Trends in abundance of three marsupial species after fire

Fire has been recognised as being important in the evolution of present day Australian ecosystems (Gill, Groves and Noble 1981). Faunal responses to fire vary from an immediate short-term increase (Brathwaite and Estbergs 1987) to a dramatic shortterm decline with a long-term build up to pre-burn levels (Fox 1982}. These changes are mediated via changes in the abundance of food and cover.

This paper reports on changes in the abundance of three medium sized marsupials, Bettongia gaimardi, Dasyurus viverrinus and Trichosurus vulpecula between 2 and 6 years following a cool burn in dry sclerophyll forest in Tasmania.