Effects of prescribed fire in the coastal prairies of Texas

James B. Grace; Larry K. Allain; Heather Q. Baldwin; Arlene G. Billock; William R. Eddleman; Aaron M. Given; Clint W. Jeske; Rebecca Moss

doi:10.3133/ofr20051287

Effects of prescribed fire in the coastal prairies of Texas

Open-File Report 2005-1287

By: James B. Grace, Larry K. Allain, Heather Q. Baldwin, Arlene G. Billock, William R. Eddleman, Aaron M. Given, Clint W. Jeske, and Rebecca Moss

https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20051287

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Abstract

Prescribed fire is widely applied for habitat management in coastal ecosystems. Fire management plans typically list a variety of objectives for prescribed burning, including succession management, promotion of native flora and fauna, providing habitat for species of importance, wildfire risk reduction (fuels management), as well as reduction and/or prevention of invasive species. In most cases, the information needed to determine the degree to which management objectives are met is not available. This study sought to provide an assessment of key objectives of fire management at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex. The main purpose of this work was to provide information and recommendations that will support Region 2 of the USFWS in the conduct of their fire and habitat management activities in the Western Gulf coast region.

There were four main components of this project: (1) a historical analysis of the role of fire in this ecosystem, (2) the development of standard methodology for assessing and monitoring fire effects in this system, (3) an evaluation of the effects of prescribed burning on the habitat being managed, and (4) an evaluation of the effects of burning on select fauna of special concern. A team of researchers, including some from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), Southeast Missouri State University, and Louisiana State University were involved in the various components of this project. Extensive support by USFWS personnel, both at the Texas Mid-coast National Wildlife Refuge Complex and in the Regional Office (Region 2, USFWS), was a key component in this work. Data from the three years of this study were combined with the results of previous USGS studies performed at the site to strengthen our conclusions.

Additional publication details
Publication type	Report
Publication Subtype	USGS Numbered Series
Title	Effects of prescribed fire in the coastal prairies of Texas
Series title	Open-File Report
Series number	2005-1287
DOI	10.3133/ofr20051287
Year Published	2005
Language	English
Publisher	U.S. Geological Survey
Publisher location	Reston, VA
Description	46 p.
Google Analytic Metrics	Metrics page