Fire and Season of Postfire Defoliation Effects on Biomass, Composition, and Cover in Mixed-Grass Prairie

Gates, Emily A.; Vermeire, Lance T.; Marlow, Clayton B.; Waterman, R. C.

doi:10.1016/j.rama.2017.01.009

Cited by 15 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…The restoration of steppe ecosystems after fires in general occurs according to the scenario typical for other ecosystems formed by grasses. A number of researchers note an increase in the productivity of grass ecosystems after a fire (Limb et al, 2016;Gates et al, 2017). There is information about increasing the participation of perennial grasses and reducing annual grasses, the positive response of legumes (Scheintaub et al, 2009).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Post-pyrogenic changes in vegetation cover and biological soil crust in steppe ecosystems

Shcherbyna

Maltseva

Maltsev

et al. 2017

Regul. Mech. Biosyst.

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The study of the processes of restoration of species richness and productivity of steppe ecosystems after fires is an urgent problem that affects not only the conservation of biodiversity but also the maintenance of pasture resources. This article presents the results of a study of post-pyrogenic effects in steppe ecosystems, taking into account changes in the species composition of cyanoprokaryotes and algae that are art of the biological soil crust, which performs ecologically important functions in xerophytic ecosystems. The investigations were carried out in virgin and postpyrogenic steppe ecosystems of the "Troitsk Clough" reserve (Zaporizhia region, Ukraine). For three years, the dynamics of the projective cover and the height of the vegetation cover in virgin areas of herbs-fescue-feather-grass and fescue-feather-grass steppes was studied as well as within two ecosystems of post-pyrogenic development after fires that occurred in the spring and winter periods. We discovered that restoration of the herbs-fescue-feather-grass and fescue-feather-grass steppes after fires occurs at different rates. The cause of the slow restoration of vegetation cover can be its severe damage by fire at the beginning of the vegetation season and the development of erosion processes. The number of species of cyanoprokaryotes and algae in the biological soil crust of virgin and post-pyrogenic ecosystems is not significantly different. It varies from 35 to 49 species. The greatest diversity is noted for Cyanoprokaryota. Chlorophyta is in the second place. Among the dominants, the filamentous forms of Cyanoprokaryota prevail. Nostoc edaphicum was noted as a nitrogen fixing representative. The similarity of the species lists of cyanoprokaryotes and algae of post-pyrogenic and virgin ecosystems, according to the calculated Jaccard coefficient, varies from 49.1% to 55.3%. This indicates a strong specificity of the composition of cyanoprokaryotes and algae in post-pyrogenic biological soil crusts. Changes in their composition reflect different stages of post-pyrogenic succession. In the first year after a fire, there is a slight increase in species richness, which is a consequence of the favorable effect of increasing the amount of mineral substances in the soil after the organic matter has burned out. The "pioneer" group includes: Phormidium autumnale, Ph. dimorphum, Ph. retzii, Ph. (Leptolyngbya) henningsii, Luticola mutica, Hantzschia amphioxys. Gradually this effect is leveled and the species richness of cyanoprokaryotes and algae is stabilized at a level peculiar for this type of ecosystem.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The positive effect in post-pyrogenic changes may be absent. In most cases, negative manifestations are limited within a two-year period (Limb et al, 2016;Gates et al, 2017). Fire, combined with subsequent grazing, can lead to the disappearance of the most sensitive plant species (Clark et al, 2016).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Post-pyrogenic changes in vegetation cover and biological soil crust in steppe ecosystems

Shcherbyna

Maltseva

Maltsev

et al. 2017

Regul. Mech. Biosyst.

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“…Although herbaceous understory cover in the treated may not produce a detectable increase in ground cover, grasses tillering increases; thus, there is higher measured standing crop per unit area. For example, a study in northern mixed-grass prairie by Gates et al (2017) found that fire increased biomass of perennial grass but had no significant effect on basal cover.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understory Vegetation Response to Thinning Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands

Almalki¹,

Fernald²,

Ochoa³

et al. 2023

Rangeland Ecology & Management

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“…The GPP estimates the biomass productivity, providing needed information to guide stocking rates and the duration of differences in burned and unburned portions of a ranch. In the Northern Great Plains, Gates et al [34] found that defoliation following a spring fire increased grassland productivity for 2 years following a wildfire and had minimal impact on community composition. They concluded that a post-fire rest from grazing may not be necessary to maintain productivity and species composition in a mixed-grass prairie.…”

Section: Use Of Remotely Sensed Information For Monitoring and Assessmentioning

confidence: 99%

Grassland Wildfires in the Southern Great Plains: Monitoring Ecological Impacts and Recovery

et al. 2020

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Devastating wildfires in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas in 2016 and 2017 resulted in significant social, economic, and environmental losses, with the agricultural sector among those severely affected. Several satellite-based indices were evaluated as potential monitoring tools for post-wildfire ecological recovery and management of grasslands. All indices evaluated provided useful information and indicated rapid vegetation recovery from wildfire. The Leaf Water Stress Index (LSWI) and Gross Primary Productivity (GPP) showed a distinct response to the wildfire events, and differentiated between burned and unburned areas throughout the post-wildfire growing seasons better than the Normalized Difference Vegetative Index (NDVI) and Enhanced Vegetative Index (EVI). In particular, the LSWI may provide a useful tool for mapping the footprint of wildfire, with potential utility for organizations that provide post-fire recovery resources. The GPP, which estimates the biomass productivity of vegetation, can provide information to livestock operators to guide the re-stocking of cattle in the aftermath of wildfire. In sum, satellite-based proxies can provide timely information both to characterize a wildfire’s footprint and to guide post-fire grazing management in a manner that balances short term needs for forage with long-term productivity and ecological function.

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Fire and Season of Postfire Defoliation Effects on Biomass, Composition, and Cover in Mixed-Grass Prairie

Cited by 15 publications

References 36 publications

Post-pyrogenic changes in vegetation cover and biological soil crust in steppe ecosystems

Post-pyrogenic changes in vegetation cover and biological soil crust in steppe ecosystems

Understory Vegetation Response to Thinning Pinyon-Juniper Woodlands

Grassland Wildfires in the Southern Great Plains: Monitoring Ecological Impacts and Recovery

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