Document

Title

Fire ecology and use in relation to boreal forest ecosystem structure and function
Document Type: Conference Proceedings
Author(s): Michael G. Weber
Publication Year: 2000

Cataloging Information

Keyword(s):
  • adaptation
  • Betula papyrifera
  • boreal forests
  • Canada
  • cone serotiny
  • cones
  • decomposition
  • disturbance
  • ecology
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • ecosystem management
  • Eriophorum vaginatum
  • fire adaptations
  • fire frequency
  • fire intensity
  • fire management
  • fire size
  • forest management
  • logging
  • mosaic
  • nutrients
  • peat fires
  • Picea mariana
  • Pinus banksiana
  • Pinus resinosa
  • Pinus strobus
  • plant diseases
  • Populus tremuloides
  • Pteridium aquilinum
  • season of fire
  • seedlings
  • serotiny
  • soil
  • soil nutrients
  • soil temperature
  • succession
  • temperature
  • vegetation surveys
  • wildfires
Topic(s):
Region(s):
Record Maintained By:
FRAMES Staff; https://www.frames.gov/contact
TTRS Staff; https://talltimbers.org/contact-us
Record Last Modified: June 1, 2018
FRAMES Record Number: 3118
Tall Timbers Record Number: 12111
TTRS Location Status: In-file
TTRS Call Number: Tall Timbers shelf
TTRS Abstract Status: Okay, Fair use, Reproduced by permission

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy and is provided without charge to promote research and education in Fire Ecology. The E.V. Komarek Fire Ecology Database is the intellectual property of the Tall Timbers Research Station and Land Conservancy.

Description

In the boreal forests of North America, fire is the keystone ecosystem process that organizes the physical and biological attributes of the biome over most of its range. Boreal forest ecosystem structure and function are described in terms of the adaptations evolved in response to the periodic occurrence of fire. Recognition of the role of fire as an ecosystem process in boreal regions has resulted in its use in contemporary Canadian forestry practice and ecosystem maintenance and restoration. Examples are provided showing how wildfire and prescribed fire affect the substrate (e.g., soil temperature) and ecosystem processes (e.g., decomposition, soil respiration, and nutrient use efficiency of tree seedlings). Application of a natural disturbance paradigm to boreal forest ecosystem management in Canada is presented, pointing out the challenges and opportunities to research and operational practice.

Online Link(s):
Link to this document (471 KB; pdf)
Citation:
Weber, Michael G. 2000. Fire ecology and use in relation to boreal forest ecosystem structure and function. Proceedings of the Twenty-First Tall Timbers Fire Ecology Conference. pp. 76-84.