Effects of fire on rangeland vegetation in south-western Mendoza plains (Argentina): composition, frequency, biomass, productivity and carrying capacity

Guevara, J.C.; Stasi, C.R.; Wuilloud, C.F.; Estevez, O.R.

doi:10.1006/jare.1998.0463

Cited by 33 publications

(22 citation statements)

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“…In fact, a lower frequency of shrubs in burned than in unburned grazed sites was detected by Guevara et al (1999) in an environment near to La Payunia. Fires have been considered as a tool to restrain the undesirable increase of shrubs caused by livestock grazing in other environments (Morello & Adamoli, 1974;LeoH n & Aguiar, 1985;Bucher, 1987).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Use of food availability by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and livestock in Northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

Puig

Videla

Cona

et al. 2001

Journal of Arid Environments

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 84%

Use of food availability by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and livestock in Northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

Puig

Videla

Cona

et al. 2001

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…Fire is a frequently used management tool for improving forage production in many arid and semi-arid regions (Bennett et al, 2003;Guevara et al, 1999;Perez et al, 2008;Snyman, 2004). The effects of prescribed burns vary among vegetation types, climate, and topography.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Fire in Chihuahuan Desert grassland: Short-term effects on vegetation, small mammal populations, and faunal pedoturbation

Killgore

Jackson

Whitford

2009

Journal of Arid Environments

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“…By differentially affecting seedling production of shrubs and herbs, fire intensity in chaparral has been proposed as a major factor controlling species composition and diversity (Moreno and Oechel 1991). Through the formation of gaps, hot spots may provide colonization sites for plants that were excluded in pre-fire conditions (Myers 1990;Guevara et al 1999). In addition, hot spots may alter nutrient cycling.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Native herbivore exerts contrasting effects on fire regime and vegetation structure

et al. 2011

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Although native herbivores can alter fire regimes by consuming herbaceous vegetation that serves as fine fuel and, less commonly, accumulating fuel as nest material and other structures, simultaneous considerations of contrasting effects of herbivores on fire have scarcely been addressed. We proposed that a colonial rodent, vizcacha (Lagostomus maximus), reduces and increases fire intensity at different stages in its population cycle in the semiarid scrub of Argentina. Specifically, we hypothesized that, when colonies are active, vizcachas create natural fire-breaks through intense grazing, generating over time patches of large unburned shrubs in grazed zones. In contrast, when colonies are abandoned, recovery of fine fuels and previous accumulation of coarse wood on colonies during territorial displays increases fire intensity, creating patches of high shrub mortality. To test these hypotheses, we estimated stem age of the dominant shrub (Larrea divaricata) and measured aboveground biomass in zones actively grazed by vizcachas and in ungrazed zones, and compared densities of live and dead shrubs on abandoned colonies and adjacent zones following fire. In active colonies, age and biomass of shrubs were much greater in grazed than ungrazed zones. In abandoned colonies that had been burnt, density of dead, burned shrubs was higher and density of live shrubs was lower than in adjacent zones. These results support our hypotheses and reveal a new interaction between native herbivores and fire, in which herbivores augment fire intensity by gathering fuel. Our findings indicate that, through opposing effects on fire, native herbivores enhance the heterogeneity of vegetation in woody-dominated ecosystems.

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Effects of fire on rangeland vegetation in south-western Mendoza plains (Argentina): composition, frequency, biomass, productivity and carrying capacity

Cited by 33 publications

References 0 publications

Use of food availability by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and livestock in Northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

Use of food availability by guanacos (Lama guanicoe) and livestock in Northern Patagonia (Mendoza, Argentina)

Fire in Chihuahuan Desert grassland: Short-term effects on vegetation, small mammal populations, and faunal pedoturbation

Native herbivore exerts contrasting effects on fire regime and vegetation structure

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