A Landscape-Scale, Applied Fire Management Experiment Promotes Recovery of a Population of the Threatened Gouldian Finch, Erythrura gouldiae, in Australia’s Tropical Savannas

摘要: Fire is an integral part of savanna ecology and changes in fire patterns are linked to biodiversity loss savannas worldwide. In Australia, changed regimes implicated the contemporary declines small mammals, riparian species, obligate-seeding plants grass seed-eating birds. Translating this knowledge into management recover threatened species has proved elusive. We report here on a landscape-scale experiment carried out by Australian Wildlife Conservancy (AWC) Mornington Sanctuary northwest Australia. The was designed understand response key bird guild fire, use that information manage with aim recovering population. compared condition indices among three species–one endangered (Gouldian finch) two non-threatened (long-tailed finch double-barred finch)—from large areas (> 2,830 km2) initial contrasting (‘extreme’: frequent, extensive, intense fire; versus ‘benign’: less smaller, lower intensity fires). Populations all living extreme regime had differed from their counterparts benign regime, including higher haematocrit levels some seasons (suggesting activity required find food), different seasonal profiles, fat scores early wet season greater food uncertainty), then muscle later prolonged deprivation). Gouldian finches also showed seasonally increasing stress hormone concentrations regime. Cumulatively, these indicated nutritional over many months for birds exposed regimes. tested relationships monitoring following years, as AWC implemented produce ‘benign’ throughout property. populations originally shifted resemble those This research supports hypothesis affect resources birds, impact mediated through range utilised seasons, can effectively moderate impact. work provides rare example applied supporting recovery population species.