Plan for Today (2/25/11)Plan for Today (2/25/11)

► Weekly Weekly meteorologist Derek meteorologist Derek JonesJones

► Lecture: Lecture: Fire effects on Fire effects on

wildlife, intro.wildlife, intro. Guest lecture, Louise Guest lecture, Louise

Venne- fire effects on Venne- fire effects on wading birds in the wading birds in the EvergladesEverglades

► Lab: Lab: Burn at ACMF?Burn at ACMF?

Wildlife and Fire Wildlife and Fire

Fire Ecology and Management, 2011 Fire Ecology and Management, 2011

An introductionAn introductionAdapted from Deborah KennardAdapted from Deborah Kennard

Ecological Effects of FireEcological Effects of Fire Basic PremisesBasic Premises

1.1. All ecosystems change over timeAll ecosystems change over time

2.2. Fire is neither innately good nor bad; Fire is neither innately good nor bad; it is just an agent of changeit is just an agent of change

3.3. Human perception of whether it is Human perception of whether it is good or bad depends on resource good or bad depends on resource objectivesobjectives

4.4. Do people think fire is good for Do people think fire is good for wildlife?wildlife?

Even Smokey’s (and his friends’) perceptions vary

Light

Fire’s Effects on WildlifeFire’s Effects on Wildlife

Most animal species respond predictably to the passage of fire, although the responses vary among species. Some flee, seek refuge, or rescue young. Other species are attracted to burning areas (forage during fires or feed on charcoal and ash after fires).

Effects Effects onon Animals: Animals:General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

►Many North American species have Many North American species have evolved in fire environmentsevolved in fire environments

►Mortality levels are generally lowMortality levels are generally low►Effects on cover and food sourcesEffects on cover and food sources

Substantial and generally positiveSubstantial and generally positive Vary across the landscapeVary across the landscape

►Effects on individuals may be Effects on individuals may be substantially different than effects substantially different than effects on populationson populations

Are all fires created equal?Are all fires created equal?► Fire regime characteristics dictate fire

effects on wildlife► What are the fire regime components?

Type Season Area burned/ extent Intensity Severity Frequency Synergy

Effects Effects ofof Animals on fires: Animals on fires:General PrinciplesGeneral Principles

► Fires may be:Fires may be: Lower intensity or Lower intensity or

less frequentless frequent► reduced by grazingreduced by grazing

Increased Increased intensity or intensity or severity severity

► by insect damageby insect damage

More More heterogeneousheterogeneous

► E.g. pig damage to E.g. pig damage to fuel continuity fuel continuity

Terry Clason

Direct Effects on AnimalsDirect Effects on Animals► VertebratesVertebrates

Mortality: mobility & underground nests Mortality: mobility & underground nests decrease this riskdecrease this risk

Related to size of fire and rate of spreadRelated to size of fire and rate of spread Loss of nesting sites and young, but...Loss of nesting sites and young, but... Cavity nesters and insect foragers love Cavity nesters and insect foragers love

dead treesdead trees Immediate increase in food source for Immediate increase in food source for

predatorspredators► InvertebratesInvertebrates

Mortality high in burn area for life stages Mortality high in burn area for life stages in litter or on plantsin litter or on plants

Rapid invasion by some species may Rapid invasion by some species may follow burnfollow burn

► Species composition changes to Species composition changes to early successional faunaearly successional fauna

Indirect Effects on AnimalsIndirect Effects on Animals► Habitat: components?Habitat: components?► ShelterShelter is temporarily is temporarily

decreaseddecreased► MicroclimateMicroclimate is modified is modified

Indirect Effects on AnimalsIndirect Effects on Animals

► FFood sourcesood sources & & nutritional quality increasenutritional quality increase plant species diversity plant species diversity

increasesincreases foliage of new herbaceous foliage of new herbaceous

plants and shrub sprouts is plants and shrub sprouts is more palatable and higher in more palatable and higher in nutrients (N,P) and crude nutrients (N,P) and crude proteinprotein

seed production of many seed production of many species increases species increases

abundance and diversity of abundance and diversity of insects may increaseinsects may increase

Indirect Effects on AnimalsIndirect Effects on Animals

►Habitat modifications - Habitat modifications - examplesexamples BirdsBirds

►quail and turkey prefer more quail and turkey prefer more open conditionsopen conditions

►RCW - regular low intensity RCW - regular low intensity fires kill hardwoodsfires kill hardwoods

►scrub jays – periodic fires scrub jays – periodic fires recreate scrub habitatrecreate scrub habitat

►Fire bird

►Habitat modifications - examplesHabitat modifications - examples Large mammalsLarge mammals

►deer benefit from flush of new growth for deer benefit from flush of new growth for browsebrowse

Small mammalsSmall mammals►increased seed production important for foodincreased seed production important for food

