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Fire and False Brome: How Do Prescribed Fire and Invasive Brachypodium sylvaticum Affect Each Other?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 January 2017

Lauren P. Poulos  and
Bitty A. Roy
Lauren P. Poulos
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
Bitty A. Roy*
Affiliation:
Institute of Ecology and Evolution, Department of Biology, University of Oregon, Eugene, OR 97403
*
Corresponding author's E-mail: bit@uoregon.edu
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Abstract

Brachypodium sylvaticum, a shade-tolerant, forest dwelling, and aggressive invasive grass native to Eurasia, is a noxious weed in California, Oregon, and Washington. This species could cause ecosystem collapse by altering forest fire regimes. To examine interactions with fire, we divided two Willamette National Forest sites into eight units and randomly selected half for treatment with prescribed fire in spring 2011. We assessed the effect of B. sylvaticum on fire (severity and intensity) as well as the effect of fire on B. sylvaticum (cover, seedling emergence, and dispersal). We found that B. sylvaticum cover decreased fire severity but had no effect on intensity. Furthermore, fire severity influenced B. sylvaticum cover; in areas receiving low-severity fire, the grass increased from 21 ± 15.05 to 34 ± 15.81%, but in areas of high-severity fire, cover remained consistently around 0% (0 ± 0% cover in yr 1 to 0.2 5± 0.25% in yr 3). In the field, prescribed fire decreased seedling emergence by 32% compared to controls, but not in an associated greenhouse experiment. However, in the greenhouse, severely burned plots had zero emergence, compared to 0.29 ± 0.14 seedlings low-severity m−2 plot. Fire severity also influenced dispersal in the field; we monitored plots with < 0.5% cover B. sylvaticum initially; when these plots experienced low severity fire, they had greater B. sylvaticum cover (increasing 1,200%), suggesting increased dispersal with less severe fires. High-severity dispersal plots did not experience increased cover. High severity fires have the potential to control the grass, but low-severity fires will likely increase its cover.

Keywords

False brome, Brachypodium sylvaticum (Huds.) Beauv.Conifer forestDouglas firfire intensityfire severityinvasive grassprescribed fireshade tolerance
Type
Research Article
Information
Invasive Plant Science and Management , Volume 8 , Issue 2 , June 2015 , pp. 122 - 130
Copyright
Copyright © Weed Science Society of America 

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