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RESEARCH ARTICLE
Contents Vol 46(2)

Megafires and koala occurrence: a comparative analysis of field data and satellite imagery

Cristian Gabriel Orlando https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3937-423X A * , Rebecca Montague-Drake B , John Turbill B and Mathew S. Crowther https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8968-1161 A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia.

B Conservation Policy and Strategy, Environment and Heritage Group, Department of Planning and Environment, NSW, Australia.

* Correspondence to: cristian.orlando@sydney.edu.au

Handling Editor: Ross Goldingay

Australian Mammalogy 46, AM23054 https://doi.org/10.1071/AM23054
Submitted: 13 December 2023  Accepted: 7 March 2024  Published: 25 March 2024

© 2024 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Australian Mammal Society.

Abstract

Megafires can have a devastating effect on koala populations. With climate change increasing habitat vulnerability to wildfires, understanding how to efficiently measure the impact of these events on koalas is essential. We analysed the relationship between the 2019-2020 megafires and the probability of koala occurrence in Mid North Coast NSW. We found that two on-field and one satellite-derived variables measuring fire severity equally explained koala occurrence. The probability of koala occurrence decreased with increasing fire severity. This supports the use of remote sensing imagery to efficiently monitor the impact of future fire events on koala populations in the region.

Keywords: climate change, conservation, endangered species, habitat loss, megafires, Phascolarctidae, satellite imagery.

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