Greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; sage-grouse) currently occupy an estimated 56% of the potential range-wide pre-European settlement habitat. Population declines have been largely attributed to direct habitat loss and fragmentation related to anthropogenic activities that promote wildfires and the subsequent spread of invasive plants. Vegetation manipulations, including the seeding of plant species, such as forage kochia (Bassia prostrata), have been identified as potential strategies to mitigate the risk of wildfire and enhance sage-grouse habitat in areas at risk to wildfires. I evaluated the composition changes that occurred in a lower elevation sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) plant community within the Grouse Creek Watershed in western Box Elder County, Utah, USA, in response to prescribed vegetation manipulations (green-stripping through chain harrowing, juniper mastication, seeding forage kochia, applying Plateau® herbicide) and studied the effect of these changes on sage-grouse habitat-use patterns and vital rates. I monitored 53 radio-collared sage-grouse throughout the Grouse Creek watershed from 2010-2012. Seasonal movements suggested local individual bird adaptations to annual variations in weather and habitat fragmentation. Sage-grouse selected for untreated areas; however, treated areas were used to expand the size of the lek. Untreated areas exhibited a higher percent composition of shrubs compared to areas that were chain harrowed to prepare a seedbed. Sage-grouse nest success and adult male survival rates during this study were relatively low compared to range-wide population estimates. Nest predation was higher for nests located closer to roads. The forage kochia seeded in the firebreaks emerged the season after seeding (2011). Using microhistological techniques, I detected small quantities of forage kochia in sage-grouse fecal pellets. Nutrient analysis confirmed that forage kochia samples collected from the sites exhibited a high protein content and low secondary metabolite content, similar to black sagebrush (Artemisia nova). Although greenstripping with forage kochia in lower elevation sagebrush communities may prove to be a beneficial technique for protecting rangelands from wildfire and provide a dietary source for wildlife, site preparation should be conducted to minimize the impact on existing sagebrush canopy cover habitats. Long-term monitoring should be implemented to determine extended effects of greenstripping treatments on sagebrush habitat and sage-grouse vital rates. Although individual sage-grouse demonstrated local adaptations to fragmentation and seasonal variations in weather, increased fragmentation and climate change in this part of the Great Basin may increase meta-population extirpation risks inhabiting lower elevation sagebrush areas in the Grouse Creek Watershed.

Large fires (400 ha +) occur about every seven to ten years in the vegetation types located at US Army Garrison Camp Williams (AGCW) practice range located near South Jordan, Utah. In 2010 and 2012, wildfires burned beyond the Camp’s boundaries into the wildland-urban interface. The political and public reaction to these fire escapes was intense. Researchers at Utah State University were asked to organize a system of fuel treatments that could be developed to prevent future escapes. The first step of evaluation was to spatially predict fuel model types derived from a random forests classification approach. Fuel types were mapped according to fire behavior fuel models with an overall validation of 72.3% at 0.5 m resolution. Next, using a combination of empirical and semi-empirical based methods, potential fire behavior was analyzed for the dominant vegetation types at AGCW on a climatological basis. Results suggest the need for removal of woody vegetation within 20 m of firebreaks and a minimum firebreak width of 8 m in grassland fuels. In Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma (Torr.) Little), results suggest canopy coverage of 25% or less while in Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii Nutt.) stands along the northern boundary of the installation, a fuelbreak width of 60 m for secondary breaks and 90 m for primary breaks is recommended.

Apesar de vários estudos já terem examinado os efeitos de queimadas naturais, respostas das aves, como variação do padrão da comunidade, guilda trófica e das espécies, ao manejo de fogo ainda não foram investigadas em reservas do Cerrado, Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a avifauna em trechos de campo sujo manejados (aceiros) e não manejados por fogo no Parque Nacional das Emas, Brasil Central. Este é o primeiro trabalho a avaliar os efeitos do manejo do fogo prescrito sobre comunidades de aves no Cerrado. Foram selecionados 12 locais de estudo. Em cada local, havia um transecto no aceiro e outro em campo sujo não manejado. Uma amostra consistiu em percorrer um transecto de 800m a pé, anotando as aves detectadas visual ou auditivamente a 15m do observador. Frequência de ocorrência e abundância das espécies e das guildas tróficas, riqueza total, abundância total da comunidade de aves e composição de espécies encontradas nos dois ambientes foram comparadas. No total, foram 881 registros e 41 espécies de aves. A riqueza e a abundância total de aves foram significativamente menores em aceiros. Houve diferença na composição de espécies de aves entre campos não manejados por fogo e aceiros. Dentre as guildas tróficas, os onívoros foram mais frequentes em campos não manejados. Granívoros, nectarívoros e onívoros foram mais abundantes em vegetação não manejada. Das 21 espécies analisadas separadamente, a coruja Athene cunicularia foi a única indicadora de aceiros e também mais frequente e abundante em aceiros. Por outro lado, foram identificadas quatro espécies indicadoras de campos sujos não manejados (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata e Coryphaspiza melanotis). Tais espécies podem ser usadas como indicadores ecológicos do regime e histórico do fogo e podem fornecer informações se os objetivos das ações de manejo do fogo estão sendo atingidos. Sete espécies foram mais frequentes e oito