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Tree hollows are a vital wildlife feature, whose abundance and availability has declined in many regions due to broad-scale vegetation clearance, timber-harvesting, and disturbance such as fire. In the temperate forests and woodlands of eastern and southern Australia, the loss of large, old trees and associated tree hollows has severely impacted populations of hollow-dependent fauna. In the tropical savannas of northern Australia, many hollow-dependent mammals are in decline, and habitat simplification and resultant hollow limitation have been suggested as potential contributors to these declines. Hence, we sought to quantify the abundance of hollows, and identify the key drivers of this abundance in northern Australian savannas. We modelled the environmental and ecological correlates of hollow abundance across an extensive area of eucalypt savanna in Australia’s Northern Territory. We found that hollow abundance was significantly related to tree characteristics (size, species) and broad environmental gradients (annual rainfall, soil depth). Key disturbances – cyclones, fire, and termites – substantially disrupted these relationships and led to high variation in hollow abundance, even at a local scale. Hollow abundance across the study area was high by both Australian and global standards (hollows >5 cm entrance diameter: 88 ha –1 , hollows >10 cm: 23 ha –1 ) and greatest in high rainfall areas (associated with the abundance of large eucalypts). Many arboreal mammal species in northern Australia have now contracted to higher rainfall parts of their former range (where hollows are at highest density); however such higher rainfall areas are also more likely to be affected by stochastic cyclonic events that can severely reduce the abundance of hollows. Hollow abundance was also affected by recent fire history and, in many areas, the current regime of frequent, high intensity fires will lead to marked reduction in this resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Massive environmental changes have occurred since European settlement of Australia more than 200 years ago. We examined the demographics of Callitris columellaris F. Muell. (Cupressaceae) across Australia as a potential bio-indicator of environmental change. This species is a widespread obligate seeder with large reproductive potential but is sensitive to fire and herbivory. We measured variation in tree size, stem density, basal area, and seedling recruitment among 90 sites that encompassed a wide range of climates and landscape settings across Australia. Soils from each site were analysed for pH, %C, % N and %P. We also noted evidence of fire and herbivory. Climate at each site was classified as tropical, temperate or arid. Case studies and published literature are used to illustrate the contrasting effects of disturbance in the three climate zones. Climate had a strong influence on stand basal area, density of juveniles and proportions of seedlings and saplings in a population, as well as on prevailing disturbance regimes. Structure of Callitris populations was not strongly associated with soil fertility. In the arid zone overall, and in many individual populations, there were relatively few juveniles and evidence of a chronic recruitment deficit during the last 100–200 years, consistent with reported adverse effects of introduced herbivores on Callitris regeneration. By contrast, most tropical and temperate populations conformed to a negative exponential distribution, consistent with frequent regeneration. Many temperate sites showed extremely dense juvenile populations. In the tropics, juvenile density is lower, probably because of frequent, relatively mild fires that kill many juveniles but few adult trees. We conclude that C. columellaris is a sensitive bio-indicator, and is in decline across much of arid Australia, reflecting the inherent vulnerability of ecosystems in regions with low productivity. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Tropical savannas cover approximately 20% of the earth’s land area, and therefore represent an important carbon store. Under scenarios of future climate change it is thus important to understand the demographic processes determining tree cover, namely tree recruitment, growth and mortality. This study measured tree recruitment and mortality in 123 (0.08h) plots in Kakadu, Nitmiluk and Litchfield National Parks, in the Australian monsoonal tropics, over two consecutive 5-year intervals. Plots were located in two important habitats, both dominated by eucalyptus—lowland savanna and savanna growing on sandstone plateaux. All trees with diameter at breast height (DBH) ≥5cm were tagged and identified. Recruitment was calculated as the proportion of tagged trees present at the end of an interval that were not present at the beginning. There were a total of 6666 and 6571 tree-intervals for mortality and recruitment, respectively. We used Akaike Information Criterion (AIC)-based model selection and multi-model inference to relate tree mortality and recruitment to fire frequency, mean annual rainfall (MAR), stand basal area, tree density and eco-taxonomic group. Recruitment decreased with tree density in both savanna types, and in lowland savanna, with the frequency of fires. In sandstone savanna, recruitment increased with MAR. Effects of fire on recruitment were better explained by season than severity of fire, while fire severity had a stronger influence on mortality. Mortality decreased with tree size up to about 25cm DBH, but increased sharply when DBH exceeded 50cm. Mortality increased with stand basal area, and increased with the frequency of late dry season fires in lowland savanna only. There was little evidence that mortality was affected by the frequency of early dry season fires or MAR. Both recruitment and mortality rates were higher for Acacia and Proteaceae species than for pantropical or Myrtaceae (including Eucalyptus) species. We identified several negative feedbacks, mediated by changes in tree density and stand basal area that help confer long-term stability to savanna tree cover. Nonetheless, changes such as a long-term increase in MAR or an increase in frequency or severity of fires are likely to result in changes in tree density, stand basal area and therefore carbon storage potential of savannas. