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Abstract

Large vertebrates affect fire regimes in several ways: by consuming plant matter that would otherwise accumulate as fuel; by controlling and varying the density of vegetation; and by engineering the soil and litter layer. These processes can regulate the frequency, intensity and extent of fire. The evidence for these effects is strongest in environments with intermediate rainfall, warm temperatures and graminoid-dominated ground vegetation. Probably, extinction of Quaternary megafauna triggered increased biomass burning in many such environments. Recent and continuing declines of large vertebrates are likely to be significant contributors to changes in fire regimes and vegetation that are currently being experienced in many parts of the world. To date, rewilding projects that aim to restore large herbivores have paid little attention to the value of large animals in moderating fire regimes. Rewilding potentially offers a powerful tool for managing the risks of wildfire and its impacts on natural and human values.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	Johnson, CN and Prior, LD and Archibald, S and Poulos, HM and Barton, AM and Williamson, GJ and Bowman, DMJS
Keywords:	herbivory, megaherbivore, fire regime, plant-animal interactions, pyrogeography, ecosystem engineer, fire, rewilding, biodiversity, megafauna
Journal or Publication Title:	Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society of London B: Biological Sciences
Publisher:	Royal Soc London
ISSN:	0962-8436
DOI / ID Number:	10.6084/m9. figshare.c.4228007
Copyright Information:	Copyright 2018 The AuthorsLicensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Related URLs:	Google Scholar: Johnson, CN UTAS Profile: Johnson, CN Google Scholar: Prior, LD UTAS Profile: Prior, LD Google Scholar: Williamson, GJ UTAS Profile: Williamson, GJ Google Scholar: Bowman, DMJS UTAS Profile: Bowman, DMJS
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