Fire And Ecosystems Essay, Research Paper
Introduction
Fire is an important part of many ecosystems, affecting wildlife populations in various ways, such as by changing habitat, affecting food supply or quality, or by altering interactions of species. Fire suppression has allowed forested areas to achieve a climax state, which provides less forage for wildlife. While terrestrial wildlife is benefited by fire, large fires through the increase in sediment flow negatively impact aquatic ecosystems. Fire is essential in maintaining biological diversity in the Northern Rocky Mountain forests.
Nutritional Effects
Fire affects nutrition of wildlife in the short-term by increasing the quality of their diets or by alteration of plant content. Long-term benefits are the maintenance of habitats in forage producing conditions. Fire alters the type of plant material present, allowing animals to select for greater nutritional plant material, this improves their diets. Mountain sheep and mule deer in the Rocky Mountains have higher nutritional diets following prescribed fires due mainly to increases in the amount of new plant growth. Plants utilized by the Key deer in the Florida Keys Islands increase in nutritional content and digestibility for seven to eleven months following fire. Although total plant material is severely reduced during fire, the plants recover to original levels or surpass them within two years. Fire increases the digestibility and protein content of lodge pole pine bark through decreases in plant secondary metabolites and organic matter. Although dead bark and burned bark show similar composition, elk use burned bark as a food source even when higher nutritional foods are present in abundance. It is presumed that elk use burned bark as a short-term food source because they can strip and consume bark in large amounts while expending less energy than if obtaining other food.
Grazing Patterns
Fire alters elk and bison grazing patterns during late winter and spring. Since they are able to move large distances, their grazing patterns show preferences for burned locations. During winter, habitat that has recently burned has reduced dead plant material, making access to higher protein containing forage easier. Burned grasslands have greater grass growth during the winter period due to the increase in soil temperature through the additional absorption of solar radiation in the blackened soil. However, topography has a great impact on frequency of grazing of particular locations. Areas with southerly aspects and steep slopes do not retain snow as long and thus are used more frequently for grazing. The beneficial effects from fire last for a few years and then decrease. In grassland and shrub communities, more complete fires result in the effects lasting longer. Overall, winter conditions impact ungulates more than effects of fire on grazing locations. The alteration of ungulate grazing patterns by fire affects other species that are impacted by the ungulates. Bison often graze preferentially around black-tailed prairie dog towns accelerating changes in the plant community surrounding the town. Bison will graze on recently burned locations, thus decreasing their use of areas surrounding prairie dogs colonies. Reasons proposed for the change in bison grazing include the selection for new growth and reduced dead biomass, both results of fire. Therefore, fire can alter how bison and prairie dogs interact, enabling managers to use fire to prevent bison from constant use and degradation of prairie dog towns.
Succession
Fire prevents plant communities from succession to a climax condition, therefore maintaining the habitat in a state, which provides greater forage. Woodland caribou are adversely affected by crown fires in the short-term due to major losses of forage and the avoidance of burned locations by the caribou. However, these fires provide the long-term benefit of ensuring some of the habitat will remain as jack pine forest, which provides greater forage quantity for caribou. Key deer are also benefited by long term maintenance of habitat. Plant species used most often by the Key deer are located in pine forests, which are replaced by hardwood, forests in the forest succession. Fire maintains areas of jack pine forest thus benefiting the Key deer. In oak-jack pine forests, white-tailed deer are found in greater numbers in burned areas eight years following a large fire. Fire acts as a disturbance creating a mosaic of patches that each undergo succession at different times.
