The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery

Abstract

Grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea) are an important structural component of many Australian ecosystems and also an important resource for many fauna species. Grasstrees have distinctive morphologies, with a crown of long thin leaves and skirts, the latter of which are accumulated dead leaves; both are incinerated by fire. This study determined the morphological features of Xanthorrhoea preissii, which change in response to fire from 6 months to 21 years post-burn. In addition, using radio-telemetry and spool-tracking, we determined that grasstrees are utilised as foraging and nesting resources for mardos (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster (Gray, 1841), Marsupialia: Dasyuridae). Recently burnt grasstrees (6 months post-burn) appeared not to be used by mardos at all. We found few mardos in these recently burnt sites, and the one individual we managed to track for 126 m utilised only a single grasstree: a 2-m-tall multiple-crowned grasstree that had escaped the fire was used as a nest site. For sites 5 years post-burn, mardos selectively utilised grasstrees with larger crown areas and those with a greater number of crowns compared with a random sample of available trees. At the 14-year postburn sites, mardos still demonstrated some selection for grasstrees, although no specific single feature could be determined as most significant. We recorded humidity and temperature buffering effects in association with post-burn accumulation of grasstree skirt material and found that even dead grasstree 'logs' were an important resource for nests. We conclude that mardos utilise both live and dead grasstrees for foraging and nest sites, possibly owing to the availability of dense cover, a buffered microclimate, and potentially also food resources. Fire-management policies that promote habitat heterogeneity and retain several intact-skirted grasstrees within the landscape are likely to benefit mardos. The importance of grasstrees (Xanthorrhoea preissii) as habitat for mardo (Antechinus flavipes leucogaster) during post-fire recovery

Recognising fuzzy vegetation pattern: the spatial prediction of floristically defined fuzzy communities using species distribution modelling methods

“…A number of the species with high indicator values are of particular interest to management, including species of Xanthorrhoea , which provide key habitat to plants and animals (Petit & Dickson ; Frazer & Petit ; Swinburn et al. ) and Leptospermum continentale and Pteridium esculentum , which are important fire fuel elements (McCarthy et al. ).…”

Characterizing the post‐recolonization of Antechinus flavipes and its genetic implications in a production forest landscape

“…Specifically in the study area, A . flavipes , despite its relatively specific habitat requirements (Nichols & Grant ; Swinburn et al ), has recolonized restored areas successfully (as soon as 2 years post‐restoration; Nichols & Grant ), and its abundance in 12‐ and 17‐year‐old restoration is the same or slightly higher than in unmined forest (Craig et al ). The relatively high vagility of this species certainly plays an important role in its recolonization success.…”

Plant diversity and structure describe the presence of a new, threatened Australian marsupial within its highly restricted, post-fire habitat

“…argentus was described, the majority of its habitat at Kroombit Tops was burnt by a wildfire. Research on other Antechinus species indicates that a lengthy period of vegetation regrowth is needed for populations to recover after a fire (see [ 18 , 19 , 20 ]), and a recent study on A . argentus hypothesised that this species may be sensitive to fire [ 16 ].…”