In 1977, the Volkswagen Foundation sponsored the first of a series of International Symposia on Fire Ecology at Freiburg University, Federal Republic of Germany. The scope of the congresses was to create a platform for researchers at a time when the science of fire ecology was not yet recognized and established outside of North America and Australia. Whereas comprehensive information on the fire ecology of the northern boreal, the temperate, and the mediter­ ranean biotas is meanwhile available, it was recognized that conside­ rable gaps in information exist on the role of fire in tropical und sub­ tropical ecosystems. Thus it seemed timely to meet the growing scientific interest and public demand for reliable and updated infor­ mation and to synthesize the available knowledge of tropical fire ecology and the impact of tropical biomass burning on global eco­ system processes. The Third Symposium on Fire Ecology, again sponsored by the Volkswagen Foundation and held at Freiburg University in May 1989, was convened to prepare this first pantropical and multidisci­ plinary monograph on fire ecology!. The book, in which 46 scientists cooperated, analyzes those fire-related ecosystem processes which have not yet been described in a synoptic way. Following the editor's concept, duplication at previous efforts in describing tropical vegeta­ tion patterns and dynamics was avoided. Extensive bibliographical sources are given in the reference lists of the chapters.

Inhalt

1 Fire in Tropical Ecosystems and Global Environmental Change: An Introduction.- 1.1 Introduction.- 1.2 Deforestation in the Tropics.- 1.3 Patterns of Succession.- 1.4 Changes in Fire Regimes and Biodiversity.- 1.5 The Future of Tropical Forests and Forestry.- 1.6 Global Impacts on Climate and Soil.- 1.7 Conclusions.- References.- 2 The Impact of Droughts and Forest Fires on Tropical Lowland Rain Forest of East Kalimantan.- 2.1 Introduction.- 2.2 Climatic Variability and Fire Regimes.- 2.3 The 1982-83 ENSO, its Predecessors and the Wildfires.- 2.3.1 The 1982-83 ENSO.- 2.3.2 Predecessors.- 2.3.3 The Wildfire Scenario in 1982-83.- 2.4 Forest Regeneration after the 1982-83 Fires.- 2.4.1 The Regeneration Process.- 2.4.1.1 Primary Forest.- 2.4.1.2 Logged-Over Forest.- 2.5 Conclusions.- References.- 3 The Role of Fire in the Tropical Lowland Deciduous Forests of Asia.- 3.1 Fire: An Alien Ecological Pressure?.- 3.2 Fire Patterns in Time and Space.- 3.2.1 Timing and Origins.- 3.2.2 Fire and Fuel.- 3.3 Fire Management.- References.- 4 Fire in the Pine-Grassland Biomes of Tropical and Subtropical Asia.- 4.1 Introduction.- 4.2 Adaptive Traits of Tropical Pines to Fire.- 4.2.1 Character of Bark.- 4.2.2 Rooting Habit.- 4.2.3 Basal Sprouting.- 4.2.4 Site and Fuel Characteristics.- 4.3 Origin and Extent of Fires.- 4.4 Management Considerations.- 4.4.1 Distribution of the Pine-Grassland Fire Climax in Luzón.- 4.4.2 Main Ecological Challenges.- 4.4.2.1 Grass Species Composition and Site Degradation.- 4.4.2.2 Fire-Host Tree-Insect Interactions.- 4.5 Conclusions and Outlook.- References.- 5 Fire in Some Tropical and Subtropical South American Vegetation Types: An Overview.- 5.1 Introduction.- 5.2 Tropical Rain Forest.- 5.3 Trade Wind Forest of Venezuela and Columbia.- 5.4 "Babaçu" Palm Forest.- 5.5 Steppe.- 5.6 Savanna or "Cerrado".- 5.7 Coastal Rain Forest.- 5.8 Subtropical Forest.- 5.9 Brazilian Pine Forest.- 5.10 Steppic Savanna or "Chaco".- 5.11 Subtropical and Araucaria Forests of Chile and Argentina.- 5.12 Nonforested Areas.- 5.13 Exotic Planted Forests.- References.- 6 Fire in the Ecology of the Brazilian Cerrado.- 6.1 Introduction.- 6.2 Regimes and Causes of Fire in the Cerrado.- 6.3 The Abiotic Effects of Fire.- 6.3.1 Air Temperature.- 6.3.2 Soil Temperatures.- 6.3.3 Cycling of Mineral Nutrients.- 6.4 The Biotic Effects of Fire.- 6.4.1 Resistance to Fire.- 6.4.2 Primary Productivity.- 6.4.3 Stability of the Vegetation.- 6.4.4 Flowering.- 6.4.5 Dispersion of Seeds.