Short-term effects of fire on Sky Island ant communities

Elliot B. Wilkinson; Edward G. Lebrun; Mary Lou Spencer; Caroline Whitby; Chris Kleine

Treesearch

Short-term effects of fire on Sky Island ant communities

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Elliot B. Wilkinson, Edward G. Lebrun, Mary Lou Spencer, Caroline Whitby, Chris Kleine

Year:

2005

Type:

Proceedings

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 550-552

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Abstract

Few studies investigating effects of fire on ant communities have been conducted worldwide, and none in the biologically diverse and fire prone region of the Sky Islands. Ant genera richness and total abundance are significantly higher in burned areas. Ant community structure changes between unburned and burned sites, implying that disturbance may influence the role of ant communities in Sky Island ecosystems.

Parent Publication

Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: Biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II

Keywords

ants, species richness, abundance, communities, fires, burned areas, Chihuahuan Desert

Citation

Wilkinson, Elliot B.; Lebrun, Edward G.; Spencer, Mary Lou; Whitby, Caroline; Kleine, Chris. 2005. Short-term effects of fire on Sky Island ant communities. Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 550-552