The impact of a prescribed burn on introduced Lehmann lovegrass versus native vegetation in the northern Chihuahuan Desert

Prescribed burning has been suggested as a method to prevent shrub encroachment on desert grasslands. A concern for range managers is the prevalence of introduced African lovegrasses ( Eragrostis spp.). These exotic grasses may compromise the effectiveness of fire as a range management tool in these...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of arid environments 2004-05, Vol.57 (3), p.297-310
Main Authors: McGlone, Christopher M., Huenneke, Laura F.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Chihuahuan Desert
community structure
Desert grasslands
deserts
Eragrostis
Eragrostis lehmanniana
fire resistance
grass weeds
grasslands
indigenous species
interspecific competition
introduced species
Invasive species
Lehmann lovegrass
prescribed burning
Prescribed fire
range management
vegetation cover
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Summary:Prescribed burning has been suggested as a method to prevent shrub encroachment on desert grasslands. A concern for range managers is the prevalence of introduced African lovegrasses ( Eragrostis spp.). These exotic grasses may compromise the effectiveness of fire as a range management tool in these areas due to their fire tolerance. In this study we examined the response of an established patch of Lehmann lovegrass to a prescribed burn. While Lehmann lovegrass was not adversely affected by the prescribed burn, all of the native grasses were compromised to some degree.
ISSN:0140-1963
1095-922X
DOI:10.1016/S0140-1963(03)00109-5