Returning cultural fire after 180 years boosts density and reproductive output in native Maireana species
Jodi N. Price, Kaija Pedler, Jed Brown, Thomas Munro, Nathan K. Wong, Dale G. NimmoContext
Cultural fire has recently been returned to semi-arid grasslands on Dja Dja Wurrung Country in southern Australia. However, its ecological effects on plant species in these modified grasslands have not been previously documented.
Aims
To assess the response of Maireana species to the return of a cultural fire regime in a long-unburnt grassland.
Methods
We measured the density, height, and proportion of fruiting of two Maireana species across three fire treatments (burnt twice, burnt four times, and long-unburnt) at a semi-arid grassland in central Victoria, Australia. Data were collected from 10 4-m2 quadrats per treatment.
Key results
Cultural burning significantly increased the density of two Maireana species compared with the unburnt treatment. For Maireana enchylaenoides, both plant height and fruiting proportion were significantly higher in the burnt treatments than in the unburnt treatment. While Maireana humillima showed no substantial height differences among treatments, the proportion of fruiting individuals was significantly greater in the burnt treatments.
Conclusions
Cultural fire promotes favourable conditions for Maireana species, enhancing both density and reproductive output.
Implications
This study has highlighted the potential of cultural fire to support the recovery of native grasslands where First Nations management has been disrupted, increasing native plant species abundance. Contrary to previous assumptions, both Maireana species resprout after fire and thrive under frequent low-intensity burning.