Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
frequency exceeds more than a single fire in a decade (Keeley 2006a ). Because so
much of the landscape has greatly exceeded the historical fire frequency there has
already been substantial loss of native habitat and replacement with alien grass-
lands (see Chapter 12 ). This resource concern often comes into conflict with fire
management when fire hazard reduction treatments threaten to increase disturb-
ance on an already overly disturbed landscape.
Conclusions
The California MTC landscape is dominated by shrublands, oak woodlands and
conifer forests, each with very different fire regimes. The sclerophyllous-leaved
MTV that dominates these communities is highly fire-prone and species exhibit
numerous traits adaptive under different fire regimes. Although the composition
of these plant communities is unique to California, many of the shrub and tree
dominants have a limited presence in other non-MTC semi-arid plant commu-
nities in western North America. Periodic droughts and fires are common selective
factors present throughout the range of distribution of this MTV.
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