Effects of Bushfires on Flora and Fauna
Although bushfires affect the environment the most, it also has a positive effect on the environment. Native vegetation use a range of methods to react to bushfires, including resprouting via rootstocks and stems and flourishing from seeds reserved in the earth. Other types of vegetation dispense seeds from woody fruit (like eucalpyts and banksias, as seen in Figure 5), or a combination of these. The time immediately after a bushfire gives plant seeds an exceptional opportunity to germinate and grow, due to an increase of light, available nutrients and decreased competition.(State Government of Victoria, 2013)
Despite these positive effects on the environment, there are also negative effects. Fire can reduce biodiversity in an ecosystem. While many type of vegetation in forests, heathland, woodland and grassland in ecosystems have adapted to allow them to regenerate naturally after a bushfire, some ecosystems like alpine moss beds, rainforests and peat bogs have not and thus have a very low resistance to bushfire and require protection. Also, bushfires can also increase weed invasion.
Apart from plants, wildlife is also heavily affected by bushfires. Many native wildlife species have adapted to survive bushfires and some have developed relationships with bushfires. Some wildlife survive a bushfire by escaping (e.g. flying away) or by hiding underground or in unburnt areas of vegetation. Fire can play a critical role in maintaining populations of certain wildlife species. Although many species of wildlife suffer declines in population from bushfires, many populations will recover.(State Government of Victoria, 2013)
Apart from plants, wildlife is also heavily affected by bushfires. Many native wildlife species have adapted to survive bushfires and some have developed relationships with bushfires. Some wildlife survive a bushfire by escaping (e.g. flying away) or by hiding underground or in unburnt areas of vegetation. Fire can play a critical role in maintaining populations of certain wildlife species. Although many species of wildlife suffer declines in population from bushfires, many populations will recover.(State Government of Victoria, 2013)