AVIS-IBIS

Birds of Indian Subcontinent

Vertebrate Mortality During the Burning of a Reestablished Prairie in Nebraska

Publication Type:Journal Article
Year of Publication:1979
Authors:Erwin, WJ, Stasiak, RH
Journal:American Midland Naturalist
Volume:101
Issue:1
Date Published:1979
ISBN Number:00030031
Keywords:Anas, Anas platyrhynchos, Anatidae, Colinus, Colinus virginianus, Coturnix, Coturnix coturnix, Icteridae, Odontophoridae, Phasianidae, Phasianus, Phasianus colchicus, Sturnella, Sturnella neglecta
Abstract:Evidence of direct mortality to vertebrates was gathered following controlled spring burns in a reestablished prairie in eastern Nebraska. During 3 years (1974-1976) in which observations were made, several species were killed by fires, including: cottontail rabbits (Sylvilagus floridanus), western harvest mice (Reithrodontomys megalotis), voles (Microtus pennsylvanicus and M. ochrogaster), bull snakes (Pituophis melanoleucas), plains garter snakes (Thamnophis radix) and red-sided garter snakes (T. sirtalis). Young harvest mice pups were particularly susceptible to spring prairie fires; mortality to these on a 22.8-ha section burned 26 April 1976 was estimated at between 208 and 522 individuals. Many eggs of ground-nesting birds were destroyed by the fires; species included were ring-necked pheasant (Phasianus colchicus), bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), mallard duck (Arias platyrhynchus) and meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta).
URL:http://www.jstor.org/stable/2424922
Short Title:American Midland Naturalist
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