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Type: Journal Article
Author(s): Linda S. Mutch; David J. Parsons
Publication Date: 1998

Pre-and post-burn tree mortality rates, size structure, basal area, and ingrowth were determined for four 1.0 ha mixed conifer forest stands in the Log Creek and Tharp's Creek watersheds of Sequoia National Park. Mean annual mortality between 1986 and 1990 was 0.8% for both watersheds. In the fall of 1990, the Tharp's Creek watershed was treated with a prescribed burn. Between 1991 and 1995, mean annual mortality was 1.4% in the unburned Long creek watershed and 17.2% in the burned Tharp's Creek watershed. A drought from 1987 to 1992 likely contributed to the mortality increase in the Log Creek watershed. The high mortality in the Tharp's Creek watershed was primarily related to crown scorch from the 1990 fire and was modeled with logistic regression for white fir (Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.]) and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana [Dougl.]). From 1989 to 1994, basal area declined an average of 5% per year in the burned Tharp's Creek watershed, compared to average annual increases of less than 1% per year in the unburned Log Creek watershed and in the Tharp's watershed prior to burning. Post-burn size structure was dramatically changed in the Tharp's watershed prior to burning. Post-burn size structure was dramatically changed in the Tharp's Creek stands: 75% of trees <50 cm and 25% of trees >50 cm were killed by the fire.

Citation: Mutch, L. S., and D. J. Parsons. 1998. Mixed conifer forest mortality and establishment before and after prescribed fire in Sequoia National Park, California. Forest Science, v. 44, no. 3, p. 341-355.

Cataloging Information

Topics:
Regions:
Keywords:
  • Abies concolor
  • Abies magnifica
  • Abies spp.
  • arthropods
  • Calocedrus decurrens
  • coniferous forests
  • crown scorch
  • ecosystem dynamics
  • fire case histories
  • fire management
  • fuel loading
  • insects
  • mortality
  • national parks
  • natural areas management
  • parasitic plants
  • Pinus jeffreyi
  • Pinus lambertiana
  • plant diseases
  • scorch
  • Sequoia
  • Sequoiadendron giganteum
  • size classes
  • stand characteristics
  • trees
  • vegetation surveys
  • watersheds
Tall Timbers Record Number: 11876Location Status: In-fileCall Number: Fire FileAbstract Status: Fair use, Okay, Reproduced by permission
Record Last Modified:
Record Maintained By: FRAMES Staff (https://www.frames.gov/contact)
FRAMES Record Number: 37411

This bibliographic record was either created or modified by Tall Timbers 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 Tall Timbers.