, {Chris R.} and Neldner, {Victor J.} and Ngugi, {Michael R.} and Vivianna Miritis and Frank K{\"o}hler and Marc Perri and Denham, {Andrew J.} and Mackenzie, {Berin D.E.} and Reid, {Chris A.M.} and Rayment, {Julia T.} and Alfonsina Arriaga-Jim{\'e}nez and Hewins, {Michael W.} and Andrew Hicks and Melbourne, {Brett A.} and Davies, {Kendi F.} and Bitters, {Matthew E.} and Linley, {Grant D.} and Greenville, {Aaron C.} and Webb, {Jonathan K.} and Bridget Roberts and Mike Letnic and Price, {Owen F.} and Walker, {Zac C.} and Murray, {Brad R.} and Verhoeven, {Elise M.} and Thomsen, {Alexandria M.} and David Keith and Lemmon, {Jedda S.} and Ooi, {Mark K.J.} and Allen, {Vanessa L.} and Decker, {Orsi T.} and Green, {Peter T.} and Adnan Moussalli and Foon, {Junn K.} and Bryant, {David B.} and Walker, {Ken L.} and Bruce, {Matthew J.} and George Madani and Tscharke, {Jeremy L.} and Benjamin Wagner and Nitschke, {Craig R.} and Gosper, {Carl R.} and Yates, {Colin J.} and Rebecca Dillon and Sarah Barrett and Spencer, {Emma E.} and Wardle, {Glenda M.} and Newsome, {Thomas M.} and Pulsford, {Stephanie A.} and Anu Singh and Adam Roff and Marsh, {Karen J.} and Kye Mcdonald and Howell, {Lachlan G.} and Lane, {Murraya R.} and Cristescu, {Romane H.} and Witt, {Ryan R.} and Cook, {Emma J.} and Felicity Grant and Law, {Bradley S.} and Julian Seddon and Berris, {Karleah K.} and Shofner, {Ryan M.} and Mike Barth and Torran Welz and Alison Foster and David Hancock and Matthew Beitzel and Tan, {Laura X.L.} and Waddell, {Nathan A.} and Fallow, {Pamela M.} and Laura Schweickle and {Le Breton}, {Tom D.} and Craig Dunne and Mikayla Green and Gilpin, {Amy Marie} and Cook, {James M.} and Power, {Sally A.} and Katja Hogendoorn and Renee Brawata and Jolly, {Chris J.} and Mark Tozer and Noushka Reiter and Phillips, {Ryan D.}",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} The Author(s) 2024.",

year = "2024",

doi = "10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6",

language = "English",

volume = "635",

pages = "898--905",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Publishing Group",

}

Driscoll, DA, Macdonald, KJ, Gibson, RK, Doherty, TS, Nimmo, DG, Nolan, RH, Ritchie, EG, Williamson, GJ, Heard, GW, Tasker, EM, Bilney, R, Porch, N, Collett, RA, Crates, RA, Hewitt, AC, Pendall, E, Boer, MM, Gates, J, Boulton, RL, Mclean, CM, Groffen, H, Maisey, AC, Beranek, CT, Ryan, SA, Callen, A, Hamer, AJ, Stauber, A, Daly, GJ, Gould, J, Klop-Toker, KL, Mahony, MJ, Kelly, OW, Wallace, SL, Stock, SE, Weston, CJ, Volkova, L, Black, D, Gibb, H, Grubb, JJ, McGeoch, MA, Murphy, NP, Lee, JS, Dickman, CR, Neldner, VJ, Ngugi, MR, Miritis, V, Köhler, F, Perri, M, Denham, AJ, Mackenzie, BDE, Reid, CAM, Rayment, JT, Arriaga-Jiménez, A, Hewins, MW, Hicks, A, Melbourne, BA, Davies, KF, Bitters, ME, Linley, GD, Greenville, AC, Webb, JK, Roberts, B, Letnic, M, Price, OF, Walker, ZC, Murray, BR, Verhoeven, EM, Thomsen, AM, Keith, D, Lemmon, JS, Ooi, MKJ, Allen, VL, Decker, OT, Green, PT, Moussalli, A, Foon, JK, Bryant, DB, Walker, KL, Bruce, MJ, Madani, G, Tscharke, JL, Wagner, B, Nitschke, CR, Gosper, CR, Yates, CJ, Dillon, R, Barrett, S, Spencer, EE, Wardle, GM, Newsome, TM, Pulsford, SA, Singh, A, Roff, A, Marsh, KJ, Mcdonald, K, Howell, LG, Lane, MR, Cristescu, RH, Witt, RR, Cook, EJ, Grant, F, Law, BS, Seddon, J, Berris, KK, Shofner, RM, Barth, M, Welz, T, Foster, A, Hancock, D, Beitzel, M, Tan, LXL, Waddell, NA, Fallow, PM, Schweickle, L, Le Breton, TD, Dunne, C, Green, M, Gilpin, AM, Cook, JM, Power, SA, Hogendoorn, K, Brawata, R, Jolly, CJ, Tozer, M, Reiter, N & Phillips, RD 2024, 'Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires', Nature, vol. 635, pp. 898-905. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

