Viewpoint: The response of central North American prairies to seasonal fire

摘要: Natural fires on the native grasslands of Oklahoma and Kansas were important for maintaining ecosystem structure function. Today, land managers largely conduct prescribed in late dormant season or they do not burn at all. When wildfires occur other seasons, conventional wisdom assumes that desirable forage species cattle are compromised. This assumption is based a few fire studies limited breadth scope. To address this, we revisited numerous data sets to quantify influence plant production composition. Research demonstrates tallgrass prairie burned spring starts growth earlier, grows more rapidly early growing season, produces tall grasses than unburned prairie. We contrast this response with literature reporting results occurring seasons. Fire effects vary frequency, fire-return interval, grazing history, herbicide use, successional stage, weather pattern, edaphic features, topography. Our review research suggests variety responses possible rules-of-thumb generalize misleading. Most also does report interaction herbivory. Thus it difficult judge within context Results from ongoing suggest far resilient under herbivory earlier believed.