espécies foram mais abundantes em campos não manejados. Três dessas espécies são endêmicas do Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata e Cypsnagra hirundinacea) e quatro estão sob algum grau de ameaça e são altamente sensíveis a distúrbios (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Assim, cuidado e atenção devem ser redobrados para essas espécies, pois possuem alto valor para conservação e menor frequência ou abundância em aceiros. A menor riqueza e abundância de aves encontrada em aceiros devem estar relacionadas ao menor uso desse habitat, indicando menor disponibilidade de recursos como alimento, reprodução e abrigo, dado que o fogo altera a estrutura e composição da vegetação. Isso demonstra uma diminuição da qualidade do ambiental geral dos aceiros, provocada pela sua atual forma de manejo. Propomos que a queima dos aceiros seja feita em intervalos de 3 anos, em vez de 1 2 anos como tem sido realizada. Dessa forma, seria mantida a função dos aceiros como controle e barreira efetiva de incêndios e também para conservação da biodiversidade. / Several studies have investigated the effects of natural fires on Cerrado birds. However, avian responses to fire management have not been examined. We compared birds found in firebreaks (fire managed areas) and in fire unmanaged grasslands, in Parque Nacional das Emas, Central Brazil. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire on the Cerrado avifauna. We selected 12 study sites. We established one transect in the firebreak and another one in an unmanaged grassland area in each study site. Each bird count sample consisted of walking through an 800m transect recording birds seen or heard 15m from the observer. Species richness, total bird abundance, species composition, feeding guilds abundance and frequencies of occurrence and species abundance found in firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands were compared. In total, 881 individuals and 41 species were recorded. Species richness and total abundance were significantly lower in firebreaks. Species composition was different between firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands. Omnivores were more frequent and more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Granivores and nectarivores were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Twenty-one bird species were analyzed separately, one of which (Athene cunicularia) was indicator of firebreaks and also more frequent and abundant in firebreaks. On the other hand, we identified four indicator species of unmanaged grasslands (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata and Coryphaspiza melanotis). These species might be used as ecological indicators of fire regime and history, and also give information if fire management goals are being achieved. Seven species were more frequent and eight species were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Three of them are endemic of Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata and Cypsnagra hirundinacea) and four of them are highly sensitive to human disturbances and threatened with extinction in some degree (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Caution must be redoubled to these species, as they are of high conservation priority and less frequent and abundant in firebreaks. The lesser avifauna complexity in firebreaks than in unmanaged areas might be connected to the low use of this habitat, thus indicating lower resource availability, such as food, sites for reproduction and refuge. This is because fire changes vegetation structure and composition. We propose that firebreaks should be burnt every 3 years, instead of 1-2 years. In this way, fire management would keep its function as effective fire barriers and would also keep biodiversity conservation.

Apesar de vários estudos já terem examinado os efeitos de queimadas naturais, respostas das aves, como variação do padrão da comunidade, guilda trófica e das espécies, ao manejo de fogo ainda não foram investigadas em reservas do Cerrado, Este trabalho teve como objetivo comparar a avifauna em trechos de campo sujo manejados (aceiros) e não manejados por fogo no Parque Nacional das Emas, Brasil Central. Este é o primeiro trabalho a avaliar os efeitos do manejo do fogo prescrito sobre comunidades de aves no Cerrado. Foram selecionados 12 locais de estudo. Em cada local, havia um transecto no aceiro e outro em campo sujo não manejado. Uma amostra consistiu em percorrer um transecto de 800m a pé, anotando as aves detectadas visual ou auditivamente a 15m do observador. Frequência de ocorrência e abundância das espécies e das guildas tróficas, riqueza total, abundância total da comunidade de aves e composição de espécies encontradas nos dois ambientes foram comparadas. No total, foram 881 registros e 41 espécies de aves. A riqueza e a abundância total de aves foram significativamente menores em aceiros. Houve diferença na composição de espécies de aves entre campos não manejados por fogo e aceiros. Dentre as guildas tróficas, os onívoros foram mais frequentes em campos não manejados. Granívoros, nectarívoros e onívoros foram mais abundantes em vegetação não manejada. Das 21 espécies analisadas separadamente, a coruja Athene cunicularia foi a única indicadora de aceiros e também mais frequente e abundante em aceiros. Por outro lado, foram identificadas quatro espécies indicadoras de campos sujos não manejados (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata e Coryphaspiza melanotis). Tais espécies podem ser usadas como indicadores ecológicos do regime e histórico do fogo e podem fornecer informações se os objetivos das ações de manejo do fogo estão sendo atingidos. Sete espécies foram mais frequentes e oito espécies foram mais abundantes em campos não manejados. Três dessas espécies são endêmicas do Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata e Cypsnagra hirundinacea) e quatro estão sob algum grau de ameaça e são altamente sensíveis a distúrbios (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Assim, cuidado e atenção devem ser redobrados para essas espécies, pois possuem alto valor para conservação e menor frequência ou abundância em aceiros. A menor riqueza