Effects of megafire on woody wpecies in the mixed-grass prairie
December 1, 2022
Lack of fire in contemporary grasslands has contributed to the invasion of woody plants that can survive low-intensity fire upon maturity, but knowledge of the effects of megafires (>40,000 ha) on grassland tree mortality is limited. We used remote sensing and ground surveys to estimate tree canopy cover change and rates of top-kill and mortality of woody species in the mixed-grass prairie following megafire. After megafire, we detected 63% tree canopy cover loss, 17 ± 4% (mean ± SD) of woodland trees were dead, and 56 ± 5% of tree species were top-killed and resprouted. We conclude that further postfire management (e.g., targeted herbicide, mechanical removal) may be required to limit woody encroachment following megafire.
Citation Information
Publication Year | 2022 |
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Title | Effects of megafire on woody wpecies in the mixed-grass prairie |
Authors | Matthias W. Sirch, Daniel S. Sullins, Nicholas J. Parker, David A. Haukos, John D. Kraft, Christian A. Hagen, Kent A. Fricke |
Publication Type | Article |
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Series Title | Prairie Naturalist |
Index ID | 70256700 |
Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
USGS Organization | Coop Res Unit Atlanta |