Effects of Four Low-Intensity Burns Over 14 Years on the Floristics of a Blackbutt (Eucalyptus pilularis) Forest in Southern Queensland

1996 ◽  
Vol 44 (3) ◽  
pp. 315 ◽  
Author(s):  
MJ Russell ◽  
BR Roberts
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Lantana Camara ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Data Sets ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Eucalyptus Pilularis ◽  
Observation Period

A grassy open forest of Eucalyptus pilularis Smith, E. saligna Smith, and other eucalypts, with an understorey of Allocasuarina torulosa (Aiton) L.A.S.Johnson and Acacia spp., was studied by belt transect for 14 years. The forest, north of Toowoomba in Queensland, was divided by a fire break into a non-burned section and a section that had a low-intensity prescribed burn through it four times over the observation period. Cover of herbaceous species, measured with the intercept method, and density of perennial species were recorded six times in the burned section and seven times in the non-burned section over the observation period. There was no difference between burning treatments in cover or density of the species sampled nor in their diversity (Shannon index) over this period. Classification analysis of data sets of the whole transect did not show clear groups and ordination of these data sets produced axes related to distribution of major species. These analyses indicated spatial variability along the transect as was apparent in the field. Total cover of the main grass species confirmed this variability, but also showed changes in parts of the transect over the period that were ascribed to changes in cover of the shrub layer. Data suggested that low-intensity burning stimulated ecesis of Acacia spp. but did not affect density of Allocasuarina torulosa (Aiton) L.A.S.Johnson and young eucalypts in this forest. Burning kept Lantana camara L. bushes small compared with not burning. Covers of the major grasses, Microlaena stipoides (Labill.) R.Br., Themeda triandra Forssk and Imperata cylindrica (L.) Rauschel, were not different between burning treatments. It appears that low-intensity prescribed burning produced less change over the 14 year period than did no burning. Change in the non-burned section may be attributed to encroachment of the exotic species Lantana camara. This situation is discussed in relation to recent plant succession theory.

scholarly journals Prescribed burning in a mediterranean-climate region mitigates the disturbance by bushfire to a critical food resource for an endangered bird, the Carnaby’s cockatoo

Fire Ecology ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Valerie S. Densmore ◽  
Emma S. Clingan
Keyword(s):  
Seed Production ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Fire Regime ◽  
Fire Hazard ◽  
Food Resource ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Percentage Survival

Abstract Background Prescribed burning is used to reduce fire hazard in highly flammable vegetation types, including Banksia L.f. woodland that occurs on the Swan Coastal Plain (SCP), Western Australia, Australia. The 2016 census recorded well over 1.9 million people living on the SCP, which also encompasses Perth, the fourth largest city in Australia. Banksia woodland is prone to frequent ignitions that can cause extensive bushfires that consume canopy-stored banksia seeds, a critical food resource for an endangered bird, the Carnaby’s cockatoo (Calyptorynchus latirostris, Carnaby 1948). The time needed for banksias to reach maturity and maximum seed production is several years longer than the typical interval between prescribed burns. We compared prescribed burns to bushfires and unburned sites at three locations in banksia woodland to determine whether low-intensity prescribed burns affect the number of adult banksias and their seed production. Study sites were matched to the same vegetation complex, fire regime, and time-since-fire to isolate fire intensity as a variable. Results Headfire rates of spread and differenced normalized burn ratios indicated that prescribed burning was generally of a much lower intensity than bushfire. The percentage survival of adult banksias and their production of cones and follicles (seeds) did not decrease during the first three years following a prescribed burn. However, survival and seed production were significantly diminished followed high-intensity bushfire. Thus, carrying capacity for Carnaby’s cockatoo was unchanged by prescribed burning but decreased markedly following bushfire in banksia woodland. Conclusions These results suggest that prescribed burning is markedly different from bushfire when considering appropriate fire intervals to conserve canopy habitats in fire-resilient vegetation communities. Therefore, low-intensity prescribed burning represents a viable management tool to reduce the frequency and extent of bushfire impacts on banksia woodland and Carnaby’s cockatoo.

scholarly journals Facilitating Prescribed Fire in Northern California through Indigenous Governance and Interagency Partnerships

Fire ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 37
Author(s):  
Tony Marks-Block ◽  
William Tripp
Keyword(s):  
Political Ecology ◽  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Participant Observation ◽  
Fire Suppression ◽  
The United States ◽  
Northern California ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
California Department ◽  
State Regulations

