Fire and Ecosystems

Fire and Ecosystems focuses on a number of aspects of fire ecology. This book deals separately with both harmful and beneficial effects of fire on soils, soil organisms, animals, and plants.
This reference material elucidates the effects of fire on grasslands and considers the role of fire in temperate forests and related ecosystems. Four chapters are presented on a regional basis to highlight variations in responses, especially plant succession, to fire. The use of fire in land management is also explored.
This book will serve as an invaluable reference material to researchers, teachers, and land managers.

Inhalt

List of Contributors
Preface

1. Introduction
   Text
   References
2. Effects of Forest Fire on Soil
   I. Introduction
   II. Reasons for Burning
   III. Physical Effects of Burning
   IV. Organic Matter
   V. Burning and Nutrients
   VI. Biological Effects of Burning
   VII. Loss of Nutrients due to Burning
   VIII. Burning in Forestry Practice
   References
3. The Effect of Fire on Soil Organisms
   I. Introduction
   II. Algae
   III. Bacteria
   IV. Actinomycetes
   V. Fungi
   VI. Soil Fauna
   References
4. Effects of Fire on Birds and Mammals
   I. Introduction
   II. Fire and the Life of Birds and Mammals
   III. Fire and the Kinds of Birds and Mammals
   IV. Fire and the Abundance of Birds and Mammals
   V. Evolution of Birds and Mammals and Burnable Habitat
   References
5. Effects of Fire on Grasslands
   I. Fire in the Grassland Environment
   II. Physical Characteristics of Grassland Fires
   III. Effects of Fire on Productivity
   IV. Effects of Fire on Vegetational Composition
   V. Grassland Succession
   VI. Discrepancies in Evaluating the Effects of Fire
   VII. Changes Resulting from Cessation of Fires
   VIII. Current and Future Uses of Fire in Grassland Management
   IX. Epilogue
   References
6. Effects of Fires on Temperate Forests: North Central United States
   I. Introduction
   II. Physical Factors in Ecological Change
   III. Fire Adaptation in Pine Species
   IV. Posture Development of Other Plant Species
   V. Interrelationships
   References
7. Effects of Fire on Temperate Forests: Northeastern United States
   I. Frequency and Type of Presettlement Fires
   II. Frequency and Type of Postsettlement Fires
   III. Fire Effects in Northeastern Types
   IV. Conclusion
   References
8. Effects of Fire on Temperate Forests and Related Ecosystems: Southeastern United States
   I. Introduction
   II. Natural Fires
   III. Man and Fire
   IV. Fire and Fire Characteristics
   V. The Southeastern Ecosystem "Fire Regimes"
   VI. Coastal Plain Forests
   VII. Coastal Plain Pine Savannas and Grasslands
   VIII. The Piedmont Plateau Forest and Grasslands
   IX. Appalachian Mountains, Mesophytic Forests, and Grasslands
   References
9. Effects of Fire on Temperate Forests: Western United States
   I. Introduction
   II. The Ponderosa Pine Region
   III. The Douglas-Fir Region
   IV. The Redwood Region
   V. Alaska
   References
10. Effects of Fire on Chaparral
    I. Introduction
    II. Kinds of Chaparral
    III. Occurrence of Fires in Chaparral
    IV. Adaptations of Chaparral to Fire
    V. Plant Successions after Fire in Climax Chaparral
    VI. Plant Successions after Fire in Woodland-Grass Chaparral
    VII. Plant Successions after Fire in Forest Chaparral
    VIII. Soil Erosion after Fire
    IX. Discussion and Fire Management Implications
    References
11. Fire in the Deserts and Desert Grassland of North America
    I. Introduction
    II. Four Deserts and the Desert Grassland
    III. Great Basin Desert
    IV. Mojave Desert
    V. Sonoran Desert
    VI. Chihuahuan Desert
    VII. Desert Grassland
    References
12. Effects of Fire in the Mediterranean Region
    I. Introduction
    II. Natural Fire Conditions in the Mediterranean Region
    III. Fire History of Mediterranean Ecosystems
    IV. Effects of Fire on Mediterranean Ecosystems
    V. Conclusions
    References
13. Effects of Fire in Forest and Savanna Ecosystems of Sub-Saharan Africa
    I. Introduction
    II. Some Major Types of Forest and Subhumid Wooded Savanna
    III. History of Fire in Forest and Derived and Subhumid Wooded Savanna
    IV. Kinds of Fire
    V. Influence of Fire in Forest Types, Related Derived Savanna, and Subhumid Wooded Savanna
    VI. Fire and the Future
    References
14. Use of Fire in Land Management
    I. Introduction
    II. Historical Uses of Fire
    III. Current Uses of Fire
    IV. Examples of Use of Prescribed Burning
    References
    Author Index
    Subject Index