Ecological implications of the direct effects of fire on neotropical vertebrates

Abstract

Changes in fire regimes have significantly impacted wildlife, affecting both mortality rates and indirect effects on fauna. Estimating the direct effects of fire on animals is complex and variable, revealing a critical knowledge gap regarding animal mortality and the consequent loss of ecosystem services. To address this gap, we conducted an analysis to identify the taxonomic groups most negatively affected by fire and to assess the ecosystem services provided by impacted mammals. We utilized a Citizen Science-based database containing photographs of animals directly affected by fire in Brazil. Our dataset includes 2638 individuals distributed across five of the six Brazilian biomes. Our results indicate that reptiles were the most affected group (59.02 %), followed by mammals (28.20 %). Among the most compromised ecosystem services are disease sentinelling, the cultural value of charismatic species, ecotourism, and seed dispersal. Additionally, we confirmed the hypothesis that small-bodied and low-mobility animals are the most vulnerable, accounting for 64.78 % of the records. Finally, we recommend strategies to mitigate the negative effects of fire on wildlife and to enhance the understanding of these impacts, such as biodiversity monitoring using genetic methodologies.