Analysis of fire spread rates between seeded and unseeded areas in the Snake River plains of Idaho,USA using the Behave fire model
Wildfire has played an important ecological role throughout the history of the sagebrush‐steppe ecosystems of the Snake River Plains of Idaho.In pre‐settlement times fires were probably small and spotty, which helped maintain a patchy, heterogeneous landscape (Bunting, 1996).In the post‐settlement era, fires in Wyoming Big Sagebrush ( A rtemesia tridentata ssp.W yomingensis) have been more frequent and larger resulting in the conversion of large areas within the Snake River Plains to exotic annual grasslands of cheatgrass ( Bromus tectorum).Managers generally reseed a suite of perennial species to reduce erosion and invasive species potential after these wildfires.Seeding with perennial species is believed to reduce the likelihood of future wildfires due to the reduction in cheatgrass.This study examines the effects of revegetation on wildfire spread rates and examines the usefulness of a commonly used fire prediction model (Behave Plus) in predicting fire spread rates in sagebrush‐ steppe ecosystems.Seeded and unseeded sites have been evaluated for significant differences in fuel continuity, plant canopy cover, fuel load, and fuel bed depth, and rates of fire spread with the Behave Plusfire model.
fire spread rates fuel continuity fire modeling Behave
J.Wilford M.Pellant M.Wicklow-Howard
Department of Biology,Boise State University,Boise,ID.USA 83725
国际会议
呼和浩特
英文
2008-06-29（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）