| Untangling the roles of fire, grazing and rainfall on small mammal communities in grassland ecosystems. | |
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MedLine Citation:
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PMID: 17846799 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
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In grassland systems across the globe, ecologists have been attempting to understand the complex role of fire, grazing and rainfall in creating habitat heterogeneity and the consequences of anthropogenic control of these factors on ecosystem integrity and functioning. Using a South African grassland ecosystem as a model, we investigated the impact of fire and grazing pressure on small mammal communities during three differing periods of a rainfall cycle. Over 2 years, 15,203 trap nights revealed 1598 captures of 11 species (nine rodents, one macroscelid and one insectivore). Results highlighted the importance of the interplay between factors and showed that the role of fire, grazing and rainfall in determining small mammal abundance was species-dependant. While no two species were affected by the same environmental variables, grass cover or height was important to 56% of species. Considered independently, high rainfall had a positive influence on small mammal abundance and diversity, although the lag period in population response was species-specific. High grazing negatively affected overall abundance, but specifically in Mastomys coucha; fire alone had little immediate impact on small mammal diversity. Six months after the fire, vegetation cover had recovered to similar levels as unburned areas, although small mammal diversity and richness were higher in burned areas than unburned areas. Grazing levels influenced the rate of vegetation recovery. In conclusion, low-level grazing and burning can help to maintain small mammal biodiversity, if conducted under appropriate rainfall levels. A too high grazing pressure, combined with fire, and/or fire conducted under drought conditions can have a negative impact on small mammal biodiversity. To maintain small mammal diversity in grassland ecosystems, the combined effects of the previous year's rainfall and existing population level as well as the inhibition of vegetation recovery via grazing pressure need to be taken into consideration before fire management is applied. |
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Authors:
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R W Yarnell; D M Scott; C T Chimimba; D J Metcalfe |
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Publication Detail:
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Type: Comparative Study; Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Date: 2007-09-11 |
Journal Detail:
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Title: Oecologia Volume: 154 ISSN: 0029-8549 ISO Abbreviation: Oecologia Publication Date: 2007 Nov |
Date Detail:
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Created Date: 2007-11-08 Completed Date: 2008-03-27 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
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Nlm Unique ID: 0150372 Medline TA: Oecologia Country: Germany |
Other Details:
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Languages: eng Pagination: 387-402 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
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Department of Biological Sciences, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb, Brighton, BN2 4GJ, UK. rwyarnell@msn.com |
Export Citation:
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| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
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Analysis of Variance Animals Biomass Ecosystem* Fires* Mammals / physiology* Poaceae / growth & development Population Dynamics Rain* South Africa Species Specificity |
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