What the study found
Post-fire epicormic foliage differed chemically from mature leaves, and the differences varied by species and subgenus. Epicormic leaves generally had higher nitrogen concentrations, but not necessarily higher available nitrogen.
Why the authors say this matters
The authors say the chemical quality of regrowth is important because folivores, such as koalas and southern greater gliders, rely on foliage for food after fire. The study suggests that whether epicormic regrowth can support these animals depends on local species composition and on the herbivore-deterrent plant secondary metabolites (PSMs) present in the leaves.
What the researchers tested
The researchers sampled Eucalyptus foliage in mixed-species eucalypt forests dominated by species from the monocalypt and symphyomyrtle subgenera. They compared mature leaves and epicormic regrowth collected a year before and after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires in southeastern Australia, and measured leaf chemistry to assess nutritional suitability for arboreal folivores.
What worked and what didn't
Epicormic regrowth showed chemical differences from mature foliage, with patterns driven by species and subgenus. Epicormic leaves had higher nitrogen concentrations overall, but this did not always translate into higher available nitrogen. PSM concentrations increased in epicormic foliage of symphyomyrtle species, while monocalypt species showed lower PSMs after fire.
What to keep in mind
The abstract does not describe detailed limitations beyond the fact that the findings are based on the sampled forests and species groups. The authors frame folivore suitability as context-dependent, so the results may not apply in the same way across all forest compositions or fire settings.
Key points
- Epicormic regrowth differed chemically from mature eucalyptus foliage after fire.
- Higher nitrogen in epicormic leaves did not always mean higher available nitrogen.
- PSM concentrations rose in symphyomyrtle species but fell in monocalypt species after fire.
- The authors say folivore suitability depends on local species composition.
- The study sampled mixed-species eucalypt forests before and after the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires.
Disclosure
- Research title:
- Epicormic foliage chemistry varies after fire
- Authors:
- Benjamin Wagner, Kara N. Youngentob, Karen J. Marsh, Anu Singh, Craig R. Nitschke
- Institutions:
- Ecosystem Sciences, Australian National University, Bush Heritage Australia
- Publication date:
- 2026-02-01
- OpenAlex record:
- View
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