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Overview: Fire is a natural ecological disturbance in south Florida and has been widely used by resource managers to manage habitat for wildlife and livestock. Lightning ignited fires historically occurred primarily during the beginning of the summer wet season, but managers typically use prescribed fire during the winter dry season because temperatures are cooler and winds are more predictable during this time. The influence of dry versus wet season fires on wildlife habitat in southwest Florida is poorly understood, as is the frequency with which fire should be used. Also, the media tends to portray fire as a disastrous event that destroys wildlife and their habitat. Credible scientific information on the effects of fire on wildlife in southwest Florida is scarce and needs to be collected to educate both the public as to the importance of fire and resource managers as how best to use fire as a management tool. Projects: Comparison of the effects of prescribed fire on avian communities in pine habitat on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Behavioral patterns of white-tailed deer on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Use of infrared-triggered camera systems to monitor activity of white-tailed deer in response to prescribed fire management programs on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. Seasonal effects of prescribed fire on soil nutrients, forage quality, and vegetation community composition on the Florida Panther National Wildlife Refuge. |
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