Abstract
Ground-dwelling beetles were captured by pitfall trapping in areas of sandhill subjected to various prescribed burning regimes. Simultaneously, measurements of vegetation structure and of densities of amphibians and reptiles were made. No direct effects of fire on ground-dwelling beetles could be detected. Fire affected vegetation structure, and these indirect effects appeared to be important to the beetles. A complex interaction among beetles, vegetation structure, and predators is suggested. Care must be taken not to apply the results too quickly to strategies designed to conserve islands of sandhill.
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