- 6.4.6 Germination of Seeds.- 6.4.7 Fire and Fauna.- 6.5 Management by Fire.- References.- 7 Fire in the Tropical Rain Forest of the Amazon Basin.- 7.1 Ancient and "Natural" Fires.- 7.2 Deforestation and Burning in Amazonia Today.- 7.3 Types and Qualities of Burning.- 7.4 Impacts of Burning on Amazonian Vegetation.- 7.5 Indirect Effects of Burning.- References.- 8 Interactions of Anthropogenic Activities, Fire, and Rain Forests in the Amazon Basin.- 8.1 Introduction.- 8.2 The Fire Environment.- 8.2.1 Fire History of Tropical Rain Forests.- 8.2.2 Fuel Biomass and Arrangement.- 8.2.2.1 Defining Tropical Rain Forest Fuels.- 8.2.2.2 Variability in Fuel Loads.- 8.2.2.3 Effects on Disturbance on Fuel Biomass.- 8.2.3 Microclimates and Fire in Tropical Rain Forests.- 8.2.4 Susceptibility of Tropical Rain Forest Ecosystems to Fire.- 8.2.5 Fire Behavior and Biomass Consumption in Tropical Rain Forests.- 8.3 Vegetation Adaptations and Responses to Fire.- 8.3.1 Bark Properties.- 8.3.2 Anomalous Arrangement of Stem Tissues.- 8.3.3 Vegetative Sprouting.- 8.3.4 Seedbanks.- 8.3.5 Dispersal Mechanisms as Adaptations for Fire Survival.- 8.3.6 Fire-Enhanced Flowering.- 8.4 The Winners and the Losers.- References.- 9 Social and Ecological Aspects of Fire in Central America.- 9.1 Introduction.- 9.2 Socio-Economic Factors.- 9.3 Tropical Forest Resources.- 9.4 Fire in the Tropical Forests of Central America.- 9.4.1 Fire Effects on Soils.- 9.4.2 Fire Effects on Pine Forests.- 9.4.3 Fire Effects on Dry Forests.- 9.4.4 Fire Effects on the Aripo Savannas.- 9.4.5 Fire Effects on Montane Forests.- 9.5 Closing Remarks.- References.- 10 Fires and Their Effects in the Wet-Dry Tropics of Australia.- 10.1 Introduction.- 10.2 Location and Landscape.- 10.3 Proneness to Fires and the Fire's Characteristics.- 10.3.1 Fuels.- 10.3.2 Fire Climate.- 10.3.3 Ignition Sources and Fire Frequencies.- 10.3.4 Fire Characteristics.- 10.4 Fire's Impact on Plants: Demographic Aspects.- 10.5 Fire and Communities.- 10.5.1 Eucalypt Forests and Woodlands.- 10.5.2 "Fire-Sensitive" Communities.- 10.6 Fire Management.- 10.6.1 National Parks.- 10.6.2 Cattle Raising.- 10.6.3 Invasive Plants.- 10.6.4 Emissions.- 10.7 Conclusions.- References.- 11 Fire Management in Southern Africa: Some Examples of Current Objectives, Practices, and Problems.- 11.1 Introduction.- 11.2 Major Vegetation Types of Southern Africa.- 11.3 Management of Southern African Areas Using Fire.- 11.4 Fynbos Catchments in the Western Cape Province.- 11.4.1 Aims of Management.- 11.4.2 Fire Frequency.- 11.4.3 Fire Season.- 11.4.4 The Control of Alien Woody Weeds in Fynbos Catchments.- 11.4.5 Wildfires as a Complicating Factor in Prescribed Burning.- 11.5 Grassland Catchments in the Natal Drakensberg.- 11.5.1 Aims of Management.- 11.5.2 Fire Regime.- 11.5.3 Fire Frequency.- 11.5.4 Fire Season.- 11.5.5 Prescribed Burning.- 11.6 Fire in Savannas: Basic Principles.- 11.6.1 Natural and Modified Fire Regimes.- 11.6.2 Grass/Bush Dynamics.- 11.6.3 The Importance of Fire Intensity.- 11.7 Agricultural Areas in the Eastern Cape.- 11.7.1 Aims of Management.- 11.7.2 Research Background.- 11.7.3 Current Management.- 11.8 The Hluhluwe/Umfolozi Game Reserves Complex.- 11.8.1 Aims of Management.- 11.8.2 Background.- 11.8.3 Current Fire Management.- 11.9 The Pilanesberg National Park.- 11.9.1 Aims of Management.- 11.9.2 Research Background.- 11.9.3 Current Management.- 11.10 The Kruger National Park.- 11.10.1 Aims of Management.- 11.10.2 Research Background.- 11.10.3 Management.- 11.11 The Etosha National Park.- 11.11.1 Aims of Management.- 11.11.2 Fire Management.- 11.12 Conclusions.- References.- 12 Prescribed Fire in Industrial Pine Plantations.- 12.1 Introduction.- 12.2 Prescribed Burning Objectives.- 12.2.1 Wildfire Hazard Reduction.- 12.2.2 Prepare Sites for Planting.- 12.2.3 Other Objectives.- 12.3 Fuel Appraisal.- 12.3.1 Natural Vegetation.- 12.3.2 Available Fuel.- 12.3.3 Fuel Moisture.- 12.3.4 Evaluating Fuel Inputs.- 12.4 Weat…