The effects of burn entry and burn severity on ponderosa pine and mixed conifer forests in Grand Canyon National Park
The authors investigated the effects of multiple burn entries and burn severity on stand structure, composition and regeneration on a dry mixed-conifer stand and a ponderosa pine stand with white fir encroachment.
The authors found that a single entry, low severity fire was not effective in reducing tree densities in ponderosa pine trees with white fir encroachment, although a second entry fire did reduce white fir populations. Low severity fire, however, reduced fuel load density in the dry mixed-conifer stands. They also found that aspen regeneration after high severity fire was abundant. For ponderosa pine, seedlings did increase after fire, however, due to the dense overstory canopy, survival into adulthood was uncertain for both stand types.
Fire and Ecosystem Effects Linkages
The authors found that a single entry, low severity fire was not effective in reducing tree densities in ponderosa pine trees with white fir encroachment, although a second entry fire did reduce white fir populations.
Low severity fire reduced fuel load density in the dry mixed-conifer stands.
The authors found that a single entry, low severity fire was not effective in reducing tree densities in ponderosa pine trees with white fir encroachment, although a second entry fire did reduce white fir populations. Low severity fire, however, reduced fuel load density in the dry mixed-conifer stands. They also found that aspen regeneration after high severity fire was abundant. For ponderosa pine, seedlings did increase after fire, however, due to the dense overstory canopy, survival into adulthood was uncertain for both stand types.