Responses of a small-mammal community to habitat management through controlled burning in a protected Mediterranean area

► Changes in abundance and diversity of small mammal communities are important in Mediterranean habitats. ► These changes can result from increased predation following crashes in their main prey species, the European wild rabbit. ► We evaluate the responses of small mammal communities to controlled burning of scrubland habitats. ► We found very low diversity of small mammal species and ecotones generated by burning favour some small mammal species. ► Controlled burning does not appear to be a strong contributor to the current loss of biotic diversity in this community.