Relationships between time since fire and honeyeater abundance in montane heathland

Abstract

Montane heath communities in south-eastern Australia provide a valuable nectar resource for honeyeaters (Meliphagidae) but are subject to variable fire regimes that may influence the production of this resource and the abundance of honeyeaters. Little is known about changes in honeyeater communities through time after fire. We examined seasonal relationships between characteristics of the honeyeater community and time since fire in Blue Mountains Heath using regression analysis. Positive trends were expected, with possible eventual declines owing to senescence of the vegetation community. Twelve sites ranging from 2 to 39 years since fire were sampled in late winter-spring (cool season) and in late summer (warm season). In the warm season, abundance of all honeyeaters and abundance of New Holland Honeyeaters showed saturation relationships with time since fire. A steep rate of increase in abundance reached a plateau 10 years after fire for all honeyeaters and New Holland Honeyeaters. In the cool season, New Holland Honeyeater abundance was positively influenced by time since fire. This study showed that honeyeaters used heath across a broad range of post-fire intervals >10 years and there was no evidence of a decline as the heath matured (to 39 years post-fire). Our research has contributed to the understanding of the links between fire ecology and avian habitat use, which in turn provides a scientific basis for ecologically sustainable fire management of natural areas.