Fire, harvester ants, and horned lizards-Links between land management, predators, and prey.

In this study, we examined how prescribed burning influenced the home range size of Texas horned lizards in central Texas. In addition, we also examined how fires and drought influenced the nutritional quality, abundance and density of the primary prey item of the lizard. We then modeled how these factors influence lizard survival. Fires changed the vegetation of the area in a predictable way. Fires impact horned lizard survival, but differentially between sexes. Finally, fires change the nutritional quality of the ants, but not in the way you might think. These data will help guide future habitat management and restoration efforts.