Responses of a small-mammal community to habitat management through controlled burning in a protected Mediterranean area
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Published source details
Moreno S. & Rouco C. (2013) Responses of a small-mammal community to habitat management through controlled burning in a protected Mediterranean area. Acta Oecologica, 49, 1-4.
Published source details Moreno S. & Rouco C. (2013) Responses of a small-mammal community to habitat management through controlled burning in a protected Mediterranean area. Acta Oecologica, 49, 1-4.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Use prescribed burning Action Link |
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Use prescribed burning
A replicated, site comparison study in 2006–2007 of scrubland at a site in Spain (Moreno & Rouco 2013) found more of some small mammal species at edges of old burned plots but not in plot centres or in younger plots, relative to unburned plots. In two of four comparisons, there were more Algerian mice Mus spretus in burned plots (64–109 captures/1,000 trap nights) than in unburned plots (32 captures/1,000 trap nights). For two of four comparisons there was no significant difference (burned: 8–22 captures/1,000 trap nights; unburned 32 captures/1,000 trap nights). In three of four comparisons, there was no difference in the abundance of wood mice Apodemus sylvaticus between burned (2–7 captures/1,000 trap nights) and unburned areas (2 captures/1,000 trap night). In one of four comparisons there were more wood mice in burned areas (burned: 14 captures/1,000 trap nights; unburned 2 captures/1,000 trap night). There was no significant differences in the abundance of greater white-toothed shrew Crocidura russula or garden dormouse Eliomys quercinus between burned and unburned plots. Three plots were burned in winter 2003 (three years before sampling), three plots were burned in winter 2006 (one year before sampling) and three were not burned. Plots covered 1 ha and were ≥1 km apart. Small mammals were surveyed by live-trapping in unburned plots and in centres and edges of burned plots, once each in summer, autumn, winter and spring from summer 2006 to spring 2007). Traps were operated for seven consecutive nights (and closed in the day).
(Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)
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