Fire in North American Wetland Ecosystems and Fire-Wildlife Relations: An Annotated Bibliography

122. Kantrud, H. A. 1986. Effects of vegetation manipulation on breeding 
          waterfowl in prairie wetlands-a literature review. U.S. Fish Wildl. 
          Serv., Fish Wildl. Tech. Rep. 3. 15 pp.

Literature on the effects of fire and grazing on prairie wetlands used by breeding waterfowl is reviewed. Nearly all studies to date indicate that reductions in height and density of tall, emergent hydrophytes by fire and grazing (unless very intensive) benefit breeding waterfowl. Pair densities increase in manipulated habitats, probably from increased interspersion of cover and open water and increased invertebrate food resources. Data are not yet available to provide specific fire prescriptions for prairie wetlands. The need for research to evaluate alternate management schemes is emphasized. [From author's abstract]

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