Birds
Birds in Florida slash pine forests are relatively unresponsive in the short-term to ground fires; while in ponderosa pine forests; bird populations increase after fire. Response of birds in slash pine forests varies depending upon the type of cover used by the species. Woodpeckers and ground-dwelling birds use burned areas frequently because bare ground is rare in undisturbed slash pine forests and woodpeckers utilize the snags created in the fire. Other birds such as the Florida scrub jay show no response to most fires because their range is much larger than the area affected by the fire. Cover and food are relatively unaffected by fire for most bird species in the slash pine forest. In the ponderosa pine forests, bird populations increase following ground fires for a single year and then decrease to normal populations. These fires do not alter the habitat structure and thus the change in bird populations may be attributed to an unknown increase in food quality or. However, fires repeated at short interval lead to the decline of shrub-dwelling birds. In conifer forests of the Northern Rocky Mountains, areas burned by intense fires have a wide diversity of bird. In these areas, migrant birds were found to be the major bird species utilizing the burned forest.
Negative Effects – Aquatic Ecosystems
Contrary to the beneficial impacts of fire on terrestrial wildlife, aquatic ecosystems are negatively affected, such as the decrease in fish populations by fire. In the North Fork Shoshone River adjacent to Yellowstone National Park, fish died from increased sediment flow during a heavy rainstorm two years after the canyon had burned. Fish are sensitive to sediment both in concentration and length of exposure. When fire clears vegetation on slopes surrounding a river, runoff from rainstorms carries sediment into the river, killing portions of the fish population by obstruction of the gills.
Conclusion
Fire is beneficial to terrestrial wildlife through improvements in nutrition and maintenance of forage areas. However, in aquatic ecosystems fire can negatively impact fish populations. Types of fire affect wildlife in different ways. Ground fires have short-term effects and wildlife are not severely impact by these fires. Crown fires show major changes in habitat use patterns by wildlife and have much longer effects, sometimes with. Fire intensity has not often been taken into account when determining the effect of fire on wildlife. The general effect of fire on aquatic systems needs to be more intensively studied. The greatest impact of fire is its disturbance of habitats creating patches, which are each undergoing succession. This mosaic of areas provides areas that are utilized by wildlife for forage. Intense fire is essential to some conifer forests of bird species and in maintenance of biological diversity. Fire plays a critical role in the regulation of many wildlife habitats.
Другие работы по теме:
Fire Prevention Essay Research Paper Outline Specific
Fire Prevention Essay, Research Paper Outline Specific Purpose: To inform my audience that fire prevention is simple, and not time consuming. Central Idea: Fire destroys many homes and live, but if one takes a few simple steps, prevention and survival of a fire can be done. Introduction I. Have you ever been woke up by a fire truck screaming down your street? A.
Elk Island Essay Research Paper The field
Elk Island Essay, Research Paper The field trip to Elk Island Park taken by both biology twenty classes was an interesting and fun day. We learnt about many different types of plant and animal life in different ecosystems and how they contribute to their ecosystem. The two main ecosystems we looked at in detail were the marsh and the bog.
Quest For Fire Essay Research Paper Quest
Quest For Fire Essay, Research Paper Quest for Fire This story happens 80,000 years ago when our ancestors first discovered the power of fire, but did not know how to master it.
Pyrite Essay Research Paper Pyrite
Pyrite Essay, Research Paper Pyrite Pyrite, also known as Fools Gold is the mostcommon of the sulfide minerals. Pyrite is calledFool’s Gold because of it’s pale brass yellow colorand glistening metallic luster, but it may be told fromgold by it’s cubic, dodecahedral, and octahedralcrystals and fine grain masses.
Eutrophication Essay Research Paper Eutrophication is the
Eutrophication Essay, Research Paper Eutrophication is the over growth of algae in water ecosystems where nutrients are usually limiting. Many fresh water systems are ‘oligotrophic’, meaning that the growth of primary producers (algae) is limited not by dissolved gas or light, but by nutrients such as nitrates and minerals.
An Element
’s Presence Felt Essay, Research Paper An Element’s Presence Felt Throughout this novel, “The Lord of the Flies”, fire serves many functions both real and symbolic. Fire was a form of wealth and power; it represented maturity and responsibility and was the one thing which all the boys had in common. When reflecting apon this novel it is imperitive to witness how important a role fire actually plays.
