Post-Fire Forest Succession, Group-Gap Dynamics, and Implications for Fire Resilience in an Old-Growth Pinus Ponderosa Forest PDF Download
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Author: Natalie Pawlikowski
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
This research quantifies forest structure and examines how post-fire succession alters pine-oak composition, group-gap spatial structure, and wildfire resilience in an old-growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest that was resilient to recent wildfires and exhibits a heterogeneous forest structure thought to be similar to forests before fire exclusion. To quantify forest structure and spatial patterns, trees were aged, mapped, and measured in the year 2000 six-years after a wildfire and in 2016 22-years post-fire in six, 1-hectare, stem map plots in the Beaver Creek Pinery, located in the Ishi Wilderness, Southern Cascades, California. Regeneration seedlings and saplings were tallied in 10x10m cells. Rates of tree recruitment, mortality, and growth for the sites two co-dominant species ponderosa pine and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) were estimated using demographic models. Local patterns in group structure was quantified using spatial clump algorithms and gap area was quantified using the empty space function. Potential fire behavior and effects were modeled for a range of fuel and weather conditions.Stand density and basal area in both 2000 and 2016 were within the historical range of variability for pre-fire exclusion ponderosa pine forests. Initially, wildfire promoted California black oak; however, oak abundance and regeneration has declined while pine abundance and regeneration has increased in the subsequent 22 years without fire. In 2000, ~15% of trees were classified as individuals and tree group sizes ranged from 2 to 75 trees. Small tree groups (2-4 trees) consist of similar-aged trees while larger groups are multi-aged. In 2016, the percent of trees classified as individuals decreased by ~30%, and the scale and intensity of clustering increased. The greatest change in spatial patterns occurred in plots with the highest rates of post-fire recruitment. The size and frequency of canopy gaps was similar in 2000 and 2016; however, higher densities of seedlings and saplings were associated with canopy gaps in 2016 which suggests, without future fire, canopy gaps will be infilled. Fire behavior models indicate the Beaver Creek Pinery is still resilient to high severity wildfire. Overall, this research broadens our understanding on the persistent effects of fire on spatial heterogeneity and demonstrates that wildfires can be used to restore resiliency to forests where wildfires have been suppressed for nearly a century.
Author: Natalie Pawlikowski
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category :
Languages : en
Pages :
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Book Description
This research quantifies forest structure and examines how post-fire succession alters pine-oak composition, group-gap spatial structure, and wildfire resilience in an old-growth ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forest that was resilient to recent wildfires and exhibits a heterogeneous forest structure thought to be similar to forests before fire exclusion. To quantify forest structure and spatial patterns, trees were aged, mapped, and measured in the year 2000 six-years after a wildfire and in 2016 22-years post-fire in six, 1-hectare, stem map plots in the Beaver Creek Pinery, located in the Ishi Wilderness, Southern Cascades, California. Regeneration seedlings and saplings were tallied in 10x10m cells. Rates of tree recruitment, mortality, and growth for the sites two co-dominant species ponderosa pine and California black oak (Quercus kelloggii) were estimated using demographic models. Local patterns in group structure was quantified using spatial clump algorithms and gap area was quantified using the empty space function. Potential fire behavior and effects were modeled for a range of fuel and weather conditions.Stand density and basal area in both 2000 and 2016 were within the historical range of variability for pre-fire exclusion ponderosa pine forests. Initially, wildfire promoted California black oak; however, oak abundance and regeneration has declined while pine abundance and regeneration has increased in the subsequent 22 years without fire. In 2000, ~15% of trees were classified as individuals and tree group sizes ranged from 2 to 75 trees. Small tree groups (2-4 trees) consist of similar-aged trees while larger groups are multi-aged. In 2016, the percent of trees classified as individuals decreased by ~30%, and the scale and intensity of clustering increased. The greatest change in spatial patterns occurred in plots with the highest rates of post-fire recruitment. The size and frequency of canopy gaps was similar in 2000 and 2016; however, higher densities of seedlings and saplings were associated with canopy gaps in 2016 which suggests, without future fire, canopy gaps will be infilled. Fire behavior models indicate the Beaver Creek Pinery is still resilient to high severity wildfire. Overall, this research broadens our understanding on the persistent effects of fire on spatial heterogeneity and demonstrates that wildfires can be used to restore resiliency to forests where wildfires have been suppressed for nearly a century.
