Quokkas residing in the Northern Jarrah Forest, Western Australia have been found to be using fire exclusion zones to ensure their own safety and longevity.
A study conducted by researchers at Murdoch University’s Harry Butler Institute, working with the Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, has shed light on their adaptive behavior following periods of prescribed burns. The study is published in the International Journal of Wildland Fire.
The findings emphasize the importance of appropriately sized and located fire exclusion areas in conservation management.
Harry Butler Institute researcher Leticia Povh led the study and said understanding how animals use their space after prescribed burning is crucial for effective conservation management, particularly for threatened species like the quokka.
“The study aimed to determine how individual quokkas changed their home ranges following burns,” Povh said.
2023-08-21 12:48:03
Post from phys.org