Great Basin Sagebrush Steppe |
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Historic fire return intervals have been shown to
vary in sagebrush communities.
All estimates of sagebrush recovery have been greater than 10 years. |
This type-converted grassland has fire recurrence
intervals of less than 10 years, which is not enough time
for recovery of sagebrush vegetation. |
The ecology and effects of invasive annual grasses
have been studied extensively in this ecoregion, especially
focusing on cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) and more
recently including medusahead (Taeniatherum caput-medusae).
The invasion of cheatgrass
is the best
documented example of how annual grasses can cause major changes
in natural fire regimes. Vast areas have been type-converted
from semi-arid shrubland to invasive annual grassland, which
is highly flammable and promotes recurrent fire. The wildfires
of 1999 demonstrated the extreme threat that invasive annual
grasses present to the protection of property and natural resources
in this region. Although the threats are undisputable, land
managers cannot reliably predict the conditions under which
invasive annual grasses will dominate and manifest their negative
effects nor do they have any reliable basis for comparing the
relative effects of methods to control them. |
Study Sites
This project includes 2 sites, both in Great Basin sagebrush
steppe. One of these sites has been burned and one is scheduled
to be burned in 2004.
Walker, California
Cannon Fire- A wildfire which burned 23,020 acres of private
and public lands was ignited on June 15th 2002.
The
study
site
is
located in an area just North of Walker, California.
Winnemucca, Nevada
This site is located approximately 10 miles east of Winnemucca,
Nevada. The area is scheduled to be burned in the summer of 2004.
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