Abstract Fire has long been understood to have an impact on the ecosystem of our native woodlands, but it is only recently that we have come to understand its importance in maintaining the ecosystem. This report takes samples of the flora structure and growth in two different areas of Anstey Hill Recreation Park. The first was last burnt in 1995, and the second burnt in 2012. The results of these samples can be compared to data sampled in 2011, when the 2012 burnt area had not been burnt since Ash Wednesday in 1983. Introduction Anstey Hill Recreation Park proves an interesting area to study the effects of bushfire on native ecosystems as a path winding up the hill provides a fire break. This break is what allows the two differing burn areas to be studied. The 2012 fire was a prescribed burn as the area had previously been unburnt since Ash Wednesday in 1983. Prescribed burns are conducted to reduce the fire danger associated with the fuel that builds up over time in the …show more content…
The ground cover consisted of graminoids, low shrubs, plant litter and mosses. What is to be expected after a low intensity burn is for the ground cover to act as a fuel and be dramatically reduced, while the canopy mostly survives. Higher intensity burns act to destroy the acacia cover along with the ground cover, and to kill the eucalypts. Both trees have survival mechanisms however. The acacias have tolerant seedlings that are triggered to grow after a fire to replace the short lived adults (Maslin, 2001). Eucalypts instead tolerate the fire, using lignotubers and epicormic buds to recover from within the dead tree. Lignotubers act as a hardy nutrient storage at the base of the trunk that can sprout new stems after a fire, while the epicormic buds on the trunk and branches allow the tree to continue growth from the dead trunk (Drake et al
The fire began as the result of an out-of-control campfire, and because of high wind and drought conditions which resulted in low fuel-moisture spread relatively quickly for an upland fire in the southeastern United States, although not to the scale of western wildfires. Even though the 2000 Linville Gorge fire was mainly a surface fire, the fire burned 4,000 hectares of wilderness area, and forced local management agencies to start paying more attention to upland ecosystems that were not previously thought to be fire-dependent. Considering the magnitude of the fire, it was fortunate that no human lives or homes were lost in the inferno. Vegetative studies show that Mountain Laurel (Kalmia latifolia), an evergreen shrub, reproduced much faster than other understory species (Dumas, Neufeld, & Fisk, 2007). This is attributed to its ability to resprout following a fire. The Linville Gorge Fire has been significant in shaping Southeastern fire mitigation in that it gave foresters an opportunity to study oak-pine forests that had not seen fire for over 50
The Burnt Area of Mount Pilot contains mixed stands of competing, seedlings with slower growing Callitris seedlings and re-sprouting Eucalyptus trees. There is few Callitris endlicheri, as the species is fire sensitive and often destroyed by fire, particularly when in quick succession. Prior to the 2003 fire the site was dominated by Callitris species of tree. The seedlings that emerged were mostly Eucalyptus, with less dense Callitris seedlings proving that the growth of Callitris is not consistent with long term site suitability. Surprisingly, more Eucalyptus seedlings died in the first six years of regeneration that Callitris seedlings; competition in co-existence does not determine survivability. The major trend is that the growth of Eucalyptus seedlings is faster than that of Callitris seedlings. The density of Eucalyptus seedlings is shown to effect Callitris seedlings growth which thrives where Eucalyptus seedlings are sparser. Callitris may take 7-15 years to produce sufficient seeds (Cohn, Lunt, Ross, & Bradstock, 2011; I. Lunt, Jones, N., & Petrow, M.,, 2003; I. Lunt, Price, J.,, 2016; Ian D Lunt, Zimmer, & Cheal, 2011; Zimmer, 2012).
The fire had destroyed the grasslands and trees that grew along the canyons of the
In North America, the boreal forest is known to be one of the largest carbon storage systems. A boreal forest is a biome that is made up of trees such as pines, spruces and another conifer species, the Black Spruce being one of the most essential species of the boreal forest. Fires may be a significant element to the ecosystem in terms of maintaining an ideal community by selecting for species and their traits that, in return, shape the environment, however forest fires are causing the Black Spruce species to deteriorate in population size due to the effects of the fires, caused by a rise in temperature. Clearly, temperature is the leading factor causing constant wildland fires across North America. This concludes the degree of heat intensity in the environment is
It comprised of 231 hectares of mixed woodlands, tall-and mixed-grass prairie, and developed land bordering Oak Lake in Brookings County, South Dakota (Bedford, Burkard, Crider, Barnett, & Troelstrup Jr, 2013). Sited in the Prairie Pothole region at an elevation of 556m, Oak Lake Field Station experiences a mid-continental climate with a mean annual precipitation of 583 mm and a mean annual temperature of 5.9 ◦C. The Oak Lake field composed of approximately 66% rangeland and pasture, 12% cropland, 13% forest, 8% wetlands, and 1% roads and developed areas. In order to maintain historically natural landscape, the field station uses prescribed burning to maintain vegetation and promote native plant diversity. Grassland within the Field Station have been burned 17 times between 1995 and 2011. The main soil types are mollisols (Westin, 1959). Sites of this study consist of the areas of native tallgrass and mixed prairie never been plowed and but infested and dominated by smooth brome or Kentucky
First, the reading posits that, yellow stone fire caused catastrophic damage to the park and trees. However, the professor refutes this point by saying that the fire vanished some plants and trees, but it left with the collagen that helps the new plants and trees to grow. He says that the fire gives an opportunity to new plants to grow. This explains that fire could not damage the vegetation, and trees, however, it creates an environment for new plants to grow.
