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ECOLOGICAL IMPACTS OF FIRE
A wildland fire creates a mosaic of burned and unburned trees and promotes a
forest of mixed age trees, clearing out those that are dead and diseased, and
opening space for germination of new growth. Studies show that chaparral plant
communities that are greater than 60 years old become decadent with no new growth
and little seed production. Fire rejuvenates these communities because it opens
the shady canopy by burning older trees and shrubs, leaving sunny openings for
new shoots. In addition, fire may be a primary natural control of plant diseases
and damaging insects. Non-native plants that are not fire adapted, like some
annual grasses, may be controlled by the occurrence of fire. Research on Catalina
has found that the number of native plant species in an area increases the season
after a burn.
In moist climates, plant material decomposes rapidly. But, in arid climates
like Southern California, decomposition of leaf litter and dead wood occurs slowly.
As fire burns dead wood and leaf litter, it recycles nutrients into the soil
as mineral-rich ash, providing a nourishing environment for seed germination
and regeneration of post fire plants. Some plants exude chemicals from roots
and leaf litter. Fire cleans-up chemical build up in the soil. |
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