Strategies for preventing invasive plant outbreaks after prescribed fire in ponderosa pine forest

Climate change vulnerability assessment of aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems in the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Region

“…Many species of invasive plants have been introduced to ponderosa pine ecosystems (Brooks et al 2016;Fornwalt et al 2010;Symstad et al 2014). The most frequently mentioned include cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum L.), leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula L.), Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense), and spotted knapweed (Centaurea biebersteinii DC).…”

“…Fire has been implicated in the spread of invasive and nonnative plant species. Symstad et al (2014) suggested that postfire invasive outbreaks associated with prescribed fires may be reduced if the invasive species are noted and controlled on the landscape prior to fire. They acknowledged that finding these invasive species on large landscapes before the prescribed fire may be difficult, and suggested that moderating fire intensity or targeting areas of high severity for postfire invasive control may be more strategic in the Black Hills area.…”