Fire regimes are changing, altering the frequency, severity and seasonality of wildfire. Of the many processes that contribute to fire regimes, herbivory has been historically overlooked. Globally, large mammalian herbivores exert detectable effects on biomass, altering fire regimes by reducing the amount and connectivity of fuels, plant composition, and flammability. However, little is known about how fire and herbivores interact in many ecosystems. In Australia, there is a lack of fire-herbivory research on native herbivores in forested environments, with most studies conducted in grasslands or savannahs, or on ungulate species such as cows and deer. As the impacts of human land use and climate change become apparent, it is imperative that we understand the role herbivores (including native and introduced species) play in maintaining and/or altering fire regimes to predict how they may change in the future.
Project timeline: 05/2025 – 11/2028