The Effects of Fire on the Blackbrush [Coleogyne ramosissima] Community of Southwestern Utah
Callison J, Brotherson JD, Bowns JE. 1985. The Effects of Fire on the Blackbrush [Coleogyne ramosissima] Community of Southwestern Utah. Journal of Range Management. 38(6):535-538
To assess the impact of burning on a variety of desert plant species, eight sites in southwestern Utah that had been burned from 1 to 37 years ago were studied. One year postfire, most shrubs were removed by fire while forbs greatly increased and grasses moderately increased in the burned area. Over time postfire, shrub cover increased back to their preburn levels (within 15 to 20 years), while forbs and grasses steadily declined. Although shrub composition varied from site to site, it was generally found that on all sites the blackbrush shrub was greatly reduced showing no signs of recovery even after 37 years.
- Type
- Journal Article
- Authors
- Callison, Jim; Brotherson, Jack; Bowns, James
- Units
- JOTR , MOJA
- Keywords
- blackbrush shrub, burned study area, canopy cover, Coleogyne ramosissima, desert plant composition, Environmental Impact, Management Plan, Mojave Desert, postfire recovery, Southwestern Utah, Succession, Taxa Links To References, vegetation community