Rocky Mountain Research Station

Title: Effects of fire on Sonoran desert plant communities

Author: Alford, Eddie J.; Brock, John H.; Gottfried, Gerald J.

Date: 2005

Source: Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 451-454

Station ID: P-RMRS-036

Description: The number of fires has increased during the past 45 years in the Sonoran Desert within the Tonto National Forest of central Arizona. The positive trend in the number of fires was consistent with an increase in the population of Maricopa County and an increase in traffic along major Sonoran Desert highways in the Tonto National Forest. The number of hectares burned did not change with increased population in Maricopa County or increased traffic along Sonoran Desert highways. However, number of hectares burned was influenced by the occurrence of two and three consecutive winters’ precipitation. Overall plant density decreased as canopy cover increased on a time-since-fire (tsf) gradient. Native species most impacted by fires were saguaro (Carnegiea gigantea) and foothill paloverde (Cercidium microphyllum).

Keywords: Carnegiea gigantea, Cercidium microphyllum, fires, plant communities, canopy cover, native species, roads, precipitation, Sonoran Desert, Tonto National Forest (Ariz.)

View and Print this Publication (175 KB)

Publication Notes: 

• We recommend that you also print this page and attach it to the printout of the article, to retain the full citation information.
• This article was written and prepared by U.S. Government employees on official time, and is therefore in the public domain.
• You may send email to rschneider@fs.fed.us to request a hard copy of this publication. (Please specify exactly which publication you are requesting and your mailing address.)

 Get the latest version of the Adobe Acrobat reader or Acrobat Reader for Windows with Search and Accessibility

Citation

Alford, Eddie J.; Brock, John H.; Gottfried, Gerald J.  2005.  Effects of fire on Sonoran desert plant communities.   Gottfried, Gerald J.; Gebow, Brooke S.; Eskew, Lane G.; Edminster, Carleton B., comps. Connecting mountain islands and desert seas: biodiversity and management of the Madrean Archipelago II. Proc. RMRS-P-36. Fort Collins, CO: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station: 451-454.