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The effects of fire on vegetation in the desert mountain shrub community were studied on 3 to 7-year-old burned sites near the northern limits of the Chihuahurn Desert. Coverage and frequency of redberry juniper (Juniipcruspinchotii) and frequency of whitebail acacia (Acacia texends) were lower, while frequencies of catclaw mimosa (Mimosa biunc~em) and skeleton goldeneye (Viguiera stenoloba) were higher on burned sites when_compared with unburned paired piants. Lechuguiiia (Agave lecheguil&, sotoi (DasytYrion leiophylbun), and sacahuista (No&r spp.) suffered losses in excess of 50% on burned sites. With the exceptions of sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) and bull muhiy (Muhlenbergia emersleyi), ail grasses had recovered or showed increases by the end of three growing seasons. Ail grasses had recovered or increased on 6 to 7-year-old bums. Recovery of burned piants was predominately by vegetative means, suggesting that periodic fires can be used to maintain or even increase grass coverage at the expense of shrubs in this community. The response of native vegetation to burning has been the subject of numerous papers, especially over the last 25 years. Little, however, has been reported concerning the effects of fire on vegetation of the Chihuahuan Desert. Kittams (1973) observed the recovery of vegetation I to 3 years after burning in desert mountain shrub communities located near the northern limits of the Chihua-Author. at the time of the research. was ecologist. National Park Service and adjunct professor of range management.

No abstract