Chapter 18: Fire Flashcards
This is an integral part of many ecosystems
Fire
Fire was once thought to be only this
Destructive
This has greatly changed many ecosystems
Fire suppression
This is the study of fire in ecosystems
Fire ecology
What are four focuses of fire ecology?
- Origin of natural fires; 2. Factors influencing spread and intensity of fire; 3. Relationship of fire and ecosystems; 4. Use of controlled fire for ecosystem health
What are the five concepts that form the basis for fire ecology?
- Fire dependence; 2. Fire history; 3. Fire regime; 4. Fire effects; 5. Fire adaptations
This describes the reliance of ecosystems on fire
Fire dependence
This describes the past association of regions with fire
Fire history
This describes the intensity and frequency of fire
Fire regime
This describes the impacts of fire on soil, vegetation and hydrology
Fire effects
This describes the evolution of fire-related species traits
Fire adaptations
What are the three types of systems related to fire?
- Fire-dependent systems; 2. Fire-sensitive systems; 3. Fire-independent systems
In these systems, fire plays an essential role and its exclusion leads to major changes in the ecosystem
Fire-dependent systems
Are many plants and animals in fire-dependent systems fire-adapted?
Yes
Is plant reproduction in fire-dependent systems often stimulated by fire?
Yes
Are fire-dependent systems less fire-prone and flammable?
No
Does plant architecture in fire-dependent systems hinder fire spread?
No
In these systems, fire effects are detrimental to the ecosystem
Fire-sensitive systems
In fire-sensitive systems, does frequent fire cause a shift to less or more fire-prone vegetation?
More fire-prone
Do fire-sensitive species have fire adaptations?
No
Does fire-sensitive ecosystem structure inhibit the spread of fire?
Yes
In these systems, fire plays little or no role
Fire-independent systems
What are three conditions that can make a system fire-independent?
Too cold, too dry, too wet
How many global ecosystems depend on fire?
More than half
What are five patterns of fire described by fire regimes?
Fire type, intensity, severity, frequency, and seasonality
What are three patterns of fire types?
Ground, surface, crown
This fire pattern describes the energy release of fire
Fire intensity
This fire pattern describes the impact of fire on an ecosystem
Fire severity
How is fire severity often measured?
As plant mortality
This fire pattern measures fire return interval
Fire frequency
This fire pattern describes the time of year when fire is most common
Fire seasonality
The frequency of fire varies with this
Geography
What three components are required for fire?
Fuel, ignition source, oxidizing agent
Forests provide a diversity of these for fire
Fuels
What are four types of fire fuel in forests?
Trees, woody debris, grasses, litter
What are the two different types of forest ignition sources?
Natural and human
What are two natural forest ignition sources?
Lightning and volcanoes
What are three human forest ignition sources?
Campfires, cigarettes, arson
The atmosphere provides sufficient amounts of this as an oxidizing agent
Oxygen gas
What are four factors that determine fire behavior?
- Forest fuel types; 2. Fuel moisture; 3. Topography; 4. Weather
What are four types of forest fuels?
Surface, ground, ladder and aerial fuels
What are four types of surface fuels in forests?
Woody debris, litter, grasses, small shrubs
This type of forest fuel is below the surface litter
Ground fuel
What are three types of ground fuels in forests?
Humus, peat, roots
What are three types of ladder fuels in forests?
Small trees, hanging branches, vines
This type of forest fuel is suspended in the forest canopy
Aerial fuel
What are the three types of wildfires?
Surface, ground, and crown fires
This type of wildfire burns surface fuels
Surface fire
Are surface fires hot and rapidly moving?
Yes
This soil layer is not completely consumed in a surface fire
O layer
What type of vegetation is killed by surface fires?
Smaller woody vegetation
This type of wildfire is fed by roots and buried organic matter
Ground fire
Are ground fires rapid-moving and high intensity?
No
Can ground fires smolder for long periods?
Yes
Are ground fires often highly destructive?
Yes
Heat exposure from ground fires destroys these three forest components
O layer, soil biota, plants
This type of wildfire usually starts as a surface fire, then spreads up the canopy via ladder fuels
Crown fire
Can crown fires spread quickly from crown to crown?
Yes
Are crown fires highly destructive to plant biomass?
Yes
Are crown fires more common in hardwoods or conifers?
Conifers
Fuels with this moisture level are highly flammable
< 10%
Which burns better, dead vegetation or living vegetation?
Dead vegetation
Which burns better, green conifers or green broadleafs?
Green conifers
This topographical feature influences fire behavior
Slope
Fires do this to uphill fuels, making them ignite faster
Preheat uphill fuels
This debris can ignite more fuels on a slope
Rolling burning debris