Indirect Effects on AnimalsIndirect Effects on Animals

Direct and indirect effects- soil Direct and indirect effects- soil microorganismsmicroorganisms

1.1. Populations decrease Populations decrease significantly, especially in significantly, especially in upper horizons and duffupper horizons and duff

2.2. Long term effects?Long term effects?

3.3. After fire:After fire:a.a. Black surfaces increase Black surfaces increase

temperatures temperatures

b.b. Run-off, leaching of Run-off, leaching of nutrients if post-fire rainnutrients if post-fire rain

c.c. Competition decreases for Competition decreases for populations that can populations that can respond quicklyrespond quickly

Seasonal Effects: Seasonal Effects: Dormant Dormant SeasonSeason

► Increase number of stems of many Increase number of stems of many hardwoods, shrubs & grasshardwoods, shrubs & grass

►Generally don’t kill large diameter Generally don’t kill large diameter hardwoods (e.g. oaks)hardwoods (e.g. oaks)

►Favor bird species that prefer Favor bird species that prefer shrubby - hardwood habitatsshrubby - hardwood habitats

Seasonal Effects: Seasonal Effects: Early SpringEarly Spring

►Deciduous hardwoods most susceptible to Deciduous hardwoods most susceptible to damagedamage a positive for hardwood controla positive for hardwood control a negative for mast production for wildlifea negative for mast production for wildlife

►Can damage gamebird nests and Can damage gamebird nests and brood, but food supplies probably not brood, but food supplies probably not a problem, especially with patchy firesa problem, especially with patchy fires

Seasonal Effects: Seasonal Effects: Growing Growing SeasonSeason

► If fire conducted during If fire conducted during rainy, humid weather, rainy, humid weather, results may be more patchy results may be more patchy than in dry weatherthan in dry weather a positive for wildlife a positive for wildlife

habitathabitat a negative for some a negative for some

other objectivesother objectives► Flowering may be Flowering may be

stimulated, but small pines stimulated, but small pines may be damaged by may be damaged by intense fireintense fire

► Favors birds that prefer Favors birds that prefer open woodlands & open woodlands & grasslandsgrasslands

Effects on AnimalsEffects on AnimalsEffects of prescribed burnsEffects of prescribed burns

► Few problems if timed Few problems if timed to avoid nesting of to avoid nesting of birds with ground nestsbirds with ground nests

► Increase edge effect & Increase edge effect & browsebrowse

► Little impact on fish Little impact on fish unless streamside unless streamside vegetation is burned, vegetation is burned, or erosion occursor erosion occurs

Example: Yellowstone fires of Example: Yellowstone fires of 19881988

► The stand-replacing & The stand-replacing & mixed-severity fires of mixed-severity fires of 1988 in the Greater 1988 in the Greater Yellowstone Area, Yellowstone Area, (mostly lodgepole pine-(mostly lodgepole pine-dominated forest), dominated forest), provided opportunities to provided opportunities to study animal behavior study animal behavior during burns (1.2 M during burns (1.2 M acres’ worth!) acres’ worth!)

► Studies focused on large Studies focused on large mammals, including mammals, including bison, elk, bear, moose, bison, elk, bear, moose, and deer. and deer.

Bison foraging and resting near burning area, Yellowstone National Park.

Photo by JeffHenry, courtesy of National Park Service.

Bison grazing in area converted by stand-replacing fire from shrub-dominated to forb- and grass-dominated cover.

• Scientists observed NO large mammals fleeing the fires, and most appeared “indifferent” even to crowning fires •Bison, elk, and other ungulates grazed and rested within sight of flames, often 100 m or less from burning trees•“Throughout the summer, animals continued their casual grazing patterns, moving to new locations and for the most part staying ahead of the fire” (firefighter on the scene)

Photo by Jim Peaco, courtesy of National Park Service.

Yellowstone fires, 1998, Yellowstone fires, 1998, cont.cont.

► Direct fire mortality: Direct fire mortality: Surveys found that 345 dead elk (of an estimated 40,000-Surveys found that 345 dead elk (of an estimated 40,000-

50,000), 36 deer, 12 moose, 6 black bears, and 9 bison 50,000), 36 deer, 12 moose, 6 black bears, and 9 bison died in greater Yellowstone as a direct result of the fires died in greater Yellowstone as a direct result of the fires

► Delayed mortality: Delayed mortality: Elk mortality was high (up to 4%) in the winter of 1988 to Elk mortality was high (up to 4%) in the winter of 1988 to

1989 due to drought in the summer of 1988 and forage 1989 due to drought in the summer of 1988 and forage loss on burned winter rangeloss on burned winter range

► Fire-killed elk became a large source of carcasses for Fire-killed elk became a large source of carcasses for scavengers: grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, bald eagles, scavengers: grizzly bears, black bears, coyotes, bald eagles, golden eagles, etc.golden eagles, etc.

