Fire in Restoration Ecology

Fire in Restoration EcologyChristie Sampson

Fire is an essential disturbanceIn the context of restoration ecologyRestoring fire to a fire-dependent ecosystemCan be a tool in a new areaFire regime = spatial and temporal variations of fires and their effects in a given area over a given time period

Fire in ecosystems

US Fire Adapted EcosystemsTallgrass Prairie: Midwest

Chaparral: California and Southwest

Ponderosa Pine: Interior West

Douglas-Fir: Pacific Northwest

Loblolly and Shortleaf Pine: The Southeast

Jack Pine: Great Lake States

http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/okawen/fire/naches/index.shtmlFire in ecosystemsFire contributes to the :

Recycling of nutrients

Regulation of plant succession and wildlife habitat

Controlling insect populations and diseases

Maintenance biological diversity

Reduction of biomass

Natural Burning Regime

(nature.org)Changes in North American FiresIncreases in human-related fire ignitions forest roads, widespread logging, recreational use and development

Reduction in biomass of fine fuels livestock grazing and increased tree invasion

Increases in fuel accumulation dense tree plantations and a buildup of shade-tolerant conifers Changes in North American FiresModifications/habitat fragmentation agriculture, urban development, and other firebreaks

Active fire suppression changed the types of forests found in the USfewer forest that need frequent, low intensity fire

Loss of forests with fire-resilient properties community and landscape levels removal of large trees and legacy stand components

Environmental EffectsEnvironmental Effects -SoilReturn nutrients to soil

FactorsFrequency, duration, and intensity soil characteristics

ConsequencesLoss of duff layerSurface runoff and soil erosion

http://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/ut/moab_fo/fire.Par.57697.Image.-1.-1.1.gifEnvironmental Effects -WaterConsequences

Erosion

Nutrient Loading

Environmental Effects -PlantsFire adapted smoke-activated seeds or fire-activated budsSouthern pine bark thicker than many hardwoods, needles will survive exposure to 1300F for about 5 minuteschaparral - plants have oil covered leaves that allows their fire-activated seeds to germinate. The offspring can then flourish can then capitalize on the lack of competition in a burnt landscape.

Grasses regenerate quickly, outcompeting trees and shrubshttp://www.blm.gov/pgdata/etc/medialib/blm/Fire Impacts on Succession

Environmental Effects -WildlifePrimarily indirect

Regenerate food sources

Creation of habitatSnags

Loss of habitatDead and down woodTemporary loss of grasslands/understory

Restoration ChallengesWhat was the temporal variability of the fire regime over multi-century reference periods? History is needed to identify temporal trends that may be related to climatic variation prior to and during intensive European settlement

How was the fire regime influenced by Native Americans? How much influence did they have on the ecosystem?

How did native and introduced herbivores affect fuels and fire regimes?Fires declined with reduced grass fuels due to the introduction of sheep and cattleFluctuations in native herbivore populations (Veblen 2003)Restoration ChallengesWhat was the spatial variability of the fire regime within a particular ecosystem type? climatic seasonalitytopographyweather patternsunderstory species/characteristicssite productivity (related to geology, soils, and/or climate)use by Native Americans

How have invasive plant species altered fire regimes?Exotic plant species can change fuel continuity- spread and intensity may be significantly altered

(Veblen 2003)Invasive SpeciesNonnative plant abundance was over 200% higher on fuel breaks than in adjacent areas

Invasive Species Reduced exotic plant seed production (seed bank)Increased native seedling establishment through litter removal and decreased competition

http://www.cas.vanderbilt.edu/bioimages/biohires/ecoregions/h50805burn20011103crv185.jpg

(Veblen 2003)Overcoming public dissentFire = dangerous force to be suppressed and contained at all costs

http://www.dosomething.org/files/pictures/fire-road.jpgOvercoming public dissentWalt Disneys BambiU.S. Forest Services Smokey Bear

http://harebrainedcreative.files.wordpress.com/2011/03/smokey_the_bear.jpg?w=453&h=660http://inel.wordpress.com/2007/10/24/bambi-had-wildfires-but-not-as-bad-as-this/

Overcoming public dissentDiscuss environmental, social and economic benefits and consequences for the community

www.nature.org

Additional Referenceswww.bugwood.org/pfire/http://isebindia.com/95_99/98-04-1.htmlhttp://www.wildlandfire.com/pics/wall/wall.htmhttp://fireecology.org/education/doc1.htm

Brown, James K.; Smith, Jane Kapler (2000). "Wildland fire in ecosystems: effects of fire on flora". Gen. Tech. Rep. RMRS-GTR-42-vol. 2 40,56-68. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. DellaSala, D. A., J. E. Williams, C.D. Williams and J. F. Franklin. 2004. Beyond Smoke and Mirrors: a Synthesis of Fire Policy and Science. Conservation Biology, 18:976986Menke, J. W. 1992. GRAZING AND FIRE MANAGEMENT FOR NATIVE PERENNIAL GRASS RESTORATION IN CALIFORNIA GRASSLANDS . Journal of the California Native Plant Society 20:22-25Merriam, Kyle E., Jon E. Keeley, and Jan L. Beyers. 2006. Fuel Breaks Affect Nonnative Species Abundance In Californian Plant Communities. Ecological Applications 16:515527Romme, W.H. 1980. Fire history terminology: report of the Ad Hoc Committee. Pages 135-37 in M.A. Stokes and J.H. Dieterich, editors. Proceedings of the fire history workshop, Oct. 20-24, 1980. Tucson, Arizona. U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, General Technical Report Veblen, T.T. 2003. Key issues in fire regime research for fuels management and ecological restoration. Pages 259-276 in: P. Omi and L. Joyce (technical eds). Fire, Fuel Treatments and Ecological Restoration: Conference proceedings; 2002 16-18 April; Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. 475 p.