Effects of fire severity and pre-fire stand treatment on plant community recovery after a large wildfire

Amanda M. Kuenzi; Peter Z. Fulé; Carolyn H. Sieg

doi:10.1016/j.foreco.2007.10.001

Treesearch

Effects of fire severity and pre-fire stand treatment on plant community recovery after a large wildfire

Formally Refereed

Authors:

Amanda M. Kuenzi, Peter Z. Fulé, Carolyn H. Sieg

Year:

2008

Type:

Scientific Journal

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2007.10.001

Source:

Forest Ecology and Management. 255: 855-865.

Download (PDF 534 KB)

Download (PDF 534 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/29480.pdf

Abstract

The Rodeo-Chediski fire burned approximately 189,650 ha in eastcentral Arizona from June 18 to July 7, 2002, 113,700 ha of it on White Mountain Apache tribal land. In 2004 and 2005, we measured plant canopy cover and richness in areas of high and low burn severity in each of two treatments: (1) cutting and prescribed burning, or (2) untreated, in the 11 years prior to the wildfire. Total understory plant canopy cover was significantly higher in areas of high severity (p = .0002 in 2004 and p = .0001 in 2005). Overall, there was high richness of exotic species but cover was surprisingly low at

Keywords

non-native species, Southwest, ponderosa pine, plant community, wheat

Citation

Kuenzi, Amanda M.; Fulé, Peter Z.; Sieg, Carolyn Hull. 2008. Effects of fire severity and pre-fire stand treatment on plant community recovery after a large wildfire. Forest Ecology and Management. 255: 855-865.