An improved understanding of how fire affects African mammals is important for the management of both fire regimes and mammal populations. The response of mammals (>5 kg) to fire was reviewed to identify habitat preferences, and to inform fire management. Sixty-four studies reported on 51 species at 34 locations. Body size was strongly correlated with fire response, with smaller grazing species more likely to respond positively to fire (i.e. to occupy recently-burnt areas) than larger browsing species. Frequently-studied species (≥4 studies) were classified as either ambivalent in their responses to fire (four large browsers) or as responding positively to fire (fourteen grazers). An additional 30 less frequently studied species (<4 studies), including carnivores, were preliminarily assigned to fire response categories. Almost all studies were conducted in savanna and grassland vegetation, with the fire-prone dystrophic miombo, and more arid sites under-represented. Much of the research was aimed at establishing the preferences of a rare or declining species of concern, and fire management recommendations often called for increasing fire frequency to benefit such species. However, it is clear that co-occurring species have different requirements. We conclude therefore that managers should aim to promote spatial heterogeneity through fire application.

更好地了解火灾如何影响非洲哺乳动物对于管理火灾状况和哺乳动物种群非常重要。审查了哺乳动物（> 5 kg）对火灾的反应，以确定栖息地偏好，并为火灾管理提供信息。64 项研究报告了 34 个地点的 51 个物种。体型与火灾反应密切相关，较小的放牧物种比较大的食草物种更可能对火灾做出积极反应（即占据最近燃烧的区域）。经常研究的物种（≥4 项研究）被归类为对火的反应矛盾（四个大型浏览器）或对火的积极反应（十四个食草动物）。另外 30 个研究频率较低的物种（<4 个研究），包括食肉动物，被初步分配到火灾响应类别。几乎所有的研究都是在稀树草原和草原植被中进行的，其中容易发生火灾的营养不良的 miombo 和更多干旱地区的代表性不足。大部分研究旨在确定关注的稀有或衰退物种的偏好，火灾管理建议通常要求增加火灾频率以使这些物种受益。然而，很明显，共生物种有不同的要求。因此，我们得出结论，管理者应该致力于通过火灾应用促进空间异质性。火灾管理建议通常要求增加火灾频率以使这些物种受益。然而，很明显，共生物种有不同的要求。因此，我们得出结论，管理者应该致力于通过火灾应用促进空间异质性。火灾管理建议通常要求增加火灾频率以使这些物种受益。然而，很明显，共生物种有不同的要求。因此，我们得出结论，管理者应该致力于通过火灾应用促进空间异质性。