Tight stomatal regulation and high intrinsic capacity of carbon assimilation inferred from isotopic composition negatively correlate with drought-driven decline in sclerophyllous species.

The global loss of individuals and populations is driving a myriad of species toward extinction, many of which are not yet recognized as threatened. The European polecat (Mustela putorius) exemplifies this trend, as throughout most of its range it is of low conservation concern despite widespread suspected, though poorly documented, population declines. For a decade, we monitored a vanishing polecat population to identify the ecological drivers behind its decline, using a combination of camera trapping (5551 trap days), roadkill data, landscape descriptors, and dietary and toxicological analyses. We documented a marked segregation between the polecat and other mesocarnivores. Polecat favored lowland farmland rich in rats and rabbits as prey, avoiding sclerophyllous forest and water bodies dominated by potential competitors like the invasive American mink, otter, and stone marten. This habitat selection likely increased the risk of rodenticide secondary poisoning (with 84.6% prevalence), road mortality (42 individuals in 10 years), and interactions with domestic cats. However, the loss of habitat heterogeneity and semi-natural vegetation, associated with agricultural intensification, led the habitat and connectivity loss that probably contributed decisively to the ultimate demise of the population. Although American mink control was implemented, large-scale conservation actions-such as hedgerow restoration, construction of faunal underpasses, or replacement of anticoagulant rodenticides-were not in place prior to the population's extinction. However, ongoing habitat restoration may support future recolonization or reintroductions and benefit other species for which the polecat could serve as an effective umbrella species in European agroecosystems.

Abstract Climate change has increased the likelihood of extreme events, increasing the number of days with dangerous fire weather conditions, resulting in fires with increased severity, frequency and extent. This can greatly impact vegetation communities by reducing diversity and slowing recovery. The role of in situ soil seed banks in mediating impacts of shifting fire regimes is often unclear and may vary between different vegetation types. In particular, the impact of high fire severity, an increasingly common fire regime shift, may increase the likelihood of temperatures lethal to seeds in the soil, while higher fire frequencies may reduce diversity via increased immaturity risk. Here we aim to assess how fire severity impacts the species' and functional group diversity of soil seed banks in a threatened mesic forest community. We collected 396 soil samples from 12 sites within wet sclerophyll forest in the Blue Mountains of New South Wales, Australia that had been burnt during the 2019/2020 Australian megafires at differing fire severities (moderate, high and extreme), as well as from unburnt (control) sites, 3 years post‐fire. Soil samples were split into the leaf litter and soil, both treated with smoke and heat to break fire‐related dormancy, and regularly watered in a greenhouse to observe germination for a year. This was compared to floristic surveys conducted at each site. Our data showed a hump‐shaped relationship between species richness and fire severity in the extant vegetation. The lowest richness occurred at unburnt sites peaking at moderate severity burn sites and declining slightly at high and then extreme severity sites. This relationship was not significant in the soil seed bank, indicating it may buffer against losses in diversity long term. Obligate resprouters generally declined as severity increased. A distinct difference in composition between extant vegetation and in the soil seed bank emphasises that a significant portion of the species richness within these communities solely exists in the soil seed bank, fluctuating as environmental conditions change. Composition in both extant vegetation and the soil seed bank shifted with increasing fire severity, suggesting potential impacts on the future functioning of these ecosystems. Read the free Plain Language Summary for this article on the Journal blog.

Understanding the effects of fire on ecosystem function is critical for both above- and belowground processes. Mycorrhizal fungi play essential roles belowground, yet most studies rely on DNA-based methods that capture community composition but not functional attributes. Here, we assessed mycorrhizal fungal community responses alongside functional traits of biomass, and hyphal chemistry using in-growth mesh bags. We studied 12 dry sclerophyll forest sites in the Sydney Basin, spanning gradients of historical fire frequency and fire severity from the most recent fire (the 2019/20 Black Summer fires). We evaluated the effects of fire regime and soil nutrient availability using high-throughput DNA sequencing, joint species distribution modelling, and direct measurements of biomass and hyphal elemental composition. Mycorrhizal community composition was associated with fire frequency and severity, but did not correspond to measured functional changes. In contrast, nutrient availability, particularly soil orthophosphate, had limited effects on community composition, but influenced fungal function, increasing biomass and altering hyphal stoichiometry. Our study establishes critical post-fire baselines for these traits and suggests that fire regimes select for particular mycorrhizal fungal communities, but that responses are decoupled between community composition and function three years post-fire. This highlights the resilience of mycorrhizal function under varying fire regimes. • Fire regimes shape mycorrhizal community composition but not measured functions. • Mycorrhizal fungal biomass and hyphal elemental composition are not affected by fire. • Instead, soil orthophosphate influences fungal biomass and hyphal elemental composition. • We provide baseline data for post-fire mycorrhizal fungal traits in Australia.

