Fire history of a mixed conifer forest on the Mogollon Rim, northern Arizona, USA

David W. Huffman, Thomas J. Zegler, Peter Z Fule

Research output: Contribution to journalReview articlepeer-review

31 Scopus citations

Abstract

It has been suggested that large, high-severity fires historically structured warm-dry mixed conifer forests in the American South-west. To test this, we reconstructed fire regime characteristics of an 1135-ha (11.3km2) mixed conifer landscape in northern Arizona using complementary approaches. We analysed composite fire intervals, point fire intervals, natural fire rotation, landscape characteristics and forest age structure. Composite analysis of cross-dated fire scars from 133 trees indicated a mean fire interval (MFI) of 2.0-8.5 years between 1670 and 1879. Frequent fires halted abruptly after 1879. Mean point fire interval (MPFI) was 11.8 years and ranged 2-61 years. Mean fire rotation was 14.4 years. Density of most occurring tree species increased dramatically after fire regime disruption, with south-western white pine (Pinus strobiformis) and white fir (Abies concolor) showing large numerical gains. Tree establishment patterns compared with widespread fire dates did not suggest historical high-severity fires at the site level. Although strong evidence of high-severity fire at finer scales was lacking, spatial locations of 'young' plots suggested the possibility of historical high-severity disturbances ≤25ha in size. The historical fire regime on this landscape was one of high-frequency, low-severity fires. Current conditions call for restoration of forest structure and function.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)680-689
Number of pages10
JournalInternational Journal of Wildland Fire
Volume24
Issue number5
DOIs
StatePublished - 2015

Keywords

  • forest restoration
  • historical fire regime
  • landscape change
  • mean fire interval
  • natural fire rotation
  • point interval.

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Forestry
  • Ecology

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