Fire-induced mortality and associated pathologies across functional reptile groups in relation to fire behaviour

Abstract

Variation in fire behaviour has been suggested to affect faunal species differently depending on their physical condition and functional traits. Following a management burn in the Munywana Conservancy, KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa, post-fire mortality surveys produced unique reptile fatality profiles corresponding to variations in fire behaviour and associated pathologies. Mortality due to thermal injury was sustained by epigeic snakes in the headfire, while pulmonary oedema was prevalent in fatalities collected following backburns for a viperid and a fossorial skink. Fat reserves and ecdysis are likely to affect survivorship through these factors placing constraints on locomotion. These results suggest that specific traits and physical condition may make certain reptile functional groups and individuals more susceptible to direct fire effects.