Prescribed burning by Indigenous people was once ubiquitous throughout California. Settler colonialism brought immense investments in fire suppression by the United States Forest Service and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention (CAL FIRE) to protect timber and structures, effectively limiting prescribed burning in California. Despite this, fire-dependent American Indian communities such as the Karuk and Yurok peoples, stalwartly advocate for expanding prescribed burning as a part of their efforts to revitalize their culture and sovereignty. To examine the political ecology of prescribed burning in Northern California, we coupled participant observation of prescribed burning in Karuk and Yurok territories (2015–2019) with 75 surveys and 18 interviews with Indigenous and non-Indigenous fire managers to identify political structures and material conditions that facilitate and constrain prescribed fire expansion. Managers report that interagency partnerships have provided supplemental funding and personnel to enable burning, and that decentralized prescribed burn associations facilitate prescribed fire. However, land dispossession and centralized state regulations undermine Indigenous and local fire governance. Excessive investment in suppression and the underfunding of prescribed fire produces a scarcity of personnel to implement and plan burns. Where Tribes and local communities have established burning infrastructure, authorities should consider the devolution of decision-making and land repatriation to accelerate prescribed fire expansion.

scholarly journals Quantitative Analysis of Forest Fires in Southeastern Australia Using SAR Data

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2386
Author(s):  
Aqil Tariq ◽  
Hong Shu ◽  
Qingting Li ◽  
Orhan Altan ◽  
Mobushir Riaz Khan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Forest Fires ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Fire Risk ◽  
Fire Season ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Backscatter Coefficient ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Southeastern Australia ◽  
Sar Data ◽  
Sar Imagery

Prescribed burning is a common strategy for minimizing forest fire risk. Fire is introduced under specific environmental conditions, with explicit duration, intensity, and rate of spread. Such conditions deviate from those encountered during the fire season. Prescribed burns mostly affect surface fuels and understory vegetation, an outcome markedly different when compared to wildfires. Data on prescribed burning are crucial for evaluating whether land management targets have been reached. This research developed a methodology to quantify the effects of prescribed burns using multi-temporal Sentinel-1 Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) imagery in the forests of southeastern Australia. C-band SAR datasets were specifically used to statistically explore changes in radar backscatter coefficients with the intensity of prescribed burns. Two modeling approaches based on pre- and post-fire ratios were applied for evaluating prescribed burn impacts. The effects of prescribed burns were documented with an overall accuracy of 82.3% using cross-polarized backscatter (VH) SAR data under dry conditions. The VV polarization indicated some potential to detect burned areas under wet conditions. The findings in this study indicate that the C-band SAR backscatter coefficient has the potential to evaluate the effectiveness of prescribed burns due to its sensitivity to changes in vegetation structure.

Prescribed Burning for Stand Conversion in Budworm-killed Balsam Fir: An Ontario Case History

1986 ◽  
Vol 62 (2) ◽  
pp. 96-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. J. McRae
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Consumption ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Choristoneura Fumiferana ◽  
Abies Balsamea ◽  
Spruce Budworm ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fire Effects ◽  
Balsam Fir ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Stand Conversion

Recent spruce budworm (Choristoneura fumiferana [Clem.]) infestations have resulted in widespread areas of balsam fir (Abies balsamea [L.] Mill.) mortality in Ontario, and there is growing interest in reestablishing these areas quickly as productive forests. One technique being used is prescribed fire after a salvage and bulldozer tramping operation. A 445-ha prescribed burn was carried out under moderate fire danger conditions in northern Ontario. The site, which was covered by balsam fir fuel that had been killed by spruce budworm, was tramped to improve fire spread. Weather, fuel consumption, and fire effects are reported. The burn effectively reduced heavy surface fuel loadings and consequently planting on the site was easier. Key words: Prescribed burning, fire, spruce budworm. Choristoneura fumiferana, balsam fir, Abies balsamea, fuel consumption, site preparation, tramping, stand conversion.

Characterisation of the fuel and fire environment in southern Ontario’s tallgrass prairie

2015 ◽  
Vol 24 (8) ◽  
pp. 1118 ◽  
Author(s):  
Susan Kidnie ◽  
B. Mike Wotton
Keyword(s):  
Moisture Content ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Fire Spread ◽  
Fuel Load ◽  
Prairie Restoration ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Spread Rate ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Tallgrass Prairie Restoration

