Fire history in Chiricahua National Monument

Baisan, Christopher; Morino, Kiyomi

Dendrochronologically based fire history and GIS-based vegetation sampling were used to document fire regime characteristics across a range of vegetation types. Fire-scarred wood samples were collected from logs in canyon environments that support suitable tree species (i.e. pine, pine/oak and mixed conifer forest types). This data was analyzed in conjunction with a large number of previously collected samples. Woodland, grassland, and chaparral communities were sampled with transect-style plots at randomly selected points distributed across three major vegetation classes. These classes were based on a field-compiled vegetation type map (Roseberry and Dole 1939). Plot sampling strategy was designed to document fire evidence, vegetation structure and species composition as it might relate to fire regime characteristics.