The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe
Fuel breaks are increasingly being implemented at broad scales (100s to 10,000s of square kilometers) in fire‐prone landscapes globally, yet there is little scientific information available regarding their ecological effects (eg habitat fragmentation). Fuel breaks are designed to reduce flammable vegetation (ie fuels), increase the safety and effectiveness of fire‐suppression operations, and ultimately decrease the extent of wildfire spread. In sagebrush (Artemisia spp) ecosystems of the western US, installation of extensive linear fuel breaks is also intended to protect habitat, especially for the greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus), a species that is sensitive to habitat fragmentation. We examine this apparent contradiction in the Great Basin region, where invasive annual grasses have increased wildfire activity and threaten sagebrush ecosystems. Given uncertain outcomes, we examine how implementation of fuel breaks might (1) directly alter ecosystems, (2) create edges and edge effects, (3) serve as vectors for wildlife movement and plant invasions, (4) fragment otherwise contiguous sagebrush landscapes, and (5) benefit from scientific investigation intended to disentangle their ecological costs and benefits.
Citation Information
| Publication Year | 2019 |
|---|---|
| Title | The ecological uncertainty of wildfire fuel breaks: Examples from the sagebrush steppe |
| DOI | 10.1002/fee.2045 |
| Authors | Douglas J. Shinneman, Matthew J. Germino, David S. Pilliod, Cameron L. Aldridge, Nicole Vaillant, Peter S. Coates |
| Publication Type | Article |
| Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
| Series Title | Frontiers in Ecology and the Environment |
| Index ID | 70203365 |
| Record Source | USGS Publications Warehouse |
| USGS Organization | Forest and Rangeland Ecosystem Science Center; Fort Collins Science Center; Western Ecological Research Center |
Related Content
Douglas J Shinneman
Supervisory Research Fire Ecologist
Matthew J Germino
Supervisory Research Ecologist
David S Pilliod
Supervisory Research Ecologist
Cameron L Aldridge, PhD
Branch Chief / Supervisory Research Ecologist
Peter Coates
Research Wildlife Biologist
Related Content
- Connect
Douglas J Shinneman
Supervisory Research Fire EcologistEmailPhoneMatthew J Germino
Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhoneDavid S Pilliod
Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhoneCameron L Aldridge, PhD
Branch Chief / Supervisory Research EcologistEmailPhonePeter Coates
Research Wildlife BiologistEmailPhone