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 Nantah ala National forest, North Carolina, we assessed effects of a community res toration fire on small mammals and herpetofauna in the upper slope pitch pi ne (Pinus rigida) stands, neighboring midslope oak (Quercus spp.) stands an d rhododendron (Rhododendron maximum) dominated riparian areas during 1995 and 1996. Using drift-fence arrays with pitfalls and snap-trapping, we coll ected these small mammals: masked shrew (Sorex cinereus), smoky shrew (S. f umeus), water shrew (S. palustris), pygmy shrew (S. hoyi), northern short-t ailed shrew (Blarina brevicauda), deer mouse (Peromyscus maniculatus), whit e-footed mouse (II 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 (N otophtalmus viridescens), seepage salamander (Desmognathus aeneus), mountai n dusky salamander (D. ochrophaeus), Blue Ridge two-lined salamander (Euryc ea wilderae), spring salamander (Gyrinophilus porphyriticus), Jordan's sala mander (Plethodon jordani), wood frog (Rana sylvatica), five-lined skink (E umeces fasciatus), eastern garter snake (Thamnophis sirtalis), and northern ringneck snake (Diadophis punctatus). Prior to the prescribed community re storation fire in the spring of 1995, there were no significant differences in small mammal or herpetofauna collections between burned and control are as. Post-treatment in 1995 and 1996, showed no significant differences amon g collections of most species between burned and control areas. Slope posit ion accounted for more variation among the species of greatest abundance th an did burning. Concern for the effects of prescribed fire as a management tool on small mammals and herpetofauna in the southern Appalachians seems u nwarranted. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.