| Early-successional ecosystems are temporary but unique habitats with diverse plant assemblages, unique abiotic conditions, and rare, disturbance-dependent species. I examined the effects of prescribed fire in early-successional old fields on (1) restoration of open-canopy habitat for the eastern massasauga rattlesnake, a rare species threatened by habitat loss, and (2) diversity-stability relationships in plant communities. Post-disturbance, I found increases in plant cover, habitat heterogeneity, and frequency of eastern massasauga rattlesnakes. These snakes preferentially used open-canopy microhabitats maintained by the prescribed fire. On a finer spatial scale, I found that diversity had negative effects on stability during a single vegetation season, but positive effects over multiple seasons as diverse phenologies combine to produce long-term stability. Disturbance positively impacted community and population stability, likely due to the ephemeral nature of early-successional old fields. A greater understanding of disturbance in early-successional ecosystems will allow for better wildlife management and for maintenance of ecosystem functions.;Keywords: basking habitat; community stability; conservation; disturbance; diversity-stability; early-successional; eastern massasauga rattlesnake; functional group; habitat management; population stability; prescribed fire; Sistrurus c. catenatus; succession. |
