A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION INTO THE SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF A PRESCRIBED FIRE ON HABITAT QUALITY FOR A SNAKE ASSEMBLAGE

作者：Steen David A^*; O**orne Portia A; Dovciak Martin; Patrick David A; Gibbs James P

来源：Herpetological Conservation and Biology, 2015, 10(1): 263-272.

• Gartersnake
• Lampropeltis
• management
• milksnake
• old field
• reptile
• Storeria
• Thamnophis

Early successional habitats in the northeastern United States, once generated in part by now rare fire events, are essential for a wide range of specialist species. Many snake species use open early successional habitats for basking (thermoregulation) and foraging, but individual species within an assemblage vary in their requirements. Consequently, management to maintain early successional habitats using prescribed fire may have varied effects on different species. We used a Before-After-Control-Impact (BACI) experimental design to explore how a snake assemblage responded to a prescribed burn intended to improve habitat quality for the endangered Eastern Massasauga Rattlesnake, Sistrurus catenatus catenatus, in an old field habitat in New York. Although we do not employ full statistical analysis given that the fire treatment was operationally applied only to one site, our results suggest that prescribed fire is an important influence of habitat quality for snakes. Further study is required to facilitate generalizations of our findings across multiple prescribed fires and to identify the mechanisms behind these apparent effects of prescribed fire on snake habitat.

• 出版日期2015-6