Author: Stephen F. Arno
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forest fires
Languages : en
Pages : 24
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Book Description
Author: Wade D. Steady
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781085625388
Category : Ponderosa pine
Languages : en
Pages : 38
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Book Description
Improved predictions of tree species mortality and growth metrics following fires are important to assess fire impacts on forest succession, and ultimately forest growth and yield. In recent studies, North American conifers do not exhibit a binary response to fire where the tree either lives or dies; rather, there is a 'toxicological dose-response' relationship between fire behavior and the resultant mortality or recovery of the trees. Prior studies have not been conclusive due to potential pseudo-replication in the experimental design and time-limited observations. We explored whether dose-response relationships are observed in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) saplings exposed to surface fires of increasing fire behavior (as quantified by Fire Radiative Energy - FRE). We confirmed equivalent dose-response relationships to the prior studies. We further found that post-fire growth and mortality in ponderosa pine saplings corresponded to the amount of FRE applied and that, as with lodgepole pine (Pinus contorta), a low FRE dose could be applied that did not yield mortality in any of the replicates (r=10). These results suggest that land management agencies could use planned burns to protect similar fire-adapted tree species while eliminating unwanted species. Incorporation of these results into earth-system models and growth and yield models could help reduce uncertainties associated with the impacts of fire on timber growth, forest resilience, carbon dynamics, and ecosystem economics.
Author: Sharon M. Hood
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437939031
Category : Nature
Languages : en
Pages : 80
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Book Description
This is a print on demand edition of a hard to find publication. This report synthesizes the literature and current state of knowledge pertaining to re-introducing fire in stands where it has been excluded for long periods and the impact of these introductory fires on overstory tree injury and mortality. Only forested ecosystems in the United States that are adapted to survive frequent fire are included. Treatment options that minimize large-diameter and old tree injury and mortality in areas with deep duff and methods to manage and reduce duff accumulations are discussed. Pertinent background information on tree physiology, properties of duff, and historical versus current disturbance regimes are also discussed. Charts and tables.
Author: James F. Fowler
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Douglas fir
Languages : en
Pages : 32
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Book Description
This review focused on the primary literature that described, modeled, or predicted the probability of postfire mortality in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii). The methods and measurements that were used to predict postfire tree death tended to fall into two general categories: those focusing on measuring important aspects of fire behavior, the indirect but ultimate cause of mortality; and those focusing on tissue damage due to fire, the direct effect of fire on plant organs. Of the methods reviewed in this paper, crown scorch volume was the most effective, easiest to use, and most popular measurement in predicting postfire mortality in both conifer species. In addition to this direct measure of foliage damage, several studies showed the importance and utility of adding a measurement of stem (bole) damage. There is no clear method of choice for this, but direct assessment of cambium condition near the tree base is widely used in Douglas-fir. Only two ponderosa pine studies directly measured fine root biomass changes due to fire, but they did not use these measurements to predict postfire mortality. Indirect measures of fire behavior such as ground char classes may be the most practical choice for measuring root damage. This review did not find clear postfire survivability differences between the two species. The literature also does not show a consistent use of terminology; we propose a standard set of terms and their definitions.
Author: Peter F. Ffolliott
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forest fires
Languages : en
Pages : 28
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Book Description
The Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire--the largest in Arizona's history--damaged or destroyed ecosystem resources and disrupted ecosystem functioning in a largely mosaic pattern throughout the ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests exposed to the burn. Impacts of this wildfire on tree overstories were studied for 5 years (2002 to 2007) on two watersheds in the area burned. One watershed was burned by a high severity (stand-replacing) fire, while the other watershed was burned by a low severity (stand-modifying) fire. In this paper, we focus on the effects of the wildfire on stand structures, post-fire mortality of fire-damaged trees, and stocking of tree reproduction. We also present a fire severity classification system based on the fire-damaged tree crowns and a retrospective description of fire behavior on the two burned watersheds.
