TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2014//
TI  - Sagebrush steppe recovery after fire varies by development phase of Juniperus occidentalis woodland
JO  - International journal of wildland fire
A1  - Bates, Jonathan D.
A1  - Sharp, Robert N.
A1  - Davies, Kirk W.
SP  - 117
EP  - 130
VL  - 23
IS  - 1
N2  - Woodland ecosystems of the world have been changed by land use demands, altered fire regimes, invasive species and climate change. Reduced fire frequency is recognised as a main causative agent for Pinus-Juniperus L. (piñon-juniper) expansion in North American woodlands. Piñon-juniper control measures, including prescribed fire, are increasingly employed to restore sagebrush steppe communities. We compared vegetation recovery following prescribed fire on Phase 2 (mid-succession) and Phase 3 (late-succession) Juniperus occidentalis Hook. (western juniper) woodlands in Oregon. The herbaceous layer on Phase 2 sites was comprised of native perennial and annual vegetation before and after fire. On Phase 3 sites the herbaceous layer shifted from native species to dominance by invasive Bromus tectorum L. (cheatgrass). After fire, shrubs on Phase 2 sites were comprised of sprouting species and Ceanothus velutinus Dougl. (snowbrush). On Phase 3 woodland sites the shrub layer was dominated by C. velutinus. The results suggest that Phase 2 sites have a greater likelihood of recovery to native vegetation after fire and indicate that sites transitioning from Phase 2 to Phase 3 woodlands cross a recovery threshold where there is a greater potential for invasive weeds, rather than native vegetation, to dominate after fire.<p />
LA  - en
SN  - 1049-8001
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1071/WF12206
ID  - ref1
ER  -