Lack of reliable post-fire recovery mechanisms makes the iconic Tasmanian conifer

Athrotaxis cupressoides is an iconic Tasmanian palaeoendemic conifer that vulnerable to fire. A survey of three populations burnt by severe fire in 2016, conducted 1 year post-fire, found 33% stems were still alive, with many surviving suffering some canopy scorch. We re-surveyed these quantify delayed mortality, resprouting, and presence juveniles, determine whether impacts can be reliably assessed after year. applied measures severity: scorched, consumed, the minimum twig diameter neighbouring shrubs. overall stem survival 2020 was 31%, 97% dead 4 years post-fire had died within first Our best predictor mortality percentage scorched. Overall, 1.8% resprouted, but severely did not resprout. Juveniles present ~9.9% trees 2017, only 2020. conclude A. are unusually sensitive, rather, species’ vulnerability results from its lack reliable recovery mechanisms. This study shows fire-caused possibly earlier. Interventions such as sowing seed or transplanting seedlings could necessary re-establish fire-killed populations.