Abstract Non‐native plant pathogens such as Austropuccinia psidii , the causal agent of myrtle rust, pose a significant threat to native forests. Myrtle rust is wind dispersed and its impacts are influenced by its ability to move through landscapes. Understanding the connection between land clearing processes and susceptible species dynamics is a crucial step towards developing targeted plant disease management strategies. We hypothesised that patches of wet sclerophyll forest with greater disturbance—particularly land clearing—would show higher densities of susceptible species in the subcanopy layer and therefore higher myrtle rust impacts. To test this, we surveyed 21 patches of wet sclerophyll forest in eastern Australia, varying in land tenure and level of historical land clearing. We explored relationships between species abundance, susceptibility and myrtle rust impacts. We found a positive interaction between historical land clearing, the abundance of susceptible species and myrtle rust impacts. Sites where susceptible species, particularly Archirhodomyrtus beckleri , were more abundant also showed more severe disease impacts. Practical implication : Plant pathogens worldwide continue to spread outside of their native ranges into new habitats. Our results highlight the importance of investigating variable processes like land use legacy that can correlate with impacts of non‐native plant pathogens. Our findings suggest that forest patches regrown after disturbance are more vulnerable to myrtle rust because of the composition of their subcanopy layer. Several management implications stem from our study. For example, formerly heavily cleared sites would benefit from monitoring for weeds that may establish in openings created by the death of susceptible trees. Less disturbed areas should receive targeted conservation to protect healthier individuals of species threatened by myrtle rust.

Konün Wenu Hill (38°46′ S, 72°38′ W) is a prominent insular hill of considerable historical and cultural significance, located in the Mediterranean–temperate transition of south-central Chile. It hosts a ca. 10 ha remnant of native vegetation embedded within a matrix of grasslands and Pinus radiata D. Don (Pinaceae) plantations. Through a habitat-stratified floristic inventory covering the forest interior and adjacent habitats, we recorded 158 vascular plant taxa (Tracheophyta), comprising 90 native species (including 26 Chilean endemics) and 68 alien species. The forest remnant itself contained 62 native and 17 alien species. According to national conservation assessments, the flora includes two Vulnerable species—Asplenium trilobum Cav. (Aspleniaceae) and Citronella mucronata (Ruiz & Pav.) D. Don (Cardiopteridaceae)—and one Near Threatened species, Gardoquia multiflora (Phil.) Kuntze (Lamiaceae). The richest families were Asteraceae (24 spp.), Poaceae (14), Fabaceae (11), and Rosaceae (10). Canopy species such as Cryptocarya alba (Lauraceae), typical of Mediterranean sclerophyllous forests, Nothofagus obliqua (Mirb.) Oerst. (Nothofagaceae), characteristic of south-central deciduous forests, and Eucryphia cordifolia Cav. (Cunoniaceae), a temperate evergreen element from southern Chile, co-occur in the fragment and reflect the site’s transitional biogeographic character. The surrounding grasslands contributed a suite of heliophilous elements, notably Chloraea Lindl. spp. (Orchidaceae). Isolated trees scattered throughout the grassland mosaic served as distinct microsites compared to the surrounding open areas, facilitating the establishment of species more typical of forest or shrubland environments—such as taxa associated with closed-canopy forest (e.g., Francoa appendiculata Cav.) or sclerophyllous shrubland (e.g., Myrceugenia obtusa (DC.) O. Berg). Hierarchical clustering with SIMPROF (10,000 permutations, α = 0.05) showed that local road and forestry plantation each harboured floristic compositions statistically distinct from forest, edge, and grassland—and from one another—while these latter three habitats did not differ significantly among themselves. Despite its small size and isolation, Konün Wenu supports a substantial proportion of regional plant species richness and harbours taxa of conservation concern, underscoring the ecological value of both the remnant and the microhabitat network sustained by isolated trees across the surrounding matrix.

