Journal article
Fuel mass and forest structure following stand-replacement fire and post-fire logging in a mixed-evergreen forest
International Journal of Wildland Fire, Vol.22(5), pp.652-666
2013
Abstract
Following severe wildfires, managing fire hazard by removing dead trees (post-fire logging) is an important issue globally. Data informing these management actions are relatively scarce, particularly how fuel loads differ by post-fire logging intensity within different environmental settings. In mixed-evergreen forests of Oregon, USA, we quantified fuel profiles 3-4 years after stand-replacement fire - assessing three post-fire logging intensities (0, 25-75, or >75% basal area cut) across two climatic settings (mesic coastal, drier interior). Stand-replacement fire consumed ∼17% of aboveground biomass. Post-fire logging significantly reduced standing dead biomass, with high-intensity treatment leaving a greater proportion (28%) of felled biomass on site compared with moderate-intensity treatment (14%) because of less selective tree felling. A significant relationship between logging intensity and resulting surface fuels (per-hectare increase of 0.4-1.2Mg per square metre of basal area cut) indicated a broadly applicable predictive tool for management. Down wood cover increased by 3-5 times and became more spatially homogeneous after logging. Post-fire logging altered the fuel profile of early-seral stands (standing material removed or transferred, short-term increase in surface fuels, likely reduction in future large fuel accumulation), with moderate-intensity and unlogged treatments yielding surface fuel loads consistent with commonly prescribed levels, and high-intensity treatment resulting in greater potential need for follow-up fuel treatments.
Details
- Title
- Fuel mass and forest structure following stand-replacement fire and post-fire logging in a mixed-evergreen forest
- Authors/Creators
- D.C. Donato (Author/Creator)J.B. Fontaine (Author/Creator)J.B. Kauffman (Author/Creator)W.D. Robinson (Author/Creator)B.E. Law (Author/Creator)
- Publication Details
- International Journal of Wildland Fire, Vol.22(5), pp.652-666
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005543346607891
- Copyright
- © IAWF 2013.
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary and Life Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- International collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.40 Forestry
- 3.40.55 Forest Dynamics
- Web Of Science research areas
- Forestry
- ESI research areas
- Plant & Animal Science