HOW DO TUNDRA FIRES AFFECT WILDLIFE POPULATIONS?
The effects of tundra fires on wildlife are often short-lived. The lush plant growth that occurs in the years immediately following a fire (due to the soil changes discussed above) can lead to higher populations of plant-eating organisms and their predators. Lemming and vole populations may increase a few years after a fire, providing abundant food for foxes, weasels, and jaegers. In areas where tundra fires lead to formation or maintenance of wetlands and ponds, waterfowl and other aquatic animals such as beavers and muskrat may benefit. In general, as plants re-invade a burned area and succession proceeds, wildlife also reappear and some species flourish. The long-term effects of tundra fires on wildlife have not been fully studied. Since the effects of fire on tundra plant communities are fairly short-lived, it seems likely that tundra fires cause few long-term changes in wildlife populations. However, scientists disagree about the effects of fires on caribou. Since these animals ea
