Understory plant community responses to hazardous fuels reduction treatments in pinyon-juniper woodlands of Arizona, USA
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Published source details
Huffman D., Stoddard M., Springer J., Crouse J. & Chancellor W. (2013) Understory plant community responses to hazardous fuels reduction treatments in pinyon-juniper woodlands of Arizona, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 289, 478-488.
Published source details Huffman D., Stoddard M., Springer J., Crouse J. & Chancellor W. (2013) Understory plant community responses to hazardous fuels reduction treatments in pinyon-juniper woodlands of Arizona, USA. Forest Ecology and Management, 289, 478-488.
Actions
This study is summarised as evidence for the following.
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Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants Action Link |
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Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants Action Link |
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Thin trees within forests: effects on understory plants
A replicated, controlled study in 2004-2011 in temperate coniferous forest in Arizona, USA (Huffman et al. 2013) found that thinning increased plant cover but not species richness. Total plant cover was higher in thinned plots (thinned: 5.4%; unthinned: 3.1%), while species richness (33-37 species) and diversity (Simpson's index 0.8-0.9) were similar between treatments. Four thinned (pinyon pine Pinus edulis trees <25.4 cm diameter at root collar, Utah juniper Juniperus osteosperma <30 cm diameter at root collar and ponderosa pine Pinus ponderosa trees <22.9 cm diameter at breast height cut) and four unthinned treatment units (1 ha) were replicated in six blocks. Thinning was in 2005. Data were collected in 2011 in one 0.04 ha plot in each treatment unit (total of 48 plots).
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Use prescribed fire: effect on understory plants
A replicated, controlled study in 2004-2011 in temperate coniferous forest in Arizona, USA (Huffman et al. 2013) found no effect of burning on plant cover or on species richness. Total plant cover (3-5%), species richness (33-37 species) and diversity (Simpson's index 0.8-0.9) were similar between treatments. Four burned (prescribed burn in 2006) and four unburned treatment units (1 ha) were replicated in six blocks. Data were collected in 2011 in one 0.04 ha plot in each treatment unit (total of 48 plots).
