Forests, the world, and the profession. There is much ecological evidence that recurring fires have been a long-standing evolutionary agent of habitat change to which native wildlife are adapted in the Southeast. Wildlife mortality from fire is generally negligible. In general, little is known of fire effects upon truly aquatic herps. Although the American alligator and Pine Barrens tree frog benefit from habitat change caused by fire, more research is needed on other aquatic and semiaquatic wildlife.
Fire directly affects the abundance of a species through changes in vegetation.
Research needs are listed.