Fire Ecology Annual Report: Calendar Year 2006 [Big Cypress National Preserve]

Author unknown

A summary of fire ecology activities and program information for the Park/network including fire effects plot workload, staffing, management objectives and monitoring results, and planning, fire monitoring, communications, and research. Also included are staff accomplishments/areas of focus, future program direction and other optional information (e.g. data analysis graphics or presentations, annual highlights, publications, program challenges, unique solutions to problems, collaboration, photographs of monitoring/fire activities, and suggestions on FFI). With the addition of a new fire effects crew, along with the collaboration of Everglade’s fire ecologist, Big Cypress’ fire effects monitoring was examined with a new perspective. This has ultimately led to a new development in monitoring methods and protocols as well as an on- going project of revising the fire effects monitoring plan. In addition to scheduled monitoring tasks; two pilot plots were established along with one additional monitoring plot that examines encroachment of shrubs on prairies. Our photo point methods were fine tuned so that we may better capture the “story” of time for each location. All photo points located in similar vegetation types area being re-evaluated as to their necessity.