| Abstract: | A fundamental question in arid land management centers on understanding the long-term effects of fire on desert ecosystems. To assess the effects of fire on surface topography, soil roughness, and vegetation, we used terrestrial (ground-based) LiDAR to quantify the differences between burned and unburned surfaces by creating a series of high-resolution vegetation structure and bare-earth surface models for six sample plots in the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument, Arizona. We find that 11 years following prescribed burns, mound volumes, plant heights, and soil-surface roughness were significantly lower on burned relative to unburned plots. Results also suggest a linkage between vegetation and soil mounds, either through accretion or erosion mechanisms such as wind and/or water erosion. The biogeomorphic implications of fire-induced changes are significant. Reduced plant cover and altered soil surfaces from fire likely influence seed residence times, inhibit seed germination and plant establishment, and affect other ecohydrological processes. |
| Genre: | Article |
| ProdID: | 70039781 |
| Citation Author: | Souldard, Christopher E.; Esque, Todd C.; Bedford, David R.; Bond, Sandra |
| Citation Contributing Office: | Western Geographic Science Center |
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| Citation End Page: | 121 |
| Citation Issue: | 2 |
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| Citation Language: | English |
| Citation Larger Work Title: | Earth Surface Processes and Landforms |
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| Citation Phsyical Description: | 11 p. |
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| Citation Publisher: | Wiley |
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| Citation Search Results Text: | The role of fire on soil mounds and surface roughness in the Mojave Desert; 2013; Article; Journal; Earth Surface Processes and Landforms; Souldard, Christopher E.; Esque, Todd C.; Bedford, David R.; Bond, Sandra |
| Citation Start Page: | 111 |
| Citation Volume: | 38 |
| Citation Year: | 2013 |
| Type: | citation/reference |
| Text: | The role of fire on soil mounds and surface roughness in the Mojave Desert; 2013; Article; Journal; Earth Surface Processes and Landforms; Souldard, Christopher E.; Esque, Todd C.; Bedford, David R.; Bond, Sandra |
| URL (THUMBNAIL): | http://pubs.er.usgs.gov/thumbnails/outside_thumb.jpg |
| URL (DIGITAL OBJECT IDENTIFIER): | http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/esp.3264 |
| Date Other: | Fri, 31 Aug 2012 00:00 -0500 |
| Publisher: | Wiley |
