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The effects of fire on behaviour and relative abundance of three lizard species in an Amazonian savanna

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 August 2004

Alessandra Saraiva Faria
Affiliation:
Coordenação de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), CP 478, 69011-970 Manaus-AM, Brazil
Albertina Pimentel Lima
Affiliation:
Coordenação de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), CP 478, 69011-970 Manaus-AM, Brazil
William Ernest Magnusson
Affiliation:
Coordenação de Pesquisas em Ecologia, Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), CP 478, 69011-970 Manaus-AM, Brazil

Abstract

Most savanna areas are affected by fire (San José & Fariñas 1983, Scholes & Archer 1997), and presumably all of the fauna that normally occurs in them have characteristics that allow them to maintain populations despite regular fires. Fires are frequent in Amazonian savannas and the vegetation is fire adapted. The Amazonian savanna at Alter do Chão suffers regular fires that affect vegetation structure (Sanaiotti & Magnusson 1995). Fires pass quickly in this area, the vegetation recovers most of the pre-fire cover within 6 mo, and there appears to be no long-term effect on soil structure. Trees are generally little affected by fires and they retain most of their foliage after the fire passes.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press

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