Intervals between prescribed fires in Australia: What intrinsic variation should apply?

Abstract

Because of increasing concern over the constancy of intervals between prescribed fires within a vegetation type, we examine various sources of evidence that can be used to determine variation appropriate to the conservation of biodiversity while minimizing the chances of economically destructive fires. Primary juvenile periods of plants (especially of 'serotinous seeders') and non-breeding periods of birds (especially poorly dispersed species) suggest extreme lower limits for fire intervals whereas longevity of plant species which usually only reproduce after fire, set the extreme upper limits. Modelling of the behaviour of selected plant and animal species may be used to set 'optimal' mean ..