Australian Museum Research Informs Study on Biodiversity Impacts of 2019-2020 Megafires
A comprehensive study published in Nature analyzes the effects of the 2019-2020 Australian megafires on biodiversity, drawing on data from the Australian Museum Research Institute. The research, led by Don A. Driscoll from Deakin University with contributions from AMRI scientists including Chris Reid and Frank Köhler, examines over 2,000 taxa. Findings indicate that the scale and intensity of these fires caused significant biodiversity loss, particularly affecting invertebrates like land snails and beetles. The Australian Museum's extensive historical collections, spanning over 190 years, provided crucial baseline data for assessing changes. The study advocates for incorporating Indigenous fire management practices and addressing climate change to mitigate future impacts.
Key facts
- Study published in Nature examines biodiversity impacts of 2019-2020 Australian megafires
- Research involved 126 scientists from 37 institutions, led by Don A. Driscoll from Deakin University
- Australian Museum contributed data on 134 land snail/slug species and 43 beetle species from its collection of over 22 million specimens
- Findings show greatest negative effects in areas with frequent/recent past fires and extensive burning
- Researchers recommend Indigenous fire practices and climate action as key conservation measures
Entities
Institutions
- Australian Museum
- Australian Museum Research Institute
- Deakin University
- Nature
- University of New South Wales
- NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service
Locations
- Australia
- New South Wales