Influence of prescribed fire on lesser prairie-chicken habitat in shinneryoak communities in western Oklahoma

Little is known of the effects of fire on lesser prairie-chicken (Tympanuch us pallidicinctus) habitat in shinnery oak (Quercus havardii) communities. Our objective was to determine the influence of seasonal prescribed fire, a t 1 and 2 years post-treatment, on the quality of nesting habitat, foraging and brooding habitat, and thermal and escape cover. In each of 3 study sit es in western Oklahoma, 12 60 x 30-m plots were seasonally burned, annually burned, or left unburned, and an array of habitat variables were measured at 1 and 2 years post-fire. During both periods, canopy coverage of shrubs decreased (P less than or equal to0.01) with fall and spring fire. Nesting grass cover decreased (P=0.007) with fall and spring burning at 1 year post -fire. Visual obstruction in May and January decreased (P less than or equa l to0.001) with burning in all seasons. Burning in all seasons increased wa rm (greater than or equal to 100% increase, P <0.001) and cool- (greater th an or equal to 200% increase, P=0.026) season forb coverage in year 1 and g rasshopper density (P <0.100) in both years. Shinnery oak mast, leaf bud, a nd catkin production failed at 1 year post-fire. At 2 years post-fire, cool -season forb cover increased (P=0.014) with fall and spring burning and win ter (January) forb frequency increased (P=0.047) 190% with burning in all s easons. Prescribed fire appears to be an effective tool to increase abundan ce of growing-season forbs and sedges, winter forbs, and grasshoppers assoc iated with quality foraging and brooding habitat. Nesting habitat and therm al and escape cover are impacted negatively by fire, particularly spring fi re, due to a reduction in overhead and horizontal cover and reduced abundan ce of important nesting grasses. Our data suggest a 2- to 3-year recovery p eriod for nesting habitat following burning. Negative impacts of fire on ne sting habitat and thermal and escape cover can be reduced by burning in sea sons other than spring, decreasing burn size, and interspersing burned and unburned areas.