Context: The wet sclerophyll forests of the Australian Wet Tropics face increasing pressure from emerging threats like climate change and industrial development for wind farms. The magnificent broodfrog (Pseudophryne covacevichae) is a threatened species of the wet sclerophyll forest. A limitation for conservation is poor knowledge of its ecology and distribution. Aims: We aimed to better estimate the distribution of P. covacevichae using species distribution modelling (SDM) and evaluate model performance through targeted field surveys. Methods: We developed an initial MaxEnt model to guide field surveys and locate new populations. These new records were then incorporated to produce an updated model. Model performance was evaluated using Area Under the Curve (AUC) and True Skill Statistic (TSS). Key results: The SDM identified previously unrecognised areas of potential habitat beyond the species’ currently known distribution and identified many high probability areas without records within the currently known distribution. The model resulted in the discovery of 12 new populations (all within the currently recognised distribution). Including the new records in the updated model led to an improvement in model performance (TSS) and increased predicted probabilities in marginal or under-sampled areas. Modelling suggests that the patchy distribution of P. covacevichae is due to natural isolation between areas of suitable habitat, with suitability driven primarily by dry season precipitation and elevation. The findings highlight priority areas for future surveys, particularly in the wet sclerophyll forest on the Windsor Tableland. Further, increased sampling effort at elevations between 650–800 m may refine the species’ lower elevational limits. Conclusion: This research provides insight into the potential distribution of P. covacevichae, identifies key areas that require surveys, and underscores the importance of field validation in SDM studies. Accurate distribution data is essential for conservation planning, particularly in mitigating threats from potential habitat loss due to climate change and wind farms.

Sarcoptic mange (SM), caused by the mite Sarcoptes scabiei, is a globally distributed disease affecting a broad range of hosts and posing a potential threat to wildlife. However, its full ecologic impact remains unclear. This study investigates SM occurrence in two native fox species (Lycalopex spp.) in rural central Chile, exploring its association with macrohabitat types, land covers, domestic dogs, and human presence. Fieldwork was conducted across three rural sites (<56 km apart), representing distinct macrohabitats: exotic monoculture tree plantations (Alto Colorado) and two native Mediterranean coastal forest sites, La Estrella (thorn shrubland) and Callihue (sclerophyllous forest). At each site, 10 camera traps were deployed within 100-ha grids for 13 mo. Foxes were detected in all stations, and individuals showing lesions consistent with SM (SM-foxes) were found in 24 of 30 stations, accounting for 329 of 3,140 fox images (10.4% observed prevalence). Domestic dogs were recorded at 28 stations, detected up to 7.9 km from human settlements. In our fine-scale approach, foxes, SM-foxes, and dogs were present across all macrohabitats and land covers, tending to be more abundant in native landscapes. The occurrence of SM was weakly associated with human presence and, to a lesser extent, with domestic dogs, the latter of which nonetheless remain the most plausible original source of SM in the region. In general, SM occurrence, foxes, and domestic dogs were more frequent closer to human settlements and farther from urban areas, reflecting a complex association with human presence. Human settlements were not consistently related to altered macrohabitats such as exotic plantations. Sarcoptes scabiei circulation is probably maintained through both direct and indirect contact, involving occasional spillover from dogs, prey, and infected carcasses. These findings underscore the importance of rural areas as hotspots for dogs-fox interactions and highlight the relevance of understanding fine-scale pathogen dynamics for wildlife conservation.

