The Role of Fire. Northern Circuntpolar EcosysteiTIS

Transcription

1 SCOPE 18 OCT ALASKA RESOURCES LIBRARY U.S. DEPT. OF INTERIOR The Role of Fire m Northern Circuntpolar EcosysteiTIS 0 Qt-1 3 L/. 1,1(6tf ;qf$3 Edited by RossW. Wein Fire Science Centre and Department of Biology, University of New Brunswick, Canada and David A. MacLean Maritimes Forest Research Centre, Canadian Forestry Service, New Brunswick, Canada Published on behalf of the Scientific Committee on Problems of the Environment (SCOPE) of the International Council of Scientific Unions (/CSU) by JOHN WILEY & SONS Chichester New York Brisbane Toronto Singapore

2 This document is copyrighted material. Alaska Resources Library and Information Services (ARLIS) is providing this excerpt in an attempt to identify and post all documents from the Susitna Hydroelectric Project. This book is identified as APA nos and 2442 in the Susitna Hydroelectric Project Document Index (1988), compiled by the Alaska Power Authority. It is unable to be posted online in its entirety. Selected pages are displayed here to identify the published work. The book is available at call number TK1425.S8A23 no.1888 in the ARLIS Susitna collection.

3 Foreword... xv Preface... xvii Acknowledgements xix List of Contributors xxi 1 An overview of fire in northern ecosystems R. W. Wein and D.A. MacLean 1.1 Introduction The Northern Environment Physical parameters Biological parameters TheFireEnvironment...:: Use of Fire as a Resource Management Technique The State-of-the-Science References SECTION I: PAST AND PRESENT FIRE FREQUENCIES 2 The post-glacial fire record K. Tolonen 2.1 Introduction Lake Sediment Records General methodological possibilities Example 1: Ancient fire regime in sprucedominated forests in south Finland Example 2: Lake Laukunlampi in eastern Finland Regionalcomparisonoflakesedimentrecords Charcoal in Peat Profiles General...: NorthAmericaandGreenland Europe Chronological and Geographical Variation in the Post -glacial Fire Frequency vii

4 viii Contents 2.5 ArchaeologicalAspects...: 2.6 Conclusions References Fire Frequencies during the suppression period R.J. Barn.ey and B.J. Stocks 3.1 Introduction Pre-suppressionPeriodFires Fire Frequencies During the Active Suppression Period The USSR Alaska, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories The Prairie Provinces: Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba Ontario and Quebec Sweden Finland Discussion Acknowledgements References SECTION II: PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF FIRE 4 Fire behaviour in northern conifer forests and shrub lands C.E. Van Wagner 4.1 Introduction Fire Behaviour Principles Fire Description NorthernFuels Weather and Climate KindsofFire Prediction of Fire Behaviour Fire Regimes and Ecology FlammabilityVersusAge Conclusions References Fire behaviour and ecological effects in organic terrain R.W. Wein 5.1 Introduction FrequencyofFiresin Organic Terrain FireBehaviour... ~.,... 84

5 ix Laboratory Studies Field Studies Ecological Implications Ecological relationships in the soil organic matter layer Paludification-fire-nutrient release hypothesis Plant community patterns caused by organic soil removal Future Research Suggestions Acknowledgements References Effects of fire on the permafrost ground thermal regime The late R.J.E. Brown 6.1 Introduction Characteristics and Distribution of Permafrost ImmediateEffectsofFireonPermafrost Long-term Effects of Fire on Permafrost Effects of fire on the active layer Effects of fire on ground temperatures Effects of fire on the ground-surface energy exchange Conclusions References Fireandnutrientcycling D.A. MacLean, S.J. Woodley, M.G. Weber, and R. W. Wein 7.1 Introduction Nutrient Cycling in Undisturbed Northern Ecosystems Principles Current data availability for northern ecosystems Succession and nutrient cycling....' Nutrient distribution in relation to increasing latitude Nitrogen fixation in northern ecosystems Effects of Fire on Nutrient Distribution and Cycling Nutrientredistributionduringfire Post-fire nutrient cycling Nutrient cycling in relation to fire frequency and intensity Conclusions and Future Research Needs... : References

