Activity of an endangered bat increases immediately following prescribed fire

Torrez, Elizabeth C. Braun de; Ober, Holly K.; McCleery, Robert A.

doi:10.1002/jwmg.21481

Cited by 18 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 59 publications

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“…39,40 ) and management of populations of rare and threatened species (e.g. 41,42 ) including the eastern regal fritillary. Study sites were managed with rotational burning during spring (March-May; hereafter spring fires) and late fall/winter (November-February; hereafter winter fires) according to a pre-determined fire rotation, with plans adjusted by vegetation growth, weather conditions, and fuel accumulation data.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescribed fire maintains host plants of a rare grassland butterfly

Adamidis

Swartz

Zografou

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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As grassland ecosystems transform globally due to anthropogenic pressures, improvements in our understanding of the effect of management on rare and threatened species in such landscapes has become urgent. Although prescribed fire is a very efficient tool for habitat restoration and endangered species management on fire-adapted ecosystems, the specific mechanisms underlying potential effects of burning on population dynamics of butterfly host plants are poorly understood. We analyzed a 12-year dataset (2004–2015), combining violet abundance, habitat physiognomy and fire history data from a fire-managed system, to determine factors influencing the spatiotemporal distribution and abundance of violets (Viola spp.), the host plants of the threatened eastern regal fritillary (Speyeria idalia idalia) butterfly. Our results demonstrate a critical role for fire in driving both presence and abundance of violets, suggesting management with prescribed fires can effectively promote butterfly host plants. In addition, we determined the character of habitats associated with violet presence and abundance, in particular a strong positive association with biocrusts. These results provide a roadmap for efficient site selection to increase the effectiveness of restoration efforts, including assessment of potential reintroduction sites for regal fritillary and other grassland butterflies and actions to promote the re-establishment of host plants in these sites.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Prescribed fire maintains host plants of a rare grassland butterfly

Adamidis

Swartz

Zografou

et al. 2019

Sci Rep

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“…The season in which the fire occurs may also influence how predators and prey respond to fire (e.g. Valentine et al ., 2007; Braun de Torrez, Ober & McCleery, 2018). For example, Conner, Castleberry & Derrick (2011) suggested that increased time between a fire event and green‐up may result in decreased prey survival due to the existence of a prolonged period of reduced food and shelter availability.…”

Section: Conceptual Frameworkmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Also in northern Australia, ‘edge‐open’ foraging bats responded positively and negatively to low‐ and high‐severity burns, respectively, whereas bats that forage in the open showed a strong positive response to high‐severity burns (Broken‐Brow et al ., 2020). Similarly, in Florida, USA, bats increased their activity after wet season burns and even more so after dry season burns, likely because of increased availability of insect prey post‐fire (Braun de Torrez et al ., 2018). Tropical savanna bird abundance also increased after burning, with carnivore abundance highest after wet season burns, and insectivore and granivore abundance highest after dry season burns (Valentine et al ., 2007).…”

Section: How and Why Do Predators Respond To Fire?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire as a driver and mediator of predator–prey interactions

et al. 2022

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Both fire and predators have strong influences on the population dynamics and behaviour of animals, and the effects of predators may either be strengthened or weakened by fire. However, knowledge of how fire drives or mediates predatorprey interactions is fragmented and has not been synthesised. Here, we review and synthesise knowledge of how fire influences predator and prey behaviour and interactions. We develop a conceptual model based on predator-prey theory and empirical examples to address four key questions: (i) how and why do predators respond to fire; (ii) how and why does prey vulnerability change post-fire; (iii) what mechanisms do prey use to reduce predation risk post-fire; and (iv) what are the outcomes of predator-fire interactions for prey populations? We then discuss these findings in the context of wildlife conservation and ecosystem management before outlining priorities for future research. Fire-induced changes in vegetation structure, resource availability, and animal behaviour influence predator-prey encounter rates, the amount of time prey are vulnerable during an encounter, and the conditional probability of prey death given an encounter. How a predator responds to fire depends on fire characteristics (e.g. season, severity), their hunting behaviour (ambush or pursuit predator), movement behaviour, territoriality, and intra-guild dynamics. Prey species that rely on habitat structure for avoiding predation often experience increased predation rates and lower survival in recently burnt areas. By contrast, some prey species benefit from the opening up of habitat after fire because it makes it easier to detect predators and to modify their behaviour appropriately. Reduced prey body condition after fire can increase predation risk either through impaired ability to escape predators, or increased need to forage in risky areas due to being energetically stressed. To reduce risk of predation in the post-fire environment, prey may change their habitat use, increase sheltering behaviour, change their movement behaviour, or use camouflage through cryptic colouring and background matching. Field

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“…Woody nesting substrates are often used in palustrine wetlands, and herbaceous nesting substrates are often used in lacustrine habitats (Fletcher et al, 2015). Vegetation succession and plant species patterns across the Everglades landscape are driven by a meshing of hydrology and fire (Lockwood et al, 2003), so it is likely that fire plays a role in habitat use for snail kites like it does for other Florida endangered species (e.g., the Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Ammospiza maritima mirabilis ; Benscoter et al, 2019 or the Florida bonneted bat, Eumops floridanus ; Braun de Torrez et al, 2018).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nest‐site selection model for endangered Everglade snail kites to inform ecosystem restoration

et al. 2023

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The once vast and interconnected Everglades wetland ecosystem in Florida underwent a 50% reduction in area in the 1900s, resulting in a highly compartmentalized and managed system where ecological restoration is ongoing. Everglade snail kites (Rostrhamus sociabilis plumbeus, hereafter snail kites) are federally endangered wetland specialists with a single population in Florida, USA. Predictive models can help inform restoration and natural resource management decision‐making regarding both the quantity and timing of water delivered through the hundreds of water management structures in the Everglades. We developed a spatially explicit real‐time nest‐site selection model, KiteNest, using environmental predictors of nesting for snail kites in south Florida. The results of our modeling indicate that hydrology, percent canopy cover, and proximity to recently burned areas were the most important factors associated with nest‐site selection for snail kites. Water depths between 75 and 100 cm, water recession rates between 0 and 1.25 cm/day, percent canopy covers <20%, and areas <10 km from recently burned habitat were associated with the greatest likelihood of nest‐site selection. KiteNest is applicable to natural resource management decisions in the Everglades and may be useful independently or in conjunction with other ecological models for restoration decision support.

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Activity of an endangered bat increases immediately following prescribed fire

Cited by 18 publications

References 59 publications

Prescribed fire maintains host plants of a rare grassland butterfly

Prescribed fire maintains host plants of a rare grassland butterfly

Fire as a driver and mediator of predator–prey interactions

Nest‐site selection model for endangered Everglade snail kites to inform ecosystem restoration

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