The ability of winter grazing to reduce wildfire size and fire-induced plant mortality was not demonstrated: a comment on Davies et al. (2015)
Alistair M. S. Smith A B I , Alan F. Talhelm B C , Crystal A. Kolden A D , Beth A. Newingham E , Henry D. Adams F , Jack D. Cohen G , Kara M. Yedinak A B and Robert L. Kremens H
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations
A Idaho Fire Initiative for Research and Education, 975 West 6th Street, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
B Department of Forest, Rangeland and Fire Sciences, 975 West 6th Street, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID, 83844, USA.
C Oak Ridge Institute for Science Education, National Center for Environmental Assessment, US Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 277094, USA.
D Department of Geography, 875 Perimeter Drive, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA.
E Great Basin Rangelands Research Unit, 920 Valley Road, USDA Agricultural Research Service, Reno, NV 89512, USA.
F Department of Botany, 104 Life Sciences Building E, Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK 74078, USA.
G Missoula Fire Sciences Laboratory, 7557 West Broadway Street, United States Forest Service, Missoula, MT 59808, USA.
H College of Science, Gosnell Hall, 84, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY 14623, USA.
I Corresponding author. Email: alistair@uidaho.edu
International Journal of Wildland Fire 25(4) 484-488 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15163
Submitted: 4 September 2015 Accepted: 15 November 2015 Published: 3 March 2016
Abstract
A recent study by Davies et al. sought to test whether winter grazing could reduce wildfire size, fire behaviour and intensity metrics, and fire-induced plant mortality in shrub–grasslands. The authors concluded that ungrazed rangelands may experience fire-induced mortality of native perennial bunchgrasses. The authors also presented several statements regarding the benefits of winter grazing on post-fire plant community responses. However, we contend that the study by Davies et al. has underlying methodological errors, lacks data necessary to support their conclusions, and does not provide a thorough discussion on the effect of grazing on rangeland ecosystems. Importantly, Davies et al. presented no data on the post-fire mortality of the perennial bunchgrasses or on the changes in plant community composition following their experimental fires. Rather, Davies et al. inferred these conclusions based on their observed fire behaviour metrics of maximum temperature and a term described as the ‘heat load’. However, we contend that neither metric is appropriate for describing the heat flux impacts on plants. This lack of post-fire data, several methodological errors and the use of inappropriate thermal metrics limit the authors’ ability to support their stated conclusions.
Additional keywords: intensity, severity, thermocouples.
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