TY - JOUR

T1 - Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

AU - Driscoll, Don A.

AU - Macdonald, Kristina J.

AU - Gibson, Rebecca K.

AU - Doherty, Tim S.

AU - Nimmo, Dale G.

AU - Nolan, Rachael H.

AU - Ritchie, Euan G.

AU - Williamson, Grant J.

AU - Heard, Geoffrey W.

AU - Tasker, Elizabeth M.

AU - Bilney, Rohan

AU - Porch, Nick

AU - Collett, Rachael A.

AU - Crates, Ross A.

AU - Hewitt, Alison C.

AU - Pendall, Elise

AU - Boer, Matthias M.

AU - Gates, Jody

AU - Boulton, Rebecca L.

AU - Mclean, Christopher M.

AU - Groffen, Heidi

AU - Maisey, Alex C.

AU - Beranek, Chad T.

AU - Ryan, Shelby A.

AU - Callen, Alex

AU - Hamer, Andrew J.

AU - Stauber, Andrew

AU - Daly, Garry J.

AU - Gould, John

AU - Klop-Toker, Kaya L.

AU - Mahony, Michael J.

AU - Kelly, Oliver W.

AU - Wallace, Samantha L.

AU - Stock, Sarah E.

AU - Weston, Christopher J.

AU - Volkova, Liubov

AU - Black, Dennis

AU - Gibb, Heloise

AU - Grubb, Joshua J.

AU - McGeoch, Melodie A.

AU - Murphy, Nick P.

AU - Lee, Joshua S.

AU - Dickman, Chris R.

AU - Neldner, Victor J.

AU - Ngugi, Michael R.

AU - Miritis, Vivianna

AU - Köhler, Frank

AU - Perri, Marc

AU - Denham, Andrew J.

AU - Mackenzie, Berin D.E.

AU - Reid, Chris A.M.

AU - Rayment, Julia T.

AU - Arriaga-Jiménez, Alfonsina

AU - Hewins, Michael W.

AU - Hicks, Andrew

AU - Melbourne, Brett A.

AU - Davies, Kendi F.

AU - Bitters, Matthew E.

AU - Linley, Grant D.

AU - Greenville, Aaron C.

AU - Webb, Jonathan K.

AU - Roberts, Bridget

AU - Letnic, Mike

AU - Price, Owen F.

AU - Walker, Zac C.

AU - Murray, Brad R.

AU - Verhoeven, Elise M.

AU - Thomsen, Alexandria M.

AU - Keith, David

AU - Lemmon, Jedda S.

AU - Ooi, Mark K.J.

AU - Allen, Vanessa L.

AU - Decker, Orsi T.

AU - Green, Peter T.

AU - Moussalli, Adnan

AU - Foon, Junn K.

