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dc.contributor.authorKimuyu, Duncan M.
dc.contributor.authorSensenig, Ryan L.
dc.contributor.authorChira, Robert M.
dc.contributor.authorGithaiga, John M.
dc.contributor.authorYoung, Truman P.
dc.date.accessioned2018-09-04T06:56:15Z
dc.date.available2018-09-04T06:56:15Z
dc.date.issued2017-04
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Wildland Fire 2017, 26, 287–295en_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://karuspace.karu.ac.ke/handle/20.500.12092/2130
dc.descriptiondoi.org/10.1071/WF16152en_US
dc.description.abstractBoth wild and prescribed fire in savanna ecosystems influence habitat use by herbivores by creating or maintaining spatial and temporal heterogeneity in forage quality and vegetation cover. Yet little is known about how spatial scales influence long-term persistence of fire effects. We examined changes over a 6-year period in herbivore preference for experimentally burned patches that varied in spatial extent and grain. Avoidance for the burns by elephants andpreferencefortheburnsbyimpalaandGrant’sgazelledecreasedsignificantly.Fortherestofthespecies(zebra,eland, oryx, hartebeest, warthog and hare), there were no significant changes in preference for the burns. Changes in preference for the burned areas depended on the spatial extent and grain of the burn, with intermediate-size (9-ha) burns and large (8-ha) patchy burns being more preferred 6–7 years after fire. Grain, but not the spatial extent of the burned area, influenced changes in grass height. Fire resulted in a delayed reduced tree density irrespective of the spatial scale of the burn. Results of this study indicate that, depending on the scale of fire prescription, the impacts of fire on herbivores may last longer than previous studies suggest.en_US
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.publisherCSIRO PUBLISHINGen_US
dc.subjectdung surveyen_US
dc.subjectfire frequencyen_US
dc.subjecthabitat heterogeneityen_US
dc.subjectLaikipiaen_US
dc.subjectpatchinessen_US
dc.subjecttree coveren_US
dc.titleSpatial scales influence long-term response of herbivores to prescribed burning in a savanna ecosystemen_US
dc.typeArticleen_US


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