FIRE EFFECTS AND USE
WILDLIFE SPECIES: Clethrionomys rutilus | Northern Red-Backed Vole 



DIRECT FIRE EFFECTS ON ANIMALS : 
Dead northern red-backed voles have been found in the ashes immediately
after a summer fire on the Kenai National Moose Range in south-central
Alaska [25].  In Alberta, a 640 acre (259 ha) area of mixed spruce and
quaking aspen was searched after a severe wildfire, and three dead voles
(Clethrionomys spp.) were found [3].  Bendell [3] stated that many fires
burn unevenly and refugia are often available for some birds and
mammals.


HABITAT RELATED FIRE EFFECTS : 
Fire may result in a temporary loss of cover and food for northern
red-backed voles and increased exposure to predation [19,21].  However,
after cover and food resources recover, northern red-backed voles are
able to colonize burned areas.  Fires in black spruce communities of
Alaska and northern Canada are commonly lightning caused and tend to be
large [11,17].  Fire return intervals average 80 to 200 years [14,17].

Northern red-backed voles are eventually able to inhabit most burned
areas in central Alaska [21].  Some berry-producing shrubs, important to
northern red-backed voles, often increase in cover and vigor after low
severity fire [4]; mountain cranberry may regain prefire densities
within 2 to 6 years [16,21].  However, other species recover slowly;
black crowberry may not reach prefire densities for 20 to 30 years [10].
Severe, stand-destroying fires that consume the organic layer can kill
the roots of many berry-producing shrubs, reducing the potential for
sprouting and delaying revegetation [13,17].

In July 1971, a lightning caused fire burned 16,061 acres (6,500 ha) of
black spruce forest in the hills between Wickersham Dome and Washington
Creek 25 miles (40 km) north of Fairbanks, Alaska.  Establishment of a
permanent population of northern red-backed voles on the burned area did
not occur until 4 years after the fire.  Northern red-backed voles began
to use the burn area starting in July of 1972.  However, prior to the
summer of 1975 the use of the burned area by northern red-backed voles
was intermittent due to insufficient food and cover for overwintering.
No berries were produced in the burn until the summer of 1975, and then
berry production was considerably lower than that in the unburned
control area.  In the burned area, during winter 1975-1976, the 4-year
accumulation of calamagrostis (Calamagrostis spp.) debris may have
provided patches of matted vegetation suitable for winter cover.
Despite establishment of a resident population in 1975, recruitment was
mostly dependent upon immigrant voles, most importantly pregnant females
[21].

One year after a fire in south-central Alaska, numbers of northern
red-backed voles seemed to be nearly equal inside and outside the burn.
The fire left many islands of unburned habitat throughout the burn; much
cover was left on the burn area [25].

Following fire in the Mackenzie Delta area of the Northwest Territories,
grass-dominated communities usually predominate early succession.  These
grass communities are generally unsuitable habitat for northern
red-backed voles [19], probably due to lack of food and cover.


FIRE USE : 
NO-ENTRY


REFERENCES : 
NO-ENTRY

Related categories for Wildlife Species: Clethrionomys rutilus | Northern Red-Backed Vole