|
Graf, Bradley, Kearey, and
Ellesworth. 2000. Successional Responses of a Black Spruce Ecosystem to
Wildfire in the NWT. Final Report. 86 pp.
ABSTRACT
Wildlife and vegetation abundance data were collected in
14 burns of increasing age in areas originally dominated by black spruce
to establish the successional process and time-frames in this particular
ecosystem. Almost all
vegetation species were present within a few years of the fires and the
successional process was an increasing/decreasing of abundance and
dominance rather than an actual replacement of species.
Stands returned eventually to black spruce, but only after other
shrubs and plants first held sway. Vegetative
species richness and diversity reached their maxima early in the
succession. Total small
mammals appeared to recover almost immediately but species differences
occurred. Snowshoe hares recovered substantially after about 10 years.
Marten recovered to reasonable numbers after about a decade but
were present within the first couple years.
Much Coarse Woody Debris appears to be left after burns in black
spruce forests, which would provide good cover for furbearers and their
prey for many years. Moose
populations used burns after about 5 years and then continued to increase
in density at least into the 20th year after a burn.
Several smaller studies are recommended which should further
clarify successional patterns, especially of the mammal populations. |