Sclerophyllous forests face significant challenges from invasive species, such as Teline monspessulana, which negatively affect native species, such as Quillaja saponaria, in Chile. The allelopathic effects of T. monspessulana, including the release of phenolic compounds and alkaloids, contribute to oxidative stress in Q. saponaria; yet, the specific mechanisms underlying these effects remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate the morphoanatomical features, dynamics of reactive oxygen species (ROS), and functions of antioxidant defense mechanisms in Q. saponaria in response to allelochemical stress induced by the substrate (IS) and aqueous extracts (TE) of T. monspessulana. Using anatomical and histochemical techniques, ROS and phenol quantification, and enzyme activity measurements, this research aims to provide insights into improving the resilience of Q. saponaria in reforestation programs within the sclerophyllous forests of Chile invaded by T. monspessulana. The present results revealed that both IS and TE treatments significantly retarded initial growth and decreased dry mass by approximately 45%, accompanied by mesophyll disorganization, epidermis suberization, and cell wall lignification. Additionally, both treatments induced significant overproduction of ROS that could not be dampened by enzymatic antioxidant systems or phenolic compounds, indicating a disrupted redox balance under allelochemical stress. For Q. saponaria, this effect appears to be related to the abundance of phenolic acids and alkaloids in the aerial organs of T. monspessulana. Understanding these dynamics is crucial for managing invasive T. monspessulana and protecting native Q. saponaria in its unique ecosystem. These findings emphasize the importance of strategies mitigating the impacts of allelopathic invaders as part of forest restoration efforts.

New Caledonia’s unique terrestrial habitats – primarily mountain rainforest and sclerophyll forest – face significant threats from invasive ungulates, particularly Javan deer (Rusa timorensis), introduced in the 19th century and now widespread. Since deer are an important game and food source for local communities, the management strategy aims to mitigate their detrimental impact on ecosystems while maintaining populations at levels that continue to support hunting. To achieve these objectives, effective and reliable population monitoring methods are essential. Unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) equipped with thermal sensors represent a potentially superior alternative to conventional ground-based methods for ungulate inventories, particularly in remote and difficult-to-access areas. In this study, we explored the feasibility of using a rotor-wing drone and a thermal camera to estimate the relative density of Javan deer in two protected areas: Domaine de Déva (7,319 ha) and Parc provincial des Grandes Fougères (8,098 ha). Visual line-of-sight flights were conducted after sunset at altitudes of 80 and 100 m above ground level, with the camera fixed at 40° or 0° angles. In Déva, we surveyed 10 sampling blocks, and in Grandes Fougères, 4 blocks (each ranging from 56 to 92 ha). In the predominantly open savanna area of Déva, the estimated relative population density was 116 deer/km2 (SE = 26.8), with some blocks exceeding 400 deer/km2. In contrast, in the dense canopy rainforest of Grandes Fougères, the relative density was 7 deer/km2 (SE = 2.8), with a local maximum of 18 deer/km2. Differences in deer counts between consecutive flights over the same blocks (with time gaps of less than 100 minutes) were minor, demonstrating that drone surveys are highly repeatable – an essential quality for a reliable population monitoring program. To detect a 25% population reduction with a statistical power of 0.8, surveying 10 sampling blocks was sufficient in the high deer density savanna area, whereas approximately 28 blocks would be required in the rainforest. The logistics of drone operations were relatively straightforward in the savanna; however, in the rainforest, we encountered practical difficulties, including a limited number of suitable take-off sites and restricted visibility due to the dense canopy cover. Despite these obstacles, the method proved to be an effective and efficient approach for monitoring deer populations in the challenging landscapes of New Caledonia.

Context Understanding the extant structure of forests reveals important insights into their ecological condition, age, biodiversity and related ecosystem services. Advances in LiDAR and computational power enable detailed assessments of forest structure at an individual tree resolution over large geographic extents. Aims This study aimed to model and map tree canopy crowns and heights at a landscape scale and investigate the influence of forest type, land use and tenure, and environmental factors on spatial variation in forest height. Methods We utilised publicly available Airborne Laser Scanning (ALS) data to model canopy shape and height for individual trees, across a 3.1 Mha study region in the Northern Rivers region of New South Wales, Australia, employing LiDAR-derived Canopy Height Model (CHM) and Dalponte crown segmentation techniques. Tree heights were subsequently compared between different vegetation formations and stratified by land use and tenure. Key results A total of 180,709,102 tree crowns was identified. The tallest trees included a 81 m tall Eucalyptus grandis specimen and a 77 m tall Araucaria cunninghamii specimen. The analysis of tree heights among vegetation formations and land use/tenure revealed that tree heights were tallest in wet sclerophyll forest, and Nature Conservation and Production Native Forest tenures. Tree crown detection accuracy was high (2.3% difference), although discrepancies were noted in areas affected by severe fires and complex rainforest canopies. Conclusions The results show that LiDAR and advanced modelling techniques can be applied to model map forest canopy structure on an individual tree basis at a landscape scale. Implications These results provide valuable insights into the ecological condition of the region’s forests that can inform management strategies and conservation efforts. The methods can be readily applied to other forested landscapes where airborne LiDAR is available.

