Climate-Fire Relationships in a Rare High Elevation Forest

Danielle KlaasMentor: Dr. Pete Fulé

My Study:

• Apply dendrochronology (tree-ring dating) to understand forest ecology.

• Reconstruct historical patterns of forest fires: severity and frequency.– Severe fires kill entire groups of trees, after which

even-aged tree groups form.– Fire frequency determined from fire scarred trees.

• Compare historical conditions to current management

Hypotheses:• Historically fires were mixed

severity • Modern management

increased risk of large severe fires

Analyze:• Forest composition &

structure• Fire regimes

50-100 101-150 151-200 201-250 251-300 301-350 351-400 401-450 451-50005

10152025303540

Pinus aristata Age Distribution

Age (years)

Freq

uenc

y of

Tre

es

050

100150200250300350

Plot 1331

Trees

Age

(yea

rs)

0

20

40

60

80

100

120Plot 1278

Trees

Age

(yea

rs)

Even-Aged Stand= 70% of trees are within 30 years of each other

Uneven-Aged Stand = 70% of trees are not within 30 years of each other

Pinus Aristata Stand Age Distribution

72%

28%Uneven AgedEven Aged

Fire Scars

Living Snag StumpLog 23 9 2

2

Fire Years

1729175217541773178017991805183418421845184718671879

Conclusion

1. First Pinus aristata fire regime study in the SW

2. Forest structure changes

3. Climate warming

4. Risks of severe fire

Acknowledgements

Dr. Pete FuléNAU NASA Space GrantAZ Space Consortium

NAU School of Forestry

Questions