In recent years, there have been increasing efforts to understand effects of prescribed fire on population dynamics of wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo; turkeys) in pine (Pinus spp.) forests. Although distribution of turkeys is not limited to pine forests, these forests provide nesting and brood‐rearing habitat throughout the southeastern United States. Previous studies have investigated direct (e.g., nest loss to fire) and indirect (e.g., nest‐ and brood‐site selection) effects of prescribed fire, but little is known about how turkeys are influenced by the spatial scale and shape of prescribed fire. We constructed an individual‐based model (IBM) with landscapes of 2 burn unit shapes and 17 spatial scales. We used telemetry data obtained from global positioning system‐marked female turkeys to replicate movement behaviors of turkeys within the model. We hypothesized that use of units burned during the current year (<1 yr) would decrease as scale of fires increased, and that shape of burn units would influence use by turkeys. Spatial scale most influenced turkey use; the greatest use was in burned stands of approximately 23 ha in size, whereas least use was associated with burned stands >1,269 ha. At a spatial scale of 23 ha, the daily percent use of rectangular burn units was 7% greater than square‐shaped burn units. Likewise, daily percent use of rectangular burn units was 34% greater than square‐shaped burn units at a spatial scale of 1,269 ha. When burn units were rectangular‐shaped, daily percent use decreased by 48% as the spatial extent of the fires increased from 23 ha to 203 ha. Likewise, when burn units were square‐shaped, turkey use decreased by 49% as spatial extent of fires increased from 23 ha to 203 ha. Our findings suggest the importance of managing forested landscapes with prescribed fires not exceeding approximately 200 ha if wild turkeys are a management concern. © 2020 The Wildlife Society.

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野火的空间规模和形状影响野火鸡的使用

近年来，已经有越来越多的努力，了解野生火鸡种群动态规定的防火效果（沙海蜇gallopavo ;火鸡）松（松spp。）森林。尽管火鸡的分布不仅限于松树林，但这些树林在美国东南部提供了筑巢和增育的栖息地。先前的研究已经调查了处方火的直接影响（例如，筑巢火的损失）和间接影响（例如，筑巢和育雏地点的选择），但是对于火鸡如何受到处方火的空间规模和形状的影响知之甚少。我们构建了一个基于个人的模型（IBM），具有2个刻录单元形状和17个空间比例的景观。我们使用从全球定位系统标记的雌性火鸡获得的遥测数据来复制模型中火鸡的运动行为。我们假设随着火灾规模的增加，本年度（<1年）内燃烧的单位的使用会减少，燃烧单元的形状会影响火鸡的使用。空间比例对土耳其的使用影响最大；最大的用途是在约23公顷的燃烧林中，而最少的用途与> 1,269公顷的燃烧林相关。在23公顷的空间规模上，矩形燃烧单位的每日使用百分比比方形燃烧单位的每日使用量高7％。同样，在空间规模为1,269公顷的情况下，矩形燃烧单元的每日使用百分比比方形燃烧单元的每日使用百分比高34％。当燃烧单元为矩形时，随着火灾的空间范围从23公顷增加到203公顷，每日使用量减少了48％。同样，当燃烧单元为方形时，随着火势空间范围从23公顷增加到203公顷，火鸡的使用减少了49％。我们的发现表明，如果管理人员担心野火鸡，管理规定火种不超过200公顷的森林景观非常重要。©2020野生动物协会。