Fire behavioral changes as a result of sudden oak death in coastal California forests

Y. Vlachovic; C. Lee; H. Scanlon; J.M. Varner; R. Glebocki; B.D. Graham; D.M. Rizzo

Treesearch

Fire behavioral changes as a result of sudden oak death in coastal California forests

Informally Refereed

Authors:

Y. Vlachovic, C. Lee, H. Scanlon, J.M. Varner, R. Glebocki, B.D. Graham, D.M. Rizzo

Year:

2013

Type:

General Technical Report

Station:

Pacific Southwest Research Station

Source:

In: Frankel, S.J.; Kliejunas, J.T.; Palmieri, K.M.; Alexander, J.M. tech. coords. Proceedings of the sudden oak death fifth science symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-243. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 61

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Abstract

Field observations and anecdotal evidence suggest that sudden oak death (SOD), a disease caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, may alter fuel loading in affected forests. Though it is reasonable to assume that a disease resulting in leaf blight, dead branches, and tree mortality would increase forest fuels, little work has been done to support or quantify this important issue. We compared fuel loading in P. ramorum-infested Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco)-tanoak (Notholithocarpus densiflorus (Hook. & Arn.) Manos, Cannon & S.H. Oh) forests of northwestern California to 1) assess whether the continued presence of this pathogen alters surface fuel loading, 2) model potential fire behavior in affected stands, and 3) evaluate potential impacts on firefighting response in infested areas.

Parent Publication

Proceedings of the sudden oak death fifth science symposium

Keywords

Sudden oak death, Phytophthora ramorum, invasive species, tanoak, Notholithocarpus densiflorus, coast live oak, Quercus agrifolia, Japanese larch, Larix kaempferi

Citation

Vlachovic, Y.; Lee, C.; Scanlon, H.; Varner, J.M.; Glebocki, R.; Graham, B.D.; Rizzo, D.M. 2013. Fire behavioral changes as a result of sudden oak death in coastal California forests. In: Frankel, S.J.; Kliejunas, J.T.; Palmieri, K.M.; Alexander, J.M. tech. coords. Proceedings of the sudden oak death fifth science symposium. Gen. Tech. Rep. PSW-GTR-243. Albany, CA: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station: p. 61.