Prescribed burning can be an integral part of tallgrass prairie restoration and management. Understanding fire behaviour in this fuel is critical to conducting safe and effective prescribed burns. Our goal was to quantify important physical characteristics of southern Ontario’s tallgrass fuel complex prior to and during prescribed burns and synthesise our findings into useful applications for the prescribed fire community. We found that the average fuel load in tallgrass communities was 0.70 kg m–2. Fuel loads varied from 0.38 to 0.96 kg m–2. Average heat of combustion did not vary by species and was 17 334 kJ kg–1. A moisture content model was developed for fully cured, matted field grass, which was found to successfully predict moisture content of the surface layers of cured tallgrass in spring. We observed 25 head fires in spring-season prescribed burns with spread rates ranging from 4 to 55 m min–1. Flame front residence time averaged 27 s, varying significantly with fuel load but not fire spread rate. A grassland spread rate model from Australia showed the closest agreement with observed spread rates. These results provide prescribed-burn practitioners in Ontario better information to plan and deliver successful burns.

The Effect of Season of Picloram and Chlorsulfuron Application on Dalmatian Toadflax (Linaria genistifolia) on Prescribed Burns

2005 ◽  
Vol 19 (2) ◽  
pp. 319-324 ◽  
Author(s):  
James S. Jacobs ◽  
Roger L. Sheley
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Fire ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Block Design ◽  
Prescribed Burn ◽  
Prescribed Burns ◽  
Randomized Complete Block Design ◽  
Untreated Check ◽  
Dalmatian Toadflax ◽  
Density And Biomass ◽  
Cover Density

Herbicides are an important tool for managing weeds where prescribed fire is used for rangeland improvement. Understanding how the season of herbicide application relates to prescribed burning is important. Our objective was to determine the effect of picloram and chlorsulfuron on Dalmatian toadflax cover, density, and biomass, where these herbicides were applied in the fall before burning or in the spring before or after burning. Six herbicide treatments and an untreated check were applied in a randomized complete block design with four replications to a prescribed burn at two sites infested with Dalmatian toadflax in Montana, United States. Herbicides were applied in the fall preburn, spring preburn, and spring postburn. Site 1 was treated in 1999 and 2000, and site 2 was treated in 2000 and 2001. Cover, biomass, and density of Dalmatian toadflax were sampled in September 2000, 2001, and 2002 at site 1 and September 2001 and 2002 at site 2. At site 1, cover, biomass, and density of Dalmatian toadflax were at least 76% lower compared with the check in both spring-applied picloram treatments, whereas the fall picloram treatment had similar Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density compared with the check 3 yr after application. By 2002, chlorsulfuron reduced Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density by at least 79% compared with the check in all timings of application at site 1. At site 2, Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density were reduced by at least 86% for all picloram and chlorsulfuron treatments in 2002, 2 yr after application. Chlorsulfuron applied in the fall or the spring and picloram applied in the spring effectively suppressed Dalmatian toadflax cover, biomass, and density for up to 3 yr.

scholarly journals Classification of Grass and Forb Species on Riverdike Using UAV LiDAR-Based Structural Indices

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 (3) ◽  
pp. 268-273
Author(s):  
Naoko Miura ◽  
Tomoyo F. Koyanagi ◽  
Susumu Yamada ◽  
Shigehiro Yokota ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Spatial Resolution ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Herbaceous Vegetation ◽  
Small Complex ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
Aerial Vehicle ◽  
Conventional Systems ◽  
Structural Indices

Herbaceous vegetation on riverdikes plays an important role in preventing soil erosion, which, otherwise, may lead to the collapse of riverdikes and consequently, severe flooding. It is crucial for managers to keep suitable vegetation conditions, which include native grass species such as Imperata cylindrica, and to secure visibility of riverdikes for inspection. If managers can efficiently find where suitable grass and unsuitable forb species grow on vast riverdikes, it would help in vegetation management on riverdikes. Classification and quantification of herbaceous vegetation is a challenging task. It requires spatial resolution and accuracy high enough to recognize small, complex-shaped vegetation on riverdikes. Recent developments in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology combined with light detection and ranging (LiDAR) may offer the solution, since it can provide highly accurate, high-spatial resolution, and denser data than conventional systems. This paper aims to develop a model to classify grass and forb species using UAV LiDAR data alone. A combination of UAV LiDAR-based structural indices, V-bottom (presence of vegetation up to 50 cm from the ground) and V-middle (presence of vegetation 50–100 cm from the ground), was tested and validated in 94 plots owing to its ability to classify grass and forb species on riverdikes. The proposed method successfully classified the “upright” grass species and “falling” grass species / forb species with an accuracy of approximately 83%. Managers can efficiently prioritize the inspection areas on the riverdikes by using this method. The method is versatile and adjustable in other grassland environments.

