A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin region: response and ecological site characteristics
USDA General Technical Report
RMRS-GTR-308
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Abstract
This review synthesizes the state of knowledge on fire effects
on vegetation and soils in semi-arid ecosystems in the Great
Basin Region, including the central and northern Great
Basin and Range, Columbia River Basin, and the Snake
River Plain. We summarize available literature related to:
(1) the effects of environmental gradients, ecological site,
and vegetation characteristics on resilience to disturbance
and resistance to invasive species; (2) the effects of fire
on individual plant species and communities, biological
soil crusts, seed banks, soil nutrients, and hydrology; and
(3) the role of fire severity, fire versus fire surrogate
treatments, and post-fire grazing in determining ecosystem
response. From this, we identify knowledge gaps and present
a framework for predicting plant successional trajectories
following wild and prescribed fires and fire surrogate
treatments. Possibly the three most important ecological
site characteristics that influence a site’s resilience (ability
of the ecological site to recover from disturbance) and
resistance to invasive species are soil temperature/moisture
regimes and the composition and structure of vegetation on
the ecological site just prior to the disturbance event.
Suggested Citation
Miller, R., Chambers, J., Pyke, D.A., Pierson, F.B., Williams, C.J., 2013, A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin region: response and ecological site characteristics: USDA General Technical Report RMRS-GTR-308, v, 126 p.
Study Area
| Publication type | Report |
|---|---|
| Publication Subtype | Other Government Series |
| Title | A review of fire effects on vegetation and soils in the Great Basin region: response and ecological site characteristics |
| Series title | USDA General Technical Report |
| Series number | RMRS-GTR-308 |
| Year Published | 2013 |
| Language | English |
| Publisher | U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station |
| Publisher location | Fort Collins, CO |
| Contributing office(s) | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center |
| Description | v, 126 p. |
| Country | United States |
| Other Geospatial | Columbia River Basin;Great Basin |