Introduction:Fire has a long history,but little documented role,as a process in riparian ecosystems.For millennia California Indians have applied fire to riparian ecosystems for a variety of purposes,but the effects o...Introduction:Fire has a long history,but little documented role,as a process in riparian ecosystems.For millennia California Indians have applied fire to riparian ecosystems for a variety of purposes,but the effects of such fires on riparian vegetation are poorly known outside of traditional knowledge structures of indigenous communities.Methods:This study involved the seasonal application of fire based on traditional ecological knowledge versus alternate burn methods to assess fire effects on riparian vegetation in central California.Results:While the annual variation amongst treatments was not significant,the results of this study suggest that fall burns support higher overall richness and native species richness;spring burns yield a decrease in overall richness,but an increase in native species richness;and summer burns contribute to an initial decline in overall and native species richness.The evenness indices of treatments increase most with spring and summer burning.Conclusion:These findings are key to understanding the seasonal role of fire in managing native species in areas prone to non-native or other invasive species.This research demonstrates the application of traditional ecological knowledge to facilitate an understanding of how prescribed fire could aid in the management and conservation of riparian ecosystems.展开更多
基金This research would not have been possible without the support and participation of traditional cultural practitioners(comprised of members representing various tribal groups including Maidu,Wintun,and Plains and Northern Sierra Miwok)and others including my family,Shannon Brawley,Michael McGirr,Jacquelyn Ross,Kathy Wallace,Kimberley and Curt Stevenot,Molly Ferrell,Diana Almendariz,Harry and Lee McQuillen,the Willow-Oak Fire Department,and Mokelumne Fire Department and the staff at the NRCS Lockeford Plant Materials Center.Drs.Deborah Elliott-Fisk,Michael Barbour,and Melissa Nelson provided useful guidance on the development of this project.Comments provided by anonymous reviewers on an earlier draft have helped to refine this manuscript.Drs.Kathy Gray and Nancy Carter provided useful discussions about statistical models for analysis of unbalanced design.I am grateful to the late Jan T.Lowrey for inviting this research opportunity and enabling the return of indigenous fires to the riparian forest.Partial funding for this research was obtained through the Community Forestry and Environmental Research Program.
文摘Introduction:Fire has a long history,but little documented role,as a process in riparian ecosystems.For millennia California Indians have applied fire to riparian ecosystems for a variety of purposes,but the effects of such fires on riparian vegetation are poorly known outside of traditional knowledge structures of indigenous communities.Methods:This study involved the seasonal application of fire based on traditional ecological knowledge versus alternate burn methods to assess fire effects on riparian vegetation in central California.Results:While the annual variation amongst treatments was not significant,the results of this study suggest that fall burns support higher overall richness and native species richness;spring burns yield a decrease in overall richness,but an increase in native species richness;and summer burns contribute to an initial decline in overall and native species richness.The evenness indices of treatments increase most with spring and summer burning.Conclusion:These findings are key to understanding the seasonal role of fire in managing native species in areas prone to non-native or other invasive species.This research demonstrates the application of traditional ecological knowledge to facilitate an understanding of how prescribed fire could aid in the management and conservation of riparian ecosystems.