Changing fire regimes, including increased fire severity, may impact plant community recovery, altering structure and composition, potentially causing a state change. For threatened wet sclerophyll forests, mesic forests which contain both dry sclerophyll and rainforest elements, this could mean a shift to a more fire-prone species composition. We investigate how species and functional group diversity responses differ across a gradient of fire severity and how recovery changes with time since fire in a mesic forest community. We hypothesize that increased fire severity can lead to reduced diversity and altered composition. We surveyed plant species cover and abundance three years post-fire at sites with different fire severities (moderate, high, or extreme) during the 2019/2020 Australian megafires, and sampled adjacent unburnt sites as controls. We calculated species and functional type beta diversity indices across a fire severity gradient. Our data showed a hump-shaped relationship between plant diversity and fire severity three years post-fire. Species richness was highest at moderately burnt sites and lower in unburnt and extremely burnt sites. Species composition also differed, with unburnt sites containing more rainforest-restricted species. Increased fire severity may reduce community-level diversity. The distinct compositional difference between recently burnt and long unburnt sites suggests how fire regimes may drive shifts in wet sclerophyll forest states. The differences identified three years post-fire indicate that recovery may be slow, with extremely burnt sites potentially taking the longest. • Fire severity drives a hump-shaped relationship in plant diversity. • Species richness was highest at sites burnt at moderate fire severities. • Unburnt sites had functional groups typical of rainforest-restricted species. • Rainforest-restricted species were absent at extreme severity sites across strata. • Impacts of fire severity were most pronounced three years post-fire.

Chile is characterized by high levels of endemism among its flora and fauna, yet its diverse gall-inducing organisms remain poorly studied. We describe Dasineura peumi sp. nov., a new gall-inducing midge (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae) associated with Peumus boldus Molina (Monimiaceae), an economically significant medicinal plant native to Chile’s sclerophyllous forests. This species induces solitary or clustered fusiform galls on the stems, each housing a single larva. Morphological and phenological analyses were conducted on samples collected in the Bíobío Region of Chile in 2021 and 2022. Morphological studies revealed key diagnostic traits: antennae with 18 flagellomeres in both sexes, tarsal claws with a prominent basal tooth, as long as the empodia, and a band-like male tergite 8. The ovipositor measures 1.0-1.10 mm, approximately four times the length of the seventh tergite. Pupae are characterized by long vertical setae, very short antennal horns, a complete arrangement of facial papillae, digitiform prothoracic spiracles, and spines absent from the abdomen. Larvae possess a long spatula with two anterior teeth and an anchor-like base, a complete arrangement of lateral papillae, and eight short, uniform terminal papillae. This species has a multivoltine life cycle, with development independent of the host plant’s phenology.

Fire has had a profound impact on Australia’s landscapes and biodiversity since the late Tertiary. Indigenous (Aboriginal) people have lived in Australia for at least 65,000 years and fire is an integral part of their culture and cosmology. In 2015, an Indigenous cultural burn was undertaken by Banbai rangers at Wattleridge Indigenous Protected Area, New England Tablelands, NSW. We compared the impact of this burn on the composition, cover, abundance, and species richness of dry sclerophyll vegetation and fuel hazard, with a hazard reduction burn at nearby Warra National Park, using a Before-After-Control-Impact experimental design. Our study found that the low-severity cultural burn and moderate-severity hazard reduction burn reduced fuel loads but did not have a significant impact on the composition of the vegetation overall or the herb layer. The hazard reduction burn had a significant impact on shrub and juvenile tree (woody species) cover, while the abundance of woody species was significantly affected by both fires, with a mass germination of ‘seeder’ species, particularly after the cultural burn. The long unburnt fire regime at Wattleridge may have made the vegetation more responsive to fire than the more frequently burnt vegetation at Warra, through accumulation of seed in the seed bank, so that the patchy cultural burn had a greater impact on woody species abundance. In terms of ecological and bushfire management outcomes, this study provides evidence to support claims that Indigenous cultural burning decreases fuel loads, stimulates regeneration of shrubs and trees, and manages at a local, place-based scale. We recommend cultural burning as a key management tool across Indigenous Protected Areas and other land tenures, with its implementation monitored and adaptively managed through two-way science, to foster fire regimes that are both culturally and ecologically beneficial. This is a vital element of our resilience in the Pyrocene and a significant step toward decolonizing science and land management.

