Widespread short‐term persistence of frog species after the 2019–2020 bushfires in eastern Australia revealed by citizen science. Issue 11 (27th September 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Rowley, Jodi J. L.; Callaghan, Corey T.; Cornwell, William K.
• Is Part Of: Conservation science and practice. Volume 2:Issue 11(2020)
• Page Start: n/a
• Page End: n/a
• Publication Date: 2020-09-27
• Subjects: amphibians -- biodiversity -- calling -- citizen science -- ecology -- fire; Biodiversity conservation -- Periodicals; Biodiversity conservation; Periodicals; 333.951605
• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.287
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2578-4854

Abstract

Abstract: Fires change ecosystem composition and influence species extinction risk, yet information on the impact of fire on biodiversity is scant. The bushfires in southeastern Australia during the summer of 2019/20 were unprecedented in their extent and intensity, and postfire management decisions have been hindered by a lack of knowledge of the impact of fires on biodiversity. We examine the short‐term persistence of frog species across southeastern Australia after these fires using records of calling frogs from the national citizen science project FrogID. We demonstrate widespread short‐term persistence of frog species. Sixty‐six frog species were detected in the firegrounds before the fire, and within 125 days postfire, 45 of these were detected. All 33 frog species with more than five records that were detected in the months of December–March prefire were detected postfire. While the short‐term postfire persistence of so many frog species is a positive result, the population‐level and longer‐term consequences of the fires remain unknown, as does the ability of frogs to persist with the changing fire regimes predicted as a consequence of global climate change. We illustrate the value of citizen science in collecting large‐scale and rapid observations in response to increasing anthropogenically‐driven ecological events.