Design considerations for rapid biodiversity reconnaissance surveys and long‐term monitoring to assess the impact of wildfire

Abstract

Aims Reconnaissance surveys followed by monitoring are needed to assess the impact and response of biodiversity to wildfire. However, post‐wildfire survey and monitoring design are challenging due to the infrequency and unpredictability of wildfire, an urgency to initiate surveys and uncertainty about how species respond. In this article, we discuss key design considerations and quantitative tools available to aid post‐wildfire survey design. Our motivation was to inform the design of rapid surveys for threatened species heavily impacted by the 2019–2020 fires in Australia. Location Global. Methods We discuss a set of best practice design considerations for post‐wildfire reconnaissance surveys across a range of survey objectives. We provide examples that illustrate key design considerations from post‐fire reconnaissance surveys and monitoring programmes from around the world. Results We highlight how the objective of post‐fire surveys drastically influences design decisions (e.g. survey location and timing). We discuss how the unpredictability of wildfire and uncertainty in the response of biodiversity complicate survey design decisions. Main conclusions Surveys should be conducted immediately following wildfire to assess the impact on biodiversity, to ground truth fire severity mapping and to provide a benchmark from which to assess recovery. Where possible, surveys should be conducted at burnt and unburnt sites in regions with historical data so that state variables of interest can be compared with baseline estimates (i.e. BACI design). This highlights the need to have long‐term monitoring programmes already in place and be prepared to modify their design when wildfires occur. There is opportunity to adopt tools from statistics (i.e. power analysis) and conservation planning (i.e. spatial prioritization) to improve survey design. We must anticipate wildfires rather than respond to them reactively as they will occur more frequently due to climate change.

The conservation impacts of ecological disturbance: Time‐bound estimates of population loss and recovery for fauna affected by the 2019–2020 Australian megafires

“…Fourth, our analysis estimated population losses across the entire distribution of a taxon in order to inform a national assessment of conservation status. It would be possible to devolve these results to regional and local levels to identify priority sites for recovery actions and long‐term monitoring across multiple taxa, and our estimates for population recovery rates could inform the sampling design of such monitoring (Southwell et al., 2021).…”

Severe wildfires promoted by climate change negatively impact forest amphibian metacommunities

“…Drought can affect amphibians through mortality of tadpoles due to desiccation of drying water bodies (Beranek et al, 2020;, desiccation of adults and temperatures surpassing physiological thresholds (Beranek et al, 2022;Cayuela et al, 2016). These observations underscore the importance of long-term monitoring programmes to account for the cumulative impact of several weather events, especially as we enter a time where more extreme weather anomalies may occur in close succession or even simultaneously (Southwell et al, 2022). It would be possible to unravel the influence of drought and fire on amphibian communities if long-term monitoring data were available for extended periods of time before, during and after these events occurred.…”

Monitoring populations and threats to range‐restricted freshwater fishes: A case study of the Stocky Galaxias (Galaxias tantangara)

“…Rapid reconnaissance surveys should aim to document the level of disturbance on the population, provide qualitative assessments of significant ash and/or sediment input (or likelihood of subsequent input), measure water quality parameters, and estimate numbers of fish remaining (Southwell et al . 2021). Emergency rescue may be required, as occurred in 2020 (see Lintermans 2020; Shelley et al .…”

“…A bushfire in the vicinity of Tantangara Creek would pose dual risk to Stocky Galaxias via heat and direct mortality, and vegetation loss and subsequent deterioration in water quality from ash and sediment runoff (Legge et al 2021). Rapid reconnaissance surveys should aim to document the level of disturbance on the population, provide qualitative assessments of significant ash and/or sediment input (or likelihood of subsequent input), measure water quality parameters, and estimate numbers of fish remaining (Southwell et al 2021). Emergency rescue may be required, as occurred in 2020 (see Lintermans 2020; Shelley et al 2021).…”