Effect of fire on Buttongrass Pond Ecology at Derwent Bridge. Interim report

Abstract

This report documents the results of benthic faunal surveys of ponds in buttongrass plains in the Derwent Bridge area, central Tasmania. The primary aim was to establish patterns associated with the impact of burning of buttongrass on pond biodiversity, community composition and ecological processes. This study forms a part of a study evaluating the effect of fire on the ecology of buttongrass systems, including terrestrial an aquatic, vertebrate and invertebrate fauna, and changes in vegetation and floristics (Driessen, RMC WHA management, Tasmania, unpub. data). These surveys had two components: o Sampling of benthic fauna in ponds from plains with different fire ages - a ‘space for time’ design; and o Sampling ponds before and after burning in a BACI (Before-After-Control-Impact) design. All ponds were sampled quantitatively for benthic macroinvertebrates, zooplankton, phytoplankton, habitat characteristics, and were assessed for levels of benthic respiration and primary production. Only the results for benthic macroinvertebrates are reported here.