Frogs flee from the sound of fire

Grafe, T. Ulmar; Döbler, S.; Linsenmair, K. Eduard

doi:10.1098/rspb.2002.1974

Cited by 52 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 10 publications

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“…However, some fires may move too quickly for amphibians to reach refugia and we would like to see more experimental evidence on the ability of amphibians to avoid fire. Grafe et al (2002) reported that one anuran (Hyperolius nitidulus) in Australia can detect the sound of fire and respond by moving toward cover. Frogs, toads, and salamanders moved up to 20 m to avoid a small (~1.0 ha) prescribed fire in a short grass prairie in Iowa (EJH, pers.…”

Section: Direct Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire and amphibians in North America

Pilliod

Bury²,

Hyde³

et al. 2003

Forest Ecology and Management

151

139

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Information on amphibian responses to fire and fuel reduction practices is critically needed due to potential declines of species and the prevalence of new, more intensive fire management practices in North American forests. The goals of this review are to summarize the known and potential effects of fire and fuels management on amphibians and their aquatic habitats, and to identify information gaps to help direct future scientific research. Amphibians as a group are taxonomically and ecologically diverse; in turn, responses to fire and associated habitat alteration are expected to vary widely among species and among geographic regions.Available data suggest that amphibian responses to fire are spatially and temporally variable and incompletely understood. Much of the limited research has addressed short-term (1-3 yr) effects of prescribed fire on terrestrial life stages of amphibians in the southeastern United States.Information on the long-term negative effects of fire on amphibians and the importance of fire for maintaining amphibian communities is sparse for the high number of taxa in North America.Given the size and severity of recent wildland fires and the national effort to reduce fuels on federal lands, future studies are particularly needed to examine the effects of these landscape disturbances on amphibians. We encourage studies to address population-level responses of amphibians to fire by examining how different life stages are affected by changes in aquatic, riparian, and upland habitats. Research designs need to be rigorous and credible, yet provide information that is relevant for fire managers and those responsible for assessing the potential effects of various fuels reduction alternatives on rare, sensitive, and endangered amphibian species.

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Section: Direct Effectsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire and amphibians in North America

Pilliod

Bury²,

Hyde³

et al. 2003

Forest Ecology and Management

151

139

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“…Since escape behavior likely is delayed due to slowed reactions of torpid animals, an early 61 detection of a fire is also of high importance, but currently few observations on escape behavior and 62 reaction to threatening stimuli during torpor are available (Grafe et al 2002;Scesny and Robbins 63 2006). Recent studies have indicated that animals arouse from shallow torpor (Tb °C) when 64 exposed to high amounts of smoke (Stawski et al 2015b).…”

Section: Introduction 30mentioning

confidence: 99%

Can hibernators sense and evade fires? Olfactory acuity and locomotor performance during deep torpor

Nowack

Delesalle

Stawski

et al. 2016

Sci Nat

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torpor is expressed regularly. Torpor is crucial for energy conservation, but the low body 16 temperatures (Tb) are associated with a decreased responsiveness and torpid animals might 17 therefore face an increased mortality risk during fires. We tested whether hibernators in deep 18 torpor can a) respond to the smell of smoke and b) can climb to avoid fires at Tbs below 19 normothermic levels. Our data show that torpid eastern pygmy-possums (Cercartetus nanus) are 20 able to detect smoke and also can climb. All males aroused from torpor when the smoke stimulus 21 was presented at an ambient temperature (Ta) of 15°C (Tb ~18°C), whereas females only raised their 22 heads. The responses were less pronounced at Ta 10°C. The first coordinated movement of possums 23 along a branch was observed at a mean Tb of 15.6°C, and animals were even able to climb their 24 prehensile tail when they reached a mean Tb of 24.4°C. Our study shows that hibernators can sense 25 smoke and move at low Tb. However, our data also illustrate that at Tb 13°C, C. nanus show 26 decreased responsiveness and locomotor performance and highlight that prescribed burns during 27 winter should be avoided on very cold days to allow torpid animals enough time to respond. 28 29 Introduction 30

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“…Open water surfaces and unburned wet patches provide refuges for amphibians during burning, whereas underground burrows can also protect them from fires (Pilliod et al 2003;Roznik and Johnson 2007;Russell et al 1999). Bufonids and Pelobatids also may show an evolutionary adaptation to escape fire by digging burrows (Nomura et al 2009), whereas hylid frogs are known to avoid an approaching headfire by detecting its crackling sounds (Grafe et al 2002).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Spatiotemporally variable management by grazing and burning increases marsh diversity and benefits amphibians: A field experiment

Mester

Szalai²,

Mérő³

et al. 2015

Biological Conservation

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Ecosystem management often aims to maintain a diversity of habitats to benefit a large number of species within a landscape. We studied the effects of wetland management by lowintensity cattle-grazing and late-summer burning on marsh vegetation and globally declining anuran amphibians (frogs and toads) in a previously homogeneous reedbed. Burning effectively removed old reed and increased the variability of reed cover and marsh vegetation by the next spring. However, reed grew back strong in areas burned 2 or 3 years before the study, indicating that fire rejuvenates reedbeds. In contrast, cattle-grazing kept reed cover homogeneously low and created open water surfaces. The number of amphibian species and individuals decreased with mean reed cover and old reed density, and increased with variability in reed cover. Correspondingly, amphibian richness and counts were greatest in newly burned areas the next spring. In contrast, a year later, richness and counts were greatest in grazed-only areas, with large decreases in newly burned and control areas. Our results suggest that combined management with grazing and burning can create different habitat patches, some of which will be optimal for amphibians in one year, whereas other patches may become suitable in a subsequent year when successional changes alter previously optimal patches. To maximize optimal habitats, mosaic management should repeat burning once every 2 or 3 years in a rotational manner, and also maintain low-intensity cattle-grazing, which controls reeds and benefits amphibians more sustainably. Our study supports spatiotemporally varied management to facilitate habitat heterogeneity and complexity in dynamic landscapes.

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Frogs flee from the sound of fire

Cited by 52 publications

References 10 publications

Fire and amphibians in North America

Fire and amphibians in North America

Can hibernators sense and evade fires? Olfactory acuity and locomotor performance during deep torpor

Spatiotemporally variable management by grazing and burning increases marsh diversity and benefits amphibians: A field experiment

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