Document Type
Contribution to Book
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Program of the 71st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America
Publication Date
1986
First Page
290
Last Page
290
Abstract
Changes in fuels were studied in northwestern Wyoming by sampling a sequence of ten stands that had been heavily damaged by beetles from 1 to 20 years earlier. Leaf litter increased only slightly (3-6%) for six years, and large woody fuels (which contribute much less to flammability) increased steadily and substantially (up to 16 x) for at least 20 years. Other fuel categories did not change significantly. While flammability may be increased during the first year or two after a beetle infestation because dead leaves are still on the trees, the risk of destructive fire during years 2-20 may be lower, primarily because 1) the continuity of canopy fuels is reduced and 2) the proportionate increase in forest floor fine fuels is small. Accelerated growth in understory trees may increase fuel continuity and fire risk after 20 years. Other factors such as drought, the proportion of the trees killed and the probability of lightning strikes are important variables.
Recommended Citation
Romme, W., Knight, D. and Fedders, J. (1986). Mountain pine beetle outbreaks in the Rocky Mountains: effects on fuels and fire in lodgepole pine forest (abstract), pp. 290 in: the Program of the 71st Annual Meeting of the Ecological Society of America, August 10-16, 1986, State University of New York, Syracuse.
Included in
Ecology and Evolutionary Biology Commons, Entomology Commons, Forest Biology Commons, Forest Management Commons, Wood Science and Pulp, Paper Technology Commons
Comments
Originally published by Syracuse University.