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The effects of the 2002 Hayman Fire on the ponderosa pine/bunch grass ecosystem

Investigating the impact of crown replacement fires vs low intensity fires on soil, vegetation, and canopy cover in the ponderosa pine/bunch grass ecosystem.

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The effects of the 2002 Hayman Fire on the ponderosa pine/bunch grass ecosystem

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  1. The effects of the 2002 Hayman Fire on the ponderosa pine/bunch grass ecosystem Nick KelleyBlake Schnebly www.nifc.gov/gallery/

  2. Hypotheses • Null: Crown replacement fires have the same effect on ponderosa/bunch grass ecosystems as low intensity fires. • Alternative: Crown replacement fires alter the soil, vegetation, and canopy cover more than low intensity fires. www.artbypritika.com/ shakti/fire.jpg

  3. Background • Ponderosa/Bunchgrass • Historically fire-dependent -forest & tree structure • “Encourage” low intensity fire -leaf sloughing • Reduces competition • Fire suppression has altered this regime • Ladder Fuels • Buildup • Parasites www.artbypritika.com/ shakti/fire.jpg www.pacificresearch.org/pub/sab/enviro/03_enviroindex/22_forests.html

  4. Catastrophic Fires • Causes Stand Replacement • Humans • Drought • Severe parasitism • Effects Stand Replacement • Seed bank/Regenerators • Erosion • Type of vegetation/Weeds/Colonizers • Effects Low Intensity Burns • Nutrient Flush • Clears forest litter • Prevents stand replacement fires www.sofia.usgs.gov/.../ images/fire-forest.jpg

  5. Three Zones • Control- has not burned recently and shows no fire “damage” • Low intensity- burned ground vegetation, the canopy is alive and intact occasional torching • Crown Replacement- full burn including the tops of trees and organics in the soil

  6. Survey Criteria • Soil temperature • Assumed temperature is not sun/shade dependent • Soil moisture • Percentage by comparing wet/dry weight • Canopy Cover • Percentage of footprint • Species Richness • The total number of different ground plant species • Species Area/Percent Coverage • The area a species of ground vegetation covers

  7. Materials • Compass • Soil Corer • Thermometer • Inclinometer • GPS • Digital Camera • Tape Measure • Flags • Vegetation Key • 1/2 meter Grid • Plastic Bags • Pens

  8. Methods • Random Plot Generator and Compass • Unbiased site location • 6 Plots along a 25m line • Improve survey quality • 1/2 Meter Grid • Identify species and estimate coverage percent • Soil Temperature • Soil Sample • Core to 14cm mark • Canopy Cover • Estimated and averaged • Location and Elevation • GPS • Slope Aspect and Angle • Compass • Inclinometer www.wortley.cc/grotto/ survey_equipment.jpeg

  9. Expected Results of Alternative Hypothesis • The three zones • species richness/area • Canopy coverage % • Soil moisture • Soil temperature • Relationship • Moisture/temperature • Temperature/Canopy

  10. Canopy Cover Vs. Type of Burn www.magicalgiraffe.com/new/ survey/introduction.ht

  11. Average Soil Temperature www.thegrillstoreandmore.com/image/products/big-pics/12inch-thermometer.jpg

  12. Soil Moisture Vs. Type of Burn This is a stand replacement zone

  13. Percentage of Plant Species per Burn Area Three Types of Burn areas Control Area Low Intensity Stand Replacement

  14. Percent Coverage per Species per Zone

  15. Canopy Cover vs. Average Soil Temperature T-Test- .632 A correlation is shown, however, it is not statistically accurate

  16. Soil Moisture per Temperature T-Test= .121

  17. Supported Canopy Cover Soil Moisture Species Richness Species Area Soil Temperature vs. Soil Moisture Soil Temperature vs. Canopy Cover (statistical error) Discredited Soil Temperature Soil Temperature vs. Canopy Cover (statistical error) Results: Conclusion

  18. Thermometers Elevation Time of Day Date of Survey Weather Personal Bias Nonreplicable Missing samples Small sample quantity Slope aspect Slope angle Protocol Sampling error Equipment limitations Possible Sources of Error

  19. Possible Improvements/Alterations • Shorter sample window • Similar weather • Maintaining possession of equipment • Technological improvements of protocol • Increase sample size • Incorporate other data

  20. Conclusions • Fire maintains the stage of succession in ponderosa/bunch grass ecosystems • Significant differences between zones • Stand replacement fire appears to alter the ecosystem’s condition more than historical low intensity fire • Stand replacement fire lowers the soil moisture, increases soil temperature, decreases canopy cover, reduces vegetation, and possibly limits re-vegetation

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