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Temporal dynamics of the reponses by African mammals to prescribed fire
Author(s) -
Green David S.,
Roloff Gary J.,
Heath Brian R.,
Holekamp Kay E.
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
the journal of wildlife management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.94
H-Index - 111
eISSN - 1937-2817
pISSN - 0022-541X
DOI - 10.1002/jwmg.827
Subject(s) - wildebeest , carnivore , herbivore , ecology , transect , camera trap , wildlife , geography , foraging , mammal , fire regime , abundance (ecology) , ecosystem , predation , biology , national park
ABSTRACT Prescribed fire is an important management tool in east Africa as a way to improve foraging conditions for herbivores, and to make wildlife easier for tourists to observe and photograph. Although past research has investigated the factors influencing herbivore use of post‐fire vegetation, the temporal dynamics of these effects have seldom been documented, and use of burned areas by African carnivores has not been evaluated. Between 2008 and 2011, we studied responses of 8 common herbivores and 8 carnivore species to burns in the Mara‐Serengeti ecosystem in southwestern Kenya by monitoring mammal abundance on 4 transects from up to 136 days before burning, and up to 748 days after burning. Among herbivores, zebra, warthog, Thomson's gazelle, Grant's gazelle, and topi, occurred in higher densities in burned than unburned areas. Impala and wildebeest showed trends toward occurring in higher densities in burned areas. These effects lasted up to 120 days for Thomson's gazelle, but we did not observe a specific temporal relationship to burning in the other 5 herbivore species. Both small and large carnivores were more likely to be observed along transects after than before burns; we observed small carnivores including black‐backed jackals, side‐striped jackals, bat‐eared foxes, and banded mongoose in greater numbers up to 365 days after burns but observed large carnivores, including African lions, spotted hyenas, leopards, and cheetahs, in greater numbers only for up to 120 days after burns. Our results indicate that wildlife responses to prescribed fire last ≤1 year in this region. Although burning stimulates vegetation growth and improves wildlife visibility, managers should recognize that wildlife responses might not persist for more than a few months in tropical African savannas like the one monitored here. © 2014 The Wildlife Society.