Fire in California's Ecosystems Neil G. Sugihara, Jan W. van Wagtendonk, Kevin E. Shaffer, Joann Fites Kaufman, Andrea E. Thode . University of California Press. Berkeley, CA. 612 pp 5.00. ISBN: ISBN-13 948-0-520-24605-8

2007·2.7 MB·English

by  Peter J Weisberg

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in the chapter on fire and aquatic and watershed KiTTREDGE, J. 1955. Some characteristics of forest
resources. Thisexamplecould havebeen followed floors from a variety offorest types in California.
!
in describing collateral damage from commercial Journal ofForestry 53:645-647.
logging and grazing treatments done in the name PainCe,omRp.oTu.,ndMe.dJ.pTeergtnuerbra,tiaonnsdEy.ieAl.dJeocholnosgoinca.l19s9u8r.- |
offire managment. prises. Ecosystems 1:535-45. i
Petraitis, p. S., R. E. Latham, and R. A. |
Conclusions NiESENBAUM. 1989. The maintenance of species
diversity by disturbance. Quarterly Review of I
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The topic of fire in California ecosystems is Biology 64:393^18. ^
complex and multidisciplinary, and very difficult Weatherspoon, C. p. and C. N. Skinner. 1995. An
Etocoesnysctoemmpsasssumimnaroinzeesboweolkl.mFuicreh oinftChaelirfeolrenviaan'ts tarseseesscmreonwtnsofffraoctmors19a8s7socwiialtdefdirwesithindanmoargtehertno
California. Forest Science 41:430-451.
literature. However, there are important topics White, P. S. and A. Jentsch. 2001. The search
thatareomittedornotadequatelyaddressedwith for generality in studies of disturbance and
up-to-date perspectives. Other literature can fill ecosystem dynamics. Progress in Botany 62:399-
these gaps. Bond and van Wilgen's 1996 short 450.
classic. FireandPlants, better addresses fire as an Wuerthner, G. 2006. Wildfire: A century of failed
ecological and evolutionary force and recognize it fSoaruseisltitop,olCicAy.. Foundation for Deep Ecology, j
as a natural disturbance process. These are
important perspectives for understanding fire,
particularly as it affects plant biology and bio-
diversity. Perspectives that do not shy away from
criticallyanalyzingexistinglandmanagementand Fire in California's Ecosystems. Edited by Neil
planning, and that more broadly consider solu- G. SuGiHARA, Jan W. van Wagtendonk,
tions to today's wildfire problems are also Kevin E. Shaffer, Joann Fixes Kaufman |
important to consider. In addition to the afore- and Andrea E. Thode. University ofCalifornia |
mentioned books by Halsey (2005) and Kennedy Press. Berkeley, CA. 612 pp. $75.00. ISBN-13 j
(2006), a good accompaniment to Fire in Cali- 948-0-520-24605-8.
fornia'sEcosystemsis the recently published book
Wildfire: a Century ofFailedForest Policy, edited CALIFORNIA'S FIRE ECOLOGY:
by Wuerthner (2006). As these books point out, A NEW SYNTHESIS |
incentives created by huge fire budgets and
commercial activities discourage pursuit of spe- In the foreword to Fire in California's Ecosys-
cific actions needed for protecting human com- tems Jim Agee predicts: "The volume you hold ji
munities from fire and restoring fire regimes in now will become the secular bible offire ecology i
plant communities. These are particularly impor- for Californians." Dr. Agee's statement implies
tant needs in California. that the readerneed look no furtherto satisfy his/ j
herquestions regardingecology and management j
—Dennis C. Odion. Institute for Computational Earth of fire in the nation's third-largest state. Fire in j
Systems Science, University of California, Santa California's Ecosystems is a comprehensive syn-
Barbara, CA and Department of Biology, Southern thesis of the current state of knowledge for fire
Oregon University, Ashland, OR. ecology and management in Cahfornia's diverse
ecosystems.
Literature Cited The book is organized in three parts, including
;
Bond, W. J. and B. W. van Wilgen. 1996. Fire and a first section on basic fire ecology, followed by
plants. Population and community biology series a collection of chapters describing fire ecology :
14. Chapman & Hall, New York, NY. and management for each of nine bioregions,
Bran2d:1e1g8e-e12,2.T. S. 1891. Thevegetation of"burns. Zoe gcuelamriendattionwgaridns aovceorl-laerccthiionng offireeigmhatnacgheapmteenrts i
Cohen, J. D. 2000. Preventing disaster: home issues. Fire in California's Ecosystems is very well j
!
ignitability in thewildland-urban interface. Journal put together for a collection of contributed
Cruzo,fFoMr.estGr.y,98M:1.5-2E1.. Alexander, and R. H. chhaavpeterfso.llTohweededaiticnogmismpoonlisohregdanainzdattihoenaaluttheomr-s i
Wakimoto. 2004. Modeling the likelihood of plate. Sidebars are generally very useful and ;
crown fire occurrence in conifer forest stands. cover topical features such as fire climate, ;'
Forest Science 50:640-658
landscape dynamics of chaparral communities,
HalsSeoyu,thRe.rnW.Ca2l0i0f5or.niFai.re,SuchnabpealrtralP,ublaincdatsiuornvsi,valSainn plant adaptations to fire, and exotic annual i|
Diego, CA. grasses, to name only a few. Illustrations and I
Kennedy, R. 2006. Wildfire and Americans: how to GIS maps are clear, consistent among chapters,
save lives, property and your tax dollars. Farrar, and professionally formatted. Copies and scans j
Straus and Giroux, New York, NY. of many of these illustrations are sure to appear
2007] BOOK REVIEWS 359
in numerous lectures on fire ecology and forest convoluted topography and famously complex
management. geology of those particular mountains. The
The first seven chapters would be valuable Northeastern Plateaus chapter (by Gregg Riegel),
reading for any fire ecology course, anywhere in describing California's portion of the Great
the world. Each of these chapters is clear and Basin, includes a nuanced description of fire
comprehensive. Taken together they provide ecology in the sagebrush steppe zone. There are
a solid overview of fire as an ecological distur- useful discussions of interactions among fire
bance. Chapters cover the basic concepts of fire regime, plant community succession, and di-
ecology with regard to weather and climate, fire rectional vegetation shifts such as have been
physics, fire regimes and plant community prevalent in the western United States over the
dynamics, fire effects on the environment, fire past century. Many ofthe regional chapters, and
effects on plants, and fire effects on animals. especially the Sierra Nevada chapter (by Jan van
Unfortunately, the coverage ofecosystem effects Wagtendonk), contribute discussions ofhistorical
of fire is relatively limited. The "physical human influences including those prior to Euro-
environment" effects of fire (soil, water, air) are American settlement, and place current fire and
covered in just one chapter (Chapter 5). This forest management issues within this long-term
chapter is well-presented, but this is a huge area context. A recurring theme of the regional
of study and the book might have been better chapters is the importance of fire exclusion for
served as a core fire ecology text if the air, soil altering contemporary fire regime and ecological
and biogeochemistry, and water effects had been processes. As stated in the Sierra Nevada bio-
broken out into separate chapters. Also, this regional chapter (p. 290), "The question becomes
chapter omits discussion of fire regime change how to restore natural fire regimes without
(e.g., fire exclusion effects). Chapter 6 on Fireand adversely affecting at-risk species and their
Plant Interactions, contributed by Joann Fites- habitats... These species evolved with fire and
Kaufman and coauthors, includes an informative the answer must include fire." However, bio-
discussion of plant adaptations and fire effects regions that are characterized by chaparral
across several levels of ecological organization. vegetation at lower elevations (South Coast,
Jon Keeley has contributed a thoughtful sidebar portions of the Central Coast) now experience
on the evolution offire adaptations. more frequentfiresthanhistorically, as a result of
The nine bioregional chapters (Part II of the human ignitions and urbanization.
book) are organized consistently according to Several of the bioregional chapters (North
subdivisions of ecological zones, and vegetation Coast, Southern Cascades, Central Valley) paint
alliances within ecological zones. Each of these a picture ofNative American burning that, while
chapters includes a general description of the quite plausible, is supported by a paucity of
physical environment, an overview offire history, primary literature sources. The strength of
a description ofmajor ecological zones including evidence supporting native burning could be
fire ecology and interactions between the fire presented in a less anecdotal fashion, and the
regime and plant communities, and contempo- authors could have made clearer that while
rarymanagement issues. Included in eachchapter aboriginal fire may have been critical for shaping
are tables summarizing life history adaptations to vegetation structure in certain vegetation types, it
firefor keyplant species within eachbioregion, as was likely oflow importance forothertypes, such
well as summary tables describing fire regime as those in less productive, high-elevation areas.
parameters (fire seasonality, return interval, The final section ofthe book (Chapters 17-24)
extent, severity, etc.) for each vegetation type. addresses fire management issues that range from
Such organizational consistency is impressive and the over-arching to the very practical. The
doubtless reflects strong-willed editorship as well important questions are not neglected. How can
as substantial commitment on the part of the we describe a historic range of variability, or
A
authors. high level oforganization is needed to meaningful reference conditions for restoration,
create a coherent picture of such diverse fire in the context ofNative American fire use? How
environments and ecological systems as are can we incorporate fire use in our management
contained within the political boundaries of planning and still protect people and their
California, which includes the highest and lowest resources given the great increases in population
elevations ofthe lower 48 states. over the past decades? These chapters emphasize
Most of the regional chapters are written by fire effects and discuss the negative effects offire
scientists with considerable local experience in use thatcan occurwith less than perfect planning,
their assigned ecoregion, and many excellent with respect to aquatic systems, air quality, exotic
narratives are included in the book. The Klamath plant invasions, and habitat for at-risk species.
