| Virginia
Journal of Science.
2000. Vol 51 (3) : 199-203 |
| Observations
on Amphibians and Reptiles in Burned and Unburned Forests on the Upper
Coastal Plain of Virginia Joseph C. Mitchell, Department of Biology, University of Richmond, Richmond, VA 23173, and Conservation Management Institute, Virginia Polytechnic Institute State University, Blacksburg, VA ABSTRACT
I evaluate the results of a short-term study on the effects of
prescribed burning on terrestrial amphibians and reptiles on Fort A.P.
Hill, Caroline County, Virginia. Six species of amphibians and
reptiles were observed in unburned sites and eight species were
observed in burned sites. More individual amphibians (46) were observed
in unburned stands than in burned stands (15). Adults of two species (Bufo americanus, Plethodon cinereus) were found dead
under logs in the still smoldering prescribed burn. The results of this
study suggest that prescribed burning may have some negative effects on
amphibians and reptiles. Because the literature on this subject from
eastern North America is contradictory, it is premature to make broad
scale geographic generalizations. More studies with replications are
needed to provide evidence that prescribed burning is harmful to
terrestrial amphibians and reptiles in the mid-Atlantic region. |