Grassland burning elicits a diverse array of responses by arthropods, depending upon many interactive factors. Empirical models were developed, based on the literature, to qualitatively order selected behavioral characteristics of fire, arthropod life habits and phenology, interactions of arthropods with non-arthropods, and burning-induced habitat alterations as they regulate arthropod populations. The models are based on a four-phase sequence of impacts attributable to prescribed burning (fuel development, combustion, shock and ecosystem recovery) which partition acute and chronic fire influences on arthropod populations. Applications for manipulating arthropod populations may be refined by quantifying arthropod responses during each phase of prescribed burning.
Journal articles from the Grassland Society of Southern Africa (GSSA) African Journal of Range and Forage Science as well as related articles and reports from throughout the southern African region.