Effects of short-rotation controlled burning on amphibians and reptiles in pine woodlands

Published source details Perry R.W., Rudolph D.C. & Thill R.E. (2012) Effects of short-rotation controlled burning on amphibians and reptiles in pine woodlands. Forest Ecology and Management, 271, 124-131.
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This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

	Action	Category
	Use prescribed burning: Forest, open woodland & savanna Action Link
	Use prescribed fire or modifications to burning regime in forests Action Link

Use prescribed burning: Forest, open woodland & savanna

A replicated, randomized study in 1999–2001 in nine restored pine woodlands in western Arkansas, USA (Perry et al. 2012) found that overall reptile captures did not change during a three-year burning cycle, but some individual species capture rates varied with time after burning. Captures were similar in all years of a three-year burn cycle for overall reptiles (year 1: 79 individuals/stand, year 2: 79, year 3: 76) snakes (31, 33, 39), lizards (47, 44, 36) and turtles (0.7, 1.4, 0.9). Southern black racer snake Coluber constrictor priapus captures were lowest in the burn year (3 individuals/stand) compared to the two subsequent years (7–9). Ground skink Scincella lateralis captures were highest in the burn year (16 individuals/stand) compared to the two subsequent years (7–9). Southern coal skink Eumeces anthracinus pluvialis captures were highest in the second year after burning (0.7 individuals/stand) compared to the previous two years (0.1–0.1) and fence lizard Sceloporus undulatus captures were higher in the year after burning (19 individuals/stand) compared to the burn year (11) but similar to the second year after burning (13). In 1999–2001, nine stands (11–42 ha) were burned on a three-year cycle, so three were burned each year in March–April. Stands had been thinned at least nine years previously and had undergone 3–7 prescribed burns at 2–5-year intervals. Monitoring was undertaken using three drift-fence arrays/stand (15 m) connected to central funnel traps in April–September in 1999–2001.

(Summarised by: Maggie Watson, Katie Sainsbury)
Use prescribed fire or modifications to burning regime in forests

A randomized, replicated study in 1999–2001 of nine restored pine woodlands in western Arkansas, USA (Perry, Rudolph & Thill 2012) found that overall numbers of amphibians were highest in the first year after burns compared to the following two years. This was true for total amphibians (1st year: 114; 2nd year: 53; 3rd year: 51/stand) and anurans (1st: 112; 2nd: 51; 3rd: 49). However, this trend was largely due to high numbers of dwarf American toads Bufo americanus charlessmithi in the first year (83 vs 27–31). Fowler’s toads Bufo fowleri were also captured most often in year one stands (2.0 vs 0.1–0.2). Salamanders captures did not differ between years after burn. In 1999–2001, stands (11–42 ha) were burned on a 3-year cycle, so three were burned each year in March–April. Stands had been thinned at least nine years previously and had undergone 3–7 prescribed burns at 2–5 year intervals. Monitoring was undertaken using three drift-fence arrays per stand (15 m) connected to central funnel traps in April–September in 1999–2001.