introduction to fire ecology
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Introduction to Fire Ecology. Consider the statement: “Fire is bad” What do you think? Why? Can you think of examples of when fire is good and bad? What are they?. Fire is a natural component to many ecosystems Both plants and animals Interactions among organisms. What is Fire Ecology?. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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Introduction to Fire Ecology
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• Consider the statement: “Fire is bad”–What do you think? Why?– Can you think of examples of when fire
is good and bad? What are they?
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• Fire is a natural component to many ecosystems– Both plants and animals – Interactions among organisms
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What is Fire Ecology?• A branch of ecology that studies the
origins of wildland fire and its relationship to the biotic and abiotic environment.
• Fire is studied as a natural process operating as a component of an ecosystem.
• Fire, similar to floods, earthquakes, and storms, is just one way of promoting change in an ecosystem.
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• Fire ecologists study: – the origins of fire– what influences the spread and
intensity– fire’s relationship with ecosystems– how controlled fires can be used to
maintain ecosystem’s health
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Physical and Chemical Properties of Fire
• What does it take to ignite a fire?– Oxygen at ignition point or kindling
temperature• Woods has to reach 800◦F to burst into
flames– As wood is heated, it is dried of water while
oil and resins are boiled away– Chemical structure of wood is broken down
and flammable gases are produced • Flaming combustion
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Physical and Chemical Properties of Fire
• Flaming combustion causes the surface of the wood to become charcoal
• At cooler temps, glowing combustion consumes 3 molecules– Charcoal, water, carbon dioxide
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• What influences the probability of ignition and combustion?– Fuel–Weather– Topography– Fire history
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Forest Fuel Layers
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Fire Behavior• Mostly described by its intensity and
the area it spreads to
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Factors influencing intensity• Available fuel– Quantified by size and arrangement–More fuel, more intense
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Factors influencing intensity• Moisture and temperature– Cool, moist fuels combust more slowly
than hot, dry fuels
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Factors influencing intensity• Fuel composition– Can make fire more or less intense– Oils and resins increase heat yield of
reaction and burn more intensely– High concentrations of minerals can
reduce flammability
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Factors influencing intensity• Wind– Increases oxygen supply– Can produce “spot” fires
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Factors influencing intensity• Topography– If fire at top of slope, fire will burn slowly
downhill– If fire at bottom of slope, fire will burn
quickly uphill
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• Factors influencing spread– Fires in dry, windy conditions with ample
fuel spread rapidly– Fuel continuity– Topography• Rivers and lakes can act as fire breaks
– Composition of plant community• Some plants are more flammable than
others
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Effects of Fire on Ecosystems
1. Mosaic Patterns– Burn Mosaic• Wildfires create areas of total burn,
partially burned, and unburned sections– Result from factors like wind shifts,
chemical composition, temperature changes
– Varied regrowth rates of vegetation
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2. Soil Conditions– Fires can be both good and bad for soil– Nutrient levels can increase due to:• Mineral content of ash and charcoal• Warm, moist conditions which increase
microbial activity– Intense heat can cause soil to become
water repellant• Causes run off and erosion
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3. Animal Populations– Some will perish during fire especially smaller,
older, weaker animals and insects– Larger animals can leave area– Populations tend to suffer more after fires due to
loss of food source• Most fires tend to be before winter
– Predators have advantage since groundcover is gone
– Scavengers find increase in food– Some animals, like deer, will eat nutrient rich
charcoal– Birds benefit
• Increase in seed availability• Nesting sites increase due to snags (dead standing trees)
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4. Plant Populations– Vegetation composition determines how fire
behaves• Fire behavior in turn determines how plant
population is affected– Fire decreases competition to survivors– Increases nutrient, water, and light availability– May rid plants of their parasites (e.g. mistletoe)– Plant adaptations allow to survive and
reproduce• Sequoia has thick bark to protect• Chaparral shrub needs fire to open seeds
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Thick bark of Sequoia tree
Chaparral seeds need fire to be released
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Fire Regimes• Regimes are patterns in wildland fires
that include frequency, extent, intensity, type, and season
• Varies among ecosystems due to their composition and structure– Influenced by climate, vegetation types,
and ignition source
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• Ecologists will study evidence to determine historical fire records or natural fire regimes– Sample fire scars on trees
• Sequence of fires on growth rings– Sample sediments from lakes and
reservoirs– Current weather–Written and oral histories– Fuel build up– Lightning fires
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• Based of those factors and the ecosystem, ecologists will use the most appropriate management regime.
• Various management techniques will be used. One technique does not fit all habitat types.
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Human influence on wildland fires
• Humans have one of the greatest influences on ecosystems
• Humans have altered natural fire regimes– Native Americans and early settlers
used fires in their management practices
– Today will use fire to clear lands for housing, agriculture, and roads
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Prescribed Burning • Fire Suppression– One of the fires management practices– 1930’s researchers began to challenge
policy• Possible benefits to ecosystems
– 1950s and 1960s the national forests began to experiment with prescribed burning• Prescribed burning = starting fire on
purpose
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Prescribed Burning (continued)
• Prescribed burning– Restore natural fire regime in area
where suppression had been practiced–When reintroduced to ecosystem, takes
time for ecosystem to adjust– Use low intensity fires– In areas where there is potential for high
intensity fires (fuel and wind), this practice is not has useful
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What effects does Fire have on an ecosystem?
• Depends on its intensity• Hotter, longer lasting fires have more
extensive effects than cooler, short-lived fires
ProsReturn nutrient to the soilEncourage plant diversity
Prevent insect attacksBurned areas provides snags for
wildlife
ConsSoil erosion
Food for wildlife, humans destroyedKills trees, vegetation, wildlife
Very hot fires remove all roots, seeds, and soil organisms for tree growth