Mountains chapter (by Carl Skinner) provides Chapter 17, contributed by Kat Anderson,
a well-honed discussion ofhow fire behavior and presents an exhaustive yet balanced description
fire regime have interacted with the physical of Native American fire use. The chapter
landscape template, with respect to the distinctly describes the continuum ofinfiuences across this
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360 [Vol. 54
large and heterogeneous state, including areas of now to restore fire as an ecosystem process, even
low influence due to low population (serpentine when knowledge is incomplete and ecosystem
and subalpine environments) as well as areas alterations and discontinuities prevent a return to
where Native American fire management was historical conditions. We need to manage fuels
likely high because of high population densities and fire regimes so as to counter the ecosystem
and cultural fire use (northwest coastal prairies changes and negativebiodiversityeffects resulting
region). fromacentury offireexclusion. However, certain
In Chapter 18, Scott Stephens and Neil bioregions and vegetation zones (coastal chapar-
Sugihara provide a thorough background into ral, subalpine forests) have not experienced fire
the historical events and cultural influences exclusion and need to be managed differently, as
leading to the triumph offire suppression policies pointed out by Jon Keeley in his South Coast
over a "light burning" paradigm for forestry in chapter. Coastal chaparral now burns more
the western U.S. The discussion eventually winds frequently and later in the year than prior to
its way to contemporary fire management in- settlement, but the actual area burned is within
cluding new manifestations of the fire use a historic range ofvariability because suppression
paradigm, leading to today's changing perspec- efforts keep most fires small. Fire management
tives and policy shifts. Husari et al. (Chapter 19) and landscape restoration must be adapted to the
continue with this theme in their chapter on fire particular bioregional setting, and this book
and fuel management, describing the shift in provides the regionally specific information re-
management focus andpolicyfrom firecontrol to quired to support such efforts.
fuel management. As for most of the other The book's emphasis on providing a compen-
chapters in this book, there is a laudable effort dium ofthe current state ofknowledge regarding
to placewhere we are today in the context ofpast California fire ecology can be seen as a limitation
management practices and historical influences. as well as a strength, in that it summarizes what
Chapters 20-23 describe fire management we know rather than suggests directions for
issues regarding aquatic resources, air quahty, future research. Some ofthe chapters could have
invasive plant species and species ofconservation been reined in a little more with respect to
concern. The first of these chapters (watershed repetitive, extraneous detail. The book has been
resources, contributed by Andrea Thode and closely edited forconsistency in organization, but
others) is briefbut well-focused, and performs the not necessarily for content and brevity. Fire in
amazing feat of not repeating material from California's Ecosystems is not intended to be read
earher chapters. There are useful summary tables cover to cover, but rather will serve as a reference
contrasting various watershed rehabilitation work. The persistent reader will emerge with new
pmreotcheosdss.anFidrethisertereaisteda absaalannicnetdegrdailscwuastseironsheodf iscnifeonrtimsattsioanndandforpeesrtspmecatniavgeesrgsaiwnehdofrhoavmedisvpeernste
controversial ideas pertaining to active manage- considerable portions of their careers working
ment of forested riparian zones. There is useful with the topics and geographicareas about which
emphasis on linking watershed restoration and they have written.
firemanagementactivities. Theairqualitychapter This comprehensive, multifaceted work will be
(by Suraj Ahuja) provides an informative sum- informative for fire scientists and managers at all
maryoffireeffectsonairqualityandhowfireand levels. It interweaves biological, physical, cultural
fuels management are constrained by air quality and operational aspects of fire science through
regulations. The invasiveplant specieschapter(by a collection of contributed chapters. The useful-
Robert Klinger) elucidates the complex, two-way ness of the work clearly transcends the state of
interactions betweenfire regime and exoticplants. California. Fire in California's Ecosystems is one
Missing from this chapter is mention of the ofthe more valuable fire ecology books to come
interaction between fire and invasive forest out in a long time, and it has something to offer
pathogens such as Sudden Oak Death. nearly everyone: research scientists and university
oftIhteisbounofkorltacuknsataecthhaapttetrheonmawnialdgleamnednftireseucsteioinn vinasrtirouucstoresc,olfoigriecaaln,d feonrveisrtomnamneangtearls,ansdtudneanttusraolf
Cuanldiefvoerlnoiapeadrearmeaans.ageOdveras w1i4lmdielrlnieosns aancrdeshoiwn mreasyourncoetdmisackipelinfeosr,gaonoddth"eligihntterreesatdeidngci"tizaetn.thIet
to managewildland firein theseareas has become beach, but is a resource worth having on your
bookshelf.
an issue of prime importance. The management
section chapters instead focus almost exclusively
on issues of the wildland-urban interface and —
active forest and fire management in traditionally DePpeatretrmeJn.tWoefisNbaetrugr,alURneisvoeurrsicteys aonfdNEenvvaidrao,nmReenntoa,l
managed forests. Science, 1000 Valley Road/M.S. 186, Reno, NV 89557;
Neil Sugihara takes the lead in summarizing [email protected].
all three sections of the book (Chapter 24). This
final chapter is essentially a call for society to act I