Researchers describe collapse in the Australian Mountain Ash ecosystem, a species-rich and plant-rich region of mainland Australia; using measurements of 1,129 trees at 156 field sites from 1997 to 2011 and projections of tree abundance to 2067 under various logging and fire scenarios, the researchers documented significant declines in tree populations and animal biodiversity as well as prolonged periods of decline and slow recovery following disturbance events, findings that might inform conservation strategies in terrestrial environments.
Article #17-21738: "Hidden collapse is driven by fire and logging in a socioecological forest ecosystem," by David B. Lindenmayer and Chloe Sato.
MEDIA CONTACT: David B. Lindenmayer, Australian National University, Canberra, AUSTRALIA; tel: +61 2 6125 0654; e-mail: < david.lindenmayer@anu.edu.au >
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Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences