Dwarf mistletoe effects on fuel loadings in ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona

Chad Hoffman; Robert Mathiasen; Carolyn H. Sieg

Treesearch

Dwarf mistletoe effects on fuel loadings in ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Chad Hoffman, Robert Mathiasen, Carolyn H. Sieg

Year:

2007

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

Source:

Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37: 662-670.

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Abstract

Southwestern dwarf mistletoe (Arceuthobium vaginatum (Willd.) J. Presl ssp. cryptopodum) infests about 0.9 million ha in the southwestern United States. Several studies suggest that dwarf mistletoes affect forest fuels and fire behavior; however, few studies have quantified these effects. We compared surface fuel loadings and predicted fire behavior among four levels of dwarf mistletoe infestation (none, light, moderate, and severe) in a total of 239 plots on 11 sites on basaltic soils in northern Arizona. In each plot we measured tree attributes, dwarf mistletoe rating and surface fuel loading. Stands severely infested by dwarf mistletoe had lower (P < 0.05) tree density and higher snag density, but higher (p < 0.05) total surface fuel loadings and total fuel loadings >7.62 cm and

Keywords

dwarf mistletoe, Arceuthobium vaginatum, forest fuels, fire behavior, fuels treatments, ponderosa pine, northern Arizona

Citation

Hoffman, Chad; Mathiasen, Robert; Sieg, Carolyn Hull. 2007. Dwarf mistletoe effects on fuel loadings in ponderosa pine forests in northern Arizona. Canadian Journal of Forest Research. 37: 662-670.