Historically, low-intensity fires ignited by lightning and American Indians significantly perturbed wildlife habitats of the Great Basin. These fires encouraged dominance by grasses and suppressed development of woody plants. Settlement by European-Americans disrupted fire regimes. Ignitions by Indians were eliminated, fine fuels were removed by livestock, and fires were suppressed. A marked decrease in fire promoted a major increase in woody plant cover. Initially, this compositional shift provided quality habitat for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and other wildlife dependent upon shrub-dominated types. However, prolonged absence of fire fostered senescence of the shrub component. On other sites, trees displaced shrubs and herbs. Fuel buildup has increased the risk of high-intensity wildfires, which reduce the availability of key shrub species. If the goal is to maintain productive shrublands, then prescribed fire should be applied in these vegetation types. Fire applications should be designed to rejuvenate and encourage re-establishment of desirable shrubs and herbs, and also to reduce the risk of high-intensity wildfire.
|
