Fire Effects on Selected Bryophytes, Lichens and Herbs in Garry Oak and Associated Ecosystems
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Fire effects on selected bryophytes, lichens and herbs in Garry oak and associated ecosystems prepared by John Parminter Research Branch Ministry of Forests and Range Victoria, BC and Derek Bedford (formerly with) Restoration of Natural Systems Program University of Victoria Victoria, BC for the Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team and the Nature Conservancy of Canada July 2006 ii Introduction According to Fuchs (2001),* 694 plant taxa, 7 amphibians, 7 reptiles, 104 birds, and 33 mammals have been identified in Garry oak and associated ecosystems in British Columbia. A significant number of these species are considered to be at risk at national and global scales. The First Nations peoples long employed prescribed burning to maintain open vegetation conditions and favour the camas plants, Camassia quamash and Camassia leichtlinii, which were their primary plant foodstuffs. The Garry Oak Ecosystems Recovery Team (GOERT) identified the role of fire as one of three essential ecosystem characteristics associated with the composition, structure, and function of Garry oak ecosystems. The other two are spatial and biotic integrity. Fuchs (2001) also noted that minimal research had been conducted in B.C.’s Garry oak ecosystems, making ecological theory and information from other localities especially important. A valuable source of information on fire ecology is the Fire Effects Information System (FEIS), an online database maintained by the USDA Forest Service (see http://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/). For the Garry oak ecosystem species listed in Fuchs (2001) which are contained in the FEIS database, the fire ecology, fire effects, and fire management content was extracted and the associated references reformatted to author – date format. Content varies species by species, depending on how much is known about each. Many of the species found in the Garry oak and associated ecosystems have no entries in the FEIS but it is hoped that this extract will be useful for those interested in the species which are included. The FEIS database contains additional information about distribution and occurrence, management considerations, and botanical and ecological characteristics for most species. The FEIS database should be consulted if these items are of interest and, of course, to verify information contained in this extract. New species and new information are added to the FEIS periodically and so it should be consulted from time to time for such updates. John Parminter July 2006 *Fuchs, Marilyn A. 2001. Towards a Recovery Strategy for Garry Oak and Associated Ecosystems in Canada: Ecological Assessment and Literature Review. Technical Report GBEI/EC-00-030. Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Pacific and Yukon Region. xi + 106 p. iii Bryophyte & Lichen Layer Cladina portentosa and Cladina rangiferina ................................................................1 Hylocomium splendens...............................................................................................4 Pleurozium schreberi ..................................................................................................5 Tortula ruralis ..............................................................................................................6 Herb Layer Achillea millefolium......................................................................................................7 Agrostis exarata ........................................................................................................12 Agrostis gigantea (= A. alba, in part).........................................................................13 Agrostis scabra .........................................................................................................16 Agrostis stolonifera (= A. alba, in part) ......................................................................17 Alliaria petiolata (= Alliaria officinalis)........................................................................18 Antennaria microphylla..............................................................................................25 Artemisia absinthium.................................................................................................27 Bromus carinatus ......................................................................................................32 Bromus hordeaceus (= B. mollis)..............................................................................36 Bromus inermis (= Bromus pumpellianus) ................................................................43 Bromus tectorum.......................................................................................................44 Bromus vulgaris ........................................................................................................88 Camassia quamash ..................................................................................................91 Carex rossii ...............................................................................................................92 Chimaphila umbellata................................................................................................94 Cirsium arvense ........................................................................................................97 Cirsium vulgare .......................................................................................................111 Claytonia perfoliata (= Montia perfoliata) ................................................................122 Clintonia uniflora .....................................................................................................125 Corydalis sempervirens...........................................................................................131 Dactylis glomerata...................................................................................................134 Danthonia intermedia..............................................................................................135 Danthonia spicata ...................................................................................................137 Deschampsia cespitosa ..........................................................................................138 iv Elymus glaucus.......................................................................................................140 Elymus repens (= Agropyron repens) .....................................................................145 Erodium cicutarium .................................................................................................148 Festuca idahoensis (= F. idahoensis var. roemeri) .................................................150 Festuca rubra..........................................................................................................162 Galium aparine........................................................................................................164 Galium boreale........................................................................................................176 Hypericum perforatum.............................................................................................198 Juncus balticus .......................................................................................................219 Koeleria macrantha.................................................................................................229 Linaria dalmatica.....................................................................................................236 Lolium multiflorum (= L. persicum) ..........................................................................247 Lolium perenne .......................................................................................................252 Maianthemum canadense.......................................................................................253 Medicago sativa ......................................................................................................259 Melilotus albus (= M. alba) ......................................................................................262 Phleum pratense.....................................................................................................264 Poa compressa .......................................................................................................268 Poa pratensis ..........................................................................................................270 Poa secunda ...........................................................................................................280 Polygonum spp. ......................................................................................................284 Polystichum munitum..............................................................................................286 Potentilla glandulosa...............................................................................................287 Pteridium aquilinum.................................................................................................290 Rumex acetosella....................................................................................................299 Taraxacum officinale...............................................................................................303 Trifolium repens ......................................................................................................306 Vicia americana ......................................................................................................307