Biodiversity and fire in shortgrass steppe

Abstract

Effects of fire at two levels of intensity on beetle diversity in shortgrass steppe were examined. The experimental design was completely randomized, with 3 treatments and 4 replicates per treatment. Treatments were two levels of fire 1) dormant-season fire (relatively hot), and 2) growing-season fire (relatively cool), and unburned plots. The response variables were arthropod species richness and abundance. The intermediate disturbance hypothesis predicts that maximum species richness occurs at intermediate levels of disturbance. Data obtained in this study support that prediction. Species richness was higher on plots of intermediate fire intensity than the more intensely burned plots, and almost twice as high as unburned plots. Abundance did not significantly differ among treatments.

Citation

Ford, P. L. (Paulette). 2001. Biodiversity and fire in shortgrass steppe. ID # 23-02 In: Gomide, A.; Mattos, W. R. S.; da Silva, S. C., eds. Proceedings of the XIX International Grassland Congress: Grassland Ecosystems: An Outlook into the 21st Century; 11-21 February, 2001; Sao Paolo, Brazil. Piracicaba, Brazil: Fundacao de Estudos Agrarios Luiz de Queiroz. Online: http://www.internationalgrasslands.org/publications/pdfs/id2302.pdf.