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The stable carbon isotopic composition (expressed as δ13C) of herbivore remains is commonly used to reconstruct past changes in the relative abundance of C4 versus C3 grass biomass (C4 relative abundance). However, the strength of the relationship between herbivore δ13C and C4 relative abundance in extant ecosystems has not been thoroughly examined. We determined sources of variation in δ13C of bone collagen and tooth enamel of kangaroos (Macropus spp.) collected throughout Australia by measuring δ13C of bone collagen (779 individuals) and tooth enamel (694 individuals). An index of seasonal water availability, i.e. the distribution of rainfall in the C4 versus C3 growing seasons, was used as a proxy for C4 relative abundance, and this variable explained a large proportion of the variation in both collagen δ13C (68%) and enamel δ13C (68%). These figures increased to 78% and 77%, respectively, when differences between kangaroo species were accounted for. Vegetation characteristics, such as woodiness and the presence of an open forest canopy, had no effect on collagen or enamel δ13C. While there was no relationship between collagen δ13C and kangaroo age at death, tooth enamel produced later in life, following weaning, was enriched in 13C by 3.5‰ relative to enamel produced prior to weaning. From the observed relationships between seasonal water availability and collagen and enamel δ13C, enrichment factors (ε ∗) for collagen-diet and enamel-diet (post-weaning) were estimated to be 5.2‰±0.5 (95% CI) and 11.7‰±0.6 (95% CI), respectively. The findings of this study confirm that at a continental scale, collagen and enamel δ13C of a group of large herbivores closely reflect C4 relative abundance. This validates a fundamental assumption underpinning the use of isotopic analysis of herbivore remains to reconstruct changes in C4 relative abundance. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background & Aims: We studied the role of protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2) and its activating enzymes, trypsins and tryptase, in Clostridium difficile toxin A (TxA)-induced enteritis. Methods: We injected TxA into ileal loops in PAR2 or dipeptidyl peptidase I (DPPI) knockout mice or in wild-type mice pretreated with tryptase inhibitors (FUT-175 or MPI-0442352) or soybean trypsin inhibitor. We examined the effect of TxA on expression and activity of PAR2 and trypsin IV messenger RNA in the ileum and cultured colonocytes. We injected activating peptide (AP), trypsins, tryptase, and p23 in wild-type mice, some pretreated with the neurokinin 1 receptor antagonist SR140333. Results: TxA increased fluid secretion, myeloperoxidase activity in fluid and tissue, and histologic damage. PAR2 deletion decreased TxA-induced ileitis, reduced luminal fluid secretion by 20%, decreased tissue and fluid myeloperoxidase by 50%, and diminished epithelial damage, edema, and neutrophil infiltration. DPPI deletion reduced secretion by 20% and fluid myeloperoxidase by 55%. In wild-type mice, FUT-175 or MPI-0442352 inhibited secretion by 24%–28% and tissue and fluid myeloperoxidase by 31%–71%. Soybean trypsin inhibitor reduced secretion to background levels and tissue myeloperoxidase by up to 50%. TxA increased expression of PAR2 and trypsin IV in enterocytes and colonocytes and caused a 2-fold increase in Ca2+ responses to PAR2 AP. AP, tryptase, and trypsin isozymes (trypsin I/II, trypsin IV, p23) caused ileitis. SR140333 prevented AP-induced ileitis. Conclusions: PAR2 and its activators are proinflammatory in TxA-induced enteritis. TxA stimulates existing PAR2 and up-regulates PAR2 and activating proteases, and PAR2 causes inflammation by neurogenic mechanisms. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two introduced carnivores, the European red fox Vulpes vulpes and domestic cat Felis catus , have had, and continue to have, major impacts on wildlife, particularly mammals, across Australia. Based mainly on the contents of almost 50,000 fox dietary samples, we provide the first comprehensive inventory of Australian mammal species known to be consumed by foxes, and compare this with a similar assessment for cats. We recorded consumption by foxes of 114 species of Australian land mammal (40% of extant species), fewer than consumed by cats (173 species). Foxes are known to consume 42 threatened mammal species (50% of Australia's threatened land mammals and 66% of those within the fox's Australian range). Reflecting the importance of mammals in their diet, foxes are known to consume a far higher proportion of Australian mammal species (40%) than of Australian birds (24%) and reptiles (16%). Both foxes and cats were most likely to consume medium-sized mammals, with the likelihood of predation by foxes peaking for mammals of ca. 280 g and by cats at ca. 130 g. For non-flying mammals, threatened species had a higher relative likelihood of predation by foxes than non-threatened species. Using trait-based modelling, we estimate that many now-extinct Australian mammal species had very high likelihoods of predation by foxes and cats, although we note that for some of these species, extinction likely pre-dated the arrival of foxes. These two predators continue to have compounding and complementary impacts on Australian mammals. Targeted and integrated management of foxes and cats is required to help maintain and recover the Australian mammal fauna. