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Ecosystem engineers modify their environment and influence the availability of resources for other organisms. Burrowing species, a subset of allogenic engineers, are gaining recognition as ecological facilitators. Burrows created by these species provide habitat for a diverse array of other organisms. Following disturbances, burrows could also serve as ecological refuges, thereby enhancing ecological resistance to disturbance events. We explored the ecological role of Common Wombat (Vombatus ursinus) burrows using camera traps in forests of southeastern Australia. We compared animal activity at paired sites with and without burrows, from the same fire severity class and habitat. We examined how animal activity at Common Wombat burrows was affected by the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires in Australia. We predicted that burrows would serve as hotspots for animal activity and as refuges in burned areas. The activity of several species including Bush Rat (Rattus fuscipes), Agile Antechinus (Antechinus agilis), Lace Monitor (Varanus varius), Painted Button-quail (Turnix varius), and Grey Shrike-thrush (Colluricincla harmonica) increased at sites where Common Wombat burrows were present, while other species avoided burrows. Species that were more active at burrows tended to be smaller mammal and bird species that are vulnerable to predation, whereas species that avoided burrows tended to be larger mammals that might compete with Common Wombat for resources. Species composition differed between sites with and without burrows, and burrow sites had higher native mammal species richness. The association of several species with burrows persisted or strengthened in areas that burned during the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires, suggesting that Common Wombat burrows may act as ecological refuges for animals following severe wildfire. Our findings have relevance for understanding how animals survive, persist, and recover following extreme wildfire events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Sound taxonomy is the cornerstone of biodiversity conservation. Without a fundamental understanding of species delimitations, as well as their distributions and ecological requirements, our ability to conserve them is drastically impeded. Cryptic species -- two or more distinct species currently classified as a single species -- present a significant challenge to biodiversity conservation. How do we assess the conservation status and address potential drivers of extinction if we are unaware of a species' existence? Here, we present a case where the reclassification of a species formerly considered widespread and secure -- the sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps) -- has dramatically increased our understanding of the potential impacts of the catastrophic 2019-20 Australian megafires to this species. Methods. We modelled and mapped the distribution of the former and reclassified sugar glider (Petaurus breviceps). We then compared the proportional overlap of fire severity classes between the former and reclassified distribution, and intersected habitat suitability and fire severity to help identify areas of important habitat following the 2019-20 fires. Key results. Taxonomic revision means that the distribution of this iconic species appears to have been reduced to 8% of its formerly accepted range. Whereas the 2019-20 Australian megafires overlapped with 8% of the formerly accepted range, they overlapped with 33% of the proposed range of the redefined Petaurus breviceps. Conclusions. Our study serves as a sombre example of the substantial risk of underestimating impacts of mega-disturbance on cryptic species, and hence the urgent need for cataloguing Earth's biodiversity in the age of megafire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Motivation Main Types of Variables Contained Spatial Location and Grain Time Period and Grain Major Taxa and Level of Measurement Software Format Terrestrial predators play key roles in cycling nutrients, as well as limiting prey populations, and shaping the behaviour of their prey. Prehistoric, historic and ongoing declines of the world's predators have reshaped terrestrial ecosystems and are a topic of conservation concern. However, the availability of ecologically relevant predator functional traits is limited, hampering efforts to understand macroecological changes in this ecologically important functional group. Here, we present CarniTraits, a comprehensive open‐access functional trait database of all late Quaternary (~130,000 ybp) terrestrial mammalian predators (149 species, ≥1 kg body mass, ≥50% vertebrate meat consumption).Mammalian terrestrial predator functional traits including body mass, diet, scavenging, locomotion, cooperative hunting, hunting habitat, hunting method, bone consumption, temporal activity patterns, brain mass and encephalisation quotient.Global.Late Quaternary (the last ~130,000 years).All late Quaternary terrestrial mammalian predators (149 species, ≥1 kg body mass, ≥50% vertebrate meat consumption).csv. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]