conservation.arizona.edu - wildfire

Efectiveness of pre-fre forest management on post-fre forest conditions in southeastern Arizona

aburnett93 — Wed, 02 Oct 2024 23:15:34 +0000

Authors

Kira L. Hefty

Jeffrey K. Gillan

Jena Trejo

John L. Koprowski

Additional Information

Fire Ecology

Date of publication:

2024

Topics

wildfire

wildfire effects

forest management

Research Categories

Disturbance Ecology

Movement response of small mammals to burn severity reveals importance of microhabitat features

aburnett93 — Wed, 25 Sep 2024 21:36:28 +0000

Authors

Sandy A. Slovikosky

Melissa J. Merrick

Marina Morandini

John L. Koprowski

Additional Information

Journal of Mammalogy

Date of publication:

2024

Topics

wildfire

fire intensity

habitat selection

Research Categories

Disturbance Ecology Spatial Ecology

Foraging Behavior Response of Small Mammals to Different Burn Severities

aburnett93 — Mon, 25 Sep 2023 21:26:18 +0000

Authors

Marina Morandini

Maria Vittoria Mazzamuto

John L. Koprowski

Additional Information

Fire

Date of publication:

2023

Topics

wildfire

wildfire effects

behavior

behavioral response

GUD

predation

Mt. Graham red squirrel

Research Categories

Disturbance Ecology Sky Islands Threatened and Endangered Species

Endemic population response to increasingly severe fire: A cascade of endangerment for the Mt. Graham red squirrel

mmerrick — Thu, 07 Jan 2021 16:50:11 +0000

Authors

Melissa J. Merrick

Marina Morandini

Vicki L. Greer

John L. Koprowski

Drought, past fire suppression, insect invasion, and high-severity fire represent a disturbance cascade characteristic of forests in the western United States. The result is altered forest ecosystems diminished in their function and capacity to support biodiversity. Small habitat specialists are particularly vulnerable to the impacts of disturbances because of their limited movement capacity and high site fidelity. Research suggests that small mammals suffer limited direct mortality from fire but are increasingly vulnerable to local extirpation because of secondary impacts that include habitat loss and reduced food availability, survival, and reproduction. We examine the direct and secondary impacts of increasingly severe fire events on the endangered Mt. Graham red squirrel—a model system to demonstrate how disturbances can threaten the persistence of range-limited species. We document survival, space use, and displacement prior to and following fires and discuss implications for conservation. We suggest that management plans address future threats, including disturbance-related habitat loss.

Additional Information

BioScience

Date of publication:

2021

Topics

Mt. Graham red squirrel

wildfire

disturbance cascade

spatial habitat take

disturbance displacement

Research Categories

Behavioral Ecology Disturbance Ecology Sky Islands Spatial Ecology Threatened and Endangered Species

Koprowski, J. L., K. M. Leonard, C. A. Zugmeyer, and J. L. Jolley. 2006. Direct effects of fire on endangered Mount Graham red squirrels. The Southwestern Naturalist 51(1): 59-63.

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 23:09:57 +0000

Authors

John L. Koprowski

Katherine M. Leonard

Claire A. Zugmeyer

Julia L. Jolley

Direct mortality of forest wildlife due to fire is rarely documented. In June and July 2004, the Nuttall Complex Fire burned 11,898 ha in the Pinaleño Mountains, southeastern Arizona. Portions of these mountains serve as the only habitat of endangered Mount Graham red squirrels (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus grahamensis). Survival of radio-collared red squirrels over a period that included the fire was lower in areas that were burned than on unburned areas; however, the majority of squirrels on our study areas survived the fire. Distance of nests from middens did not differ between pre-fire and post-fire periods for animals in burned or unburned areas, indicating that squirrels did not abandon middens immediately after surviving the effects of fire.