Hatchet Essay Research Paper His dad and
Hatchet Essay, Research Paper His dad and mom were divored. The boy was on his way to see is dad. so he got in a plane. & on the way the ploit showed he to fly the plane . then the ploit
The Reichstag Fire Essay Research Paper The
The Reichstag Fire Essay, Research Paper The Reichstag Fire ??????????? One of Hitler’s first actions was to organise another election.? He hoped the Nazis would win enough seats to form a government on their
Alarms Essay Research Paper Alarm Systems You
Alarms Essay, Research Paper Alarm Systems: You Need One All homeowners should have an alarm system in their home. Alarm systems can help you in times of distress. They can even save your life and keep your belongings from getting stolen. I think that all homeowners should have and alarm system for their safety and the safety of their belongings.
Iron Pyrite Essay Research Paper Iron Pyrite
Iron Pyrite Essay, Research Paper Iron Pyrite Pyrite, also known as Fools Gold is the most common of the sulfide minerals. Pyrite is called Fool’s Gold because of it’s pale brass yellow color and
Corbett Fire Essay Research Paper October 6th
Corbett Fire Essay, Research Paper October 6th was certainly a night to remember. I was on my way home from a friend s house. I hadn t traveled far when I came across my friend s truck on the side of the road. I parked my truck nest to his and got out to help. About thirty minute s later fire trucks and police cars began driving by, lights and sirens filling the night.
LOTF Essay Research Paper Introduction
LOTF Essay, Research Paper Introduction The first main problem the boys have in the novel Lord of the Flies is that they are unprepared for survival on an uninhabited
Space Exploration Essay Research Paper If the
Space Exploration Essay, Research Paper If the nation is serious about the manned exploration and development of space, then more attention must be focused now on research to study how weightlessness and reduced gravity would affect everything from power production to plumbing. The research is critical for the development of space-related technologies.
Just A Poem Essay Research Paper And
Just A Poem Essay, Research Paper And if you should crash down and break apart If all your dreams should shatter and burn in the fire And if all that you can see is the darkness at the end
A Symbol In Lord Of The Flies
Essay, Research Paper The symbol of fire is used throughout the entire book, Lord of the Flies. Although it is mentioned only briefly throughout, the significance of these occurrences has a strong
Zero Tolerance Essay Research Paper Zero ToleranceTo
Zero Tolerance Essay, Research Paper Zero Tolerance To the best of my knowledge on the subject the zero tolerance rule is a very good rule, because there is no room for error on the part of the criminal justice systemand there is no room for a misleading excuse. So the zero tolerance policy is good. For example, say a person pulls a fire alarm just to get out of a class.
David Hume Essay Research Paper In reading
David Hume Essay, Research Paper In reading the ideas of David Hume, I have came to believe that he was telling us the miracles don?t exist. They are sort of a ?Mission impossible.? We
Earthquakes Essay Research Paper Major Earthquakes for
Earthquakes Essay, Research Paper Major Earthquakes for 60s and 70s. In the map have plotted the major earthquakes for the 60s and 70s. The major earthquake areas are in the area around the Pacific Ocean. Most of the earthquakes happened at these areas and for this reason they call it “Pacific Ring of Fire”.
The Cold Within Essay Research Paper The
The Cold Within Essay, Research Paper The Cold Within Six humans trapped by happenstance in black and bitter cold Each possessed a stick of wood, Or so the story’s told.
Climax Essay Research Paper The Climax
Climax Essay, Research Paper The Climax in To Build a Fire After our class discussion, it seemed like that most of the class enjoyed the short story, To Build A Fire, by Jack London. I enjoyed the story personally myself also. During the discussion, there was something that I disagreed with. It was said that the climax of the story occurs at the part of the story in which the man lights all of the matches and the fire goes out.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Essay Research Paper Ch 1
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Essay, Research Paper Ch. 1 introduction: sustainability, stewardship, sound science A. The global environmental picture – population growth, degradation of soils, global atmospheric changes, loss of biodiversity
How To Extinguish A Fire process Analysis
) Essay, Research Paper How To Extinguish a Fire Is fire truly a living thing? It consumes fuel and oxygen, produces heat and waste, it grows and moves. Weather fire is alive or not, it is still dangerous, so you should always treat it with care. There are four main types of fires which are rated in class A, B, C and D.
