Data on effects of fire on herpetofauna generally are lacking. With increased use of prescribed fire to manage rangelands in South Texas for wildlife and livestock, a better understanding of effects of fire on the herpetofauna is needed. We investigated effects of combinations of winter and summer prescribed fire on rangeland sites on the Chaparral Wildlife Management Area in southern Texas. Dormant-season fires had little effect on diversity and abundance of the herpetofauna. Inclusion of growing-season fire into the burning regime tended to increase diversity and abundance of grassland species, such as the six-lined racerunner (Cnemidophorus sexlineatus). Although our experimental design limits interpretation of results to the study site, our data suggest that prescribed fire may be used to manage rangelands in South Texas without negative affects on the herpetofauna. A varied burning regime is recommended to increase herpetofaunal diversity.
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1 December 2008
Short-Term Response of Herpetofauna to Various Burning Regimes in the South Texas Plains
Donald C. Ruthven,
Richard T. Kazmaier,
Michael W. Janis
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The Southwestern Naturalist
Vol. 53 • No. 4
December 2008
Vol. 53 • No. 4
December 2008