Abstract:
Fire plays a major role in many biomes, is widely used as a management tool and is likely to be
affected by climate change. For effective conservation management, it is essential to understand
how fire regimes affect different taxa, yet responses of invertebrates are particularly poorly
documented. We tested how different fire frequencies influence savanna butterfly diversity
and composition by using a long-term savanna fire experiment initiated in 1954 in the Kruger
National Park (South Africa). We compared butterfly abundance, species richness and
community composition across three fire frequencies: high (burnt annually), medium (burnt
triennially) and low (burnt twice in 60 years). Plots with high fire frequency hosted higher
abundance than medium- or low-frequency plots. Fire frequencies did not affect species
richness, but they led to distinct communities of butterflies. Our findings suggest that, in view
of the three fire frequencies tested, a spatial diversity of fire frequencies may increase butterfly
diversity at the landscape level in wet savannas. Managers may need to promote a greater
diversity of fire frequencies by increasing fire frequency in some areas to provide habitat for
species requiring high fire frequency, and by decreasing fire frequency in a large proportion of
the landscape to provide fire refuges. This study provides new insights for butterfly
conservation in savannas and highlights several knowledge gaps, which further studies should
address for insect responses to be given adequate consideration in fire management strategies.
CONSERVATION IMPLICATIONS : A spatial diversity of fire frequencies may increase butterfly
diversity. Managers may need to promote a greater diversity of fire frequencies by increasing
fire frequency in some areas to provide habitat for species requiring high fire frequency, and
by decreasing fire frequency in other areas to provide fire refuges.
