PRE-FIRE FUEL MANIPULATION IMPACTS ON ALIEN PLANT INVASION OF WILDLANDS |
Kyle E. Merriam1, Jon E. Keeley1, and Jan L. Beyers2 |
1 U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, 47050 Generals Highway, Three Rivers, CA 93271; (559) 565-4266 |
2 USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside Forest Fire Laboratory, 4955 Canyon Crest Dr., Riverside, CA 92507; (951) 680-1527 |
This project investigates the role of pre-fire fuel reduction manipulation projects in the invasion of nonnative
plants. These projects generally include mechanical fuel reduction treatments designed to control fire behavior, break up landscape
fuels, and improve access for fire suppression. They vary in design from linear features such as fuel breaks and fire lines, to large,
thinned areas with some remaining overstory canopy cover, sometimes referred to as shaded fuel breaks. Fuel breaks are an
increasingly important component of state and federal fuels management programs, such as the
National Fire Plan and the Healthy Forest
Initiative.
Unfortunately, an unexpected result of some pre-fire fuel manipulation projects may be the introduction of nonnative invasive plants. Fuel breaks may promote the establishment of nonnative invasive plants by disturbing soils, increasing light levels, and changing soil nutrients and hydrology. Fuel break maintenance activities, such as thinning and prescribed burning, also may provide disturbance regimes that favor invasive species. Equipment may disperse the seeds of nonnative plants into fuel breaks during construction and maintenance. The establishment of alien plants within fuel treatments is a serious concern because many treated areas extend into remote, pristine wildland areas. If alien species can establish a seed source in fuel breaks, adjacent wildland areas might become be more susceptible to widespread invasion, particularly following wide spread disturbances such as natural or prescribed fires. This study is designed to answer the following questions:
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This study is funded by the Joint Fire Science Program |
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