Individual study: Effects of a pine savanna restoration prescribed burn on herpetofauna in the Grand Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and Grand Bay National Wildlife Refuge, Mississippi, USA
Langford G.J., Borden J.A., Major C.S. & Nelson D.H. (2007) Effects of prescribed fire on the herpetofauna of a southern Mississippi pine savanna. Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2, 135-143
This study is summarised as evidence for the intervention(s) shown on the right. The icon shows which synopsis it is relevant to.
Use prescribed fire or modifications to burning regime in forests
A replicated, controlled study in 2003–2004 of pine savanna in Mississippi, USA (Langford et al. 2007) found that prescribed burning resulted in a greater abundance but similar diversity of amphibians compared to unburned sites. Greater numbers of amphibians were found at burned than unburned sites (275 vs 90). However, species diversity was similar (burned: 13; unburned: 10). Some species were significantly more abundant in burned compared to unburned areas including oak toads Bufo quercicus (125 vs 9) and southern leopard frogs Rana utricularia (51 vs 2). In comparison, a small number of species were more common in unburned sites including the pig frog Rana grylio (13 vs 2). A low intensity burn was undertaken over a large proportion of a National Wildlife Refuge in 2003. From January to June 2004, amphibians were monitored at three burned and three unburned sites. Visual encounter surveys (200 m transects), minnow traps (six/site) and PVC tubes (five/site) were used.