Historical wildfire impacts on ponderosa pine tree overstories: An Arizona case study

Peter F. Ffolliott; Cody L. Stropki; Daniel G. Neary

doi:10.2737/RMRS-RP-75

Treesearch

Historical wildfire impacts on ponderosa pine tree overstories: An Arizona case study

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Peter F. Ffolliott, Cody L. Stropki, Daniel G. Neary

Year:

2008

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Rocky Mountain Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/RMRS-RP-75

Source:

Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-75. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 20 p.

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Download (PDF 1.65 MB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/31732.pdf

Abstract

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.

Keywords

ponderosa pine, Pinus ponderosa, overstories, stand structures, post-fire mortality, stocking, fire severity classification system, Rodeo-Chediski Wildfire

Citation

Ffolliott, Peter F.; Stropki, Cody L.; Neary, Daniel G. 2008. Historical wildfire impacts on ponderosa pine tree overstories: An Arizona case study. Res. Pap. RMRS-RP-75. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 20 p.