This file was created by scanning the printed publication. Errors identified by the software have been corrected; however, some errors may remain. United States Department of Agriculture Fire Ecology of the Forest Service Forest Habitat Types Intermountain Research Station of Central Idaho General Technical Report INT-218 December 1986 M. F. Crane William C. Fischer THE AUTHORS RESEARCH SUMMARY MARILYN (MARTI) F. CRANE is a research plant ecologist This report summarizes available information on fire as with Systems for Environmental Management, a nonprofit an ecological factor for forest habitat types occurring in research foundation in Missoula, MT. Ms. Crane earned a central Idaho. The forest habitat types described for cen- B.A. degree from San Jose State University in 1961 and tral ldaho by Steele and others (1981) are grouped into an M.A. (botany) from the University of Montana in 11 Fire Groups based primarily on fire's role in forest June 1980. succession. For each Fire Group, information is presented on (1) the WILLIAM C. FISCHER is a research forester for the relationship of major tree species to fire, (2) fire effects on Prescribed Fire and Fire Effects research work unit at the undergrowth, (3) fire effects on wildlife, (4) forest fuels, lntermountain Research Station's lntermountain Fire (5) the natural role of fire, (6) fire and forest succession, Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT. He earned his B.S. and (7) fire management considerations. and B.S.F. degrees from the University of Michigan in The Fire Groups are described as follows: 1956. Before coming to the fire lab in 1966 he worked as Fire Group Zero-Miscellaneous special habitats. a forester on the Boise National Forest in central Idaho. Fire Group One-Dry limber pine habitat types. Fire Group Two-Warm, dry habitat types that support open forests of ponderosa pine or Douglas-fir. Fire Group Three-Warm, moist ponderosa pine habitat ACKNOWLEDGMENTS types and warm, dry Douglas-fir habitat types usually dominated by ponderosa pine. This report is the result of a cooperative endeavor Fire Group Four-Cool, dry Douglas-fir habitat types. between the lntermountain Research Station's Prescribed Fire Group Five-Moist Douglas-fir habitat types. Fire and Fire Effects research work unit and several cen- Fire Group Six-Grand fir habitat types. tral ldaho National Forests of the USDA Forest Service Fire Group Seven-Cool habitat types usually dominated lntermountain Region (Region 4). The following individuals by lodgepole pine. were especially supportive of this project: Marvin L. Wolfe, Fire Group Eight-Dry, lower subalpine habitat types. Assistant Aviation and Fire Management Officer, Boise Fire Group Nine-Wet or moist, lower subalpine habitat National Forest; James R. Moorehead, Branch Chief for types. Fire Control, Recreation and Land Use, Salmon National Fire Group Ten-Cold, upper subalpine and timberline Forest, now retired; and James E. Moore, lntermountain habitat types. Region Fuels Management Officer, now retired. The knowledge of central ldaho silviculture and forest ecology contributed by Jerry Hamilton, Regional Silvi- culturist, and Andy Youngblood, Area Ecologist, Inter- mountain Region, was a great asset to this study. lntermountain Research Station 324 25th Street Ogden, UT 84401 CONTENTS Fire Group Four: Cool. Dry Douglas-fir Habitat Page Types ..................................... Introduction ................................. 1 Vegetation ................................ Purpose .................................. 1 Forest Fuels ............................... Format ................................... 1 Role of Fire ............................... The Fire Groups ........................... 2 Forest Succession .......................... Nomenclature and Terminology ............... 4 Fire Management Considerations ............. Relationships of Major Tree Species to Fire ....... 4 Fire Group Five: Moist Douglas-fir Habitat Types . Limber Pine (Pinus flexilis) ................... 4 Vegetation ................................ Ponderosa Pine (Pinus ponderosa) ............ 5 Forest Fuels ............................... Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesir) ............ 6 Role of Fire ............................... Grand Fir (Abies grandis) .................... 6 Forest Succession .......................... Engelmann Spruce (Picea engelmannir) ......... 6 Fire Management Considerations ............. Lodge pole Pine (Pinus contorta) ............... 7 Fire Group Six: Grand Fir Habitat Types ......... Subalpine Fir (Abies lasiocarpa) ............... 7 Vegetation ................................ Whitebark Pine (Pinus albicaulis) .............. 7 Forest Fuels ............................... Undergrowth Response to Fire ................. 