Surviving the dry: one species' bust is another species' boom

Aaron C. Greenville, Glenda M. Wardle and Chris R. DickmanDesert Ecology Research Group

School of Life and Environmental SciencesUniversity of Sydney

@AarontheEcolog

Booms and Busts

Greenville et al. (2014). Oecologia 175, 1349-1358.

Photo by Bobby Tamayo

Sandy inland mouse, Ps. hermannsburgensis, 12 g

Greenville et al. (2016). Ecosphere 7, e01343.

Ctenotus pantherinus

Lerista labialis

Ctenophorus isolepis* Ctenophorus nuchalis

Greenville et al. (2016) Oecologia 182, 475-85.

Ctenotus dux*

Ctenotus ariadnae*

* Photograph courtesy of B. Tamayo

Abiotic: Wildfire• Wildfire area:

– Two years of cumulative rainfall before a fire event.– Rainfall in year of fire.– The mean Southern Oscillation Index from June to November in the year

before a fire.

Greenville et al. (2009). International Journal of Wildland Fire 18, 631–639.

Biotic: Predators

Greenville et al. (2014). Oecologia 175, 1349-1358.

Dominant predator

Subo

rdin

ate

pred

ator

Boom

Decline

Bust

Top-down

Dominant predator

Subo

rdin

ate

pred

ator

Bust

Decline

Boom

Bottom-up Decline/Bust

Boom

+

Dominant predator

Subo

rdin

ate

pred

ator

Bust

Decline

Boom

Bottom-up & top-down Interaction

+

Threats:

Threats: climate changeP < 0.05

1890 1920 1950 1980 2010

50180

310

440

570

700

Glenormiston

Year

Ann

ual R

ainf

all (

mm

)

Greenville et al. (2012). Ecology and Evolution 2, 2645-2658.

1890 1920 1950 1980 2010

1415

1617

1819

Boulia

Year

Ann

ual m

inim

um te

mpe

ratu

re (°

C)

Threats: loss of drought refugia

Wardle et al. (2015). Austral Ecology 40, 444–459.Dickman et al. (2011). Journal of Mammalogy, 92, 1193–1209.

IUCN Ecosystem assessment: vulnerable

Wardle et al. (2015) Austral Ecology 40, 444–459.Frank et al. (2014). Ecological Applications 24, 2013–2028.Frank (2012). The Rangeland Journal 34, 319–328.

Anke Frank Anke Frank

Conclusions

• Counterintuitive set of biotic and abiotic processes operate.

• Diverse assemblages persist.

Acknowledgements• Bobby Tamayo, Dave Nelson, Chin-Liang Beh and the DERG team.• All our volunteers.• Bush Heritage Australia.• Bedourie Hotel.• ARC, LTERN, TERN, APA and Paddy Pallin Science Grant.

Volunteer info: www.desertecology.edu.auFor more: www.AarontheEcolog.wordpress.com

@AarontheEcolog