scholarly journals Habitat use and conservation threats to Wild Water Buffalo Bubalus arnee (Mammalia: Artiodactyla: Bovidae) in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, Nepal

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 19714-19724
Author(s):  
Reeta Khulal ◽  
Bijaya Neupane ◽  
Bijaya Dhami ◽  
Siddhartha Regmi ◽  
Ganesh Prasad Tiwari ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Habitat Use ◽  
Water Buffalo ◽  
Imperata Cylindrica ◽  
Grass Species ◽  
Mimosa Pudica ◽  
Shrub Species ◽  
Acacia Catechu ◽  
Conservation Threats ◽  
Wildlife Reserve ◽  
Herb Species

Wild Water Buffalo (WWB) Bubalus arnee is an endangered species and a protected animal in Nepal. The remaining WWB population is located in Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), and it appears to have low viability under prevailing conditions. We assessed the habitat use and conservation threats to wild water buffalo in KTWR. For habitat analysis the quadrant method was used. Eighty-four quadrants of 25 m2 for trees, 168 quadrants of 10m2 for shrubs and 336 quadrants of 1 m2 for herbs were laid out in the study area. Ivlev’s electivity index (IV) was calculated to assess the use of different habitat components. The important Value Index (IVI) was used for vegetation assessment. A relative threat ranking method was used to assess conservation threats for wild buffalo and their habitats. Wild buffalo mostly preferred habitats with distance to water resources less than 500 m (IV= 0.4), less than 25 % crown coverage (IV= 0.39) and more than 75 % ground coverage (IV= 0.42). The trees species Phyllanthus emblica, Acacia catechu, shrub species Mimosa pudica and the herb species Brachiaria distachya, Vetiveria zizanioides, Imperata cylindrica, and Saccharum spontaneum were preferred by WWB in the study area. Among the different plant categories, we found that Acacia catechu was the most preferred tree species (IVI= 156.95), Mimosa pudica the most preferred shrub species (IVI= 58.68), and Imperata cylindrica the most preferred herb species (IVI= 64.73). Major conservation threats perceived by local stakeholders for wild buffaloes were overgrazing by cattle and genetic swamping through crossbreeding with domestic buffalo. Therefore, conservation of grass species through control of grazing, and prevention of cross breeding are measures supported by this study. Additionally, site-specific conservation strategies should be adopted, based on identified threats in the study area.

Influence of a low-intensity fire on a Pinus halepensis Mill. forest seed bank and its consequences on the early stages of plant succession

2001 ◽  
Vol 49 (2) ◽  
pp. 105-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
PABLO FERRANDIS ◽  
JORGE DE LAS HERAS ◽  
JOSÉ M. HERRANZ ◽  
JUAN J. MARTíNEZ-SÁNCHEZ ◽  
JOSÉ M. HERRANZ
Keyword(s):  
Seed Bank ◽  
Pinus Halepensis ◽  
Plant Succession ◽  
Low Intensity ◽  
Early Stages

The effect of low-intensity prescribed burns in two seasons on litterfall biomass and nutrient content

2020 ◽  
Vol 29 (11) ◽  
pp. 1029 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Espinosa ◽  
J. Madrigal ◽  
V. Pando ◽  
A. C. de la Cruz ◽  
M. Guijarro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Magnesium Content ◽  
Pinus Nigra ◽  
Mixed Stand ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Delayed Response ◽  
Pure Stand ◽  
Clear Trend ◽  
Low Intensity

Litterfall production and composition, fall pattern and nutrient content were studied in a mixed stand of Pinus nigra and Pinus pinaster (El Pozuelo), as well as in a pure stand of Pinus nigra (Beteta) in the Cuenca Mountains in order to determine the effect of two-season prescribed burning treatments. Needles were the most abundant fraction. Pinecone fraction decreased after burning in the mixed stand and the opposite occurred in the pure stand. The inflorescence fraction showed a decrease in the spring-burned plots at El Pozuelo and Beteta. Bark, branch and miscellaneous fractions were affected mainly by meteorological events. Low-intensity prescribed burning was not found to cause significant perturbations. The perturbation was mitigated over the years. An immediate effect of prescribed burning in spring was seen at El Pozuelo and Beteta, although it was more significant for the pure stand. The effect of prescribed burning in autumn at Beteta had a delayed response. As regards nutrient contents, no differences in carbon concentrations were detected. Overall, an increasing trend in N, P, K concentrations in needles after the burning treatment was found. Calcium was not a limiting factor. Magnesium content exhibited no clear trend.

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