Vertebrates Killed by Desert Fire

Simons, Lee H.

doi:10.2307/3671821

Cited by 16 publications

(7 citation statements)

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“…Many small burrowing rodents employ this strategy as do other small terrestrial mammals such as carnivorous marsupial antechinus ( Recher et al , 2009 ; Stawski et al , 2015a ; Matthews et al , 2017 ). Although many small mammals may survive the direct impact of the fire, some individuals do die from burns, heat, asphyxiation, predation and direct physiological stress during the fire, and fires also result in a decrease in cover and food availability for some time after the actual fire event ( Chew et al , 1959 ; Crowner and Barrett, 1979 ; Erwin and Stasiak, 1979 ; Lunney et al , 1987 ; Simons, 1989 ; Kaufman et al , 1990 ; Recher et al , 2009 ). Consequently, the longer-term limited food and water of a post-fire landscape may present a more severe challenge to small mammals because of their relatively high energy demands and foraging requirements, especially at low ambient temperatures ( T a ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A burning question: what are the risks and benefits of mammalian torpor during and after fires?

Geiser

Stawski

Doty

et al. 2018

Conservation Physiology

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Although wildfires are increasing globally, available information on how mammals respond behaviourally and physiologically to fires is scant. Despite a large number of ecological studies, often examining animal diversity and abundance before and after fires, the reasons as to why some species perform better than others remain obscure. We examine how especially small mammals, which generally have high rates of energy expenditure and food requirements, deal with fires and post-fire conditions. We evaluate whether mammalian torpor, characterised by substantial reductions in body temperature, metabolic rate and water loss, plays a functional role in survival of mammals impacted by fires. Importantly, torpor permits small mammals to reduce their activity and foraging, and to survive on limited food. Torpid small mammals (marsupials and bats) can respond to smoke and arouse from torpor, which provides them with the possibility to evade direct exposure to fire, although their response is often slowed when ambient temperature is low. Post-fire conditions increase expression of torpor with a concomitant decrease in activity for free-ranging echidnas and small forest-dwelling marsupials, in response to reduced cover and reduced availability of terrestrial insects. Presence of charcoal and ash increases torpor use by captive small marsupials beyond food restriction alone, likely in anticipation of detrimental post-fire conditions. Interestingly, although volant bats use torpor on every day after fires, they respond by decreasing torpor duration, and increasing activity, perhaps because of the decrease in clutter and increase in foraging opportunities due to an increase in aerial insects. Our summary shows that torpor is an important tool for post-fire survival and, although the physiological and behavioural responses of small mammals to fire are complex, they seem to reflect energetic requirements and mode of foraging. We make recommendations on the conditions during management burns that are least likely to impact heterothermic mammals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A burning question: what are the risks and benefits of mammalian torpor during and after fires?

Geiser

Stawski

Doty

et al. 2018

Conservation Physiology

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“…Research in tallgrass prairies has shown the direct effects of fire on small mammals may include burns, heat stress, asphyxiation, physiological stress, trampling, and predation during escape from fire (Kaufman et al, 1990). Some species that have aboveground nests, such as Neotoma spp., may perish directly from fire (Simons, 1989(Simons, , 1991. However, burrowing rodents such as Dipodomys spp., Perognathus spp., and Chaetodipus spp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Expansive fire in Mojave Desert shrubland reduces abundance and species diversity of small mammals

Horn

McMillan

Clair

2012

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…However, we did not observe these potential predators in treated areas to date. Prescribed fires associated with treatments burn extremely hot (personal observation of authors) due to the high fuel loads, and Simons (1989) documented the occurrence of reptile mortality after fire.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Forest Restoration Treatment Effects on the Nesting Success of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana)

Germaine

2002

Restoration Ecology

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We examined the effects of presettlement forest restoration treatments on the nesting success of Western Bluebirds in ponderosa pine forests of northwestern Arizona, U.S.A. From 1998 to 2001 we monitored 97 active Western Bluebird nests, 41 in current‐condition untreated forest and 56 in restoration‐treated forest. We found no effect of restoration treatments on clutch size and little effect on the number of nestlings per nest. However, in treated forest stands number of fledglings per nest averaged 1.6 times greater, and probability of a nest surviving to successfully fledge at least one young was up to 4.2 times greater than in untreated forest. Probability of a nest succeeding averaged 0.39 ± 0.11 (SE) and 0.75 ± 0.06 from 1999 to 2001 in untreated and treated forests, respectively. In addition, in treated forest, average number of nests infested with the blowfly parasite Protocalliphora sialia was up to 4.3 times greater, and number of parasites per fledgling was up to 10.7 times greater than in untreated forest. Overall, the data suggest that in treated forest Western Bluebirds have a higher probability of successfully fledging young, but they are at greater risk of parasitic infestations, of which the ultimate effects on post‐fledging survival are unknown.

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Vertebrates Killed by Desert Fire

Cited by 16 publications

References 0 publications

A burning question: what are the risks and benefits of mammalian torpor during and after fires?

A burning question: what are the risks and benefits of mammalian torpor during and after fires?

Expansive fire in Mojave Desert shrubland reduces abundance and species diversity of small mammals

Forest Restoration Treatment Effects on the Nesting Success of Western Bluebirds (Sialia mexicana)

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