Short-term changes in summer and winter resident bird communities following a high severity wildfire in a southern USA mixed pine/hardwood forest

摘要: Abstract High severity forest fires are increasing in large areas of the southern and western United States as climate becomes warmer drier. Given their strong roles ecosystem dynamics, documenting response bird communities to wildfires is important for improving our understanding management post-wildfire ecosystems. However, because unplanned events, relatively few studies have been conducted assess local-scale impacts on communities. In this study, we had opportunity use a before-after, control-impact (BACI) approach resident birds high that occurred Lost Pines ecoregion Texas September October 2011. We replicated previous study using point count surveys summer winter community changes ca. 1 year after wildfires. found total number detected individuals did not change following wildfires, but species richness increased burned habitat. Changes were apparent at foraging guild-level community, with an increase aerial insectivores decrease bark insectivores. Summer composition species-level generally agreed species-specific habitat preferences. For example, such eastern bluebirds chipping sparrows prefer open woodlands positively associated Our results provide quantitative evidence suitability many species. At landscape-scale, fire-induced increases heterogeneity could result higher diversity ecoregion. expect will be dynamic over next decades continues through successional processes post-fire actions.