Prescribed fire reduces insect infestation in Karuk and Yurok acorn resource systems

Fire effects on acorn production are consistent with the stored resource hypothesis for masting behavior

Highly variable patterns of seed production (“masting”) have been hypothesized to be driven by internal dynamics of resource storage and depletion. This hypothesis predicts that if seed production is artificially reduced, then the availability of unused stored resources should result in subsequent enhancement of the seed crop.We tested this prediction in two oak species with contrasting pattern...

Grassland ManageInent With Prescribed Fire

Grassland Management With Prescribed Fire

This circular provides an overview of the use of fire in grassland management. It describes the history and importance of fire in the grassland ecosystem, how plants respond to fire, and the uses and potential benefits of prescribed fire. It also summarizes fire planning and legal and safety considerations. And finally, it provides guidance on some special uses of fire. when burning conditions ...

Fire Ecology and Fire Management in the Southern Appalachians: Rationale for and Effects of Prescribed Fire

Fire suppression in the Southern Appalachians has led to changes in forests dominated by yellow pine (Pinus subgenus pinus) and oak (Quercus) species. Recently, management agencies have begun to prescribe fire with the aim of restoring pre-suppression conditions. Here, I examine the use of prescribed fire in the Southern Appalachians from two perspectives. First, I review the values and goals t...

Prescribed Fire Effects and Benefits for Cattle

Historical perspective of fire and grazing Human applications of fire to benefit grazing animals is not a new concept. Historical evidence indicates that aboriginal people in North America (Anderson 2006), Australia (Murphy and Bowman 2007), and Africa (Archibald et al. 2005) frequently burned rangelands and forested lands to attract wildlife, remove standing dead plant biomass, to stimulate ne...