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Natural Changes:

Natural Changes:. Fire. What determines changes caused by fires?. Fire regimes vary in specific landscapes according to the sequences of fire events rather than a single event Fire Regime is determined by The Intensity Frequency - which effects the growth cycle of plants Season.

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Natural Changes:

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  1. Natural Changes: Fire

  2. What determines changes caused by fires? • Fire regimes vary in specific landscapes according to the sequences of fire events rather than a single event • Fire Regime is determined by • The Intensity • Frequency - which effects the growth cycle of plants • Season

  3. Immediate Changes • Examples of Vegetative response: • Tree ferns, some eucalypts have epicormic buds protected by thick bark that sprout new growth when activated – by loss of foliage, damage or intense smoke/heat • Reduction in animal populations during or immediately after fire • Individual animals may die or following the fire through predation due to lack of food available • Creation of open spaces – access to light and nutrient rich seed bed • Grass trees produce flower spikes (and seeds) following fires, scencio – fire weed is one of the first to re-establish

  4. Immediate changes cont... The biological, chemical and physical effects on soils vary according to intensity and temperature Generally only top few cm are affected due to high temp Low intensity fires cause biological effects such as soil sterilisation – death to any living matter High intensity fires – Over 1000C may alter chemical structure – Nitrogen, Phosphorus & Ammonia

  5. Immediate changes cont... Soil fertility is increased through breakdown of all natural vegetation However, may be easily washed away with the loss of vegetation after rain fall

  6. Short Term Changes Within 3-4 weeks many trees begin to show signs of life – epicormic growth – nodule growth on trunk and underground lignotubers

  7. Changes Species such as hakeas, banksias, acacias and eucalypts regenerate from seed in ideal conditions - access to light and nutrient rich ash beds during germination Tree ferns resprout from charred trunks, shrubs resprout from branches, grasses regenerate by rapid growth at the base of the plant

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