Effects of a community restoration fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the southern Appalachians

As part of the Wine Spring Creek ecosystem management project on the Nantahala National forest, North Carolina, we assessed effects of a community restoration fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the upper slope pitch pine (Pinus rigida) stands, neighboring midslope oak (Quercus spp.) stands and rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) dominated riparian areas during 1995 and 1996. Using drift-fence arrays with pitfalls and snap-trapping, we collected these small mammals: masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), smoky shrew (S. fumeus), water shrew (S. palustris), pygmy shrew (S. hoyi), northern short-tailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), white-footed mouse (P. leucopus), golden mouse (Ochrotomys nuttalli), southern red-backed vole (Clethrionomys gapperi), pine vole (Microtus pinetorum) and woodland jumping mouse (Napaeozapus insignis). Herpetofauna collected from drift-fence arrays and time-constrained searches included: eastern newt (Notophtalmus viridescens), seepage salamander (Desmognathus aeneus), mountain dusky salamander (D. ochrophaeus), Blue Ridge two-lined salamander (Eurycea wilderae), spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), Jordan’s salamander (Plethodon jordani), wood frog (Rana sylvatica), five-lined skink (Eumeces fasciatus), eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and northern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus). Prior to the prescribed community restoration fire in the spring of 1995, there were no significant differences in small mammal or herpetofauna collections between burned and control areas. Post-treatment in 1995 and 1996, showed no significant differences among collections of most species between burned and control areas. Slope position accounted for more variation among the species of greatest abundance than did burning. Concern for the effects of prescribed fire as a management tool on small mammals and herpetofauna in the southern Appalachians seems unwarranted. # 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.