Short-Term Fire Effects on Small Mammal Populations and Vegetation of the Northern Chihuahuan Desert

Abstract

Fire is an important ecological factor in semidesert grass-shrub community dynamics, but there is a lack of designed field experiments documenting effects on vegetation and small mammals. We document effects of June prescribed fire on vegetation and small mammals on 20, 25-ha study areas in the Northern Chihuahuan Desert of Southern New Mexico, USA one month and one year posttreatment. Canopy cover of shrubs and grasses recovered to 68 and 27% of the preburn canopy cover, respectively, after one year. Prescribed burns during June enhanced short-term forb production by reducing competition from grasses and shrubs. Thirty thousand trap-nights yielded 1744 captures of 766 individuals of 15 small mammal species. Burns did not affect small mammal species richness and species diversity. Relative abundance of Merriam's kangaroo rats (Dipodomys merriami) was 91% greater on burned sites than on control sites one year postburn. Silky pocket mouse (Perognathus flavus) relative abundance was 221% greater on burned sites one year postburn. Chihuahuan Desert pocket mice (Chaetodipus eremicus) responded negatively to the fire, with relative abundance 170% greater on control sites (P = .080). Burning produced short-term benefits for two heteromyids, Merriam's kangaroo rats and silky pocket mice.

Wildfire‐induced short‐term changes in a small mammal community increase prevalence of a zoonotic pathogen?

“…Among rodents, for example, the generalist deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus Wagner) is the predominant species in North American forests frequently experiencing fires (Krefting & Ahlgren, 1974;Roberts, Kelt, Wagtendonk, Miles, & Meyer, 2015). The habitat generalist Merriam's kangaroo rat (Dipodomys merriami Mearns; Timm, Álvarez-Castañeda, & Lacher, 2016) that occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico is largely favored by fires in semidesert grass-shrublands (Monasmith, Demarais, Root, & Britton, 2010).…”

Cambios en la vegetación del matorral desértico micrófilo en un área bajo manejo

“…Especies identificadas y familias presentes en el matorral desértico micrófilo estudiado del Desierto Chihuahuense. En los tratamientos RA11 (17) e IN11 (16) se registró el mayor número de especies, así como el menor (7) en el MDMt; en RA04 (11) y en RA08 (10). De los cinco tratamientos, en el testigo (MDMt), el índice de diversidad de Shannon (1.484) fue semejante al del tratamiento RA08 (1.480) (Cuadro 2); a pesar de la diferencia en el número de taxa, los resultados se explican porque los cambios en la riqueza se equilibran con los de la abundancia.…”

“…where this technique is planned to be used, as in those which have Opuntia, the roller might stimulate their propagation (McDonald, 2012). Also, some taxa emerge after the aerial part of their cover is removed (Ayala et al, 2014); such is the case of Larrea tridentata, which has asexual reproduction and tends to regenerate in one year (Monasmith et al, 2010); therefore, this procedure might not be effective in the removal of some of these plants.…”

Rodent herbivory and fire differentially affect plant species recruitment based on variability in life history traits

“…typically prefer foraging in inter‐shrub spaces (Rosenzweig and Winakur , Kotler ) and therefore tend to have positive responses to reduction in plant cover following disturbance (Simons , Monasmith et al. , Horn et al. ).…”

“…In arid ecosystems, bipedal rodents (i.e., Dipodomys spp.) typically prefer foraging in inter-shrub spaces (Rosenzweig andWinakur 1969, Kotler 1984) and therefore tend to have positive responses to reduction in plant cover following disturbance (Simons 1991, Monasmith et al 2010, Horn et al 2012. In contrast, quadrupedal species (e.g., Peromyscus spp., Perognathus spp.)…”