First, the reading passage poists that the Yellowstone fire caused termendus damage to the park's trees and other vegitation. The professor contradicts this notion by stating that the scorched area was a suitable place for emergence of new plants which were unable to grow before the Yellowstone fire. Thus, according to the professors claims, this area will have more diversy vegitation than before the Yellowstone fire.
This region is “heavily influenced by natural disturbances”. Species here have adapted to large wildfires; some, including the jack pine and black spruce, require these fires to reproduce. Heat is needed to release their seeds, and seed germination only occurs in favourable conditions produced by the fires.
The Appalachians span over a distance of 1,600 miles, ranging across 14 states, from Newfoundland in the North, to Alabama in the South. The Appalachians are the oldest chain of mountains on the North American continent. With forest, comes forest fires, some natural and some prescribed by humans. In order to reduce the calamitous damage caused by natural wildfires, the technique of prescribed fires is used. This is done by diminishing the amounts of trees, shrubs, and brush in the intended area. By doing this, new native plant growth is encouraged and it helps maintain some plant and animal species that depend on the periodic fires. With this man made force comes numerous effects on vegetation, wildlife, and the human impact.
The focus of this lesson will be teaching the students to examine the history of wildland fires and their impact on society in America and in their community. Students will explore different approaches to living with fire and will examine various fire management techniques including prescribed fire, fire suppression, and fire prevention. They will take a closer look at the Copper King Fire in Montana, and will conduct a research project of wildfire history in another state. Students will also gain a better understanding of the role of fire in a particular culture and the importance of wildfire in the ecosystem. They will also understand ways to reduce wildfire risk around their home and community. Furthermore, students will increase their knowledge
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. (n.d.). U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service :: Fire Management - Wildland Urban Interface. Retrieved May 29, 2016, from https://www.fws.gov/fire/living_with_fire/wildland_urban_interface.shtml
Before Aboriginal and European settlement, lightning was the primary natural source of fire, especially in tropical parts of Australia (Kohen, 1996). These lightning-caused bushfires have drastically shaped the landscape and its vegetation. Plants have developed different adaptations to tolerate these fires and in turn contributed to the natural diversity in the area. The Mountain Ash (Eucalyptus regnans) trees growing in forests east of Melbourne are great examples of a tree species adapted to bushfires. These trees are usually killed by intense fire but their seeds germinate fast in the ash bed left behind by the fire (Museum Victoria, n.d.).
It is so horrible to see all of that timber go to waste. Our society depends on timber a lot and we need so much of it to produce so many useful goods. What would happen if we did not have any timber to make homes or proved some type of shelter? We would be lost and have no where to go. Prescribed burns can prevent that great loss of timber and save a lot of trees. Although one purpose of controlled burns is to curve paths for huge forest fires, they are also used to freshen up the area. If an area of trees is left untreated from prescribed burns, the sands are expected to decline in growth (Mitchell 1). Also, to ensure a healthy forest,
While not all the effects of prescribed burns are known some are very evident. The first of these common effects is that vegetation and fallen dead material are burned creating an open forest floor. This eliminates any fuel that could contribute to a high intensity fire in the future. When the fire burns the organic material in the forest, nutrient rich ash is left behind. When the first rain comes, the nutrients in the ash dissolve into the soil for the new plants to use. This process is called nutrient recycling. These nutrients left in the soil are a good source of food for the young plants that will begin to grow back. Another outcome of prescribed fire is that new growth begins immediately after the fires have been extinguished. Within
According to Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary, Wildfire means “a sweeping and destructive conflagration esp. in a wilderness or a rural area.” Also according to the same dictionary, wilderness means “a tract or region uncultivated and uninhabited by human beings.” Forest Fires happen when there is a drought because branches and twigs die and dry out creating plenty of fuel for a fire. According to the NIFC (National Interagency Fire Center) there are about 105,534 wildfires that occur each year.