Bushfires spark extensive search for answers
Further reading
Spring 2007
The fires to come
Investigates the link between global warming and the frequency of fires.
April 2005, pages 6-9
Living with fire
Reports on study investigating the effects of bushfires on animals.
December 2004
Shock factor – public perceptions of risk in science (by Julian Cribb)
Looks at the public’s perception of risk.
9 February 2009
Wildfire ferocity linked to climate change
Suggests that climate change will increase the frequency and intensity of bushfires in Australia and may have been implicated in the 2009 bushfires.
December 2005
Storms of fire (by Dan Drollette)
Investigates whether the devastating bushfires seen in Australia could become more common elsewhere.
May 2010, pages 10-12
Fighting fire with logic: Protecting biodiversity & houses
Suggests that better decision making strategies could overcome the conflict between fire management and biodiversity loss.
No. 124, 2005, pages 18-22
Reign of fire (by Julian Cribb)
Looks at the effects of dry conditions on rainforests.
No. 117, 2003, page 5
Over-burning pressures Top End's biodiversity
Reports that over-burning could damage biodiversity in Australia’s savanna bushland.
No. 115, 2003, pages 42-43
Lizards cool under fire (by Steve Davidson)
Provides a snapshot into how lizards respond to a controlled burn.
No. 110, 2002, page 35
Clear-fell versus fire (by Steve Davidson)
Questions whether clear-fell harvesting is ecologically sustainable and conserves biological diversity.
No. 109, 2001, page 3
Red alert for red-eyed pigeons (by Wendy Pyper)
Looks at effects of fires on the savanna understorey and partridge pigeons.
No. 107, 2001, page 35
Fire cues for seed germination (by Steve Davidson)
Study reveals exposure to smoke promotes seed germination.
No. 100, 1999, page 3
Fire - finding the best prescription (by Alastair Sarre)
Explores the impact of forest burns on Australia’s forest ecology.
December 2003-January 2004, pages 9-16
Bushfires: Preventing a natural disaster (by Heather Catchpole)
Provides an overview to bushfires.
March 2007, pages 4-7
Fire: Destructive and part of the natural order (by Kevin O’Loughlin)
Explores the roles of research, management and education in living with bushfires.
Land for wildlife
No. 14, July 2000, pages 1-8
Fire as a wildlife habitat management tool (by Cath Moran and Penny Watson)
Looks at the effects of fire on native flora and fauna and its use as a tool to protect habitats.
16 September 2007, page 29
Water bombs could boost arsenal against bushfires
Reports on invention which transforms cargo planes with rear ramps into ‘water bombers’.
29 January 2005, pages 7-8
Quake, flood, fire. Will we be ready? (by Emma Young)
Discusses initiatives towards the development of disaster warning systems and management plans.
22 January 2005, page 22
Virtual bushfire experience could save lives
Looks at the potential use of virtual-reality bushfire simulations to save lives.
17 July 2004, page 14
Trace chemical sows seeds of plant resurrection
Study identifies chemical that stimulates new growth in seeds.
27 March 2004, pages 44-46
Fire man (by Rachel Nowak)
An interview with Phil Cheney who studies wildfires.
6 October 2003
Controlled bushfires damage – not protect – wildlife (by Emma Young)
Reports that controlled bushfires are damaging biodiversity.
13 August 2004
A compound from smoke that promotes seed germination (by Gavin Flematti, Emilio Ghisalberti, Kingsley Dixon and Robert Trengove)
Reports on a chemical derived from smoke which has been shown to increase germination.
24 January 2007
Using satellites to fight fires – and floods (by Tony Malkovic)
Reports on an innovative system used across Western Australia to fight bushfires and floods.
August 2007, pages 32-39
Predicting wildfires (by Patricia Andrews, Mark Finney and Mark Fischetti)
Investigates the behaviour and predictions of wildfires.
26 December 2006
Warmer Atlantic, climate change presage more, and worse, western wildfires (by David Biello)
Looks at the use of tree-ring records and fire-scar data to predict the scale of wildfires.
7 July 2006
Warming climate may increase western wildfire woes (by David Biello)
Links the bigger and more frequent fires in the western United States to climate change.
7 November 2002
Wildfires factor significantly in global carbon balance (by Sarah Graham)
Looks at the impact of wildfires on levels of greenhouse gases.
Vol. 15, No. 3, September 2005
Contains a number of articles on bushfire management and biodiversity, including:
- Living with fire – birds in northern Australia
- Mornington: A model for fire management in Australia’s tropical savannas
- Towards ecologically sustainable fire management
- Fire and feathers: Managing fire-sensitive birds on a flammable continent
Page updated May 2010.