Study

Bison use of fire-managed remnant prairies

  • Published source details Biondini M.E., Steuter A.A. & Hamilton R.G. (1999) Bison use of fire-managed remnant prairies. Journal of Range Management, 52, 454-461.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use prescribed burning

Action Link
Terrestrial Mammal Conservation
  1. Use prescribed burning

    A replicated, site comparison study in 1990–1996 of one prairie site in each of Nebraska and Oklahoma, USA (Biondini et al. 1999) found that plains bison Bison bison bison preferentially selected burned areas in most years. At one site, bison made more use of burned areas, relative to their availability, in five of seven years. There was no consistent pattern in the second site but, in the largest single range (65% of the site), bison selected burned areas in two of three years. In both cases, results were presented as deviation from modelled predictions. At one site, monitored from 1990–1996, approximately 13.5% of the site was burned each year. The second site, monitored from 1993–1996, had approximately 20% burned each year. Locations of mixed bison groups (females, bulls <4 years old and occasionally adult bulls) were determined at least monthly during respective monitoring periods at each site.

    (Summarised by: Nick Littlewood)

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