Study

Effects of an intense prescribed fire on understory vegetation in a mixed conifer forest

  • Published source details Huisinga K.D., Laughlin D.C., Fulé P.Z., Springer J.D. & McGlone C.M. (2005) Effects of an intense prescribed fire on understory vegetation in a mixed conifer forest . The Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society, 132, 590-601.

Actions

This study is summarised as evidence for the following.

Action Category

Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants

Action Link
Forest Conservation
  1. Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants

    A site comparison study in 1998-2001 in temperate coniferous forest in Arizona, USA (Huisinga et al. 2005) found that prescribed burning increased plant species richness and cover. Total species richness of plants (burned: 40; unburned: 24 species/0.1 ha) and total plant cover (burned: 50%; unburned: 11%) were higher in burned plots. Herbaceous species richness (burned: 33; unburned: 19) as well as exotic species richness (burned: 2; unburned: 0) and cover (burned: 1%; unburned: 0%) were higher in burned plots. In contrast, there was no difference between treatments for woody species richness (burned: 6; unburned: 6) or plant species diversity (Shannon’s index burned: 1.9; unburned: 1.4). Data were collected in 2001 in 30 plots (0.1 ha) within each of two areas (270 ha): burned (severely burned in 1993) and unburned.

     

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