The future of fire in California ecosystems

By: , and 
Edited by: N. G. SugiharaJ. W. van WagtendonkJ. Fites-KaufmanK. E. Shaffer, and A. E. Thode

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Abstract

This chapter reviews the concepts developed in the book and challenges Californians to accept the fact that they live in fire-prone ecosystems. California’s variety of fire regimes are products of its wide diversity of vegetation, climate, topography, and ignitions. The role fire plays in an ecosystem is characterized by the fire regime attributes that describe the pattern of fire occurrence, behavior, and effects. California has a diverse flora comprised of plants that have evolved under a variety of climates and evolutionary pressures. The most universal changes to California’s ecosystems during the historic period have been the alteration of past fire regimes and changes in the pattern of fire on the landscape. Ecosystems change, and it is a mistake to manage any complex, dynamic ecosystem for a single, static state or condition.

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Publication type Book chapter
Publication Subtype Book Chapter
Title The future of fire in California ecosystems
Chapter 24
DOI 10.1525/california/9780520246058.003.0024
Year Published 2004
Language English
Publisher University of California Press
Publisher location Berkeley, CA
Contributing office(s) Western Ecological Research Center
Description 6 p.
Larger Work Type Book
Larger Work Subtype Monograph
Larger Work Title Fire in California ecosystems
First page 538
Last page 543
Country United States
State California
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