Small vertebrate captures two years after prescribed fire in stringybark open forest at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve, Robe, South Australia

Abstract

Post-fire fauna surveys are important for monitoring populations of rare and threatened species, as well as those considered to be of pest significance. We conducted a small vertebrate survey in April 2013, setting 32 pitfall traps and 122 Elliott traps over four days at Bagdad Native Forest Reserve. The aim of the survey was to compare populations of small ground-dwelling vertebrates between a site burnt two years previously in 2011, and an unburnt adjacent one. Significantly more exotic House Mice (Mus musculus) were trapped in the burnt site than in the unburnt. The Western Pygmy-possum (Cercartetus concinnus), which has 'rare' regional conservation status, was only trapped in unburnt habitat. Small numbers of reptiles were captured in both burnt and unburnt sites without apparent preferences, but juvenile reptiles were restricted to the burnt site, including the critically endangered Bardick snake Echiopsis curta.