Conflicting Perspectives on Spotted Owls, Wildfire, and Forest Restoration

Ganey, Joseph L.; Wan, Ho Yi; Cushman, Samuel A.; Vojta, Christina D.

doi:10.4996/fireecology.130318020

Cited by 42 publications

(65 citation statements)

References 95 publications

(137 reference statements)

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“…Transitioning fire regimes are yielding increases in the frequency and extent of ‘megafires’, that is, large, severe wildfires >10,000 ha in extent (Stephens et al., ). These trends have generated concern over the conservation of forest species (Ganey, Wan, Cushman, & Vojta, ; Jones et al., ), but the effect of more severe, more homogeneous fires on fire‐associated species also needs to be considered. Past studies have provided evidence that some severe forest fire has neutral or beneficial effects on wildlife (Hutto et al., ), and black‐backed woodpeckers are frequently considered a specialist on severe fires.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age‐dependent habitat relationships of a burned forest specialist emphasise the role of pyrodiversity in fire management

Stillman

Siegel

Wilkerson

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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Variation in fire characteristics, termed pyrodiversity, plays an important role in structuring post‐fire communities, but little is known about the importance of pyrodiversity for individual species. The availability of diverse post‐fire habitats may be key for fire‐associated species if they require different resources at different life‐history stages. We tested for age‐specific habitat relationships in the black‐backed woodpecker, a post‐fire specialist. We used radio‐telemetry to track fledgling and adult woodpeckers in burned forests and built resource selection functions to compare the effect of stand‐, tree‐ and snag‐level covariates between adults and fledglings. Fledgling black‐backed woodpeckers selected habitat with more live trees than adults and used more heterogeneous habitats burned at lower severity, illustrating strong age‐dependent effects on habitat selection. Within selected stands, fledglings were less likely to use snags and more likely to use live trees when compared to adults, but both age classes showed strong positive selection for larger‐diameter trees (live and dead). Over the 60 days after leaving their nests, fledglings showed an increasing propensity to use snags rather than live trees. Our results provide evidence that the predation–starvation hypothesis, which posits a trade‐off between foraging efficiency and the need to minimise predation risk, plays a role in structuring the age‐dependent habitat use of a burned forest specialist. Adult black‐backed woodpeckers selected resources associated with food availability, but these resources occurred in relatively open, exposed habitat. Fledglings selected habitat that provided increased cover, perhaps as a strategy to reduce predation risk. Synthesis and applications. Globally, fires are increasing in severity and extent, leading to increased focus on fire‐associated species that play keystone roles in facilitating biodiversity resilience. Our findings suggest that a diversity of patches burned at different severities may benefit post‐fire specialists like the black‐backed woodpecker at multiple life‐history stages. The increasing prevalence of large, homogeneously high‐severity ‘megafires’ may present an emerging threat even to post‐fire specialists, and we urge land managers to consider opportunities to promote pyrodiversity in the face of novel fire regimes.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Age‐dependent habitat relationships of a burned forest specialist emphasise the role of pyrodiversity in fire management

Stillman

Siegel

Wilkerson

et al. 2019

Journal of Applied Ecology

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“…Studies evaluating the response of spotted owls to high‐severity fire show a variety of responses from generally positive to neutral or negative depending on the subspecies, type of forest burned, and the parameter evaluated (Ganey et al. ). Recent studies have shown that spotted owls may still use home ranges affected by high‐severity fire provided that the patches of high‐severity are small and within a diverse mosaic of low and moderate fire severity (Lee and Bond , Comfort et al.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Wildfires managed for restoration enhance ecological resilience

et al. 2018

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Expanding the footprint of natural fire has been proposed as one potential solution to increase the pace of forest restoration programs in fire‐adapted landscapes of the western USA. However, studies that examine the long‐term socio‐ecological trade‐offs of expanding natural fire to reduce wildfire risk and create fire resilient landscapes are lacking. We used the model Envision to examine the outcomes that might result from increased area burned by what we call “restoration” wildfire in a landscape where the ecological benefits of wildfire are known, but the need to suppress high‐risk fires that threaten human values is also evident. Our study area, in the eastern Cascades of Oregon, USA, includes the Deschutes National Forest where large tracts of mixed conifer forest structure are outside the historical range of variation and characterized by multi‐layer, closed‐canopy stands. We found that simulation of one restoration wildfire per year in addition to high‐risk wildfires in the regular fire season and over the course of 50 yr resulted in a 23% increase in total area burned, but the same probability of fire‐on‐fire interactions. This translated into 0.3% of the national forest burned by restoration wildfire per year and had a small impact in area burned by high‐risk fires albeit more likely in extreme fire years. Smoke production doubled in the restoration scenario relative to the scenario without restoration wildfire, but still resulted in minimal smoke production in most years. Restoration fires burned with low‐ to mixed‐severity and led to a steady reduction in canopy cover and increase in resilient forest structure in dry‐forest types. Habitat for the federally protected northern spotted owl declined with the inclusion of restoration fire, while habitat for species that use recently burned forest stands (e.g., black‐backed woodpecker) increased. Our results suggest that restoration wildfire can improve forest resilience and contribute to restoration efforts in fire‐adapted forests, but there are trade‐offs (wildlife habitat, smoke, area burned in fire‐sensitive forest types), and the level of restoration fire use we simulated is unlikely to have a significant impact on the occurrence of high‐severity wildfires.

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“…Climate projections for much of western North America suggest drier weather punctuated by periods of intense precipitation resulting in more severe wildfires (Wan et al ), which could further affect spotted owl populations. Research has shown both negative and positive effects of wildfire, timber harvest, and fuels treatments on spotted owl populations (Ganey et al ). For example, Seamans and Gutiérrez (), studying California spotted owls from 1990 to 2004 in the Sierra Nevada, reported that owl populations were negatively affected by alteration of their habitat, either by stand‐replacing fire or timber harvest.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Review of the effects of barred owls on spotted owls

Long

Wolfe

2019

J Wildl Manag

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Barred owls (Strix varia) are forest‐dwelling owls, native to eastern North America, with populations that expanded westward into the range of the spotted owl (Strix occidentalis). Barred owls exert an overwhelmingly negative influence on spotted owls, thereby threatening spotted owl population viability where the species co‐occur. In this review, we provide an overview of the barred owl's range expansion and detail and synthesize previously published literature on spotted and barred owls within the range of the spotted owl as related to potential future outcomes for the northern spotted owl (S. o. caurina). We include research on diet, habitat use and selection, effects of barred owls on spotted owl demography and behavior, hybridization with spotted owls, parasites, contemporary management, and future research needs for spotted owl populations given continued barred owl expansion throughout western North America. Our literature review and synthesis should provide managers with the information necessary to develop strategies that mitigate deleterious effects of barred owls at local and landscape scales. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.

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Conflicting Perspectives on Spotted Owls, Wildfire, and Forest Restoration

Cited by 42 publications

References 95 publications

Age‐dependent habitat relationships of a burned forest specialist emphasise the role of pyrodiversity in fire management

Age‐dependent habitat relationships of a burned forest specialist emphasise the role of pyrodiversity in fire management

Wildfires managed for restoration enhance ecological resilience

Review of the effects of barred owls on spotted owls

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