Impact of fire in the eucalypt forest ecosystem of southern Western Australia: a critical review

Abstract

Summary This paper is a comprehensive review of the effects of fire on soils, nutrient cycling, micro-organisms, vascular flora, soil and litter and other invertebrates, reptiles, amphibians, birds, mammals and exotic plant species in jarrah and karri forest of Western Australia. Pre-European fire regimes are also briefly reviewed, and the evidence suggests a mosaic burning pattern of frequent fires under relatively mild conditions. The evidence suggests that soil properties and nutrient cycling are neither dramatically nor permanently affected by low intensity fire. The overall response of the flora and fauna is: (1) reduction in density and sometimes number of species immediately after fire; (2) recovery in density and number of species after fire, usually from propagules within burnt areas; (3) transient changes in relative density of species after fire. Rate of recovery of fauna depends largely on that of the vascular flora. Each species has a well-defined response to fire. There is very little information on the long term effects of repeated fires on the flora and fauna. We conclude the review with a set of proposals to guide the management of fire in forest and adjacent woodland areas set aside for conservation purposes.