Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
MTC ecosystems all share the feature that anthropogenic ignitions are currently
abundant and responsible for the vast majority of fires. Many factors, which will
be discussed in later chapters, contribute to contemporary patterns of ignition, not
the least of which is the high population density of most MTC regions, which
arises from a climate ideally suited for human comfort. Lightning is the only
natural source of ignition that is predictable enough in time to influence evolution-
ary patterns and its presence is spatially variable. Presently its importance varies
between regions as well as within regions and will be discussed in subsequent
chapters.
Conclusions
The fire regime concept is fundamental to understanding fire behavior and plant
responses to fire. Depending on fuel structure, fires in MTV may be either crown
fires that top kill most of the vegetation or surface fires that burn in the understory
of forests. Overlying this distinction are countless variations in seasonal timing,
intensity and frequency that are profoundly important in understanding fire
responses. Failure to consider these distinctions has contributed to limitations in
drawing global generalizations and unifying theories of wildland fire.
