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Mammoth Cave National Park
Fire Regime
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![Nature and Science Nature and Science](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081007103055im_/http://www.nps.gov/maca/naturescience/images/icogj303.jpg) |
A prescribed burn at Mammoth Cave National Park |
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All of the component ecosystems within the Mammoth Cave area karst landscape are functionally connected and must be managed holistically in order to restore appropriate biodiversity. Fire is obviously a powerful determining force in vegetation communities. Whether a given area with fire potential is prairie, savanna, or forest is governed largely by fire regime, and these vegetation types define habitats, including food supply, for a broad spectrum of wildlife. For the river and connected aquatic cave ecosystem, vegetation determines the amounts and quality of water, sediment, and organic matter that enter. For the terrestrial cave ecosystem, the types and quantities of insects, fungi and plants available to bats, woodrats, and cave crickets are largely determined by major vegetation types, several of which are fire dependent. Therefore, Mammoth Cave National Park has embarked on a program of safety minded and ecologically sound prescribed burning.
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![Fire Management Fire Management](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081007103055im_/http://www.nps.gov/ser/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/MACA_5tdxego8_65-fire.gif) Fire Management Learn how fire is actively managed at Mammoth Cave NP more... | |
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![Musicians often played in Mammoth Cave. Musicians often played in Mammoth Cave.](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20081007103055im_/http://www.nps.gov/ser/customcf/apps/CMS_HandF/Pictures/MACA_DYK-Music.jpg) |
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Did You Know?
For many years, the chambers of Mammoth Cave rang with the sound of music. Visiting bands such as Landram's Sax-Horn Band and Luther Ewing's String Band, along with the Mammoth Cave Hotel's own local musicians, entertained visitors underground into the early 20th century.
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Last Updated: July 24, 2006 at 22:37 EST |