Effects of Fire on the Plants and Animals of a Florida Wetland

Abstract

A total of 754 birds were recorded on a portion of a pond shore line during 63 visits for 4 months following a controlled burn, while 236 birds were observed on an adjacent and comparable, but unburned, shore line. Only 5 of the 35 bird species encountered were seen more often on the unburned site. Fire-induced bird and mammal injury or mortality was unobserved even though the burn resembled a wildfire. Birds showed no fear of the fire and some were attracted to the smoking landscape. Although some cold-blooded vertebrate mortality occurred, other herptiles survived, and alligators used the burned shore line almost exclusively. Mammal populations of burned and unburned areas appeared similar 4 months after the fire. Animal responses are considered related to the fire removal of the heavy grass mat that otherwise covered the water and soils and the foods contained therein, and physically impaired new plant growth. Burning also produced an earlier, more rapid and far more productive growth of wet-prairie plants. INTRODUCTION Although attention has been focused on the effects of fire on game birds and the use of fire for their management (Vogl, 1967), little research has been conducted on the effects of fire on general bird and mammal populations and their habitats. Despite a lack of objective information on this subject, many biologists have considered fire generally destructive to animals. Popular articles by Line (1964, 1966), describing how fire is necessary for the survival of the Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii), made many aware that fire might sometimes benefit birds. Recent publications helping to establish objectivity in evaluating fire and nongame birds include Marshall (1963), Stoddard (1963), Edwards and Ellis (1969), Koplin (1969), Bock and Lynch (1970), Emlen (1970), Ligon (1970), Kilgore (1971) and Michael and Thornburgh (1971). Recent mammal studies also questioned the general notion that fire is necessarily destructive (Arata, 1959; Howard et al., 1959; Tester and Marshall, 1961; Bigham et al., 1965; Tester, 1965; Ahlgren, 1966; Vogl, 1967; Schramm, 1968; Komarek, 1969; Vogl and Beck, 1970; Beck and Vogl, 1972). These and other studies have been primarily concerned with fire in upland vegetation types. Research dealing with fire and animals in lowland-wetland vegetation appears to be lacking. The present investigation was conducted to determine the bird utilization of a freshly burned wet prairie along the shore line of a large North Florida pond. The effects of fire on the vegetation and mammals were also evaluated. Bird use was sampled by taking random counts concurrently on a burned strip of shore line and a comparable unburned shore line for 4 months following a controlled fire. The mammals and vegetation were sampled comparatively in the two areas.