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Juvenile trees did not experience belowground competition under fire exclusion. • Fire exclusion may affect the growth of eucalypts in northern Australian savannas. • Excluding fire enhances the growth and recruitment of non-eucalypts. • Savanna management that excludes fire may shift dominance away from eucalypts. Most research on tropical savanna vegetation has focused on the factors promoting the co-existence of trees and grasses, and competition between savanna trees has received relatively little attention. Northern Australian savannas are amongst the most-fire prone landscapes on Earth and are dominated by a uniquely fire-adapted group of trees: eucalypts. Other northern Australian savanna trees tend to be largely suppressed by frequent fires. We used a root-exclusion experiment in a long-term (ca. 40-year) fire-excluded savanna to investigate the growth responses of juveniles of four dominant savanna tree species, both eucalypt (Eucalyptus miniata and Eucalyptus tetrodonta) and non-eucalypt (Terminalia ferdinandiana and Buchanania obovata), with and without root competition from neighbouring trees. Our results provide evidence of juvenile trees are not subjected to strong competition from neighbouring adult trees, as there was no difference in growth between root-excluded treatments and controls. However, Eucalyptus miniata , a dominant tree species in these savannas, had reduced growth, in terms of both height and diameter, regardless of the root-exclusion treatment. Our study suggests that growth of juvenile trees is not strongly limited by root competition from other trees. However, our results provide support that fire exclusion favour non-eucalypts by limiting the growth and recruitment of savanna eucalypts. Large reductions in fire frequency and/or intensity may lead to a shift in dominance away from eucalypts in the tropical savannas of northern Australia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Total hollow count surveys from the ground only overestimate slightly. • Nearly half of the tree hollows found in climbing surveys were blocked by termites. • Available hollows (i.e. not blocked) were highly overreported from ground surveys. • A subset of trees should be double sampled to calibrate for termite blocking. Hollows in standing trees are an important ecological resource for many Australian vertebrates, including a range of threatened mammals, reptiles and birds. However, the ecology of tree hollows, and the extent to which they support hollow-dependent fauna, has been severely under-studied in northern Australia. This study evaluated the reliability of ground-based surveys of tree hollows in a northern Australian eucalypt savanna. We counted hollows in trees using two approaches: (1) ground-based surveys and (2) climbing surveys, i.e. double sampling. Assuming that climbing surveys are accurate, ground-based surveys tended to overestimate hollow density (per tree) by around 15%. However, of the hollows counted in the climbing surveys (n = 202), 44.5% were blocked by hard termitaria. Once unavailable (blocked) hollows were accounted for, ground-based surveys tended to overestimate available hollow density (per tree) by 59%. According to generalised linear mixed models (GLMMs), a hollow was more likely to be blocked if it had a smaller entrance diameter, occurred on a tree with a termite mound at its base and smaller DBH. We calibrated site-level ground-based counts using GLMMs of climbing counts and available climbing counts as a function of ground-based counts for double-sampled trees. Overall, our uncalibrated counts resulted in over-reporting of mean site-based density of available hollows by 38%. The discrepancy between densities of total hollows and available hollows has important implications for the conservation of many threatened and declining species known to rely on tree hollows in northern Australia. We suggest that when conducting ground-based hollow surveys to assess tree hollow availability in northern Australia, a subsample of trees should be double-sampled, i.e. both ground-based and climbing counts, to account for survey error due to the blocking of hollows by termitaria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Maximising the spatiotemporal variability of prescribed fire (i.e. pyrodiversity) is often thought to benefit biodiversity. However, given mixed empirical support, the generality of the pyrodiversity hypothesis remains questionable. Here, we use a simulation experiment to explore the effects of spatiotemporal fire patterns on the population trajectories of four mammal species in a northern Australian savanna: northern brown bandicoot (Isoodon macrourus), northern brushtail possum (Trichosurus vulpecula arnhemensis), grassland melomys (Melomys burtoni), and northern quoll (Dasyurus hallucatus). Underpinned by data from a landscape-scale fire experiment, we simulated mammal population trajectories under three scenarios of fire size (ambient, small/dispersed fires, large/clumped fires) and three levels of dispersal ability (low, moderate, high) over a 21-year period across the Kapalga area of Kakadu National Park. The simulated population size of all four species declined markedly, regardless of fire spatial pattern and dispersal ability. However, the predicted final population size (i.e. number of individuals in the final timestep of the simulation) for the northern brown bandicoot, northern brushtail possum and grassland melomys were significantly influenced by fire size, with declines most severe under the small/dispersed fire scenario. Our results suggest that maximising the dispersion of small fires at the expense of disturbance refugia (such as less-frequently burnt areas) may exacerbate the severity of mammal decline. This highlights the importance of considering trade-offs between spatial (i.e. fire dispersion) and temporal (i.e. fire frequency) aspects of pyrodiversity, and the potential risks when applying fire management for biodiversity conservation without a firm understanding of the requirements of the target species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Postfire resprouting and recruitment from seed are key plant life-history traits that influence population dynamics, community composition and ecosystem function. Species can have one or both of these mechanisms. They confer resilience, which may determine community composition through differential species persistence after fire. To predict ecosystem level responses to changes in climate and fire conditions, we examined the proportions of these plant fire-adaptive traits among woody growth forms of 2880 taxa, in eight fire-prone ecosystems comprising ~ 87% of Australia's land area. Shrubs comprised 64% of the taxa. More tree (> 84%) than shrub (~ 50%) taxa resprouted. Basal, epicormic and apical resprouting occurred in 71%, 22% and 3% of the taxa, respectively. Most rainforest taxa (91%) were basal resprouters. Many trees (59%) in frequently-burnt eucalypt forest and savanna resprouted epicormically. Although crown fire killed many mallee (62%) and heathland (48%) taxa, fire-cued seeding was common in these systems. Postfire seeding was uncommon in rainforest and in arid Acacia communities that burnt infrequently at low intensity. Resprouting was positively associated with ecosystem productivity, but resprouting type (e.g. basal or epicormic) was associated with local scale fire activity, especially fire frequency. Although rainforest trees can resprout they cannot recruit after intense fires and may decline under future fires. Semi-arid Acacia communities would be susceptible to increasing fire frequencies because they contain few postfire seeders. Ecosystems dominated by obligate seeders (mallee, heath) are also susceptible because predicted shorter inter-fire intervals will prevent seed bank accumulation. Savanna may be resilient to future fires because of the adaptive advantage of epicormic resprouting among the eucalypts. The substantial non-resprouting shrub component of shrublands may decline, but resilient Eucalyptus spp. will continue to dominate under future fire regimes. These patterns of resprouting and postfire seeding provide new insights to ecosystem assembly, resilience and vulnerability to changing fire regimes on this fire-prone continent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pricing greenhouse gas emissions is a burgeoning and possibly lucrative financial means for climate change mitigation. Emissions pricing is being used to fund emissions-abatement technologies and to modify land management to improve carbon sequestration and retention. Here we discuss the principal land-management options under existing and realistic future emissions-price legislation in Australia, and examine them with respect to their anticipated direct and indirect effects on biodiversity. The main ways in which emissions price-driven changes to land management can affect biodiversity are through policies and practices for (1) environmental plantings for carbon sequestration, (2) native regrowth, (3) fire management, (4) forestry, (5) agricultural practices (including cropping and grazing), and (6) feral animal control. While most land-management options available to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions offer clear advantages to increase the viability of native biodiversity, we describe several caveats regarding potentially negative outcomes, and outline components that need to be considered if biodiversity is also to benefit from the new carbon economy. Carbon plantings will only have real biodiversity value if they comprise appropriate native tree species and provide suitable habitats and resources for valued fauna. Such plantings also risk severely altering local hydrology and reducing water availability. Management of regrowth post-agricultural abandonment requires setting appropriate baselines and allowing for thinning in certain circumstances, and improvements to forestry rotation lengths would likely increase carbon-retention capacity and biodiversity value. Prescribed burning to reduce the frequency of high-intensity wildfires in northern Australia is being used as a tool to increase carbon retention. Fire management in southern Australia is not readily amenable for maximising carbon storage potential, but will become increasingly important for biodiversity conservation as the climate warms. Carbon price-based modifications to agriculture that would benefit biodiversity include reductions in tillage frequency and livestock densities, reductions in fertiliser use, and retention and regeneration of native shrubs; however, anticipated shifts to exotic perennial grass species such as buffel grass and kikuyu could have net negative implications for native biodiversity. Finally, it is unlikely that major reductions in greenhouse gas emissions arising from feral animal control are possible, even though reduced densities of feral herbivores will benefit Australian biodiversity greatly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]