Nesting ecology of grassland birds following a wildfire in the southern Great Plains
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
We studied the response of nesting grassland birds occupying short-grass and mixed-grass prairie sites 2 and 3 y following two, large-scale wildfires that burned ≥360,000 ha in the Texas Panhandle in March 2006. Nest success was greater on burned plots compared to unburned plots, though this varied by species and year. Woody vegetation cover was greater around nests on unburned plots compared to burned plots for Cassin's sparrow (Peucaea cassinii) and lark sparrow (Chondestes grammacus). Cassin's sparrows and lark sparrows nested in more-woody vegetation than did grasshopper sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum), and woody vegetation was reduced following the wildfires. The wildfires appear to have had few if any negative influences on the avian community 3 years postfire. This may be due to grassland breeding birds being adapted to landscapes in which, historically, periodic disturbance (e.g., wildfire, intensive grazing by bison [Bison bison]) resulted in vegetation heterogeneity.
| Publication type | Article |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Title | Nesting ecology of grassland birds following a wildfire in the southern Great Plains |
| Series title | Southwestern Naturalist |
| DOI | 10.1894/0038-4909-62.1.39 |
| Volume | 62 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Year Published | 2017 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | Southwestern Association of Naturalists |
| Contributing office(s) | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |
| Description | 7 p. |
| First page | 39 |
| Last page | 45 |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |