Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) response to wildfire in a Southwestern USA forest

Abstract

Severe wildfires often facilitate the spread of exotic invasive species, such as Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica). We hypothesized that toadflax growth and reproduction would increase with increasing burn severity in a ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa)-dominated forest. We measured toadflax density, cover, flowering stalks, and native species richness and cover on 327 plots for 3 y after a 2001 wildfire. Toadflax stem density, cover, and flowering stalks increased in 2003, then decreased in 2004 in all burn severity classes, but remained higher than initial 2002 values. Toadflax spread to previously uncolonized areas, though stem density decreased in unburned plots. Transition matrices showed that more plots on moderately (73%) and severely (74%) burned areas classified as high toadflax density in 2002 remained high density in 2004.

Citation

Dodge, Rita S.; Fule, Peter Z.; Sieg, Carolyn Hull. 2008. Dalmatian toadflax (Linaria dalmatica) response to wildfire in a Southwestern USA forest. EcoScience. 15(2): 213-222.