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

Little is known of the effects of tire on lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuchus pallidicinctus) habitat in shinnery oak (Quercus havardi~l 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 x 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 iP=0.007) with fall and spring burning at 1 year post-fire. Visual obstruction in May and January decreased iP<0.001) with burning in all seasons. Burning in all seasons increased warm(21OOCY0increase, P<0.001) and cool(2200% increase, P=0.026) season forb coverage in year 1 and grasshopper density iPs0.100) in both years. Shinnery oak mast, leaf bud, and catkin production failed at 1 year post-fire. At 2 years post-fire, cool-season forb cover increased (P=0.014) with fall and spring burning and winter (January) forb frequency increased (P=0.047) 190% with burning in all seasons. Prescribed fire appears to be an effective tool to increase abundance of growing-season forbs and sedges, winter forbs, and grasshoppers associated with quality foraging and brooding habitat. Nesting habitat and thermal and escape cover are impacted negatively by fire, particularly spring fire, due to a reduction in overhead and horizontal cover and reduced abcrndance of important nesting grasses. Our data suggest a 2to 3-year recovery period for nesting habitat fol lowing burning. Negative impacts of tire on nesting habitat and thermal and escape cover can be reduced by burning in seasons other than spring, decreasing burn size, and interspersing burned and unburned areas.

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