Presenter: David Augustine, USDA-ARS Landscape Ecologist
In this webinar, we will discuss research on the role and use of prescribed fire in the western Great Plains, focusing on studies conducted in the shortgrass steppe of Colorado over the past decade. We will discuss the fuel loads and weather conditions under which prescribed burning has been possible (including considerations of drought versus wet years), and associated fire temperatures. We will then examine the ecological role of prescribed burning in terms of effects on cattle grazing distribution and production, differential effects on herbaceous plants versus cactus and dwarf shrub species, and consequences for grassland bird habitat. We will also discuss differences in the effects of burns conducted in spring versus fall and at varying frequencies. Prescribed burn planning in shortgrass steppe is complex because achieving specific goals while mitigating potential negative effects requires consideration of many variables.
Watch a recording of this presentation.
Co-hosted by Great Plains Fire Science Exchange and Southern Rockies Fire Science Network