AU - Bryant, David B.

AU - Walker, Ken L.

AU - Bruce, Matthew J.

AU - Madani, George

AU - Tscharke, Jeremy L.

AU - Wagner, Benjamin

AU - Nitschke, Craig R.

AU - Gosper, Carl R.

AU - Yates, Colin J.

AU - Dillon, Rebecca

AU - Barrett, Sarah

AU - Spencer, Emma E.

AU - Wardle, Glenda M.

AU - Newsome, Thomas M.

AU - Pulsford, Stephanie A.

AU - Singh, Anu

AU - Roff, Adam

AU - Marsh, Karen J.

AU - Mcdonald, Kye

AU - Howell, Lachlan G.

AU - Lane, Murraya R.

AU - Cristescu, Romane H.

AU - Witt, Ryan R.

AU - Cook, Emma J.

AU - Grant, Felicity

AU - Law, Bradley S.

AU - Seddon, Julian

AU - Berris, Karleah K.

AU - Shofner, Ryan M.

AU - Barth, Mike

AU - Welz, Torran

AU - Foster, Alison

AU - Hancock, David

AU - Beitzel, Matthew

AU - Tan, Laura X.L.

AU - Waddell, Nathan A.

AU - Fallow, Pamela M.

AU - Schweickle, Laura

AU - Le Breton, Tom D.

AU - Dunne, Craig

AU - Green, Mikayla

AU - Gilpin, Amy Marie

AU - Cook, James M.

AU - Power, Sally A.

AU - Hogendoorn, Katja

AU - Brawata, Renee

AU - Jolly, Chris J.

AU - Tozer, Mark

AU - Reiter, Noushka

AU - Phillips, Ryan D.

PY - 2024

Y1 - 2024

N2 - With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is to discover how interactions among fire-regime components, drought and land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in biodiversity monitoring. Collated data include responses of more than 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity to quantify how megafires affect biodiversity. We reveal that the largest effects on plants and animals were in areas with frequent or recent past fires and within extensively burnt areas. Areas burnt at high severity, outside protected areas or under extreme drought also had larger effects. The effects included declines and increases after fire, with the largest responses in rainforests and by mammals. Our results implicate species interactions, dispersal and extent of in situ survival as mechanisms underlying fire responses. Building wildfire resilience into these ecosystems depends on reducing fire recurrence, including with rapid wildfire suppression in areas frequently burnt. Defending wet ecosystems, expanding protected areas and considering localized drought could also contribute. While these countermeasures can help mitigate the impacts of more frequent megafires, reversing anthropogenic climate change remains the urgent broad-scale solution.

AB - With large wildfires becoming more frequent1,2, we must rapidly learn how megafires impact biodiversity to prioritize mitigation and improve policy. A key challenge is to discover how interactions among fire-regime components, drought and land tenure shape wildfire impacts. The globally unprecedented3,4 2019–2020 Australian megafires burnt more than 10 million hectares5, prompting major investment in biodiversity monitoring. Collated data include responses of more than 2,000 taxa, providing an unparalleled opportunity to quantify how megafires affect biodiversity. We reveal that the largest effects on plants and animals were in areas with frequent or recent past fires and within extensively burnt areas. Areas burnt at high severity, outside protected areas or under extreme drought also had larger effects. The effects included declines and increases after fire, with the largest responses in rainforests and by mammals. Our results implicate species interactions, dispersal and extent of in situ survival as mechanisms underlying fire responses. Building wildfire resilience into these ecosystems depends on reducing fire recurrence, including with rapid wildfire suppression in areas frequently burnt. Defending wet ecosystems, expanding protected areas and considering localized drought could also contribute. While these countermeasures can help mitigate the impacts of more frequent megafires, reversing anthropogenic climate change remains the urgent broad-scale solution.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85209096956&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

DO - 10.1038/s41586-024-08174-6

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:85209096956

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 635

SP - 898

EP - 905

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

ER -

Biodiversity impacts of the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

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