Abstract
An intense fire occurring on a previously established study area in August 1969 reduced the subsequent spring breeding density of spruce grouse (Canachites canadensis) by about 60 percent. At least 35 percent of the adults using the burn in spring-summer 1970 were birds that apparently were reluctant to abandon formerly established home ranges despite extreme alteration of the habitat by fire. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 39(3):468-471 In Alaska the spruce grouse inhabits most of the boreal forest which occupies roughly half the land area of the state. Nearly all of this forest type has been burned by lightningor man-caused fires in the past 300 years (Viereck 1973:471). Although fire is a natural attribute of boreal ecosystems, little is known about the ecological effects of fire on northern wildlife populations. The purpose of this paper is to report on changes in density of spruce grouse on a previously established study area which burned unexpectedly. I thank A. S. Leopold and the staff of the Kenai National Moose Range for their assistance in this study. L. A. Viereck provided several useful comments on an early draft of the paper.
Published Version
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