Author: Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station (Fort Collins, Colo.)
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Forest ecology
Languages : en
Pages : 18
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Book Description
A wildfire of variable severity swept through 717 acres (290 ha) of ponderosa pine forest in north-central Arizona in May 1972. Where the fire was intense it killed 90% of the small trees and 50% of the sawtimber, burned 2.6 in (6.5 cm) of forest floor to the mineral soil, and induced a water-repellent layer in the sandier soils. The reduced infiltration rates, which greatly increased water yield from severely burned areas during unusually heavy fall rains, caused soils to erode and removed some nutrients which had been mineralized by the fire. Water yields have declined each year toward prefire levels.
Author: David L. Peterson
Publisher: DIANE Publishing
ISBN: 1437926665
Category : Technology & Engineering
Languages : en
Pages : 60
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Book Description
Timber harvest following wildfire leads to different outcomes depending on the biophysical setting of the forest, pattern of burn severity, operational aspects of tree removal, and other activities. Postfire logging adds to these effects by removing standing dead trees (snags) and disturbing the soil. The influence of postfire logging depends on the intensity of the fire, intensity of the logging operation, and mgmt. activities such as fuel treatments. Removal of snags reduces long-term fuel loads but generally results in increased amounts of fine fuels for the first few years after logging. Cavity-nesting birds, small mammals, and amphibians may be affected by harvest of standing dead and live trees, with negative effects on most species. Illustrations.
Author: Jessie M. Dodge
Publisher:
ISBN: 9781085577861
Category : Forest management
Languages : en
Pages : 152
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Book Description
Land managers have been using mechanical treatments to reduce fuels in ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) forests to mitigate high severity fire effects. Before the 2007 Egley Fire Complex, mechanical thinning, slash and pile burns, and understory burns were implemented as fuel reduction treatments in the dry ponderosa pine-dominated Malheur National Forest in eastern Oregon. To compare post-fire vegetation recovery between mechanical treatments and untreated control areas, 35 treated and untreated paired plots were sampled in 2016. Sites were stratified by elevation, aspect, and the remotely sensed burn severity gradient represented by the delta Normalized Burn Ratio (dNBR). Post-fire vegetation recovery was assessed at the 35 paired field sites by measuring tree density, seedling regeneration, understory plant response, and fuel loads. The intent of this study was to document to what extent tree density, seedling regeneration, understory plant community composition, and fuels change across the burn severity gradient and to quantify to what extent pre-fire fuel treatments affect burn severity and long term (9 years) vegetation recovery. Estimated site recovery time and other implications for management of dry coniferous forests are discussed.
Author:
Publisher:
ISBN:
Category : Ecosystem management
Languages : en
Pages : 102
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Book Description
This synthesis provides an ecological foundation for management of the diverse ecosystems and fire regimes of North America, based on scientific principles of fire interactions with vegetation, fuels, and biophysical processes. Although a large amount of scientific data on fire exists, most of those data have been collected at small spatial and temporal scales. Thus, it is challenging to develop consistent science-based plans for large spatial and temporal scales where most fire management and planning occur. Understanding the regional geographic context of fire regimes is critical for developing appropriate and sustainable management strategies and policy. The degree to which human intervention has modified fire frequency, intensity, and severity varies greatly among different ecosystems, and must be considered when planning to alter fuel loads or implement restorative treatments. Detailed discussion of six ecosystems--ponderosa pine forest (western North America), chaparral (California), boreal forest (Alaska and Canada), Great Basin sagebrush (intermountain West), pine and pine-hardwood forests (Southern Appalachian Mountains), and longleaf pine (Southeastern United States)-- illustrates the complexity of fire regimes and that fire management requires a clear regional focus that recognizes where conflicts might exist between fire hazard reduction and resource needs. In some systems, such as ponderosa pine, treatments are usually compatible with both fuel reduction and resource needs, whereas in others, such as chaparral, the potential exists for conflicts that need to be closely evaluated. Managing fire regimes in a changing climate and social environment requires a strong scientific basis for developing fire management and policy.
