Reptile and amphibian responses to restoration of fire-maintained pine woodlands
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Published source details
Perry R.W., Rudolph D.C. & Thill R.E. (2009) Reptile and amphibian responses to restoration of fire-maintained pine woodlands. Restoration Ecology, 17, 917-927.
Published source details Perry R.W., Rudolph D.C. & Thill R.E. (2009) Reptile and amphibian responses to restoration of fire-maintained pine woodlands. Restoration Ecology, 17, 917-927.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use prescribed burning in combination with vegetation cutting Action Link |
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Use prescribed fire or modifications to burning regime in forests Action Link |
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Use prescribed burning in combination with vegetation cutting
A replicated, site comparison study in 1999–2001 of pine woodland in western Arkansas, USA (Perry et al. 2009) found that restoring woodland by controlled burning and thinning trees resulted in higher abundance of reptiles compared to unrestored woodland. Overall reptile captures were higher in plots with burning and thinning (78 lizards/plot) than in unmanaged plots (54 lizards/plot); as were overall lizard captures (42 vs 28); whereas no difference was found for snakes (34 vs 25) or three-toed box turtles Terrapene carolina triunguis (1 vs 1; the only turtle species caught). Nine plots (11–42 ha) that had been thinned (1980–1990) and then burned at least three times at 3–5-year intervals were sampled. These were compared to three unmanaged, unburned plots. Controlled burns were in March–April. Three drift-fence arrays with pitfall and box traps were established/plot. Traps were checked weekly in April-September 1999–2001.
(Summarised by: William Morgan)
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Use prescribed fire or modifications to burning regime in forests
A replicated, site comparison study in 1999–2001 of pine woodland in western Arkansas, USA (Perry, Rudolph & Thill 2009) found that controlled burning did not affect amphibian species abundance. There was no significant difference between numbers of captures in burned and unburned plots for all amphibians (73 vs 59), all frogs and toads (71 vs 55), individual species or salamanders (2 vs 4). The most abundantly caught species, the western slimy salamander Plethodon albagula, was captured almost exclusively in unmanaged woodland (28 of 29 captures). Nine plots (11–42 ha) that had been thinned (1980–1990) and then burned at least three times at 3–5-year intervals were sampled. These were compared to three unmanaged, unburned plots. Controlled fires were in March–April. Three drift-fence arrays with pitfall and box traps were established/plot. Traps were checked weekly in April-September 1999–2001.
