LD50, a tool describing the relationship between fire energy release rate and tree mortality
Bennett PS and Kunzmann M. 1982. LD50, a tool describing the relationship between fire energy release rate and tree mortality. National Park Service. Tucson, AZ
The toxicological concept of LD50, a relationship between dose and response, has been borrowed to describe the effect of fire energy release rate upon tree mortality. Five experimental sites from Point Sublime, Grand Canyon National Park, were burned and energy release rates were measured by radiometric analysis. Tree kill percentages from four coniferous taxa, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), Douglas-fir (Pseudo-tsuga menziesii), white fir (Abies concolor), and spruce spp. (Picea engelmannii, P. pungens), were plotted against diameter class and statistically filled to the appropriate curve type. LD50 is correlated with energy release rate for all taxa (R2=0.94). The tree diameter class in which 50% mortality will occur can be predicted. A direct relationship between prescription burning parameters and tree mortality by fore may be established.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Bennett, Peter; Kunzmann, Michael
- Date of Issue
- 1982
- Publisher
- National Park Service
- Units
- GRCA
- Keywords
- Disturbance, Douglas Fir, energy release, FIRE, LD50, Ponderosa Pine, prescription burning, White Fir