Mixed conifer forest mortality and establishment before and after prescribed fire in Sequoia National Park, California

• Published in: Forest science 1998-08, Vol.44 (3), p.341-355
• Main Authors: Mutch, L.S. (U.S. Geological Survey, Three Rivers, CA.), Parsons, D.J
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Animal and plant ecology; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Applied ecology; ARBOLES FORESTALES; ARBRE FORESTIER; BASAL AREA; Biological and medical sciences; BOSQUE DE CONIFERAS; BOSQUE MIXTO; BRULAGE DIRIGE; BRULURE (MANIFESTATION); CALIFORNIA; CALIFORNIE; CHAMUSCADO; CONIFEROUS FORESTS; Conservation, protection and management of environment and wildlife; CONTROLLED BURNING; COPA; CROWN; Demecology; DIMENSION; DIMENSIONS; Forest and land fires; Forest management. Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration; FOREST TREES; Forestry; FORET MELANGEE; FORET RESINEUSE; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HOUPPIER; MIXED FORESTS; MORTALIDAD; MORTALITE; MORTALITY; Parks, reserves, wildlife conservation. Endangered species: population survey and restocking; Phytopathology. Animal pests. Plant and forest protection; Plants and fungi; PRESCRIBED BURNING; QUEMA CONTROLADA; SCORCH; SIZE; Stand types and stand dynamics. Silvicultural treatments. Tending of stands. Natural regeneration; Weather damages. Fires
• ISSN: 0015-749X; 1938-3738
• DOI: 10.1093/forestscience/44.3.341

Pre- and post-burn tree mortality rates, size structure, basal area, and ingrowth were determined for four 1.0 ha mixed conifer forest stands in the Log Creek and Tharp's Creek watersheds of Sequoia National Park. Mean annual mortality between 1986 and 1990 was 0.8% for both watersheds. In the fall of 1990, the Tharp's Creek watershed was treated with a prescribed burn. Between 1991 and 1995, mean annual mortality was 1.4% in the unburned Log Creek watershed and 17.2% in the burned Tharp's Creek watershed. A drought from 1987 to 1992 likely contributed to the mortality increase in the Log Creek watershed. The high mortality in the Tharp's Creek watershed was primarily related to crown scorch from the 1990 fire and was modeled with logistic regression for white fir (Abies concolor [Gord. and Glend.]) and sugar pine (Pinus lambertiana [Dougl.]). From 1989 to 1994, basal area declined an average of 5% per year in the burned Tharp's Creek watershed, compared to average annual increases of less than 1% per year in the unburned Log Creek watershed and in the Tharp's watershed prior to burning. Post-burn size structure was dramatically changed in the Tharp's Creek stands: 75% of trees less than or equal to 50 cm and 25% of trees 50 cm were killed by the fire