Location: Livestock and Range Research Laboratory
Project Number: 3030-21500-001-008-S
Project Type: Non-Assistance Cooperative Agreement
Start Date: May 1, 2025
End Date: Jun 1, 2028
Objective:
Quantify timing and intensity effects of fire on native and invasive plant species and determine interacting effects of fire, grazing, and precipitation on rangeland plant responses.
Plant phenology differs by species and plant vulnerability to disturbance is known to vary with phenological stage. Our long-term (2006-present) research on fire seasonality and return interval has quantified differences in species composition caused by seasonality of fire. Identifying differences in plant response to fire using the finer temporal scale of phenological stage for prominent native and non-native perennial grasses will facilitate development of more precise fire prescriptions to shift rangeland species composition.
Approach:
A combination of laboratory and field experiments will be conducted at individual plant and plant community levels to identify conditions of resistance and susceptibility for key species. Laboratory experiments will utilize growth chambers, burn cages and controlled fuel loads to determine relationships of fire and plant conditions with an assortment of plant response variables indicating survival, production and production potential. Field experiments will test soil, plant community and animal responses to disturbance and weather interactions.