Study Guide: Fire Ecology

To-Do Date: Dec 4 at 11:59am

As we examine climate change impacts, it is impossible to avoid thinking about wildfires and their impact on Sonoma County. Each of us has been impacted by the fires to different degrees. I know that this can be a painful topic, but hopefully with greater knowledge will come greater ability to make decisions and choices. Ideally we can look for solutions to better manage our forests and coexist safely in a fire-adapted landscape.

There are many factors that affect fire in California. We'll examine

  • the biology of 3 California ecosystems: chaparral, mixed evergreen forest & redwood forests
  • this includes the role of fire in a Mediterranean climate and plant adaptations to fire
  • Loss of fire - loss of cultural fires and fire suppression
  • Forest management practices, timber harvesting in particular
  • Climate change
  • Growth of the Wildland-Urban Interface (WUI)

Granlund cartoon: West Coast wildfires

 

In this cartoon, Smokey the Bear is reading the news surrounded by bottles of Tylenol, Tums, Pepto Bismal and is drinking straight from a Maalox bottle. The news paper headlines are about West Coast fires and Fire Index while the actual paper catches on fire. Can you explain why Smokey is so worried? What role did Smokey play in creating this problem? What role does climate change play?

 

Study Guide Questions

  1. Be able to describe the basic biology of chaparral, redwood forest and mixed evergreen forest.
    • What types of plants live in these ecosystems?
    • Where are these ecosystems found in California?
    • What are the important interactions between species in these ecosystems?
    • What adaptations do plants have to survive and reproduce in these ecosystems? To drought? To fire?
    • What is mineral soil? Why is it helpful for new seedlings after a fire?
  1. Fire is a natural part of California's ecosystems. What are plant adaptations to fire?
    • What adaptations do they have to surviving fire?
    • What adaptations do plants have to reproducing after fire?
    • What are the advantages for a fire adapted plant after a fire?
    • What is the role of natural selection in determining plant adaptations?
  1. Why is fire a part of California's landscape?
    • What is the role of a Mediterranean climate?
    • How did indigenous peoples of California use fire? For what purposes?
    • How does fire affect the movement of water ecosystems?
    • What was the impact on native plant ecosystems?
  1. What has lead to the loss of fire in California?
    • Why did the Spanish stop the use of cultural fire by indigenous Californians?
    • What role did the Big Burn have in shaping the US Forest Service?
    • What was the US Forest Service's policy on fire up until the 1970s?
    • In what way did this policy lead to the super fires that we see today?
  1. What are the impacts of fire and fire suppression and timber harvesting on important ecosystems in California. 
  1. What are the impacts of climate change on fire?
    • What is the impact on fire frequency? Fire intensity?
    • What ecosystems are the most at risk?
    • Specifically what parts of climate change are exacerbating our fire risk? (ie. timing of high winds with hotter weather in the fall, etc)
    • What can we expect in the future regarding fire?
    • What can be done to reduce fire risk?
  1. What is the Wildland-Urban Interface and what is its role in fire risk?
    • Do you live in the WUI? How close?
    • What is the risk of fire to your home?
    • Where is the WUI growing in the US?
    • Why does an increase in the WUI lead to more complex fire fighting operations?