Hello Laurie and others,
A similar style of burning is probably required to maintain the native
grasslands on the Nifold Plain of Lakefield National Park and Princess
Charlotte Bay on the east coast of Cape York Peninsula (as well as other
coastal grasslands on the Cape and around the gulf). Melaleucas appear
to be steadily increasing in distribution on these grasslands.
Queensland parks is well aware of the importance of this problem in
Lakefield and they are attempting to manage it. I studied the finches in
Lakefield NP and at Pormpuraaw (west coast of Cape) between 1998 and 2000.
These grasslands support Cape York Star Finches (N.r. clarescens),
Pictorella Mannikins, Grass Owls, Red-backed and Red-chested
Buttonquails among other things. The other important factor with the
change in burning regimes in northern Australia is the change in grass
species composition that has taken place in northern Australia. For
example, the spread of Flinders Grass on Cape York which chokes out the
native grasses which provide food for finches, parrots and quail.
John McAllister's explanation for how the grasslands existed before
man's interference is very interesting and makes some sense to me. Of
course, it doesn't help actually manage what is there now. We can't very
easily go back to what the situation was before European interference.
Its probably also worth mentioning that for maximum retention of
biodiversity you are going to require different fire regimes for
different areas. What the CORRECT fire regime for a particular area is
going to depend on which species you are looking to support or encourage
and it is probably inevitable that you are going to disadvantage other
species (whether on purpose or not). Not to mention the human safety and
political reasons that have already been discussed. There may not be a
perfect answer.
Cheers
Mick
Michael Todd
Wildlifing
Images & Sounds of Nature
Latest Additions: Masked Owl (calls), Mixophyes balbus, Leaf-tailed Gecko.
www.wildlifing.com
Toronto, NSW, Australia
04101 23715
knightl wrote:
From memory, they need periodic hot burns to stop the maleleucas
taking over their environment, and to stop the butcherbirds picking
them off at their nest hollows [in the termite mounds]
Regards, Laurie.
On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at 01:05 PM, peter crow wrote:
Hello all,
I recently read the report of the Golden-shouldered Parrot Recovery
Team. a part of their explanation of the birds problems is very much
related to lack of burning as well as lots of other things. for
anyone interested in more on this burning debate it would be a
worthwhile read.
Peter
On Tuesday, April 5, 2005, at 10:17 AM, Chris Sanderson wrote:
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