Title: Fuel Breaks Affect Nonnative Species Abundance In Californian Plant Communities
Abstract: Ecological ApplicationsVolume 16, Issue 2 p. 515-527 Article Fuel Breaks Affect Nonnative Species Abundance In Californian Plant Communities Kyle E. Merriam, Kyle E. Merriam USDA Forest Service, Sierra Cascade Province, P.O. Box 11500, Quincy, California 95971 USA 4 E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJon E. Keeley, Jon E. Keeley U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resource Division, Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, 47050 Generals Highway, Box 4, Three Rivers, California 93271 USASearch for more papers by this authorJan L. Beyers, Jan L. Beyers USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside Fire Laboratory, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507 USASearch for more papers by this author Kyle E. Merriam, Kyle E. Merriam USDA Forest Service, Sierra Cascade Province, P.O. Box 11500, Quincy, California 95971 USA 4 E-mail: [email protected]Search for more papers by this authorJon E. Keeley, Jon E. Keeley U.S. Geological Survey, Biological Resource Division, Sequoia and Kings Canyon Field Station, 47050 Generals Highway, Box 4, Three Rivers, California 93271 USASearch for more papers by this authorJan L. Beyers, Jan L. Beyers USDA Forest Service, Pacific Southwest Research Station, Riverside Fire Laboratory, 4955 Canyon Crest Drive, Riverside, California 92507 USASearch for more papers by this author First published: 01 April 2006 https://doi.org/10.1890/1051-0761(2006)016[0515:FBANSA]2.0.CO;2Citations: 48 Corresponding Editor: D. L. Peterson. Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onEmailFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditWechat Abstract We evaluated the abundance of nonnative plants on fuel breaks and in adjacent untreated areas to determine if fuel treatments promote the invasion of nonnative plant species. Understanding the relationship between fuel treatments and nonnative plants is becoming increasingly important as federal and state agencies are currently implementing large fuel treatment programs throughout the United States to reduce the threat of wildland fire. Our study included 24 fuel breaks located across the State of California. We found that nonnative plant abundance was over 200% higher on fuel breaks than in adjacent wildland areas. Relative nonnative cover was greater on fuel breaks constructed by bulldozers (28%) than on fuel breaks constructed by other methods (7%). Canopy cover, litter cover, and duff depth also were significantly lower on fuel breaks constructed by bulldozers, and these fuel breaks had significantly more exposed bare ground than other types of fuel breaks. There was a significant decline in relative nonnative cover with increasing distance from the fuel break, particularly in areas that had experienced more numerous fires during the past 50 years, and in areas that had been grazed. These data suggest that fuel breaks could provide establishment sites for nonnative plants, and that nonnatives may invade surrounding areas, especially after disturbances such as fire or grazing. 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Publication Year: 2006
Publication Date: 2006-04-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref', 'pubmed']
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Cited By Count: 75
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