ABSTRACT The Koala ( Phascolarctos cinereus ) is an arboreal marsupial that has declined substantially, partially due to conflict with urban expansion. Understanding movement and home range size in urban habitat is therefore important, including road crossing propensity. The aim of this study was to use GPS collars to determine the home range size and road crossing propensity of the Koala in a fragmented, high‐quality coastal habitat. GPS collars were fitted to seven Koalas between February 2014 and December 2015, with tracking periods ranging from 16 to 541 days, and positions logged hourly. We found that the home range of Koalas varied, from small to large (fixed kernel 95% range 1.33–68.63, median 2.75 ha), with small daily movement distances (μ 23–71 m). The frequency of road crossings was generally low, ranging from zero to 1.9 per month. These results suggest that high quality Swamp Sclerophyll Forest habitat where these animals were found is of the utmost importance to the local Koala population. Protection of this type of habitat is therefore paramount.

BackgroundSpecies-specific density is an essential parameter for evaluating population stability and ecosystem health. We estimate the population density of native carnivores, South American gray and culpeo foxes (Lycalopex spp.), guiña (Leopardus guigna) and Andes skunk (Conepatus chinga), in central Chile, inferring on the potential influence of the availability of introduced exotic prey on their population dynamics.MethodsMonitoring with camera traps was conducted from March 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022, across three distinct landscapes representative of the coastal mountain range of central Chile: Mediterranean coastal thorn forest, Mediterranean coastal sclerophyllous forest, and exotic monoculture tree plantations. We estimated density using an R package, cameratrapR, where animal movement was simulated using a correlated random walk within the camera grids. Simulations were run for a range of numbers of individuals, representing a gradient of population densities. We matched these results and the observed photo records using a machine learning algorithm, random forest, thereby estimating population density and its 95% confidence intervals.ResultsA total of 10,046 trap days resulted in 9,120 photographs of carnivores, with 3,888 independent records. Our findings indicate that Lycalopex spp. are the carnivore species with the highest population density in central Chile (4.1–4.8 individuals/km2). Furthermore, their density was higher in the exotic monoculture tree plantation ecotype compared to native forests, suggesting a dietary subsidy from non-native prey. We report the first population density estimates for Conepatus chinga (1.8–2.2 individuals/km2) and Leopardus guigna (0.7–1.3 individuals/km2) in the three landscapes, showing different habitat preferences and resource availabilities across landscapes. The results highlight the complex interactions between carnivores and their environments, particularly the role of exotic introduced species as prey items in shaping native carnivore populations. These findings also provide insights into carnivore adaptability and the implications for biodiversity conservation.

Abstract Understanding soil organic carbon (SOC) dynamics is crucial for understanding the global carbon cycle and ensuring soil and terrestrial ecosystems function. This study provides a comprehensive assessment of SOC distribution across terrestrial ecosystems and protected areas in Chile, focusing on the interactions between land cover (LC) types and their impacts on SOC stocks (SOCs), aiming to evaluate current SOC degradation and inform conservation strategies. To analyse topsoil (0–30 cm) SOC content (%) and SOCs across LC categories defined as low‐intensity LC (minimally impacted by human activities) and ‘high‐intensity LC’ (substantially impacted by human activities). A Random Forest modelling approach was used, integrating remote sensing environmental variable data from Landsat 8, MODIS and SRTM topography, along with over 12,000 presence points compiled from literature and unpublished datasets. Chilean ecosystems contain approximately 1.37 pg of SOCs, with nearly 80% in low‐intensity LC and temperate forests, highlighting their importance in carbon conservation. Vulnerable ecosystems, such as Sclerophyllous Forests, retain only 45% of their original stock and have experienced 10% fire damage in the last decade. The present assessment of SOC levels in protected areas highlights the importance of public lands in conserving SOC, as they contain over six times more SOC than private areas and are predominantly present within the low‐intensity LC. However, important conservation gaps are still present, as ecosystems such as deciduous forests, steppes &amp; grasslands and thorny shrublands, which together store nearly 40% of the national SOC stock, are not currently under the protected area network. These results are key to understanding the dynamics of soil SOC in heterogeneous landscapes and emphasize the need to align conservation strategies with carbon storage priorities. Synthesis and applications . Our study identifies key implications for in situ conservation efforts by pinpointing threatened ecosystems and addressing gaps in soil protection through the improvement or expansion of protected areas to face a world‐changing climate. It provides valuable inputs for modelling areas prone to soil degradation and irreplaceable soil organic carbon loss. These insights are crucial for shaping national and international evidence‐based policies and improving conservation and restoration initiatives.

