Bird communities following high-severity fire: Response to single and repeat fires in a mixed-evergreen forest, Oregon, USA

J.B. Fontaine; D.C. Donato; W.D. Robinson; B.E. Law; J.B. Kauffman

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2008.12.030

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Bird communities following high-severity fire: Response to single and repeat fires in a mixed-evergreen forest, Oregon, USA

Journal article

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Bird communities following high-severity fire: Response to single and repeat fires in a mixed-evergreen forest, Oregon, USA

J.B. Fontaine, D.C. Donato, W.D. Robinson, B.E. Law and J.B. Kauffman

Forest Ecology and Management, Vol.257(6), pp.1496-1504

2009

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2008.12.030

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Abstract

Fire is a widespread natural disturbance agent in most conifer-dominated forests. In light of climate change and the effects of fire exclusion, single and repeated high-severity (stand-replacement) fires have become prominent land management issues. We studied bird communities using point counting in the Klamath-Siskiyou ecoregion of Oregon, USA at various points in time after one or two high-severity fires. Time points included 2 and 3 years after a single fire, 17 and 18 years after a single fire, 2 and 3 years after a repeat fire (15 year interval between fires), and >100 years since stand-replacement fire (mature/old-growth forest). Avian species richness did not differ significantly among habitats. Bird density was highest 17 and 18 years after fire, lowest 2 years after fire, and intermediate in repeat burns and unburned forest. Bird community composition varied significantly with habitat type (A = 0.24, P < 0.0001) with two distinct gradients in species composition relating to tree structure (live to dead) and shrub stature. Using indicator species analysis, repeat burns were characterized by shrub-nesting and ground-foraging bird species while unburned mature forests were characterized by conifer-nesting and foliage-gleaning species. Bird density was not related to snag basal area but was positively related to shrub height. Contrary to expectations, repeated high-severity fire did not reduce species richness, and bird densities were greater in repeat burns than in once-burned habitats. Broad-leaved hardwoods and shrubs appear to play a major role in structuring avian communities in the Klamath-Siskiyou region. In light of these results, extended periods of early seral broadleaf dominance and short-interval high-severity fires may be important to the conservation of avian biodiversity.

Details

Title: Bird communities following high-severity fire: Response to single and repeat fires in a mixed-evergreen forest, Oregon, USA
Authors/Creators: J.B. Fontaine (Author/Creator)
D.C. Donato (Author/Creator) - Oregon State University
W.D. Robinson (Author/Creator) - Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife
B.E. Law (Author/Creator) - Oregon State University
J.B. Kauffman (Author/Creator) - US Forest Service
Publication Details: Forest Ecology and Management, Vol.257(6), pp.1496-1504
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Identifiers: 991005540749607891
Copyright: 2009 Elsevier B.V.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology; 3.40 Forestry; 3.40.1598 Wildfire Dynamics
Web Of Science research areas: Forestry
ESI research areas: Plant & Animal Science