Patchy prescribed fire has variable effects on invasive
predators and their native prey
Darcy J. Watchorn 1, 4, Tim S. Doherty2, Barbara A. Wilson 1, Mark J.
Garkaklis 3, Don A. Driscoll 1
1 School of Life and Environmental Sciences (Burwood
Campus), Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
2 School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The
University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
3 State of the Environment Pty Ltd, Aireys Inlet,
Australia
4 Corresponding author:
dwatchorn@deakin.edu.au
Abstract
In many parts of the world, climate change is increasing the likelihood
of severe wildfire in protected areas, while planned burns are occurring
more frequently in an attempt to manage risk. These fires shape animal
communities by altering resource availability and species interactions,
including between predators and prey. In Australia, there is particular
concern that native prey species may experience elevated post-fire
predation by introduced feral cats (Felis catus ) and European red
foxes (Vulpes vulpes ). We tested how a prescribed fire,
vegetation, and other habitat variables affected the activity of cats,
foxes, and the native mammal community in southeastern Australia. We
used camera traps to quantify mammal activity before and after a
prescribed burn, and statistically tested how the fire interacted with
key habitat variables to affect mammal activity. We found little
evidence that the prescribed fire influenced the activity of cats and
foxes and no evidence of an effect on macropod or small mammal
(<800 g) activity. Medium-sized mammals (800–2,000 g) were
negatively associated with prescribed fire extent. The lack of response
of cats and foxes to the prescribed burn is a positive outcome from a
fire management perspective. Nonetheless, we recommend future
experiments use GPS trackers to record fine-scale movements of cats,
foxes, and their native prey in temperate ecosystems immediately
following prescribed fires the best inform effective management within
protected areas.