Connor Fitzpatrick continues with the series for UBC Research Week:

Scott Black is a Botany grad student at UBC. He is researching the ecological effects of post-wildfire management practices on the interior douglas fir forests, Pseudotsuga menziesii, of Southern British Columbia.

Disturbances such as forest-fires were once thought to be purely destructive forces, however, now they are seen in a more positive light. Disturbance (PDF) is now considered an important factor in maintaining the biodiversity of many natural ecosystems. Study of the effects of disturbance on plant community structure and, resource levels has initiated many ecological theories including the competitive exclusion and intermediate disturbance hypotheses. Disturbances are essential to ecosystem composition, function and sustainability but how much disturbance is too much?

Post-wildfire management in BC includes salvage logging, grass seeding and stump flipping. These practices increase the disturbance frequency and can potentially alter a plant community’s response after wildfire (here is a study, PDF, evaluating the effects of grass seeding). With 187 plant species and 98 animal species living in the interior douglas fir forests that are either red or blue listed (via the BC Ministry of Environment), an understanding of the effect of post-wildfire management practices on ecosystem health is crucial.

Salvage logging (PDF) can reduce the species diversity of plant communities, and reduce the number of tree seedlings after a fire. Soil loss / compaction and an increase in invasive species are results of salvage logging. Furthermore, the removal of burnt logs reduces the number of habitats for certain wildlife, especially birds, and can create unfavourable conditions for native understory vegetation.

In 2003, BC had a total of 2473 fires consuming 265,053 ha of forest (from the BC Ministry of Forests and Range), and fire frequency is expected to increase with climate change. Scott is comparing the plant communities found in post-wildfire sites that have been salvage logged, grass seeded, and left untouched. By uncovering the relationship between plant community structure, environmental characteristics and post-fire forest management practices Scott hopes to increase the sustainability of BC’s interior forests.

The first picture shows the ubiquitous post-fire species, Chamerion angustifolium, amidst a stand of burnt interior douglas firs. Fireweed has very deep rhizomes that sprout after fire and wind dispersed seeds that quickly cover burnt areas. It is also used as an ingredient in the cosmetic industry. This picture was taken in the McGillivray Fire north of Chase, BC last summer. The second picture shows the salvage logging process. The picture is courtesy of the Ministry of Forests and Range and was taken near MClure BC, North of Kamloops

(Adapted from Scott's 2007 proposal)

Here (PDF) is a report on wildfire management practices in western America.