► The increased availability of carcasses benefited grizzly bear The increased availability of carcasses benefited grizzly bear populations because drought had reduced other food sources populations because drought had reduced other food sources

► Increased production of forb foliage and tuberous roots also Increased production of forb foliage and tuberous roots also benefited grizzly bearsbenefited grizzly bears

Summary:Summary:WildlifeWildlife► Effects on animals include:Effects on animals include:

Direct: MortalityDirect: Mortality Indirect: Habitat changesIndirect: Habitat changes

► Wildlife diversity and numbers increase with a Wildlife diversity and numbers increase with a mosaic of successional stages created by a mosaic of successional stages created by a variety of fire prescriptions over timevariety of fire prescriptions over time

► Desired management effects may be one to Desired management effects may be one to several years post-fire (e.g. Florida panther)several years post-fire (e.g. Florida panther)

► Best overall effects by:Best overall effects by: varying seasons and intervals varying seasons and intervals

of firesof fires burning in small unitsburning in small units increasing patchiness of burnsincreasing patchiness of burns Monitoring & adaptive managementMonitoring & adaptive management

Break

Fire Effects on WaterFire Effects on Water►Effects depend on:Effects depend on:

fire intensityfire intensity exposure of mineral soilexposure of mineral soil soil texturesoil texture slope slope rate of revegetationrate of revegetation timing and amount of post-fire timing and amount of post-fire

precipitationprecipitation fire suppression & rehabilitation activitiesfire suppression & rehabilitation activities riparian zones/BMPsriparian zones/BMPs

Fire Effects on WaterFire Effects on Water

►Hydrologic processes Hydrologic processes maymay be be modified:modified: DecreasesDecreases::

►Rainfall interception Rainfall interception ►InfiltrationInfiltration

Loss of om => soil structure collapses & bulk Loss of om => soil structure collapses & bulk density increasesdensity increases

Soil porosity decreasesSoil porosity decreases Raindrop impacts compact soil and seal Raindrop impacts compact soil and seal

surface poressurface pores Ash & charcoal residues clog soil poresAsh & charcoal residues clog soil pores

►EvapotranspirationEvapotranspiration

Fire Effects on WaterFire Effects on Water

►Hydrologic processes Hydrologic processes maymay be be modified:modified: IncreasesIncreases::

►snow accumulation and rate of meltingsnow accumulation and rate of melting►soil water storage (making runoff & soil water storage (making runoff &

streamflow more responsive to streamflow more responsive to subsequent precipitation)subsequent precipitation)

►overland flow/runoffoverland flow/runoff►surface erosion (& even mass movement)surface erosion (& even mass movement)►sedimentationsedimentation►downstream flowdownstream flow

Burned hillslope with high consumption of litter and organic matter resulting from the Buffalo Creek Fire which burned 4,690 hectares in May 1996 in the mountains southwest of Denver, Colorado. Photo by John A. Moody

After the Cerro Grande Fire near Los Alamos, NM, channels draining burned areas have zones of erosion & deposition. The peeled bark indicates the highest level of water and debris during a flash flood. The view is downstream and the blue backpack is about 1 meter tall. Photo by John A. Moody  

Streamflow after fires of different Streamflow after fires of different severitiesseverities

Fire Effects on WaterFire Effects on Water► Water quality Water quality maymay temporarily change: temporarily change:

IncreasesIncreases::► sediments – soil particles & organic detritussediments – soil particles & organic detritus► turbidityturbidity► nutrients – especially N, C, & bicarbonates of Ca, nutrients – especially N, C, & bicarbonates of Ca,

Mg & KMg & K► water temperature water temperature

DecreasesDecreases::► aquatic habitat aquatic habitat

depends on size of firedepends on size of fire little evidence of long term habitat deteriorationlittle evidence of long term habitat deterioration

UsuallyUsually within natural range of variation within natural range of variation and/or short-lived effectsand/or short-lived effects

Fire Control Effects on Fire Control Effects on WaterWater

►Fire retardantsFire retardants N & P into waterN & P into water Some toxicity to fishSome toxicity to fish

►Fire linesFire lines Connect water bodiesConnect water bodies Create channelsCreate channels

Effects on Water - SummaryEffects on Water - Summary

► Cumulative effects may include:Cumulative effects may include: changes in stream channel morphologychanges in stream channel morphology organic matter food sources for aquatic faunaorganic matter food sources for aquatic fauna amount & timing of peak flowsamount & timing of peak flows …………

► Properly planned prescribed burn will Properly planned prescribed burn will generally not adversely affect either quality generally not adversely affect either quality or quantity of ground or surface water in or quantity of ground or surface water in FloridaFlorida