6 SECTION III: CONCEPTS OF FIRE EFFECTS ON INDIVIDUALS AND SPECIES Concepts of fire effects on plant individuals and species J.S. Rowe 8.1 Introduction... : PatternsofFireinSpaceand"inTime Life-forms, Functions, and Fire FunctionalAdaptationsofPlants Invaders Evaders A voiders Resisters Endurers Succession Discussion Conclusions Acknowledgements References Post-fire succession of small-mammal and bird communities J.F. Fox 9.1 Introduction Methods SmallMammals Geographicaldistributionofstudies Aggregate community properties Species sequence and natural history Small mammals in thefar North Effects of logging versus fires Futurestudies Bird Communities Geographical distribution of studies Aggregate community properties Post-disturbanceresponses Bird communities in the boreal forest and the Far North Latitude and bird community similarity Discussion Acknowledgements References

7 xi SECTION IV: FIRE EFFECTS IN SELECTED VEGETATION ZONES 10 The ecological role of fire in jack pine forests J.H. Cayford and D.J. McRae 10.1 Introduction FireandJackPine Coneserotiny..., Cone opening and seed dissemination..., Germination and seedling development Post-fire successional patterns Fire Effects Wildfire Characteristics Prescribed Fire Conclusions References The effects of fire in black spruce ecosystems of Alaska and northern Canada L.A. Viereck 11.1 Introduction Climate Fire Regime in the Black Spruce Type Adaptation to Fire EffectofSeverityofBurn Revegetation Following Fire in the Black Spruce Type The black spruce-feathermoss type....' The black spruce-lichen woodland Relationship With Other Vegetation Types Succession and Climax EffectsofFireonEcosystemComponentsandProcesses Summary References Fire influences in Abies-dominated forests V. V. Furyaev, R. W. Wein, and D.A. MacLean 12.1 Introduction Fire Frequencies Natural fire frequencies The insect-wildfire hypothesis Fire Behaviour Effects of Fire on Ecosystem Components

8 xii Contents Priinaryproducers Secondary producers...' Physical environment FireManagement ConclusionsandResearchNeeds Acknowledgements References The role of fire in lichen-dominated tundra and forest-tundra A.N.D. Auclair 13.1 Introduction Predisposition to fire Fire occurrence... : Vegetation distribution VegetationFlammabilityandBehaviourofFire Extrinsicfactors Intrinsicfactors Fire-induced Changes Combustion and mineralization of organic material Changes in surface and soil microclimate Alteration of soil stability and hydrology Post-fire Regeneration Plantsuccession Changes in soil decomposers Changes in insect, bird, and mammal species Future Research Needs References SECTION V: FIRE CONTROL AND MANAGEMENT 14 Measures for fire prevention on peat deposits... : V.I. Chistjakov, A.I. Kuprijanov, V. V. Gorshkov, and E. S. Artsybashev 14.1 Introduction Peat Fires on Undisturbed Peat Deposits... : Characteristicsofpeatfires Fire hazard Fire suppression Fire Hazard During Peat Deposit Exploitation..., Spontaneous ignition in peat stockpiles Fires in peat harvest fields

9 xiii Measures for fire prevention in peat stockpiles Measures for restriction of fire spread Fire Suppression on Peat Production Areas Techniques of peat fire suppression Suppression oflarge peat fires Acknowledgements Bibliography Fire management in wilderness areas, parks, and other nature reserves..., M.E. Alexander and D. E. Dube 15.1 Introduction Forest Fire Programme in Northern Circumpola~ Nature Reserves Alaska Northwestern Canada Western and Central Canada North-central United States Eastern Canada FennoscandiaandUSSR Discussion ConcludingRemarks Acknowledgements References Glossary Author Index Geographic Index Subjectindex