Freshwater ecosystems are among the most threatened on Earth, with climate change driving severe declines in rainfall, water availability, and aquatic biodiversity. In Australia, permanent freshwater habitats that act as climate refugia are disappearing, while the need for accessible water sources to combat increasingly frequent bushfires is growing. Fire water points—small artificial ponds used to supply water for firefighting—have been built in large numbers in Australian bushlands and recent observations suggest that these water sources may also provide critical refuges for biodiversity. Our research aimed to evaluate the dual role of fire water points in supporting both fire management and biodiversity conservation.
We conducted comprehensive biological surveys and habitat assessments at 93 fire water points and 28 natural refuge pools in the Warren Bioregion of southwest Western Australia, a global hotspot for endemic species. Generalised linear models were used to assess relationships between habitat characteristics and the observed biodiversity. The results of our analyses will inform the development of a predictive model-based framework for optimising the design of future water points.
Here we present the key highlights of our surveys, which revealed that many fire water points host diverse communities of aquatic and riparian species, including several threatened taxa. Biodiversity levels at some artificial sites were comparable to or exceeded those of natural refuges. The key habitat features found to significantly influence biodiversity in these habitats will be presented and the utility of fire water points in providing artificial climate refugia in fire-prone landscapes will be discussed. As climate pressures intensify, integrating biodiversity conservation with fire management represents a win-win strategy for mitigating bushfire risks while also sustaining Australia’s freshwater-dependent species.