CONCEPTS, CHARACTERISTICS, COMPETITION:TOOLS IN THE SEARCH FOR SUSTAINABLE FIRE REGIMES

摘要

Fire ecology researchers risk bombarding managers with a 'blizzard of detail'. Over the past decade, there have been various efforts to synthesize information from ecological research into management guidelines; in particular, ecologists have sought to provide guidance as to fire frequencies compatible with retention of species in different vegetation types. This paper takes a step back, and uses some of the ecological concepts and models which underpin understanding of the role of fire in fire-prone ecosystems to explore issues around appropriate fire frequencies for biodiversity conservation. Concepts include disturbance, succession, plant species vital attributes, interspecific competition, landscape productivity and patch dynamics. Ideas are illustrated through discussion of the dynamics of a number of vegetation types including a subcoastal grassy woodland, a wet sclerophyll forest, and a coastal heath.