8 Role of Fire ............................... Wildlife Response to Fire ...................... 13 Forest Succession .......................... Fire Use Considerations ....................... 22 Fire Management Considerations ............. Heat Effects and Insect Attack ................ 22 Fire Group Seven: Cool Habitat Types Usually Frequency of Burning ....................... 22 Dominated by Lodgepole Pine ................. Large Woody Debris ........................ 22 Vegetation ................................ Heat Effects on Soil ........................ 22 Forest Fuels ............................... Prescribed Fire Planning .................... 23 Role of Fire ............................... Fire Group Zero: Miscellaneous Special Habitats . 23 Forest Succession .......................... Scree .................................... 23 Fire Management Considerations ............. Forested Rock ............................. 23 Fire Group Eight: Dry, Lower Subalpine Habitat Wet Meadow .............................. 23 Types ..................................... Mountain Grassland ........................ 23 Vegetation ................................ Aspen Communities ........................ 24 Forest Fuels ............................... Deciduous Riparian Communities ............. 24 Role of Fire ............................... Fire Management Considerations ............. 24 Forest Succession .......................... Fire Group One: Dry Limber Pine Habitat Types ... 24 Fire Management Considerations ............. Vegetation ................................ 24 Fire Group Nine: Wet or Moist, Lower Subalpine Forest Fuels ............................... 24 HabitatTypes .............................. Role of Fire ............................... 25 Vegetation ................................ Forest Succession .......................... 26 Forest Fuels ............................... Fire Management Considerations ............. 27 Role of Fire ............................... Fire Group Two: Warm, Dry Habitat Types that Forest Succession .......................... Support Open Forests of Ponderosa Pine or Fire Management Considerations ............. Douglas-fir ................................. 27 Fire Group Ten: Cold, Upper Subalpine and Vegetation ................................ 28 Timberline Habitat Types ..................... Forest Fuels ............................... 28 Vegetation ................................ Role of Fire ............................... 28 Forest Fuels ............................... Forest Succession .......................... 30 Role of Fire ............................... Fire Management Considerations ............. 31 Forest Succession .......................... Fire Group Three: Warm. Moist Ponderosa Pine Fire Management Considerations ............. Habitat Types and Warm. Dry Douglas-fir Habitat References ................................. Types Usually Dominated by Ponderosa Pine .... 33 Appendix A: Habitat Types of Central Idaho ...... Vegetation ................................ 33 Appendix B: Occurrence and Roles of Tree Species Forest Fuels ............................... 33 by Habitat Types ............................ Role of Fire ............................... 35 Appendix C: Scientific Names of Plants Mentioned Forest Succession .......................... 36 inText .................................... Fire Management Considerations ............. 39 Fire Ecology of the Forest Habitat Types of Central Idaho M. F. Crane William C. Fischer INTRODUCTION tions such as serotinous cones, corky bark, or seeds that require mineral soil for germination. Purpose Undergrowth Response to Fire-This section sum- marizes the effect of fire on the response of important This report summarizes available fire ecology and understory grass, forb, and shrub species. Fire-adaptive management information relating to forest habitat types traits or survival strategies are highlighted, and the in central Idaho; specifically, on the Boise, Challis, species' tendency to increase or decrease following fire is Payette, and Salmon National Forests; the Fairfield and noted. Ketchum Ranger Districts and Sawtooth National Recrea- tion Area of the Sawtooth National Forest; and the Dubois Wildlife Response to Fire-This section contains sum- Ranger District of the Targhee National Forest. The maries of the general effects of fire on common central primary purpose of this report is to aid in understanding Idaho mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and birds. Fire fire's role in central Idaho forests, especially the role of response of wildlife is largely inferred from expected fire in forest succession. changes in habitat as a result of fire. Habitat types, as defined by Steele and others (1981), Fire Use Considerations-This