The effects of fire frequency on vegetation structure and mammal assemblages in a savannah‐woodland system

Nieman, Willem A.; Wilgen, B.W. van; Radloff, Frans G. T.; Tambling, Craig J.; Leslie, Alison J.

doi:10.1111/aje.12971

Cited by 5 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 132 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In contrast to some of our results, Nieman et al. (2022) found that impala, kudu, buffalo, sable, waterbuck and zebra frequent areas that are burnt regularly. This contradicts our finding that impala, waterbuck and buffalo are more likely to be found in areas exposed to less frequent fires.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…This contradicts our finding that impala, waterbuck and buffalo are more likely to be found in areas exposed to less frequent fires. Furthermore, Nieman et al (2022) also found no evidence that elephant are affected by fire frequency, while our current study indicates a strong tendency for elephant to make use of seldomly burnt areas (Fig. 3k).…”

Section: Management-related Predictorscontrasting

confidence: 88%

“…Higher fire frequency was also associated with increases in the grass sward of less palatable short-statured increaser grasses (Nieman et al, 2022). In contrast to some of our results, Nieman et al (2022) found that impala, kudu, buffalo, sable, waterbuck and zebra frequent areas that are burnt regularly. This contradicts our finding that impala, waterbuck and buffalo are more likely to be found in areas exposed to less frequent fires.…”

Section: Management-related Predictorscontrasting

confidence: 85%

“…These differences for certain species indicate that the way species respond to fires may be more complicated than originally thought and might also be scale dependant (Archibald et al, 2005) which was not considered in this study. Not only was the study of Nieman et al (2022) conducted in a single habitat type, but it was also conducted during the wet season in contrast to our study's dry season focus. We therefore suggest that a more nuanced approach is needed to understand fire's affects on species which include habitat and seasonal differences.…”

Section: Management-related Predictorsmentioning

confidence: 94%

“…A recent study in Majete restricted to the low-altitude deciduous woodland found that increased fire frequency results in decreased woody plant cover, height and stem diameters (Nieman et al, 2022), which supports the work of others in this biome (Frost, 1996;Furley et al, 2008;Ryan & Williams, 2011). Higher fire frequency was also associated with increases in the grass sward of less palatable short-statured increaser grasses (Nieman et al, 2022). In contrast to some of our results, Nieman et al (2022) found that impala, kudu, buffalo, sable, waterbuck and zebra frequent areas that are burnt regularly.…”

Section: Management-related Predictorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 4 more Smart Citations

Patterns and predictors of ungulate space use across an isolated Miombo woodland reserve

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Understanding ecological‐ and management‐related predictors of mammal space use within protected areas is critical for management planning. This is particularly true in small, fenced and isolated reserves where we hypothesised that management‐related activities will influence large herbivore space use more than ecological characteristics. We used camera trap data to assess the space use patterns for 18 ungulate species in the small and isolated Majete Wildlife Reserve (Majete) in the understudied Miombo woodland ecoregion of southern Malawi. In the 2018 dry season, the 691 km2 reserve was systematically surveyed for ungulate presence at 140 camera trap locations. Over a period of 5456 camera days, the survey yielded 11 078 independent detections of 18 ungulate species and three predators. Using a single‐species occupancy modelling framework, the probability of space use of ungulates was assessed in relation to five management (fire exposure, fire frequency, water availability, distance from fence and road) and five ecological (visibility, grass biomass, vegetation type, terrain ruggedness and predator abundance) space use covariates, while accounting for imperfect detection. Top‐ranked models contained multiple covariates for 15 of the 16 species modelled, with only nyala's (Tragelaphus angasii) space use best predicted by vegetation type only. Distance to water, vegetation type, visibility and fire frequency were predictors having strong influences on six or more species each. More management‐related covariates reflected in top models, but ecological covariates had more meaningful effect sizes making us reject the hypothesis. Importantly though, distance from the roads and fence were also identified as prominent predictors. Notably, black rhinoceros' (Diceros bicornis) probability of space use increased with distance from the reserve boundary. Beyond informing habitat management for ungulates in Majete, these results can form the basis for understanding species‐specific space use patterns in other small reserves with similar characteristics and threats.

