Bison and fire: Landscape analysis of ungulate response to Yellowstone`s fires
- Oklahoma Univ., Norman, OK (United States). Dept. of Botany and Microbiology
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Fort Lewis Coll., Durango, CO (United States). Dept. of Biology
A simulation model of bison survival under different scenarios of winter severity, fire size, fire pattern and population size was run. Previous work had shown the model to be realistic. The overriding factor influencing bison winter survival in the model was winter severity. This factor had significant interactions with fire size and population size as well, further reducing survival in all cases. Increasing fire size reduced survival the first year after a simulated fire, but increased survival two years after the fire. This was due to enhanced forage production in burned areas the second year. A threshold effect on survival was noted at fire sizes greater than 60% of the simulated landscape, a number which is critical in disturbance propagation in landscapes. There was no biologically important effect of fire pattern (random vs. clumped) on survival.
- Research Organization:
- Oak Ridge National Lab., TN (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC05-84OR21400
- OSTI ID:
- 10103656
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-9307151-1; ON: DE94001138
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: 1. international Bison conference,La Crosse, WI (United States),27 Jul 1993; Other Information: PBD: [1993]
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Winter habitat use by large ungulates following fire in northern Yellowstone National Park
Environmental Impacts of Wind Power Development on the Population Biology of Greater Prairie-Chickens