Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center
Effects of Fire Retardant Chemical and Fire Suppressant Foam on Shrub
Steppe Vegetation in Northern Nevada
Diane L. Larson, Wesley E. Newton, Patrick J. Anderson, and Steven J.
Stein
Abstract: The objectives of this study were to determine
the effects of fire retardant chemical (Phos-Chek G75-F*) and fire suppressant
foam (Silv-Ex) application, alone and in combination with fire, on Great Basin
shrub steppe vegetation. We measured growth, resprouting, flowering, and incidence
of galling insects on Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus and Artemisia tridentata.
These characteristics were not affected by any chemical treatment. We measured
community characteristics, including species richness, evenness, and diversity,
and number of stems of woody and herbaceous plants in riparian and upland plots.
Of these characteristics, only species richness and number of stems/m2
clearly responded to the chemical treatments, and the response was modified
by fire. In general, species richness declined, especially after Phos-Chek application.
However, by the end of the growing season, species richness did not differ between
treated and control plots. A canonical variate analysis suggested that burning
had a greater influence on community composition than did the chemical treatments.
In general, riparian areas showed more significant responses to the treatments
than did upland areas, and June applications produced greater changes in species
richness and stem density than did July applications.
* Use of Trade Names does not imply endorsement by the U.S.
Government.
Keywords: Fire retardant, Class A foam, Great Basin,
Shrub steppe, Wildland fire.
This resource is based on the following source (Northern Prairie Publication
1111):
Larson, Diane L., Wesley E. Newton, Patrick J. Anderson, and Steven J.
Stein. 1999. Effects of fire retardant chemical and fire
suppressant foam on shrub steppe vegetation in northern Nevada.
International Journal of Wildland Fire 9(2):115-127.
This resource should be cited as:
Larson, Diane L., Wesley E. Newton, Patrick J. Anderson, and Steven J.
Stein. 1999. Effects of fire retardant chemical and fire
suppressant foam on shrub steppe vegetation in northern Nevada.
International Journal of Wildland Fire 9(2):115-127. Jamestown,
ND: Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center Online.
http://www.npwrc.usgs.gov/resource/habitat/chemfoam/index.htm
(Version 30MAY2001).
Table of Contents
Tables and Figures
- Table 1 -- Plant species and the number
of plot-sample period combinations on which they occurred in riparian and
upland habitat at Cabin Creek and North Fork study areas in Nevada.
- Table 2 -- Results of analysis of variance
for characteristics of Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus plants after burning
followed by treatment with water, Silv-Ex, or Phos-Chek.
- Table 3 -- Results of analysis of variance
for change in species diversity and evenness between pre- and post-treatment
on riparian and upland plots.
- Table 4 -- Results of analysis of variance
for characteristics of Artemisia tridentata after application of
water, Silv-Ex, or Phos-Chek.
- Figure 1 -- Change in stems/m2
between pre- and post-treatment on unburned and burned riparian vegetation
plots.
- Figure 2 -- Change in species richness
between pre- and post-treatment on unburned and burned vegetation plots.
- Figure 3 -- Results of canonical variate
analysis for burned and unburned riparian vegetation treated with Silv-Ex,
Phos-Chek, or water.
- Figure 4 -- Results of canonical variate
analysis for burned and unburned upland vegetation treated with Silv-Ex,
Phos-Chek, or water.
Download the entire resource in PDF format (recommended for best printable
version of this resource)
Diane L. Larson, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie Wildlife
Research Center, 100 Ecology Building, 1987 Upper Buford Circle, St. Paul, MN
55108, USA. Phone: +1 612 625 9271; Fax: +1 612 624 6777;
email: dlarson@biosci.umn.edu
Wesley E. Newton, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie
Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th St. SE, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA. Phone:
+1 701 253 5523; Fax: +1 701 253 5553; email: wesley_newton@usgs.gov
Patrick J. Anderson, U.S. Geological Survey, Northern Prairie
Wildlife Research Center, 8711 37th St. SE, Jamestown, ND 58401, USA. Current
address: U.S. Geological Survey, 4512 McMurry Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80525,
USA. Phone: +1 970 226 9488; email: patrick_anderson@usgs.gov
Steven J. Stein, Department of Biology, Eastern Washington
University, Cheney, WA 99004, USA. Phone: +1 509 359 7006; Fax:
+1 509 359 6867; email: sstein@ewu.edu
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