show abstract

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Management-related Predictorscontrasting

confidence: 88%

Section: Management-related Predictorscontrasting

confidence: 85%

Section: Management-related Predictorsmentioning

confidence: 94%

Section: Management-related Predictorsmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Patterns and predictors of ungulate space use across an isolated Miombo woodland reserve

et al. 2023

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

Pyric herbivory in a temperate European wood‐pasture system

Amsten,

Cromsigt,

Kuijper

et al. 2024

Journal of Applied Ecology

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The term pyric herbivory was first introduced in 2009, describing how fire shapes herbivory as burned areas attract herbivores and, simultaneously, herbivory shapes fuel load and fire behaviour. Pyric herbivory results in a mosaic of patches with varying levels of herbivory and grazing intensity fire intensity and frequency. The importance of pyric herbivory for ecosystem heterogeneity and biodiversity has been described for North American, Australian and African systems, but the concept remains largely untested in a European context. We introduced fire and herbivory in a full‐factorial experiment in a temperate European wood‐pasture system to test whether pyric herbivory operates in ways comparable to grassy systems elsewhere in the world. Using camera traps, we observed the behaviour of cattle in burned subplots (49 m2) compared with unburned subplots. We measured grass height and the proportion of the subplot that burned as variables affecting cattle preference and to assess how grazing affects fire behaviour. We also examined the effect on plant species and life‐form composition after six seasons of treatment. Cattle spent more time grazing in burned than in unburned subplots in the most productive paddock, where a larger proportion of the subplot burned. The proportion of a subplot that burned was positively related to pre‐fire grass height. Moreover, both grass height and the proportion of subplot burned declined in the burned subplots during the 6‐year study period and fire and cattle grazing altered the relative cover of graminoids and shrubs (Rubus spp.), with more graminoids in grazed and/or burned subplots and more shrubs in ungrazed subplots at the end of the study. Synthesis and applications. In our temperate European wood pasture, fire and (cattle) grazing interacted in ways comparable to pyric herbivory in grassy ecosystems elsewhere in the world, especially in the most productive paddock. Fire attracted grazing, with cattle grazing longer on subplots that burned more fully. Grazing also affected fire, where over the course of our experiment cattle grazing reduced grass height and the proportion of a subplot that burned. We suggest that pyric herbivory is an interesting management method to further explore in the European context to address the loss of biodiversity in open ecosystems, particularly in more productive sites.

show abstract

Evaluating patterns and drivers of mammal space use and richness in the Angolan savannah woodlands of the Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Nieman,

Botha

2023

Afr J Ecol

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Large transboundary protected areas such as the Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area (KAZA‐TFCA), improve mammal conservation by addressing biodiversity threats on regional and international levels, but an adequate understanding of mammal space use and richness within protected areas is critical for effective management planning. This information has however been missing from the Angolan component of the KAZA‐TFCA, such as areas of Luengue‐Luiana National Park (LLNP), especially compared with neighbouring countries. We used camera trap data from 2021 to 2023 to investigate species richness of medium‐ and large‐sized mammals in two hotspot areas of LLNP, as well as assess the space use patterns of 9 carnivore and 16 herbivore species. A total of 48 species were recorded over 10,781 camera trapping nights, with African elephant (Loxodonta africana) and small antelope (e.g. common duiker Sylvicapra grimmia and steenbok Raphicerus campestris) being the most common. Species composition differed significantly between sites, with 21 species more relatively abundant at Ndunjuru, including cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and African wild dog (Lycaon pictus), and eight species more relatively abundant at Bico, including lion (Panthera leo) and hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibius). The detection probability of 22 species were affected by one or more ecological (e.g. proximity to rivers) or anthropogenic (e.g. human settlement) covariate. These results are intended to act as a baseline to monitor conservation effort and aid habitat management in LLNP, as well as similar protected areas within the KAZA‐TFCA and elsewhere.

show abstract

The effects of fire frequency on vegetation structure and mammal assemblages in a savannah‐woodland system

Cited by 5 publications

References 132 publications

Patterns and predictors of ungulate space use across an isolated Miombo woodland reserve

Patterns and predictors of ungulate space use across an isolated Miombo woodland reserve

Pyric herbivory in a temperate European wood‐pasture system

Evaluating patterns and drivers of mammal space use and richness in the Angolan savannah woodlands of the Kavango‐Zambezi Transfrontier Conservation Area

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About