 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
28th Annual Meeting and Symposium of the
Desert Tortoise Council, February 21-23, 2003
Abstracts
POSTER
Recent Fire History in the Mojave Desert, 1980-2001
M. Brooks1, T. Esque1, J. R. Matchett1, and J.
D'Elia2
1U.S. Geological Survey, Western Ecological Research Center, Las Vegas Field
Station, 160 N. Stephanie St., Henderson, NV 89014
2U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Region 1, Ecological Services, Division of
Consultation Portland, OR
Mojave Desert shrublands are generally considered fire-proof, and fire is thought to be historically infrequent in this region. However, fire records maintained by land management agencies since 1980 indicate that fires have not been uncommon during the past few decades. This has sparked concern about the potential negative effects of fire on native plant communities, and on threatened or endangered species such as the desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii). In this poster we summarize fire trends between 1980 and 2001 in the Mojave Desert. We specifically compare fire cause (lightning vs. human), size, and seasonal distribution among Recovery Units for the desert tortoise (Mojave population), vegetation types, and rainfall years. This information will provide a basis for evaluating the predominance of fire within various parts of the Mojave Desert, specifically in relation to sub-populations of the desert tortoise.