Additional Information

DIRECT EFFECTS OF FIRE ON ENDANGERED MOUNT GRAHAM RED SQUIRRELS

Date of publication:

2006

Topics

Mount Graham Red Squirrel

wildfire

Pinaleño Mountains

Ketcham, S. L. and J. L. Koprowski. 2013. Impacts on wildfire on wildlife in Arizona: A synthesis. In Gottfried, Gerald J.; Ffolliott, Peter F.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Collins, Loa C., comps. 2013. Merging science and management in a rapidly ch

thackerk1 — Mon, 22 Jul 2019 21:25:58 +0000

Authors

Shari L. Ketcham

John L. Koprowski

Due to a century of fire suppression practices, the Madrean Archipelago regions in Arizona have accumulated excessive fuel loads that increase wildfire sizes, intensities, and frequencies. Wildfire induced structural changes in forest ecosystems can either benefit or adversely impact wildlife species. Therefore, it is imperative to understand how wildlife species react to such ecosystem changes after wildfires in both the short-term and long-term time periods. We examined scientific literature to determine wildlife distribution, abundance, elevational migration, and behavioral changes (i.e. how wildlife use resources post-fire) in response to wildfire. Understanding the impacts of wildfire-induced habitat fragmentation and creation of edge effects on wildlife species will provide information about overall forest condition and forest management practices.

Additional Information

Impacts of Wildfire on Wildlife in Arizona: A Synthesis

Date of publication:

2013

Topics

wildfire

fire suppression

fuel

fire intensity

fire frequency

forest ecosystems

wildlife distribution

behavioral changes

wildfire-induced habitat fragmentation

Doumas, S. L., and J. L. Koprowski. 2013. Effect of heterogeneity in burn severity on Mexican fox squirrels following the retunr of fire. International Journal of Wildland Fire 22:405-413.

thackerk1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:46:58 +0000

Authors

Sandra L. Doumas

John L. Koprowski

After decades of suppression, fire has returned to many forested areas of the western United States. Understanding responses of wildlife species to fire is essential to native species conservation because contemporary fires may not have the same effects as historical fires. Recent fires in the Chiricahua Mountains of Arizona provided an opportunity to investigate effects of fire heterogeneity on habitat selection of a native wildlife species. We used radiotelemetry to determine home ranges of Mexican fox squirrels (Sciurus nayaritensis chiricahuae) within fire- influenced forests. We then applied resource-utilisation functions to evaluate associations of use intensity within home ranges to heterogeneity of burn severity at two spatial scales. Squirrels used areas with moderate levels of burn heterogeneity at large scale more than areas of low or high heterogeneity. Squirrels used small (,0.5 ha) or narrow (,120 m) severely burnt patches, but incorporated only edges of large patches into home ranges. Use of burnt forests by Mexican fox squirrels demonstrates the complexities of fire’s effects on wildlife. Our results contribute to an understanding of the role and effect of fire in forest ecosystems and implications for wildlife conservation.

Additional Information

Effect of heterogeneity in burn severity on Mexican fox squirrels following the return of fire

Date of publication:

2013

Topics

Chiricahua fox squirrel

native wildlife

prescription burn

wildfire

patchiness

Doumas, S.L., J.L. Koprowski. 2013. Return of fire as a restoration tool: long-term effects of burn severity on habitat use by Mexican fox squirrels. Restoration Ecology 21:133-139.

thackerk1 — Tue, 25 Jun 2019 00:43:39 +0000

Authors

Sandra L. Doumas

John L. Koprowski

After decades of suppression, fire is returning to forests of the western United States through wildfires and prescribed burns. These fires may aid restoration of vegetation structure and processes, which could improve conditions for wildlife species and reduce severe wildfire risk. Understanding response of wildlife species to fires is essential to forest restoration because contemporary fires may not have the same effects as historical fires. Recent fires in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona provided opportunity to investigate long-term effects of burn severity on habitat selection of a native wildlife species. We surveyed burned forest for squirrel feeding sign and related vegetation characteristics to frequency of feeding sign occurrence. We used radio-telemetry within fire- influenced forest to determine home ranges of Mexican fox squirrels, Sciurus nayaritensis chiricahuae, and compared vegetation characteristics within home ranges to random areas available to squirrels throughout burned conifer forest. Squirrels fed in forest with open understory and closed canopy cover. Vegetation within home ranges was characterized by lower understory density, consistent with the effects of low-severity fire, and larger trees than random locations. Our results suggest that return of low-severity fire can help restore habitat for Mexican fox squirrels and other native wildlife species with similar habitat affiliations in forests with a historical regime of frequent, low-severity fire. Our study contributes to an understanding of the role and impact of fire in forest ecosystems and the implications for forest restoration as fire returns to the region.

Additional Information

Return of Fire as a Restoration Tool: Long‐Term Effects of Burn Severity on Habitat Use by Mexican Fox Squirrels

Date of publication:

2012

Topics

Chiricahua fox squirrel

prescribed fire

wildfire

habitat

home range

vegetation