e abundância de aves encontrada em aceiros devem estar relacionadas ao menor uso desse habitat, indicando menor disponibilidade de recursos como alimento, reprodução e abrigo, dado que o fogo altera a estrutura e composição da vegetação. Isso demonstra uma diminuição da qualidade do ambiental geral dos aceiros, provocada pela sua atual forma de manejo. Propomos que a queima dos aceiros seja feita em intervalos de 3 anos, em vez de 1 2 anos como tem sido realizada. Dessa forma, seria mantida a função dos aceiros como controle e barreira efetiva de incêndios e também para conservação da biodiversidade. / Several studies have investigated the effects of natural fires on Cerrado birds. However, avian responses to fire management have not been examined. We compared birds found in firebreaks (fire managed areas) and in fire unmanaged grasslands, in Parque Nacional das Emas, Central Brazil. This is the first study to evaluate the effects of prescribed fire on the Cerrado avifauna. We selected 12 study sites. We established one transect in the firebreak and another one in an unmanaged grassland area in each study site. Each bird count sample consisted of walking through an 800m transect recording birds seen or heard 15m from the observer. Species richness, total bird abundance, species composition, feeding guilds abundance and frequencies of occurrence and species abundance found in firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands were compared. In total, 881 individuals and 41 species were recorded. Species richness and total abundance were significantly lower in firebreaks. Species composition was different between firebreaks and unmanaged grasslands. Omnivores were more frequent and more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Granivores and nectarivores were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Twenty-one bird species were analyzed separately, one of which (Athene cunicularia) was indicator of firebreaks and also more frequent and abundant in firebreaks. On the other hand, we identified four indicator species of unmanaged grasslands (Melanopareia torquata, Xolmis cinerea, Neothraupis fasciata and Coryphaspiza melanotis). These species might be used as ecological indicators of fire regime and history, and also give information if fire management goals are being achieved. Seven species were more frequent and eight species were more abundant in unmanaged grasslands. Three of them are endemic of Cerrado (M. torquata, N. fasciata and Cypsnagra hirundinacea) and four of them are highly sensitive to human disturbances and threatened with extinction in some degree (Polystictus pectoralis, Alectrurus tricolor, C. melanotis e C. hirundinacea). Caution must be redoubled to these species, as they are of high conservation priority and less frequent and abundant in firebreaks. The lesser avifauna complexity in firebreaks than in unmanaged areas might be connected to the low use of this habitat, thus indicating lower resource availability, such as food, sites for reproduction and refuge. This is because fire changes vegetation structure and composition. We propose that firebreaks should be burnt every 3 years, instead of 1-2 years. In this way, fire management would keep its function as effective fire barriers and would also keep biodiversity conservation.

There is growing recognition of the importance of preserving Canada’s forests. Canada’s 348 million hectares of forest land cover 35% of its land area, representing 9% of the world’s forests and 24% of the world’s boreal forests. As a renewable resource, forests offer significant environmental, economic and recreational benefits and innumerable services contributing to the quality of life. Canada has recently entered an era of increased frequency and severity of natural disasters. Ecosystems and communities especially in western Canada have recently undergone a trend of increasing pressures from natural disturbances. These disturbances include wildfires associated with increased fuel load levels from past fire suppression regimes and a widely spread infestation of the mountain pine beetle in addition to changes in weather patterns. Wildfire activity has reached extreme levels in many of the recent years. This thesis profiles an area of western Canada within the Montane Cordillera covering the Nechako Lakes Electoral District in central British Columbia and assesses its vulnerability to the specific hazard of wildfires caused by natural and man-made sources. The objectives of this research are to review, simulate and assess the impact of various fuel management strategies in a sub-section of the Nechako Lakes Electoral District called the Southside. Values at risk include private property and old growth forest in respectively timber supply areas, provincial parks, woodlots and community forests. Simulation results show that firebreaks are effective in significantly reducing the area burned in different parts of the landscape. The performance of different strategies shows large variation. Although this has not been investigated further, such variation has likely been caused by topographic aspects and the positioning of firebreaks in the landscape in relation to climatic parameters. These results can therefore not be extrapolated beyond the simulated area, but do give an indication of the performance variation that may be expected when similar firebreaks are applied elsewhere. The results also show that model performance of all firebreak strategies is heavily and fairly consistently influenced by weather stream parameters. Sensitivity analyses of weather stream parameters show that although the reduction in total area burned varies, the ranking between strategies in their overall performance is consistent regardless of the weather pattern. Combined dry, warm and windy weather conditions lead to a 3.44-fold increase in total area burned as compared to the scenario with average weather conditions. In favourable weather conditions represented by wet, cold and nearly windless conditions, the model shows an 85% reduction in total burned area as compared to the average scenario. These results illustrate the significant impact of uncontrollable variables on the overall result.