Background Fireline intensity is important for understanding fire behaviour. Heat yield – the amount of energy released by fuels, calculated by subtracting energy lost by vaporising moisture from a fuel’s calorific value – is considered the least variable component of fireline intensity. Recent work suggests it may be more variable than assumed, though how it varies between fuels and seasons remains unclear. Aims This study aims to determine how heat yields vary between fuels and seasons in terms of calorific values, hydrogen content and fuel moisture. Methods We sampled common wet sclerophyll forest fuels over a year, measuring their moisture content. We determined their calorific value with bomb calorimetry, and hydrogen content with elemental analysis. Key results Fuel heat yields varied substantially between species and seasons, with some species having large seasonal variations. The heat yields of live fuels were significantly lower than dead fuels. Conclusions Heat yields are highly variable between fuels. Accounting for species composition and seasonal variation may be important for accurately estimating heat yield at the forest-stand scale. Implications Heat yields are more variable than previously assumed and have been overestimated in some models. This could have implications for fireline intensity.

Abstract In fire-prone forests of south-east Australia, rainforests have longer fire-return-intervals than the dominant and adjoining eucalypt forests, because rainforests occur in topographic positions which are typically too wet to burn. Thus, rainforests often act as natural barriers to fire spread. Although rare, severe drought can make rainforests available to burn, and this can promote very large and intense wildfires by increasing fuel availability across landscapes. Here, we explore how ten fuel moisture indices impact wildfire occurrence in rainforest patches of south-east Australia, when compared with wet and dry sclerophyll eucalypt forest types which are drier and have shorter fire-return-intervals. Vapour pressure deficit was the strongest and most ubiquitous moisture index predicting wildfire occurrence across all forest types, followed by soil moisture and live fuel moisture. Vapour pressure deficit thresholds facilitating a wildfire probability &gt;0.5 also did not differ between forest types. However, the percentage of days exceeding vapour pressure deficit thresholds increased from rainforests to wet eucalypt forests and peaked in dry eucalypt forests. Collectively, our results suggest that the same fuel moisture thresholds promote wildfire in rainforests and fire-prone eucalypt forests; however, wildfire is less common in rainforests because they experience less time in a dry combustible state. Our results provide a framework to forecast wildfire probability across wet and dry forests at large spatial scales.

Cockroaches live in diverse habitats around the world. In central Chile, wild cockroaches are commonly associated with native habitats in the Mediterranean-type temperate scrub and sclerophyll forest, contributing to several ecosystem functions. Cockroaches within this group share some characteristics of their external morphology, such as reddish-black color, both sexes with brachypterous wings, and similar size. This coincides with some of the characteristics reported in 1933 for the species Moluchia brevipennis (Saussure, 1864) (Blattellidae). However, the internal genital morphology suggests that these correspond to at least three species. Here, we studied these morphological features using classical dissection techniques and SEM. Based on this, we redescribed the male of M. brevipennis, the female, and the ootheca, which was previously unknown. In the same way, we assign a lectotype from Saussure’s original material. In addition, we describe two new species: Moluchia akelarre Schapheer, Villagra, and Vera sp. nov. and Moluchia kuyen Schapheer, Villagra, and Vera sp. nov. Finally, we reconstruct the geographic distribution of the three species and their association with the plant strata of the Mediterranean climate zone of Chile. Based on this, we discuss the importance of the characters used, such as the tergal specializations in the tergite I, and the need to incorporate new characters that allow a correct determination. This work elucidates differences in the diversity of native cockroaches of Central Chile and contributes to the taxonomic knowledge of this lineage, laying the foundations for later studies that explain the diversification of native cockroaches of Central Chile.