Influence of Prescribed Fire on Lesser Prairie-Chicken Habitat in Shinnery Oak Communities in Western Oklahoma

Little is known of the effects of fire on lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) habitat in shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) communities. Our objective was to determine the influence of seasonal prescribed fire, at 1 and 2 years post-treatment, on the quality of nesting habitat, foraging...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Wildlife Society bulletin 2001-10, Vol.29 (3), p.938-947
Main Authors: Boyd, Chad S., Bidwell, Terrence G.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Animal behavior
Chickens
Fire Issues
Fires
Foraging
Forbs
Habitats
Insects
Leaf buds
Prairies
Quercus havardii
Seasons
Shrubs
Tympanuchus pallidicinctus
Wildfowl
Wildlife habitats
Wildlife management
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Summary:Little is known of the effects of fire on lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) habitat in shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) communities. Our objective was to determine the influence of seasonal prescribed fire, at 1 and 2 years post-treatment, on the quality of nesting habitat, foraging and brooding habitat, and thermal and escape cover. In each of 3 study sites in western Oklahoma, 12 60 × 30-m plots were seasonally burned, annually burned, or left unburned, and an array of habitat variables were measured at 1 and 2 years post-fire. During both periods, canopy coverage of shrubs decreased (P≤0.01) with fall and spring fire. Nesting grass cover decreased (P=0.007) with fall and spring burning at 1 year post-fire. Visual obstruction in May and January decreased (P≤0.001) with burning in all seasons. Burning in all seasons increased warm- (≥100% increase, P
ISSN:0091-7648
1938-5463