FireandIce Essay Research Paper Fire and Ice
Fire_and_Ice Essay, Research Paper ?Fire and Ice? by Robert Frost is an epigram which presents the poet?s dislike of hatred, indifference, and desire that human beings display towards one another. Compressing these feelings into an epigram tends to make his message quite clear and brief. Thus, Frost?s tone in ?Fire and Ice? is somewhat glib and straight to the point?perhaps even slightly stoic.
Crash Down Essay Research Paper And if
Crash Down Essay, Research Paper And if you should crash down and break apart If all your dreams should shatter and burn in the fire And if all that you can see is the darkness at the end
Conflicts Essay Research Paper ConflictsIn the three
Conflicts Essay, Research Paper Conflicts In the three stories To Build a Fire, The Use of Force, and A and P there are some different conflicts. A conflict is struggle between two or more objects. In these stories the three different conflicts are man versus nature, man versus man, and man versus self. The three stories that contain these conflicts are To Build a Fire by Jack London, The Use of Force by Williams Carlos Williams, and A and P by John Updike.
The Safety Inspector Essay Research Paper The
The Safety Inspector Essay, Research Paper The Safety Inspector Mr. Redos, I am an inspector for the OSHA. I have noticed the following safety objects missing in the room F 203, chemistry room. These are sprinklers,
Fire And Ice Essay Research Paper Fire
Fire And Ice Essay, Research Paper Fire and Ice The poem “Fire and Ice” by Robert Frost, is about how the world will end. The title is the subject of the poem. The title makes one think of fire, you see a bright, smoky, dramatic event. Where as ice is just ice. While the two are same, they are also inherently different.
Paintball Essay Research Paper Paintball is one
Paintball Essay, Research Paper Paintball is one big rush. There is nothing like the feeling of sneaking upon one’s enemy and laying fire upon them. As you move, you become very aware of your enviroment. The rustling of the leaves underneath your feet screams away your position as your forward movement brings feelings of vulnerability knowing that you have no precious cover to protect your sensitive body from welting paintballs.
Winning In Sports Essay Research Paper Winning
Winning In Sports Essay, Research Paper Winning isn’t everything. It is the only thing. Like my father before me, I have a violent temper with which I have been struggling all my life, and with which I have had to effect a compromise. It is ineradicable, but it must not be irrational.
Great Fire Essay Research Paper In 1871
Great Fire Essay, Research Paper In 1871 a great fire killed 250 people, left 90,000 homeless, and destroyed about 10 sq km (about 4 sq mi) of central Chicago. On a Sunday night, October 8, 1871 at 137 De Koven Street, in the O’Leary barn The Great Fire would burn from Sunday to early Tuesday. The fire was fed by lusty prairie winds, cinders from a Saturday night blaze, and structures, even streets and sidewalks, built almost entirely of wood.
Medicare Essay Research Paper How To Fix
Medicare Essay, Research Paper How To Fix Medicare Is The Greatest Challenge. This Issue Is A Very Important One That Will Eventually Come Under Fire As We Approach That Year 2001 When Medicare Is Projected To Go Bankrupt. This Issue Might Not Be Resolved And We Could Be Seeing The End Of Medicare. I This Issue Will Get Solved Some How The Taxpayers Will Pay Medicare Out Of Trouble.
Predators And Ecosystem Management Essay Research Paper
Predators and Ecosystem Management Natural Resources Management 01/29/97 Predators have an everlasting effect on different kinds of ecosystems. They influence there ecosystems by controlling the abundance of lower species