Fire creates spatial patterns and is in turn affected by spatial
patterns of past fires. These patterns have implications for key
ecological processes of water, carbon and nutrient cycling, and may
also help regulate biodiversity. Productivity, carbon and nutrient
cycling are intrinsically linked to fuel loads and patterning of
litter (fuel) within the landscape and therefore to the spread of
future fires; all key cycling processes are mediated by the
microbial community.
From a landscape ecology perspective, fire is often considered
as a ‘contagious disturbance with memory’. The memory
of fire-prone landscapes results from the effect of past fire
disturbances on the propagation of future fires. It is this system
memory that allows for the formation of stable patch mosaics. In
this context, we need a better understanding of the processes and
feedback mechanisms that drive and control the recovery of
vegetation, litter, and fuels post fire. My research focuses on the
role of microbes
Why my research is important?
Fire plays an integral role in the ecology and management of the
natural ecosystems in the south-west of Western Australia. Little
is documented on changes in ecosystem processes in response to
different fire management regimes and how such responses may vary
spatially and temporally.
I am applying novel techniques to gain a greater understanding
of the complexity, resilience, and landscape pattern of the
structural and functional attributes of microbial communities in
association with different fire regimes. My project also
contributes to the Bushfire CRC Project B4.2: Multi-scale analysis
of patterns in ecological processes in relation to fire
regimes.
Project Link: B 4.2
Multi-scale patterns in ecological processes and fire regime
impacts
