Despite increased incidence of wildfire in oak (Querci spp.) woodland and the increased use of prescribed burning as a management tool, few empirical data are available on the effects of burning to wildlife in oak woodlands. During the fall of 1993 to the fall of 1997, we studied the effects of prescribed burning on woodrat (Neotoma fuscipes) relative abundance in oak woodland at Camp Roberts in coastal-central California. In October 1997, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CDF) conducted an experimental bum over 500 acres of oak woodland at Camp Roberts, including half of our 1-ha study plots. On avenge, nearly half of each plot was burned (range = 30-66%). CDF classified the bum as light to medium intensity. Of the 14 vegetation variables measured before and after the bum, 5 were reduced significantly: cover of grasses, green forbs, and shrubs, abundance of coarse woody debris, and number of woodrat houses. In the falls of 1993 to 1996 (pre-burn) and again in the fall of 1997 (post-burn), relative abundance of woodrats was measured by live trapping. Trap success and proportion of recaptures did not differ pre- vs. post-burn. Additionally, the sex ratio of woodrats was not different after the burn in fall 1997 between burned and unburned plots. Our results indicate that low-intensity prescribed burns in oak woodland have minimal short term (<1 year) effects on resident woodrats. Furthermore, any potentially negative effects of low-intensity prescribed burns on woodrats may be mitigated by positive, longer-term effects, such as reduced competition for oak regeneration, rejuvenation of vegetation, and reduction of fuel load and the threat of catastrophic wildfire. We are continuing to monitor the woodrat abundance to evaluate responses over the longer term.
|
