Blackbrush is a monotypic shrub community endemic to enclosed basins in the Great Basin Mojave Desert transition. It has poor to fair palatability and is deficient in phosphrous and protein during the winter period. Burning has been employed as a means of converting blackbrush to stands of more desirable forage species. This preliminary report describes blackbrush response to wildfires and prescribed burning, the objective being to evaluate the use of fire to improve deer winter range in the Owens Valley. Studies of wildfires showed that fire increased plant species diversity and carrying capacities on most blackbrush sites. During the first years the burn site is dominated by annuals and shrub seedlings. Later successional communities are dependent upon site characteristics, such as soils and precipitation. This study indicates that prescribed burning of blackbrush can improve deer habitat, but much more needs to be known of the ecology of this type before large-scale burning is undertaken.
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