Effects of Prescribed Fire on Herpetofauna in Bottomland Hardwood Forests in the Southern Coastal Plain

摘要: Abundance, diversity, and richness of herpetofaunal species were compared between burned and unburned bottomland hardwood stands at Di-Lane Plantation Wildlife Management Area (WMA) in Burke County, Georgia, from July to October 2001. Two trap clusters, each consisting of a drift fence pitfall array, four coverboards, and three polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe refugia, were randomly placed within each of three burned and three unburned stands. Habitat variables were measured within a 0.04-ha circular plot centered on each trap cluster. A total of 346 individuals, representing 21 species, was captured in 348 array nights. Amphibian abundance, diversity, and richness were similar between burned and unburned stands. Reptile abundance and diversity were greater in burned stands, whereas reptile species richness was similar between burned and unburned stands. Winter burns did not significantly …